Hiring a cinematographer in seattle

[Niki Mundo]

I've decided against shooting my own film because it's too overwhelming (I'll shoot the FX), I don't like thinking about lenses,stocks and blah blah all the time. I will leave that to the professionals!

 

So I want to shoot on 35mm (blimp and crystal), so that means I must "rent" the cinematographer with/without his/her equipment.. sounds expensive. Is there anyway I can avoid the $450-1000 daily rates most DP's charge. I put a ad on craigslist..

 

Also, This cameraman also must be "open-minded" as some scenes and stuff aren't entirely legal.

 

What about production insurance,i hope they come with some.

 

So I could afford $100 for a 4 hour shooting day, maybe someone owns a 35BL in Seattle..

 

Niki Mundo

[Patrick McGowan]

What's the non-legal part, the squibs, the burnt cars, maybe even real gunfire?!?!

 

I wish I could shoot this. If I only had my own 35mm camera. This would be an experience.

[Jonathan Bowerbank]

Is there anyway I can avoid the $450-1000 daily rates most DP's charge. I put a ad on craigslist..

 

You should be able to easily find someone with a good reel, some experience and who's willing to do it just for the experience and demo reel addition. Especially if you're shooting 35

[Kevin Zanit]

Why on earth would a cinematographer come with production insurance?

[Pete Von Tews]

Why on earth would a cinematographer come with production insurance?

 

That sounds like a movie in itself!

[Dan Salzmann]

So you are looking for a cinematographer to risk their safety and/or the safety of their equipment for no cost or liability to yourself to work on a film involving "illegal stuff and scenes".

What kind of "illegal stuff and scenes"? What kind of risks and dangers are involved?

[Brian Drysdale]

Yep, the making of this movie sounds better than the movie itself.

 

The cinematographer usually has their own equipment insurance (although, some productions do put it on the their insurance), but the production insurance is up to the production company to arrange.

[GeorgeSelinsky]

Also, This cameraman also must be "open-minded" as some scenes and stuff aren't entirely legal.

 

Shooting without a permit is one thing. You camera can get confiscated in some instances, but if it's a few handheld shots on the street that should be no problem for many.

 

Shooting pyrotechnics and stunts carelessly is another. If you can't do it safely and properly, don't put it in the script. Even if someone were to have insurance, insurance companies don't pay if it's proven you were doing something carelessly or illegally. And if something were to happen to that person and they had insurance, the insurance company would sue YOU to reclaim the damages.

 

If you want to take serious risks, do them yourself. When a wire guy sets up his wire harnesses, or creates a hangman's noose, he always tests it on HIMSELF before putting the actors through it. Get a camera, whatever you need, and do the risky stuff yourself if you can't afford to secure the safety of others.

[Brad Grimmett]

Yep, the making of this movie sounds better than the movie itself.

 

The cinematographer usually has their own equipment insurance (although, some productions do put it on the their insurance)

Not true. Most cinematographers probably DO have insurance on their gear (if they own any), but production is expected to supply insurance for every job. I'm sure you can find exceptions, but this is the rule. They're the one's renting the gear, which many other people will have access to, so they need to insure it. Obviously, if you rent from Panavision or Clairmont, or any other rental house, they demand that you have insurance to cover their gear. Why should it be any different for an owner/operator?

[Brad Grimmett]

Also, This cameraman also must be "open-minded" as some scenes and stuff aren't entirely legal.

 

Niki Mundo

There are plenty of criminals around. I'm sure you can find one. Hey, that will be perfect since you want to shoot your actors and trash a rental car! An ex-con would be perfect for the job, since many ex-cons are extremely "open-minded".

[Brian Drysdale]

Not true. Most cinematographers probably DO have insurance on their gear (if they own any), but production is expected to supply insurance for every job. I'm sure you can find exceptions, but this is the rule. They're the one's renting the gear, which many other people will have access to, so they need to insure it. Obviously, if you rent from Panavision or Clairmont, or any other rental house, they demand that you have insurance to cover their gear. Why should it be any different for an owner/operator?

 

It also depends if the cinematographer is hiring the gear or the production company. Knowing some British broadcasters you'd insure your own gear: for a while one had a contract which almost made the freelance DP responsible for what would be offered by production insurance. The DP also provided the crew, so they needed employers insurance to cover this, plus the public liability.

 

If you're shooting industrials/corporates for organisations, they might have their standard business insurance, but there's a good chance it doesn't cover a freelancer's camera gear.

 

Agreed most productions do have full cover.

[Niki Mundo]

So you are looking for a cinematographer to risk their safety and/or the safety of their equipment for no cost or liability to yourself to work on a film involving "illegal stuff and scenes".

What kind of "illegal stuff and scenes"? What kind of risks and dangers are involved?

 

I mean when I say "illegal" I mean a few scenes where weapons that aren't made for film productions, no permits everywhere , some risky stuntwork (not for the cinematographer but the willing actors), being on private property without permission.. stuff like that. Nothing really evil but if the DP is an englishman who gets his panties in a bunch I wouldn't want to waste his time or mine.

