User's Blogs

<p> Creative people just don't get paid enough! </p> <p> Our work is sought for by thousands in a million different ways but not valued enough to monetize. Why?</p> <p> My best friend is a writer. He has two novels, hundreds of short stories, poems and feature articles published and has written a number of short films and feature films, many of which he has made. He is an expert at After Effects, editing and cinematography. He's also a freelancer. That makes his life tricky because when he searches for jobs online or even with existing contacts, he's competing with hundreds of less experienced or expert individuals that desperately want to make a name for themself and will do the same job (possibly of an inferior standard but possibly very well done, too) for free. FREE! Who can compete with that? </p> <p> And the internet hasn't helped. It's made finding work and jobs that do exist easier but every man and his dog is looking for the same work, regardless of qualification or quality of their portfolio. There's also the little problem of so much online media not being monetized so even if they rely on the work of writers, the writer's shouldn't expect to be paid. I find this appalling. But it's the cause of some major paradoxes. Mainstream magazines that do pay are commissioning work from unimaginative, uneducated writers who don't even know how to use spell check- why? I don't know, you tell me! And prestigious magazines and quarterlies that do rely on quality material and have very fussy guidelines don't often pay you for your work. Why? I DON'T FREAKING KNOW!!!!</p> <p> According to an article online (as a consumer I use online materials because they're free and up to date: could be a contributing factor) writers are getting paid an average of $11 000 a year. That's full time writers. Getting below the poverty line for their years and years worth of training, experience and expertise. That's not cool! </p> <p> But it's not restricted to writers. Film makers, including actors, are constantly being sought after to produce work for free so they can have something for their showreel. Something for their portfolio. Another line for their CV! After two and a half years of freebies I've got quite enough lines on my CV, thanks. And I've got hours and hours of student and experimental film footage with poor lighting and even poorer sound quality for my awesome showreel, thanks. When are you going to start paying us, guys? </p> <p> I'm personally quite content. I get paid for my acting work more often than not these days. I am able to pick and choose projects that I'm genuinely interested in and believe in the quality of the work than just to get experience. My apprenticeship is heading toward its conclusion. But I'm still doing a lot of jobs free and I know a lot of actors that are still working almost exclusively free. So what can we do about it?</p> <p> Stop. </p> <p> Yes, at first they'll just go to that annoying actress that will do anything for anyone because she wants the experience and has unending time and energy. But eventually she'll get fed up with it too, and she'll have been in everything and the producers and bands and commercials and event holders will be fed up with her. In short, if we boycott non-paying producers then they'll only get beginners to do their free of charge work and eventually, not immediately, our cry for financial validation will be heard. </p> <p> They will only keep asking us to work for free as long as they know that we will. Don't silently stand back from unpaid offers. Decline and express exactly why you're declining. This is your job and you deserve to be paid. If they want mate's rates they'd better be a mate, otherwise it's full fee paying places only, buddy. </p> <p> Here is the link to some articles, free of charge, that make this point even more eloquently. </p> <p> By an essayist called Tim, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/27/opinion/sunday/slaves-of-the-internet-unite.html</p> <p> And in response: http://paidcontent.org/2013/10/28/no-writing-for-free-isnt-slavery-and-other-misconceptions-about-the-economics-of-online-media/</p> <p> A big deal: http://natethayer.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/unpaid-newspaper-blogger-says-enough-new-no-pay-contrac-demands-all-rights-to-photos-writing-foreve/</p> <p> Some food for thought about where you get your content: http://blog.wan-ifra.org/2013/03/06/despite-journalist-s-outrage-atlantic-s-unpaid-freelance-request-is-not-unique</p> <p> So make a stand. </p> <p> Peace.</p> <p>  </p> <p> MK</p>