Sam Bignell

Hey Yall! I'd love to grab a couple of classic Milk Crates like you have in the states but in the UK Milk crates of that type are simply not findable online and the only place I've found them they cost like £30 for just a crate and there 19" long they are massive Other than useful boxes, what other techniques have y'all used to store gripping equipment? Would love to know idea! Thanks -Samuel

I thought of this but thopught it wouln't be accuraye enough but i'lll defo give that a go tonight! Tell me about it, It's like everything film is Ilegal here haha! I'll check anyway otherwise ND it is! I'll have a look around hoping to find something if not ill use ND! Thanks Everyone!

Hey All! I'm looking to get some scrims to cut down tungsten lights (300w, 650w, 800w, 2k,) Sadly not all my lights are Official lights with hard metal mesh scrims to buy for and fit, So I'm curious if Rosco's 270 & 275 would handle and survive the heat of atleast a 800w open face inbetween the barn doors? or maybe even a 2k but I doubt they are even clsoe to stronger enough If not what are good alternatives for scrimming lights half a stop and a whole stop if I can't fit metal mesh scrims? Thanks! -Samuel

Hey Everyone thanks for all this! Really Apreciate it!

Hey Everyone! I have quite a good assortment of gels from party to technical etc etc When people rent or when I'm on a job that requires one the gels to be Cut or modified how do you go about charging for the usage of that Gel? Especially when it's being rented and being cut up from it's good size? Most my gels are precut "Sheets" from Stage Depot for like £7, Is it ok to charge for a new "sheet" of the used gel? Thanks!! -Samuel

Hopefully, it will be simplified indeed, Thanks Chris!

Hello Chris Steel Thanks for this, I've been in contact with HMRC film and TV division and they assured me the Letter of authority (Lorimer Letter) wasn't going to be a viable option soon for the future because it's now all done through the Employment status: Self-employed and contractor - GOV.UK but was told by another AC friend that my UTR number is usually enough for productions to accept me as a freelancer. Whether this turns out to be good enough for all production beyond the seven-day rule, that will be left to be seen in negotiation. But whatever the reason is for me being paid under PAYE (which I don't prefer) it doesn't really mean anything just more headache for the production company. Thanks Chris

Thanks so very much for the responses! Definitely happy that I'm on the right tracks. I believe schedule D has been replaced with the UTR number but the UTR number doesn't quite cut it. Thanks, Stuart! Supplying gear seems a good way around things and is something I'm doing often. I don't think my monitors and focus units is enough (have to read up on it) but I often supply more than the usual camera kit. Thanks for all this!!! Seems like a good option!! Thanks Everyone!

Hello Everyone! I feel like I'm in the wrong thread but thought I'd give it ago. The following post is in no way exciting btw but I am in need of help! So I finished a job recently as a 1st Assistant Camera and was introduced (Vaguely) to Inland Revenue and the PAYE scheme and how as an Assistant Camera on a Multi-Day production (7 Day Rule) I should be paid on the PAYE Scheme (EU/UK) Meaning from my understanding as a Assistant Camera 1st or 2nd I'm not classified as a HOD (Head Of Department) because I'm of an "Assistant" role I.E not the big boys like the DOP, Key Grip, Camera OP etc I'm therefore not classified as a Self-Employed person or crew so I have to be paid normally under the PAYE Scheme (Pay as you earn) so my TAX/NI will be deducted for me like a normal job as an employee at Tescos for example. So I had a bit of a fright that even though we had a deal for X amount of money per day there is some risk that a big sum could have been cut for National Insurance and Tax. Now although this wasn't the case this time because I was classified on my invoice as a "Camerapersons" with Substantial provision of materials/equipment that I also provided to some level to do my job (Not basic tools for the trade) this makes me fall under a HOD so I am a Self-employed person responsible for doing my own TAX/NI.. how I like it. So with all that said there is still lots of uncertainty, I have in trying to understand it better and to avoid having this bite me in the butt in the future. So if anyone knows what I'm talking about at all! and if any of what I've said so far is correct here are be questions! Questions I'm self-employed as a camera assistant legally from my understanding I fall into the correct category from the "am I self-employed" gov.uk test and therefore I don't want to be paid under PAYE from production. I really wanna be paid in full and be responsible for my own TAX/NI. So to be paid as a self-employed Assistant Camera can I Be under the camerapersons grade legally Get an LP10 letter (Lorimer Letter) to classify me as a Self-Employed Person Be a limited company From you're experience as Producers, Assistant Cameras how do you do this? Or do just work under PAYE and forget about it? Any help would be great!!!!!!!! Thanks so much -Samuel

As a note This Website in the UK sells all types of cable fitted with H07RN-F from the Industry standard 16amp-63Amp CeeForm plugs even to the domestic 13 Amp (;

Thanks everyone for all the replies! No idea, it has SV on the cable, I'm not a gaffer by work but live on camera instead. Thanks for that Phil. Thanks for that, Yes the cable being used is actually marked as H07RN-F Titanex 1.5G, the "1.5G" meaning 1.5mm Guage I'm guessing. Overall the H07RN-F seems pretty expensive cable, is it worth changing any extension I buy to the stuff, Is it actually safer to work with over the pretty solid cable It's already got?

Thanks a bunch for your reply!!

Hello Guys, Quick question regarding cable thickness over here in the UK I recently bought a Heavy Duty 13 Amp extension cable "Standard Domestic 3 Pin Edison Plug" or Stinger over there in the US, Despite looking for a Heavy Duty cable it's still not as thick as the cable attached to any of my 2K ARRI Lights nor quite as rubberized or flexible. Question: So I'm curious for safety's sake and just pure interest, should normal 13 Amp cable be extra thick if you intend to run 12Amp through it continuously and if so is there a place I can buy thicker more rubberized/Flexible 13 Amp cable that is designed for motion pictures use over here in the UK? In case your curious the make of the cable I got is the popular amazon 10m Master Plug 1 gang. Cheers -Samuel

Haha, well probably not then I just happen to know a guy in the same area as you with an identical first and second name ^_^ urhmm.

Thanks for your response Phil, are you by any chance The Phil Rhodes.

Hello Guys, I know this has been posted before but I never found a conclusion to it. I've always learnt that you can't restrike/hot-strike HMI bulbs meaning to turn them off and straight back on without blowing the bulb full-stop. Every shoot I've ever been on this has never been the case nor even close to a concern from the DP. They restrike the bulb just 30 seconds after it being shut off even when the bulb has been on for 10-15mins or so, it makes a nasty sound from the bulb trying to re-light but other than that it's fine everytime. So if someone can clarify some questions for me? The term Hot-Strike literally means from striking the bulb when it's HOT HOT, like full temperature hot, then it will blow or not restrike? Does the ballast & bulb actually have a major impact on how safe it is to restrike in reality, not theory. If the top question is true, how long is it best to wait? The higher the wattage = the more heat so the longer the wait? Cheers Guys, will appreciate this.