480sound Posted June 15, 2019 Report Share Posted June 15, 2019 The 2 person sound crew is making a comeback thanks to the International. "Comeback Trail" (no joke) staring Robert DeNiro, Morgan Freeman and Tommy Lee Jones is coming to New Mexico to start shooting next week. Producers have figured out they can come to NM and by-pass the ASA contract and sign "One Off's". Not only do they get reduced crew at reduced rates they also get the local rebates. There are eleven producers listed on iMDB, no downsizing there. This is the second time I know of a major production doing this. The other film was Hell or High Water. Now that the International has made this a standard for "One Off's " why would any other producer allow for more than a 2 person crew? Does anyone know of other departments that producers can restrict the number of crew? Is there anyone at 695 aware of this change in crew staffing? Concerned and pissed off that major film can get away this, who signs these contracts at the International? Frantically (spell check) and Sororally David Brownlow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonG Posted June 15, 2019 Report Share Posted June 15, 2019 Proof that even when a state is willing to essentially help finance your film, even though your studio has the money, that greed knows no bounds. This is WHY unions exist. Because you can’t trust employers to do the right thing. They’re already getting people for 12h days, let’s make them double up on duties and leave them high and dry when they need an extra set of hands (like a second boom for example). Hopefully NM will get a strong union that won’t give into one-offs, right to work nonsense, and any other employer oppression. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Westgate Posted June 30, 2019 Report Share Posted June 30, 2019 Typical short changing where the sound mixer should explain the function of a 3rd person Done it many times stating that rehearsals and shooting can continue while the 3rd sorts out a headphone/timecode/radio mike issue Also with shows needing lots of lavs plus a boom the task of applying lavs can be very busy Oh dear! mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjh Posted June 30, 2019 Report Share Posted June 30, 2019 With that cast every single mixer who gets offered that job should turn it down until a 2AS is confirmed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afewmoreyears Posted June 30, 2019 Report Share Posted June 30, 2019 6 hours ago, cjh said: With that cast every single mixer who gets offered that job should turn it down until a 2AS is confirmed. Ahhh ha ha ha ha ha.... Ha Ha Ha ha ha.... LOL NO SPINES!!!! They could drop it to $15 an hour Micro budget tier -20 and some ass*&^e will take that job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLightstone Posted June 30, 2019 Report Share Posted June 30, 2019 David, I've made the Executive of Local 695 aware of this issue. I will keep you informed of what transpires. Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Actual visual sound Posted July 1, 2019 Report Share Posted July 1, 2019 This topic is interesting because where I'm from Union or Association does not exist to protect in our interest. Having Two assistant is a luxury and at the expenses of the Sound mixer because the will never pay for the second Assistant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afewmoreyears Posted July 1, 2019 Report Share Posted July 1, 2019 They will pay in time, money and frustration ... Miking 7 people, with one boom op will make them wait, and frustrate them, not having a second boom op will make their show suffer, and having your only guy busy while needing to prep a set or move or set up gear and it will cost them... All of it will cost them.. Without having done it, they are clueless to save themselves. The third person saves them, not the mixer, as soon as they understand that, they will begin to help themselves rather than shoot themselves in the foot.. We have been slammed with 3 people, often... 2, we would of been dead with a logjam at the sound area.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Feeley Posted July 1, 2019 Report Share Posted July 1, 2019 When they say, "Waiting on sound." We say, "Waiting on Producers' parsimony." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted July 1, 2019 Report Share Posted July 1, 2019 It may end up being one of those terrible situations where the first-hire PSM with only one A2 gets run over during the first few days of production and fired for being "obstructionist" or some other producer term, and their replacement is able to then negotiate the hiring of a 3rd for the rest of the shoot. It's happened (to me). In the smoke and fire of that PSM getting canned the show's DP may wake up to the fact that a "slow" shoot ultimately reflects on her or him, and that anything that will help move things along benefits them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjh Posted July 1, 2019 Report Share Posted July 1, 2019 The slower on set pace a 2 person crew work at is only half the argument, to me a 3 person crew is as much about what that 3rd person can also offer as a fast deploy 2nd boom and onset problem solver which has a direct effect on the end result of the quality and usability of the production audio. My aim is to get the best audio possible and that is always my main discussion point when negotiating a 3rd or 4th person, on set work flow speed is also a valid argument but I use it as a secondary point, fair to say that is often the clincher in terms of production saying yes. It's all project and budget specific of course and sometimes a 2 person crew is acceptable but the project mentioned in this thread is definitely not one of those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted July 2, 2019 Report Share Posted July 2, 2019 Interestingly enough, the quality of audio recorded for the production almost never seems to enter in to the discussion.