[Chris Keth]

Can I get hazard pay the entire shoot?

[Niki Mundo]

Can I get hazard pay the entire shoot?

Yes, you get an extra $34 dollar a day for live-fire weapon scenes and those where actual police are "detained".

[Chris Keth]

Yes, you get an extra $34 dollar a day for live-fire weapon scenes and those where actual police are "detained".

 

Let me guess, since I have lots of experience with craigslist ads. That is on top of the base pay rate of credit, a copy of the film, meals, and the privilege of working with passionate filmmakers?

[James Steven Beverly]

I mean when I say "illegal" I mean a few scenes where weapons that aren't made for film productions, no permits everywhere , some risky stuntwork (not for the cinematographer but the willing actors), being on private property without permission.. stuff like that. Nothing really evil but if the DP is an englishman who gets his panties in a bunch I wouldn't want to waste his time or mine.

 

If your shooting in the city limits and you have firearms and you DON'T inform everyone INCLUDING the poe-lice, expect to spend some time bent over the hood of a car with your feet spread and in handcuffs while 5-O pats you down in the most embarrassing of places along with the rest of your cast and crew, then expect to have your weapons and maybe your film equipment confiscated as evidence and be hauled off to the pokey. Cops tend to get very nervous and belligerent when they have to deal with people who are waving guns around. Now I own a lot of movie equipment it's taken me several years and a lot of cash to acquire so why would I risk losing it, having it damaged or confiscated so I have to go to court to get it back in order to shoot a job that pays poop?

 

You'll note Rodriguez used the Mexican police and THEIR guns on Meriachi bucause even HE wasn't willing to break THAT particular rule.

 

Think III'M full of poop? A friend of mine was shooting a mob movie on high 8 for Christ's sake, did a scene where a character was being beaten up, no guns AND the lead of the video WAS a police officer, and the cops STILL came out because some neighbor called them thinking the beating was real. Another crew was shooting a shootout scene on the roof of a 15 story building and HAD permission to use the roof but HADN'T let the police in on this little nugget of information, that they were shooting a movie up there, and so they ended up laying flat on the roof, face down, spread eagle while cops with guns drawn stood over them threatening to KILL them if they moved about a third of the way through the sequence because people in building around them saw what appeared to be a shootout, not noticing the camera and THIS IS EL PASO where no one really gives a poop. They're lucky they weren't all shot.

 

Also on the stunts, if your stunt man gets hurt or killed and you are not insured or have not formed a cooperate shield for your production company, they will go after YOU for medical, pain and suffering or wrongful death, which means you will be paying the settlement off until you are a little old lady. BUT do what you want! :rolleyes: As for permits, the cops will just shut you down more than likely, as for being on private property, they'll probably just throw you off the property if you get caught, BUT if you come back, then the police WILL arrest you. B)

Edited November 7, 2007 by James Steven Beverly

[Niki Mundo]

If your shooting in the city limits and you have firearms and you DON'T inform everyone INCLUDING the poe-lice, expect to spend some time bent over the hood of a car with your feet spread and in handcuffs while 5-O pats you down in the most embarrassing of places along with the rest of your cast and crew, then expect to have your weapons and maybe your film equipment confiscated as evidence and be hauled off to the pokey. Cops tend to get very nervous and belligerent when they have to deal with people who are waving guns around. Now I own a lot of movie equipment it's taken me several years and a lot of cash to acquire so why would I risk losing it, having it damaged or confiscated so I have to go to court to get it back in order to shoot a job that pays poop?

 

You'll note Rodriguez used the Mexican police and THEIR guns on Meriachi bucause even HE wasn't willing to break THAT particular rule.

 

Think III'M full of poop? A friend of mine was shooting a mob movie on high 8 for Christ's sake, did a scene where a character was being beaten up, no guns AND the lead of the video WAS a police officer, and the cops STILL came out because some neighbor called them thinking the beating was real. Another crew was shooting a shootout scene on the roof of a 15 story building and HAD permission to use the roof but HADN'T let the police in on this little nugget of information, that they were shooting a movie up there, and so they ended up laying flat on the roof, face down, spread eagle while cops with guns drawn stood over them threatening to KILL them if they moved about a third of the way through the sequence because people in building around them saw what appeared to be a shootout, not noticing the camera and THIS IS EL PASO where no one really gives a poop. They're lucky they weren't all shot.

 

Also on the stunts, if your stunt man gets hurt or killed and you are not insured or have not formed a cooperate shield for your production company, they will go after YOU for medical, pain and suffering or wrongful death, which means you will be paying the settlement off until you are a little old lady. BUT do what you want! :rolleyes: As for permits, the cops will just shut you down more than likely, as for being on private property, they'll probably just throw you off the property if you get caught, BUT if you come back, then the police WILL arrest you. B)

:rolleyes: Jaaaaaaames! Save the dramtics for the screen please. All this negative energy man, You just have to Believe it will happen and the universe will grant it because the universe wants you to succeed.

See?

