Comments on: Not Getting Paid: One Freelancer’s Story (and Solution) http://motionographer.com/2010/03/03/not-getting-paid-one-freelancers-story-and-solution/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss Motionographer shares the best in moving media, from student work to feature films. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:48:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: rocketsciencehttp://motionographer.com/2010/03/03/not-getting-paid-one-freelancers-story-and-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-42295 rocketscience Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:58:27 +0000 http://motionographer.com/?p=26820#comment-42295 Hi, I'm an Italian freelancer and it's surprising how in USA you can succesfully sew a company, represent yourself and even get your rights recognized. Most of the times in Italy the time and money cost of starting a sew would be much higher then the money you need to claim. Hi, I’m an Italian freelancer and it’s surprising how in USA you can succesfully sew a company, represent yourself and even get your rights recognized. Most of the times in Italy the time and money cost of starting a sew would be much higher then the money you need to claim.

]]> By: Ryan Thompsonhttp://motionographer.com/2010/03/03/not-getting-paid-one-freelancers-story-and-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-41962 Ryan Thompson Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:22:06 +0000 http://motionographer.com/?p=26820#comment-41962 Production's handling of this matter is so stupid that it makes me wonder if they were significantly disappointed with the contractor's performance. Regardless, their only legal recourse for such is claiming the contractor misrepresented their ability or didn't have the skills to professionally perform their duties; and do so long before it came to invoicing. Frankly I don't really believe that was the case though, because the client acted shifty from the get go. I guess the next intelligent option is replacing production. Production’s handling of this matter is so stupid that it makes me wonder if they were significantly disappointed with the contractor’s performance. Regardless, their only legal recourse for such is claiming the contractor misrepresented their ability or didn’t have the skills to professionally perform their duties; and do so long before it came to invoicing. Frankly I don’t really believe that was the case though, because the client acted shifty from the get go. I guess the next intelligent option is replacing production.

]]> By: xpez2000http://motionographer.com/2010/03/03/not-getting-paid-one-freelancers-story-and-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-41910 xpez2000 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:55:28 +0000 http://motionographer.com/?p=26820#comment-41910 there are plenty of great motion companies that don't need to resort to this kind short-sighted practice. As a freelancer, all i need is a small whiff of baloney to know its best just not to get involved with questionable companies, sImply because I don't enjoy working for free or the headache of trying to get paid, no matter how "cool" the project may be. there are plenty of great motion companies that don’t need to resort to this kind short-sighted practice. As a freelancer, all i need is a small whiff of baloney to know its best just not to get involved with questionable companies, sImply because I don’t enjoy working for free or the headache of trying to get paid, no matter how “cool” the project may be.

]]> By: kainvictushttp://motionographer.com/2010/03/03/not-getting-paid-one-freelancers-story-and-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-41866 kainvictus Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:54:04 +0000 http://motionographer.com/?p=26820#comment-41866 Anyone interested in suing prologue should go to : http://www.michaeltracylaw.com/ Why these companies are still doing day rates is beyond me. They should just switch to hourly and start paying people OT after 8 hours. -PROBLEM SOLVED- Anyone interested in suing prologue should go to :
http://www.michaeltracylaw.com/

Why these companies are still doing day rates is beyond me. They should just switch to hourly and start paying people OT after 8 hours.

-PROBLEM SOLVED-

]]> By: titicacahttp://motionographer.com/2010/03/03/not-getting-paid-one-freelancers-story-and-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-41865 titicaca Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:44:02 +0000 http://motionographer.com/?p=26820#comment-41865 I think it's a very good thing you unveiled the REAL names, they must be held accountable for treating freelancers this way. By acting that way, they waive their right to be anonymous and should be accountable. Why protect their anonymity? so they can do it all over again to other artists?? I think it’s a very good thing you unveiled the REAL names, they must be held accountable for treating freelancers this way. By acting that way, they waive their right to be anonymous and should be accountable. Why protect their anonymity? so they can do it all over again to other artists??

]]> By: zedzerohttp://motionographer.com/2010/03/03/not-getting-paid-one-freelancers-story-and-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-41821 zedzero Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:04:51 +0000 http://motionographer.com/?p=26820#comment-41821 Just got burned myself and I've been doing this for 15 years. But I have to admit that a portion of the blame lies with me. If any of you out there are like me, I spend too much time in production mode and not enough in admin / butt covering mode. I've been saying for years that I'm gonna 'get legal' on new clients; but most of the time I'm either too busy on other projects to sort it out - or just grateful to have a booking and know my mortgage is paid for another month. And none of the legal stuff seems to happen. I'd love to see a UK version of this and start using it. Just got burned myself and I’ve been doing this for 15 years.

