My Wasted Life - February 9th, 2008:
Let's Get this Party Started...
A quick base touching to see how January finished up.
Project A: moves from the 'pushed' pile to the 'unknown' bin. Heard from a source close to things that the person who brought me in to meet the director is no longer attached to the project (which throws my likely involvement into question - you know, guilt by association) and suggests that said project might not even happen or at least they have no news on whether it will or won't. So I guess that comes off the 'hopefully to earn me money' list.
Project B: actually starts shooting tomorrow morning... so I might be a little busy for the next few weeks.
Big Project: had a meeting with the director yesterday - waiting to see if we have another one today. Things should be hotting up this coming weelk if the right people sign in the right places. Still not holdin' my breath, but still looking forward to it happening.
Outstanding project: is... erm... funnily enough - still outstanding. Except that it's not funny. I've still not been paid - not seen one red cent in four months. Patience is just about to run out. If they don't go into production in March like they promised - at which time apparently, all monies will be forthcoming...
Script A is still being proofread and having a few (well needed) tweaks from writing partner before it heads off over the Atlantic to jolly olde England... probably this weekend.
Script B - was supposed to 'talk' to one of the parties on monday... but by Thursday had heard nothing so checked in and was told that nothing can happen until third party has returned from business overseas. Definitely not holding my breath....
Outstanding Project still refused to pay me - despite my turning up at the office on the day they said they'd cough up some money... nice. Thanks for that.
The heating is still off... but the excellent news is that the insurance company have agreed to help out with the cost of replacing the defunct unit so by this time next week all in the house should be lovely and toasty warm.
So that's kinda where we are...
Since February kicked off there's a few opps hopefully opening up...
Got scripts going out to three places this week... that's three more than last week and three more bites at the cherry to see if something magical can happen this year.
Got up early today to watch me beloved West Ham throw away a 1 - 0 lead and force we the fans to sit through a torrid 1 - 1 draw which only further serves to fuel my ire at the current management.
Then went to do my laundry as I'll be needing clean socks for the upcoming shoot - also need a warm jacket to get me through three weeks worth of night shoots but ain't sorted that one yet.
Anyways... totally destroyed my high score on bejewelled 2.. for that is my time suck of choice... Bejewelled 2 on the Palm Treo. Previous high score was 125,000-ish... but totally smashed through that one and finally got out of the game at 227,960!!!!!
Woo Hoo!!!!
That won't be beaten any time soon and might just force me to cancel all high scores and start from scratch - or maybe I should persist with my new found productivity and see how far I can push these film projects... after all... that's why we're here, right?
and finally before I log off and upload this - just when you thought life couldn't get more ridiculous... how about this phone conversation I had this week.
Got a voicemail from a 'producer' who was apparently looking for an 'assistant director' - so if course, what could I do... I had to follow up. And the conversation went a little, if not a lot, like this:
Me: Tell me about the project.
Him: It's an action film. We're looking at somewhere between SAG low budget and ultra low budget. You're familiar with that?
Me: Yes.
Him: We're looking for someone to start right away. Probably for about 45 days. What's your rate?
Me: Well... that usually depends on the budget of the film.
Him: The budget's $200,000. I spend most of my money in post.
Me: Are you funded?
Him: Yes. We're looking to shoot for 25 days.
Me: 25? I've never shot more than 15 on a budget of 200,000.
Him: Well I like to take my time. Shoot for ten hours... you don't want to be going into twelve hours. You know how that goes?
Me: I do.
Him: And we'll shoot for 5 day weeks. You know how that goes?
Me: I do.
Him: We've got *** ********* attached. He's clean now so he won't be any trouble and he likes the script.
Me: Really? How much is he charging?
Him: He said he'd do it for $500 a day.
Me: 500?
Him: Yeah, he likes the script.
Me: So... How many days would he be working?
Him: all 25.
Me: So what's 500 times 25?
Him: 12,500.
Me: So out of $200,000 you're paying $12,500 just on *** ********'s salary?
Him: Well yeah. He really likes the script.
Me: I'm not questioning whether he likes the script. I'm just wondering how you're going to be able to pay everyone else on the movie out on what's left.
Him: Err... you know... thanks for calling Paul (click)
And with that, he hung up.
