Thanks guys for your thought and input on this, I truly appreciate your taking your time helping me! Reading your comments though I realised the need for more information about the project and my situation.
I've been very honest about the financial conditions of this project to everyone involved since day one. Some of the cast and crew are friends of mine from film school, they know exactly what this project is about. I already consider those who've joined this project as of late my friends, and again, I've been very upfront about the financial situation.
Offering points on a microbudget, of potential profits, means, working for free, with the off chance, like the lottery, they will get paid. I don't see it as a way of thanks.
Indietalk, and AcousticAL are right in their caution to you about this kind of payment – any person with a little experience knows they will never get paid so my advice is to be very open and up front about that.
I've told everyone who's now aboard since day one that I'll only be able to cover their expenses
(rent, travel costs and accommodation etc.) during principle photography. I've told them that other than that, I have no money to offer.
We're all young filmmakers trying to break into the industry. I've told them they'll be able to use material from this film for their reels, I've offered myself to cut their reels. That's one way for me to say thanks! But another way is to offer them a piece of the cake IF we happen to sell the movie. To me that's just fair considering I can't pay them a salary. Every body knows that they're making an investment. For them it's not an investment of money, but time. Everybody is fully aware that the movie may not make a single dime, but
if it does make any profit
(again, everybody's aware that's a big IF), then they know they own a piece of that pie. They've also invested in this film. They should get a generous cut from that potential profit.
That's a fine way of saying thanks according to me.
Aside; I prefer to be asked to work for free and then someday in the future
a check arrives with a little note thanking me for my time and here's a little
something because the movie made a profit. I don't like that carrot dangled
in front of me.
I agree with this. Instead of, "we could all be rich," how about "I need help" and then surprise them with $ if it makes any. Good will.
Let's say a micro budget film costs 30.000$ to make. The producer of that film asks you to work for free. As an example, let's say the film gets sold for 100.000$, that's a 70.000$ profit
(I know it's not this simple, and that there's a lot of other expenses etc, it's just an example). At the end of the day, you wind up getting paid 4% of that profit, 2800$, despite the fact you were basically asked to work for free. How's that a bad thing? To me that's the producer saying "Thank you for working on this project!
WE made a profit and here's
your cut!"... If I were the one getting paid those 4%, I'd love to work with that producer again!
If the movie only made 30.000$, the producer would break even, but neither he nor cast and crew would actually earn anything from this film. Is that fair or greedy? Should the producer hand out a percentage of what the film makes instead of the profit it makes, and accept that everyone earned a little something except him who lost most of his investment?
In the latter example the producer lost his money but got a finished feature, and the cast and crew got paid. What would you have done?
Mr., I also have to ask the other glaring question here. From what you've said about taking time off to learn screenwriting, this sounds like it's a first feature. Is that correct? What do you realistically think is the potential for profits from this film? First efforts rarely break even, much less turn any kind of profit (or even see much incomemat all). This is another reason you need to work out something with your cast and crew up front. If there are points offered for any potential profits, make that a very clear "when and if", but don't rely on that. The honest reality is there's nit much chance of that happening.
That's correct.
I have no idea what this film could make in profit... Probably nothing. I'll probably loose all the money I've invested in this film
(again). I'm fine with that
(It's still a lot cheaper than going to most film schools). We already tried shooting another version of this film 2 years ago, and we failed. I wasn't ready, no one was. I invested 15.000$ of my own saving. That was all the money I had at the time. Lost everything. Once I realised why we failed, I started working as much as I could at my day job at the time to save up more money for a second shot, and here we are. Giving it another shot. A little bit older. Maybe somewhat wiser, maybe not. I like to think we've learned a thing or two from our last mistakes. But you're right, we'll probably not make any money at all, and I've been very upfront about that fact.
And don't forget to feed them. Every shoot day, and for each meal time through which you work.
Just be sure that your budget includes $$ to feed people.
A good tip is to follow union rules for meals and breaks, even if non-union. This ensures you are treating your people right, and what they are used to as well, if they have worked union. Food is important! Must have the craft service table with munchies/bev all day too. Happy crew, happy movie (a variation of happy wife, happy life, but works lol).
Absolutely, I'll keep that in mind!
I spent 3 years (off and on) working on the script for my first feature (Surviving Family) and it was absolutely worth the time I spent on it. Congrats for finishing!
Awesome! It's a great feeling knowing you've actually written a script, regardless of how long it took! Thanks!
I hope you guys have a better understanding of what I'm trying to achieve. What would you've done in a situation like this?