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Possible scam - Need your advice

Tue, 11 Dec 2012, 08:10 pm
musicalc13 posts in thread
Hi all. I've realized my friend and I might have been scammed by a filmmaker. It's really frustrating and we want to take action but decided to ask for your advice first. Recently I was contacted by a filmmaker on a talent website asking me to appear on his show. Although it was good money, I didn't think I was the best fit for the role, so I declined the offer. The role required a very specific person and he was having a hard time finding the right one. So he asked me to talk to my friends to see if they are interested. I called my friends and one of them was interested. All of us, the filmmaker, my friend and myself, met up and he explained about the role and the show. He said the payment would be ready a week after the shooting. He also added that it would be aired internationally on a major TV network. My friend agreed to pay me a portion of the money for finding him the work. The shooting went well, and my friend and the filmmaker met again to sign a release form and a payment contract. But he didn't sign them because the payment wasn't ready and the contract was for volunteer extras ("You will receive no payment"). The filmmaker said he would fix it and re-send it, which he did last week. My friend hasn't signed them yet, just in case. I called the filmmaker and asked when he'd make the payment. He said he wasn't sure because he hadn't even been paid by the TV network yet. ("I am paying for the show out of my own pocket") I requested a point of contact at that TV station, but he refused to provide the information. I searched his production company on ATO's website to see it's active, and it sure wasn't enough. I feel very sorry for my friend that I had him involved in this show. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Lessons Learnt

Tue, 11 Dec 2012, 10:26 pm

To be frank, the only real thing you can do is learn from the experience. When-ever payment or a fiscal exchange is involved, always ensure you have a legal document signed by all parties BEFORE Commencing work. If you are acting freelance in that you took this job without Agency representation, and you are not a member of MEAA/Equity, then because the contract was not signed and still is not signed, then there is not much you can do.

However, I will say that not being paid until the TV station pays is actually more common than one may believe and the fact that this guy is still talking to you is interesting. I would suggest that you keep on his back in case he is honest but hold little expectation of anything much.

Maybe you could consider cutting your loses and see if he would be prepared to give you/your friend some of the footage, enough to be able to add to a show reel, not as payment mind you. Don't accept footage in place of payment. That way, if the dollars never eventuate, at least you gain something from it.

You could investigate legal options I guess and some legal firms/representatives may offer free legal advice, but not many. If you are a member of MEAA/Equity, then they may be able to assist in some way.

In the end, weigh up the anticipated payment against the experience and lessons learnt and make a judgement on if it is worthwhile pursuing.

Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)

Jeff Watkins

Thread (13 posts)

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