Malcolm Davies Amps CAS

Here in the UK we can buy "Stick Pads". These are usually rubber or can be PVC and are made to go on the ends of walking sticks. The size range is from 10mm to 32mm so they will do anything from thin high heels to canteen chair legs. I carry a box in my floor bag with a selection of all the sizes. Malcolm Davies. A.m.p.s. (Production Sound Mixer.)

ZTS make a couple of small units which are relatively inexpensive and very good. Malcolm Davies. Am.p.s. (Production Sound Mixer.)

>>For example, lets say you have a production and for some reason they scrap a whole part of the script thus remove a production day.. do I then have to give back some of the money? I think not.. Or worse yet a day or two were added to the production (which happens more often then not), Imagine how awkward it becomes to now ask for additional money midway though shooting?? Why do these Producers insist on saying, $XXXX.XX for the whole shoot?<< Surely the fee for the whole shoot is at the time of the issue of the contract. If a couple of days are added then this is an extra charge. Happens all the time in the UK. Malcolm Davies. A.m.p.s. (Production Sound Mixer.)

No matter what you charge for yourself or your gear someone will always do it cheaper. I did a TV series in Eastern Europe for a famous LA studio and charged my normal rate for myself and my gear and this was paid without quibble. The following year they asked me back but wanted me to supply an extra (smaller) set of equipment for a second unit using local labour. The total package should have been about $6000 but they offered $4000 which was lower than the previous year with less gear. I turned them down but needless to say someone else did it. Malcolm Davies. A.m.p.s. (Production Sound Mixer.)

>>While a funny story, those coordinates would put the sceanario out over the << Behave yourself Eric! Does it matter where it is. Malcolm Davies.

A man in a hot air balloon realised he was lost. He reduced altitude and spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted, "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am." The woman below replied, "You are in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You are between 40 and 41 degrees North latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees West longitude." "You must be a Production Supervisor." said the balloonist. "I am." replied the woman, "How did you know?" "Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is, I am still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help so far." The woman below responded, "Then you must be a Producer. "I am," replied the balloonist, "But how did you know?" "Well," said the woman, "You don't know where you are or where you are going. You have risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's my fault!" Regards, from a cold but sunny UK. Malcolm Davies. A.m.p.s. Production Sound Mixer.

I've found that a withering look and the question "What part of quiet don't you understand"? usually has the desired effect on noisy crew members. Regards, Malcolm Davies. A.m.p.s. (Production Sound Mixer.)

>it was insulting that a company would come from France and offer what is the equivalent of about 150 Euros/day. I doubt that's the going rate in France or anywhere else in Europe. That's 125 Pounds/day for those in the U.K., and I doubt very much they could even rent the gear for that. I hope nobody accepted this offer.< Don't be under any illusions! Someone will have done it. Regards, Malcolm Davies. A.m.p.s.

Unfortunately the American film industry operates with dual standards. You fight like hell to keep non US nationals out of the US on film jobs but bleat like spoiled children when we complain about you coming into the UK which you seem to think is your right. I think its time for a bit of a reform to take place. M.Davies. A.m.p.s.

No matter where you set up you'll be in someones way. I remember a British cinematographer called Dennis Coop who said that when he came to light a shot he looked where the sound cart was and this was the place for the keylight and then he looked for make-up and that's where the fill-light went. Malcolm Davies. A.m.p.s. (Production Sound Mixer.)

In response to Vins query, I own the company that manufactures the cart that Brian uses. I've just completed som mods for him so he can have a laptop shelf and a brolly holder.

I feel for you guys@ It can be bad here in the UK but by the sound of it you are having a raw deal. I usually set up a 10 metre exclusion cell phone zone round the cart as even when they are on silent I hear all sorts of tones breaking into the system. A warning of "My bite is worse than my Bark" is usually enough to make trangressors go somewhere else.