Luis Villalon Meunier

Hey Fellas,

 

What "sign" I should've look out for...Producer, Director/Producer or even so called wannabe producer ?

 

In the past, I had worked with B.S. producers who wanted me to shoot their short for a little money or no money. It was cool when I was in film school (Class of '99) because we struggled and learned together. Now, I am knowledgeable and talented. Sometime I'll do a favor for a friend, but not someone I don't know. There was a time I was asked to shoot the short(s) which were unorganized, unprofessional and lack of funding. The projects either non-commited or haven't start post production.

 

The worst part is when the same people, who were unorganized or unprofessional etc, finally have the money and resources they're hire the PROFESSIONALS: DP's who worked on Budget features and music video with top notch/a list artists. The bad part is they called me to shoot their next project with no money. Can you believe this ? I don't want to be considered as " no budget or shoestring" DP. Any thought gentlemen ?

 

Thanks.

Unfortunately, that's the way it works a lot of times. If there's no money "you are the best there is", "Next Academy Award", but when they get a budget, big or small, they always hire someone with a name "Better than you are". Of course, that person will have a full crew and all the goodies to make the film look good. When you do it, is a case with 3 1ks and your brother in law as crew.

Your "right"? Hmmm, that would not sit well with me as a director. As far as I'm concerned I'm the only one that has the "right" to colour correct a film I directed.

 

I would certainly include the DOP if geographically and logistically possible, of course I would take his input.

 

Answer me this, you are in the colour correction suite and the director says I want more red and you say you want more blue, who wins that battle? Do you think a DOP has the right to overrule a director in the cc suite?

 

R,

My question is..why did you hire a DP in the first place? Why not shoot it yourself? As per your assesment, these are things that are discussed in pre-pro...the mood, the color scheme etc. I am now in the process of CCing a feature I shot almost 2 years ago and I am being paid for something I'd done eagerly for free then. The Director decided to do it himself. One scene...a rundown tenement apartment in NYC in the winter at night looks like it was shot outside in a sunny day. No mood whatsoever to go with the story. The film is going to be bought by an European distributor under the condition that the DP (That's me) does a better job of timing and CC.I think there should be only one director on the set running the show, and I am always willing to contribute to his/her vision with my experience of 40 years shooting high end commercials and independent films. So, let me help you, I know I am not hired to work on my new Demo Reel. The main problem for DPs is that people don't look at a crappy job of CCing and say "It's the Director's fault", it's always your name that comes up.