But I have to admit that a portion of the blame lies with me. If any of you out there are like me, I spend too much time in production mode and not enough in admin / butt covering mode.

I’ve been saying for years that I’m gonna ‘get legal’ on new clients; but most of the time I’m either too busy on other projects to sort it out – or just grateful to have a booking and know my mortgage is paid for another month. And none of the legal stuff seems to happen.

I’d love to see a UK version of this and start using it.

]]> By: freelancerhttp://motionographer.com/2010/03/03/not-getting-paid-one-freelancers-story-and-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-41820 freelancer Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:01:31 +0000 http://motionographer.com/?p=26820#comment-41820 With respect dx , I think you should look up the word slander before using it. I'm not slandering anyone, I was there and sat near the individual. We even chatted about the issues at hand.This is a common thing here regardless of how good our work is. You are correct maybe I shouldn't have put names in it, but these individuals and companies that continue to abuse us as we make them look good need to be put on notice. Are you suggesting that we remain silent. If we dont stand up for ourselves as a collective then who will ? With respect dx , I think you should look up the word slander before using it. I’m not slandering anyone, I was there and sat near the individual. We even chatted about the issues at hand.This is a common thing here regardless of how good our work is. You are correct maybe I shouldn’t have put names in it, but these individuals and companies that continue to abuse us as we make them look good need to be put on notice. Are you suggesting that we remain silent. If we dont stand up for ourselves as a collective then who will ?

]]> By: HoffmanChttp://motionographer.com/2010/03/03/not-getting-paid-one-freelancers-story-and-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-41819 HoffmanC Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:02:45 +0000 http://motionographer.com/?p=26820#comment-41819 Good info. Helpful for those starting out, and to some who have been working for a while. It is also good to see that this freelancer (whom i know well) went through all of this. I hope that the complacency of gypping freelancers out of weekend, or overtime got a little shaken up from this case. I must say that fortunately most studios, at least tier one studios are good about money though. They realize that stories like this are not good for image and try to do their best to keep on top of payments. One thing I can advise from personal experience is that you are more likely to get gypped by small obscure shops than the good tier one studios. These are usually some craigs list style jokers with no motion graphics background who think they can just accept jobs because they have contacts (music vids especially) and think they can just hire freelancers to get the job done. These kind of people are in shock when they hear day rates of freelancers and think that they are overpaid, and try to snake their way out of paying it. Not to say that tier one studios dont have their faults, as shown in this story, Like Russ said, its good to see David win over Goliath for a change. Good info all around! Deal memos and email trails. Good info. Helpful for those starting out, and to some who have been working for a while. It is also good to see that this freelancer (whom i know well) went through all of this. I hope that the complacency of gypping freelancers out of weekend, or overtime got a little shaken up from this case.
I must say that fortunately most studios, at least tier one studios are good about money though. They realize that stories like this are not good for image and try to do their best to keep on top of payments.
One thing I can advise from personal experience is that you are more likely to get gypped by small obscure shops than the good tier one studios. These are usually some craigs list style jokers with no motion graphics background who think they can just accept jobs because they have contacts (music vids especially) and think they can just hire freelancers to get the job done. These kind of people are in shock when they hear day rates of freelancers and think that they are overpaid, and try to snake their way out of paying it. Not to say that tier one studios dont have their faults, as shown in this story,
Like Russ said, its good to see David win over Goliath for a change.
Good info all around! Deal memos and email trails.

]]> By: federimanuhttp://motionographer.com/2010/03/03/not-getting-paid-one-freelancers-story-and-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-41817 federimanu Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:50:02 +0000 http://motionographer.com/?p=26820#comment-41817 http://etherpad.com/HDDwtHYGqB http://etherpad.com/HDDwtHYGqB

]]> By: Random Personhttp://motionographer.com/2010/03/03/not-getting-paid-one-freelancers-story-and-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-41813 Random Person Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:45:37 +0000 http://motionographer.com/?p=26820#comment-41813 Welcome to LA. Welcome to LA.

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