Expert: Alessandro Machi - 10/29/2006

Question
Hello,

I'm involved in a short film at the moment, and I'm working under a novice director. I'm a fresh film school graduate myself. I'm currently the Production Designer of the film, and I've been coming to blows with the director of late.

The film had some problems, due to organisation, as the director is producing it as well as directing, and has taken on board a lot of work. My problems with him are that he gloats openely about being manipulative with all the cast and crew (without any knowledge or skill at manipulating, it must be said.)

He sent me this email today;
"I'm about to shake things up violently on the film, watch how a truely angry and frankly downright evil person screws everyone for himself.
Yep, in swoop the legal eagles. Anyone in my way now gets crushed, anyone talks back gets fired. Cast included. No one is safe.
I've started fishing for replacements. I will make MY film, no one elses."

I haven't responded to this yet. I'm bristling with anger, obviously. I've heard that it's often good to hold your tongue in situations like this; but I'm struggling.  
I have begun to compose a response, but needed a second opinion to someone with more far more experience please.   

"I understand you're very determined to make this film the best it can be, but what did you hope to gain by saying that the way you did there?  

Filmmaking is not a one person sport. No-one is right all the time; and isn't the great thing about working with contemporaries that share your vison and that you can mutually respect, is that you can trust someone to tell you honestly and constructively when you're wrong?  

Respect is a two way thing. If you don't respect people as your contemporaries, then they're not likely to respect you.

However; I'll do exactly what you say to make this film exactly what you want it to be; and nothing will change me putting in my 100%. I'm just expressing perfectly reasonable opinions."

I even suspect that this response will get me fired.

This is my first job since I graduated, so the experience is important for me. I respect that he's the director; and I've held my tongue and 'played dumb' through all of the production so far.

Is there any way to check such a person? I don't want to be unprofessional and petty enough to threaten to walk myself, as I don't want to sink to his maturity level.

I'm asking as I feel I may encounter this in my career in the future too, so I'd like this to be a learning curve. Is there a professional way of showing I won't be intimidated by such behaviour, please?

Thank you so much for your time,

Klara  

Answer
Hi Klara, I just recently came on board to "All Experts" and just now discovered there is a question pool. Your question still appears to be answerable since you ask how to deal with similar situations in the future.

First I'll shine the spotlight on you so that you can see I was paying attention to what you wrote, then I'll try and give you some solutions. Early on you state that "I'm currently the Production Designer of the film, and I've been coming to blows with the director of late.", then later on you state... "I respect that he's the director; and I've held my tongue and 'played dumb' through all of the production so far".....

One problem with many confrontations is trying to define what started the problem. We all probably remember the classic line when growing up... "HE/SHE started it!" Probably at the root of your situation is defining what "started it". Was it the director making unfair requests of
people who may or may not be being paid, or not having the proper budget to create what the director is asking for? Are there people on the set who don't really want to be there, have no faith in the director, or just don't take the project seriously?

If the director has correctly identified a mutiny occurring among his production crew, than his instincts are correct in trying to clean house before the ship completely sinks. If however, the director is just asking for way more from his crew than can be realistically expected, then a group meeting needs to happen in which these issues are discussed openly among all the department heads and the director.

As for future situations you come across, directors in many instances can be both very much disliked, yet still be successful. Their success can sometimes come from weeding out anyone on their set that is creating negative energy towards accomplishing the task at hand.

Here are some scenarios you can evaluate that might help you decide whether or not to take a future production job.

1. I'm being paid enough to pay the rent this month and the safety of the cast and crew is always apparent. Artistic differences and personality clashes are not enough reason to not do the work since I get paid even if we get behind schedule, and neither the cast or crew is being put into a dangerous situation.

2. I'm not being paid enough to pay my rent nor is there enough budget for me to do my job correctly, as a result I am being stressed beyond my wildest dreams. However, no one on the crew has been put in a dangerous situation and I'm willing to do this type of production once or twice more if I can afford it and the job doesn't go on for very long. I'll then have a bit of a resume and hopefully I can try and get jobs that have the kind of production value I want to be associated with.

3. I'm not being paid enough and the set has become a toxic place to be, no care is going into anything related to the happiness and well being or safety of the cast and crew. Craft services are awful and the work day is way too long. Because of these poor working conditions we are not getting enough done. Elitist behavior by higher ups are causing the production crew to work harder and longer than is necessary and unless a group meeting happens, I'm outta here.

4. I'm not being paid enough but I'm not living month to month and I do believe in the project. I believe I am surrounded by a lot of people I respect and cast & crew safety parameters are in place and being enforced. The project is progressing as planned and as time goes on I am beginning to see the directors vision more clearly, and/or he/she is trusting my judgement more.

5. I am being paid well enough and working conditions are fine but I do not believe in the project and don't want to have anything to do with it's creation.

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There are a few more scenarios that I could have portrayed but those five scenarios do cover many situations you may find yourself in. Ideally, when working for no pay or low pay, don't commit to more than a few days of consecutive work and leave an opt out option if you feel the production is being compromised by bad management or if you feel cast and crew safety is being ignored.

The safety of the set and the working environment should always be the number one priority. Where I draw the line is when a "higher up" barks out an order that puts someone else in danger, that must never be tolerated. When being considered for the job it's wise to get a feel for how the production company feels about cast and crew safety. Generally production companies that place a high priority on everyone's safety have a greater chance of not wasting your time on a project than productions that don't.

I hope that helps!