Production Without Product

I think what's the most difficult thing about making movies in Los Angeles is that most the people here are on the path of doing what they want to do as a profession. So naturally, I can't ask for people to do these things for free anymore. There are no promises, and the people who do support and come out to help will need some type of compensation. Living in this town is expensive. Working for free is not good. I mean, specifically, crew though.

It is really hard to lean on someone whose sole focus is to get the next gig. They can't expect to live if you don't have a budget to function. I can, because I have a "day job." Most can't, because their day job is...literally during the day. In my hometown, their day job is really monotonous and dreary. The distraction of being on a film set is enticing. In Los Angeles, it'd be like working at McDonald's and going to a picnic that was making hamburgers. You don't complain about it, but still...

There is a fine balance of people who are available and those who have the same level of experience. I would guess the ones who have established themselves would volunteer simply to be teachers. For instance, a friend of mine got an Oscar winning cinematographer to shoot her project. I'm surprise more of this isn't made available. A mentorship of experience with newbie filmmaker. But, even they have a mortgage to fill. Again, I wholeheartedly believe enthusiasm does trump experience. Given a go-getter, they will break the barrier faster than a cynical been-there-done-that-bore (me).

The hardest ones to find are production. The ones who guide and schedule. This, by far, is the least glamorous of jobs. Moving things here and there and everywhere. AND then never getting credit. A great producer wants the logistics. At the early stages, I'm sure the title means power. Only to discover it means unclogging a toilet at a soundstage.  Or figuring out the insurance crap when renting gear. Or delivering gear to people. Or being shouted at by various people who you don't know. You have to keep your sense of humor, while juggling egos. Actresses, for a lack of better example, are unpredictable. Actually, strike that...EVERYONE is unpredictable on a film set. What you expect and what you get may be a difference of a few things, or it could be a mile. It's gruesome.

So you better love the story you want to tell.