:lol: Cops aren't ominpresent. I know how to defeat the system well enough. You have the snitches and you have the patrol cars. You take those out of the equation you have the solution. It's called spikes in the road.

Just kidding, I'm just kidding everyone- please no more responses pleaase.

 

Hey- if it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

[Saba Mazloum]

:rolleyes: Jaaaaaaames! Save the dramtics for the screen please. All this negative energy man, You just have to Believe it will happen and the universe will grant it because the universe wants you to succeed.

See?

 

Err did you get those lines from the Documentary The Secret?

[James Steven Beverly]

:rolleyes: Jaaaaaaames! Save the dramtics for the screen please. All this negative energy man, You just have to Believe it will happen and the universe will grant it because the universe wants you to succeed.

See?

Hey- if it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

 

Niki baby, It's not negativity, it's experience. As for dramatics, being an actor, writer and director, that's.... kinda my job, in ADDITION to being a level headed producer which is what you also need to be.

 

There's somethin' to be said for your philosophy, a lot in fact. God does help those who just won't give up BUT just remember, God also HATES stupidity. Keep that in mind when you're planning this epic.

 

Oh and BTW it's Steve actually and you are right, it ain't easy, it's a bitch, but it's something VERY few people can do well and it's worth doing if you do it right so keep on truckin', kid, who knows maybe all this attitude will show up an screen and THAT may be somethin'. B)

[Jesse Cairnie]

:lol: Cops aren't ominpresent.

 

you're right.. but gun fire sounds are.. and people pretty much always call the police.. good luck though..

 

start with the name "Chris Mosio" he is a Seattle local..

 

you prolly cant afford him but he will send you in the right direction...

Edited November 8, 2007 by Jesse Cairnie

[Brian Drysdale]

On a low budget film being shot in the countryside we used some marine smoke flares for a smoke effect. Unfortunately, one unexpectedly sent a distress rocket up into the air, 15 minutes later the cops arrived. They were friendly, but if we had been firing guns without their knowledge they'd have been less so. You can't hide the sound of gun fire and unless there's common reason for it occurring in an area, it's going to attract attention.

 

I've pushed things to the limit on low budget films, but you have to know how far to push it and if it's a deal breaker when you go over the edge.

 

Oh, sometimes it's not just the cops you have to worry about, it could be some local elements who dislike the attention you're bringing to the area and they tend not to be as polite as the cops.

[Dan Salzmann]

Yep, police like to be informed so that they can deal with eventual complaints from private citizens.

An alternative is to hire an off-duty police officer to be on-set security and have them do the talking when the heat comes. If they aren't allowed to be hired off-duty because of local ordinances, offer to make a donation to the Police Benevolent Fund or somesuch organization. Make sure he/she is well stocked with donuts and coffee when on-set.

He or she might even be able to give you some technical hints.

As far as running around with guns on private property, unannounced and without permission.

What if the owner of said property gets nervous, grabs their gun and starts blasting? BIG PROBLEM!

I've been shot at by farmers whose property we were on without permission and our crew did not have any firearms, props or real.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure in these situations.

Yes the universe wants you to succeed but if you ensure that it won't then the universe will help you to make it fail.

Make the police your friends even if your "political stance" makes them "enemies".

A wise person makes more use of their enemies than a fool makes of their friends.

[Niki Mundo]

Dan.. I plan on making the policeman my friend- when I have the money. See, the police are just like the unions and everything are great when you got the backing and are up out of the dredges of ultra-low budget filmmaking. At this level they prevent you from accomplishing your film. This is true..I was shooting in a parking garage once, no guns, no lights,no crew- just me, a girl , an arri and a dream. Anyways, I was spotted by the security gaurd and this dude flips out and orders us out (I had to get the shot so I said "yeahyeah" and stalled.. he calls the police and (2) cruisers show up and there's this big deal and we get detained for awhile, then trespassed. Nobody NO ONE likes low-budget filmmakers (not even other filmmakers)- so you gotta know that going in, you have to be combat ready, and be ready to run and hide live to fight another day.

 

Seattle police are overzealous to begin with. Especially since 1999 WTO and 9/11. Everyone's a "bad guy".

I wouldn't try to egg them on because I don't have the money (or firepower-hahajustkidding) to deal effectively.

 

Hey, when did this become a police public relations thread? I need a DP or a passionate wannabe at least.

 

Any Cinematography.com persons live in western washington state/oregon or B.C. should email me!

[Brad Grimmett]

A wise person makes more use of their enemies than a fool makes of their friends.

I like that Dan. Something to remember. I certainly wish I'd had that advice in the back of my head in a lot of situations. As for Niki....it may be too early for this advice to have much impact yet, but maybe I'm wrong....

[Brian Drysdale]

I think you've still got to learn that you use your passion to get people on your side during the planning so that they WANT to help you during shoot. This is what producers do, they're sales people not combat troops.

 

It's surprising how, with a bit of work on the phones, you can find people who will help you with locations and facities.

 

If you go the other way in the long term you are the loser.