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonG Posted July 2, 2019 Report Share Posted July 2, 2019 And yet any time a second or third camera + camera crew are needed, there’s always enough in the pot for that. But just paying for sound on its own is asking too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjh Posted July 2, 2019 Report Share Posted July 2, 2019 to coin a new old phrase: Two's company, three's a crew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonG Posted July 2, 2019 Report Share Posted July 2, 2019 48 minutes ago, cjh said: to coin a new old phrase: Two's company, three's a crew. Love it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Westgate Posted July 2, 2019 Report Share Posted July 2, 2019 On 7/1/2019 at 2:31 AM, afewmoreyears said: Ahhh ha ha ha ha ha.... Ha Ha Ha ha ha.... LOL NO SPINES!!!! They could drop it to $15 an hour Micro budget tier -20 and some ass*&^e will take that job. Until they screw up! mike On 7/2/2019 at 2:30 AM, Jim Feeley said: When they say, "Waiting on sound." We say, "Waiting on Producers' parsimony." Good words Jim mike 19 hours ago, Philip Perkins said: Interestingly enough, the quality of audio recorded for the production almost never seems to enter in to the discussion.... Or stress on the sound crew either! mike 17 hours ago, cjh said: to coin a new old phrase: Two's company, three's a crew. Good comment Chris! mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Westgate Posted July 2, 2019 Report Share Posted July 2, 2019 Sorry a war story! Working on the first season of a US series shot here in NZ there were frequent long walk and talks on beaches. At a time with no Lectro radio mikes or external aerials I needed a person to page the receivers on long cables and ended up with an American producer doing it lol! I guess I made the point and in due course I was allowed a third (female) person. She worked a my 3rd asst on my next (Canadian) series and when they saw money was tight threatened to get rid of all the trainees hence I said "if she goes I go" That resulted in her and me staying! Since then, that person has been a director and is now a producer so supporting young people into the industry is a payoff to everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Actual visual sound Posted July 3, 2019 Report Share Posted July 3, 2019 5 hours ago, Mike Westgate said: Sorry a war story! Working on the first season of a US series shot here in NZ there were frequent long walk and talks on beaches. At a time with no Lectro radio mikes or external aerials I needed a person to page the receivers on long cables and ended up with an American producer doing it lol! I guess I made the point and in due course I was allowed a third (female) person. She worked a my 3rd asst on my next (Canadian) series and when they saw money was tight threatened to get rid of all the trainees hence I said "if she goes I go" That resulted in her and me staying! Since then, that person has been a director and is now a producer so supporting young people into the industry is a payoff to everyone That was brave Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Westgate Posted July 3, 2019 Report Share Posted July 3, 2019 Hi A in Nigeria, Thanks so much I have long trained men and women who have done well in our industry. If a production does not support that or even a boom operator on smaller shoots, when we need a boom operator the reality is that they now pumping coffee or gas in order to survive. I recently needed a boom op for 1 day on a drama with little luck. I contacted an amazing guy who had worked with me on a very difficult feature shoot. His answer - "I'm driving trains for a regular wage, have a wife and a mortgage now" Yep I understand! mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Actual visual sound Posted July 3, 2019 Report Share Posted July 3, 2019 4 hours ago, Mike Westgate said: Hi A in Nigeria, Thanks so much I have long trained men and women who have done well in our industry. If a production does not support that or even a boom operator on smaller shoots, when we need a boom operator the reality is that they now pumping coffee or gas in order to survive. I recently needed a boom op for 1 day on a drama with little luck. I contacted an amazing guy who had worked with me on a very difficult feature shoot. His answer - "I'm driving trains for a regular wage, have a wife and a mortgage now" Yep I understand! mike Mike you are very correct!!! I wish the industry could support Boom ops with better payment. I'm taking up a Boom op job with Spanish film crew coming down to Nigeria to Film and what they are offering is not encouraging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronFilm Posted July 4, 2019 Report Share Posted July 4, 2019 19 hours ago, Mike Westgate said: I recently needed a boom op for 1 day on a drama with little luck. I would've been keen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Izen Ears Posted August 5, 2019 Report Share Posted August 5, 2019 I have never felt bad about turning down 2-person jobs. If they are receptive I’ll explain, but most of the time it’s “bye.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newzhack Posted August 6, 2019 Report Share Posted August 6, 2019 I continually get offered movies with a 1 person sound department. I tell them it is impossible. I live in Oklahoma. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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