Everything sounds cool in the world of glitz and glam (Film Industry), doesn’t it? But who knew what a miserable life a crew member would have to face working with the wrong people while shooting for a film. However, this doesn’t go for every crew member out there but for those who’ve been mistreated and in other words, fooled by the so-called ‘Producers’.
Recently, an American Director and Writer from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, based in New York City shared her experience of working with some of the famous names in the Pakistani Film Industry and how she got fired from the project merely because she refused to work any longer without a deal memo (crew contract). How unfair!
You will be appalled to read the way she was treated…
Hey guys. I’ve been just fired from a feature because I wouldn’t keep working without a deal memo. After 10 days of work, I was not happy with the way the producers treated the crew. They wanted us to work overtime without getting compensation, they would feed us pizza as meals while they would eat lamb kebabs (one day they didn’t feed crew for 9 hours) and they also didn’t want crew to have a minimum 10 hours turn around and made us work bare feet around gear because of location (which they should have gotten booties for). Part of the crew got together and made a list of demands that should be agreed upon by the producers (paid overtime after 12 hours; 10 hours turnaround at least; a contract that ensures payment and good work conditions; and a hot decent meal every 6 hours). By the way, this was not a low budget film – they had big name actors, expensive locations and never were short on money for equipment – that’s what makes it worse. When confronted about the bad work conditions, the producer said if that’s what we want we should leave because she’s not signing any document and we should just TRUST her that we will get paid and that the work conditions will get better. Then, obviously, most of us didn’t stay. But some crew members did. And that’s the point of my post – they shouldn’t have.
This is not how movies are made. “Producers” – meaning, people that think they know how to produce a film because they have some money – need to understand this is not a play time/having fun game , this is a serious industry that has basic rules and regulations.
I know in the indie world its not realistic to expect amazing pay or short easy days.
But I came here to ask my fellow free lancers:
When facing a situation like this one, please stand up for the industry. Don’t let people exploit us and under appreciate our work. If you don’t get enough sleep, proper meals and decent work conditions you’re putting your life and health at risk. Stand up for yourself, your rights and help keep the film industry safe and fair.
We have an awesome job, the best in the world! Let’s keep it that way!
If you want to save yourself some trouble be careful not to get hired by this project! They are shooting in Michigan, it’s called HUNZA. Line producer Asad Shah, executive producers Moimina (last name unknown),from INC HUM TV, Farhat Qazi, and DP Fahran Alam. They flew me to Detroit (from LA) then they fired me because I didn’t want to accept the exploitation and didn’t pay for my flight back or made any arrangements of how I’d leave the small town I was in.
If we all stand together we can only make this industry better!
Please feel free to share.
https://www.facebook.com/paula.palumbo.9/posts/10213009565290468
Such a shame! It is indeed despicable to see how these Pakistani producers are treating their crew just as they treat them in their home country without any moral or ethics, and how they take advantage of them where ever they go. Truly shows their unprofessionalism and this exploitation needs to stop. No one deserves to put their lives and health at risk by working in such work environment.
Let’s share this post as much as we can so no one else ends up working for such ruthless and ignorant people. Work ethics and protocols should be followed EVERYWHERE. Paula wasn’t the only one who went through this, there were many others amongst her.
However, if you’re being mistreated, speak up for your rights, because you simply did not sign up for this.