Twice now in a short period of time students have asked me to do no pay jobs then bailed on me at the last hour having changed their minds for various reasons, after I've run around clearing time and learning lines. Does this happen to other people? Do students get advised how to engage with actors properly and not mess them around? It's putting me right off student films.
If students are being taught well (and/or are reasonably mature and aware) then they will have grasped that actors are an essential element of their filmaking and should be treated with as much care as their cameras. They will develop workable schedules and stick to them. If they are immature and haven't really thought about ALL the elements that go into filmaking, then the usual teen time-wasting goes on, which is infuriating to those of us who are trying to make a living doing this and are juggling survival jobs with acting gigs.
I'm surprised they "called off" the shoots altogether (or were they plays?) altogether as these projects are a crucial part of their course work.
After a while you will get a sense of who is serious and organised and who is messing about. Don't be afraid to ask for dates and details fairly early on. After all, you are accommodating them as much as they are using you, given they will be paying only expenses at most.
I've been involved in something very similar..
I should have guessed it wasn't going to go too well when the Director (tutor) failed to turn up on the very first day despite giving it a really good build up during the audition/meeting.
The poor guy who stepped up just had no idea, no control and a serious lack of enthusiasm for his (and several others) film project...lovely guy tho who in the end felt a little sorry for!
I've literally had to direct it myself and advise on lighting and even had to raise the issue of a lack of boom during a n important dialogue scene...because the boom guy lost interest and sat down at the back of the set. SHOCKING!!!
There was simply no passion from from hardly any of the crew which had a knock on effect on the actors who took days off paid work to help.
In put this down as one of those bad experiences and now I've restricted myself to participating in final year student films ONLY as they tend to be a lot more organised..
We live and learn..
Mm. Just was involved in a student film at the weekend and they were fabulously well organised, even got a flat in London overnight and they from the Met a School, thumbs up.... Also however went out of my way for an audition 30 miles away, learnt script etc and heard nothing, not even a no thanks....plain courtesy would be nice.....
Sometimes you do need to watch what year group you are working with. Recently, I've worked with all three different year groups of the same university. Safe to say, the third year were very professional, passionate and creative in what they wanted to achieve. The other year groups have been somewhat a bit of a farce. As what some of you have already echoed here, no passion and no drive. Very sad to see when you give up your time to accommodate them.
I'm getting progressively worried at the moment : It's the 24th April and among other worries I have no script . They have not sent me , or given me a script for a student film I am doing .I have sent two emails noe concerning this rather pressing problem .
Filming is commencing on the 29th .
Should I be worried ??????!!!!!!!!!!
They have got back to me ! thank goodness , but I think it was only because I pushed . They might know they'll get back , and I appreciate they are busy , but we don't know at the other end that they are on things - for all we know they might not be . When a deadline - i.e. shooting is looming , I wish they'd realise that swift communication is key , even just to say thankyou , we'll tell you when everything ...etc . even if it isn't at the moment . Some communication is better than none , some acknowledgement .
But ... sigh of relief , all is good !!! Thankyou Julia
I don't see that as excuse ; they're 19 not 5 and see them selves as adults aiming for a profession , they should learn some .
But I have very personal reasons for saying that lol .
They should have a level of courtesy really , but then nobody does any more . Tutors can be quite rude and brusque - and yes , uncommunicative! |It seems if you mention good manners professional people the same age as you look at you as if you're from a bygone age and rather 'quaint' . I just think it's sad
folks
I'm on my 8th student short since January.
They're making mistakes and learning from them. So am I. We're doing our thing, helping each other along our paths, doing our best to accommodate each others troubles and holding things together in a way that works
Student films are great. Freedom, creativity and shed loads of fun, hard work and youthful madness.
Treat it like it is, and it's a fantastic experience for everyone. It can only be what it is, warts and all.
I did three short films in quick succession recently with a bunch of 2nd-year students from the University of York.
I did find it quite disconcerting that their communication was a bit sporadic and last-minute, but I agree wholeheartedly with what Alexander said: "we're doing our thing, helping each other along our paths."
And, as I found out, these students were all under a considerable amount of stress because they were crewing on about five or six of their fellow-students' films as well as trying to get their own together in a short timescale. They were very tired because of lack of sleep... so I forgave them all, because they were all very polite lads who provided food and did their best to look after the actors. Hurray for student films, I say; I think it's an invaluable way to learn and get showreel bits and pieces :o)
I had a great experience doing a student film last week in a fab location, really we'll organised and polite students and actors. I agree with Alexander and Lesley - they learn from us and us from them, lots of fun and good for showreels and learning screen acting....
9 years ago
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