Question by Dav!d C!: Why do filmmakers offer a finished copy (DVD) of a film or reel when they recruit actors?
Most times the practice is never honored for one reason or another. Either the filmmaker wanted to, but ran out of money, the actor(s) couldn’t make the distribution event or just got overlooked and it was never forwarded to them, or maybe the filmmakers had no intention at all of distributing free copies of the film for trade. Shouldn’t the actor appearing in the film (or not appearing if their part was cut) at least be allowed to perhaps purchase at a reduced rate the finished item of record that may, in many cases, show he or she put in his or her time on that body of work, that sweat equity was provided on the part of the actor? Shouldn’t some sort of guidelines be introduced? Or can they? I have talked to people who claim they have signed contracts which specifically stated they were to receive a reel as part of their payment for work on a film and they still got stiffed. Is there a solution, or should the offer even be put forth on the table as a part of talent recruitment?
Best answer:
Answer by book writer
a lot of parts like that say that a copy of the reel will be the only payment you will receive, but promise that you will get a lot of screen play for other film makers, to get more parts for up coming movie deals. I see their add all the time, they e-mail me a list at least once a week with all kinds of offers and most of them say no pay just the reel,or some pay if the movie sales, but no stipend ever stated.
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