Will Work For Food...


...shouldn't have to be the life of the non-fiction filmmaker. With the non-fiction genre the hottest it's ever been, why is it still trying to squeeze water from the rock that is the non-fiction production staff? Don't blame it all on the producers.

No, not when the networks were gobbled up by corporate conglomerates, making 20%+ profits more important than taking care of the workers. Suddenly, 'staff' became a dirty word and farming the work out became the only way to do business. This model served to lower payrolls and save on benefits. It also served as a buffer to allow salaries and working conditions to plummet while deferring blame away from the corporate network.

In fact, most producers would rather hire more experienced workers than entry level camera operators and second year 'producers'. The standard business model used to be 'pay once, get it done on time'. Now, it seems, 'pay less and deliver late' has become the new business model.

Producers, generally, would love to hire more experienced staffers, but the nets won't allow higher rates to appear on the budgets. They'd rather see a longer timeline with lower wages. It seems an underhanded way to run a business.

When will the nets learn that it is LESS EXPENSIVE to hire higher salaried workers who can get things done quickly than to pay neophites less money and have them do the work twice in order to fix novice mistakes?

Can the American indie production community reverse this trend? We must try. Heck, the Brits did it and now they own the American production market space. We MUST beat them at their own game and fix the business model here at home. Otherwise, the MTV model of 'over-30 and you're out' will become the industry standard.

Not an way to make a living if you plan on working past your 30th birthday.