A different kind of work

[Caliber]

Hi all,

 

 

I hope I've posted this in the correct room, if not, feel free to move. I was a regular in here under a different name however I've not been on much in recent times.

 

Im here again just to get an opinion on something. Please note that I was a tech in the past but decided to open unto other realms.

 

For the past couple of years I have ran a vehicle escort company, escorting abnormal loads all over the UK - But recently I've had a bit of work from TV folk after having a chat with some friends in that corner of the industry suggesting that we expand the company into camera cars, location vehicles and as an example, the most recent job was filming on a busy road doing a "driving through a puddle" scene - Our job being traffic control and keeping the public out the road at certain stages of the shoot - However, I understand that sometimes this can fall upon the duty of location security. We have also provided traffic cones and some dogsbody work laying hoses for water effects, fire hydrants and even had our own vehicles in a few shoots as extas. We have found it extremely usefull at festivals and alike due to the fact our vehicles are kitted out with cameras, reflective signage and amber lighting.

 

I just wanted an opionion as to whether there would be an intrest in such a thing throughout the industry. Obviously most producers have a smaller budget than the person trying to construct the biggest building or the most unusual object to be moved by road - So we were toying with the idea of keeping rates to around £10 per hour, anywhere in the UK.

 

 

 

Thanks guys and as always, please be gentile

[david.elsbury]

I'm sorry, but I don't find your post terribly clear. Interest in what exactly? Traffic control? Or are you talking about some sort of courier service?

 

David

[boatman]

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Thanks guys and as always, please be gentile :)

 

Sorry, not possible, I'm an atheist.

 

 

I'm with David here and don't understand what it is that you're asking, as you already seem to have found a niche in the market.

 

Edit: to improve clarity.

[Seano]

Sounds like an interesting niche you have there.

This forum is pretty much entirely about live performance, there's very little discussion of film/tv here, somehow I don't think its going to be much help to you.

[jexjexjex]

Would I be right in suggesting that that the originator is looking at providing a speciallist service of traffic management and archive videoing of festivals and large events?

 

Edit: Should really read the whole thread before replying... :)

[Caliber]

Sorry folks if im not being too clear.

 

We deal with the vehicle movements on festival sites, chase cars for TV shoots ect.

 

Just curious whether this is something of intrest only to production companies in my area or if this is more of a UK wide thing. I've had a lot of people say how glad they were that something like us existed, not many companies provide chase cars and traffic control for the industry

[paulears]

I think you're missing the point - no doubt there is a demand for camera vehicles (or why would I in the most easterly town be driving around cardiff?) but this forum isn't really the best place. We tend to concentrate on backstage and live performance work - so theatre, music, arts style events are our forte. Our links with video are mainly when they pop up in our world, but I don't think we've ever had a film link apart from the odd generator topic.

 

There are a few production and video forums, but most are not really UK centred. The guild of television cameramen could be a useful place to start as the members there are interested in grip kit and services.

 

Best of luck, but I'm not sure we can help that much.

[Caliber]

Thanks Paul - I know the BR isn't film central - However just thought id post in the odd chance anyone had an opinion on it.

 

Thanks folks

[Jivemaster]

Suggest you look also at KFTV.com Loads of Film and TV links on Kemp's site.

 

Business success is usually assisted by extreme personal clarity of vision and communication, sadly you have missed the second part.

[Jram]

Our job being traffic control and keeping the public out the road at certain stages of the shoot - However, I understand that sometimes this can fall upon the duty of location security.

Security, the police, Assistant Directors or Runners - dependent on the size of the shoot, the size of the crew and the size of the budget.

 

We have also provided traffic cones and some dogsbody work laying hoses for water effects, fire hydrants

Artem are big in the special effects market, including water effects. Also, many prop men have their own wet-down kits.

 

I just wanted an opionion as to whether there would be an intrest in such a thing throughout the industry.

List or advertise yourself on online crew directories and see what response you get? Speculate to accumulate...

 

So we were toying with the idea of keeping rates to around £10 per hour, anywhere in the UK.

Doubt many people would thank you for that - industry average seems to be around £150-180 a day at the moment, with food and travel provided/ reimbursed.

[Jivemaster]

Your rate needs to be double that to cover survival living. Add a vehicle and you add HUGE amounts. Think of adding £1 a mile for a car or van, more if it is specially equipped/

[lightsource]

Camera vehicles are well in demand, but be aware (if you haven't come across them yet) of the sticky-cam mount....they have a bit of a habit of falling off when the vehicle is wet, due to rain etc. We almost lost a Panasonic HD cam at 60mph...It was saved by the additional stapping that was placed on it.

 

There is a requirement for you're service. but as others have suggested, you're rate is unrealistic. I would suggest you look at a daily rate, or a weeky rate, as this seems more the norm. Also, what choice of vehicles is there.....general cars, police cars, supercars, vintage cars.

 

Every production has it's own requirements, so how capable are you of supplying the demand?

 

Check out www.mandy.com for possible sales leads,

 

Hope this helps.

[Jivemaster]

I hope you have considered the legal aspects of things. Stopping traffic in a public street isn't a trifling thing.

 

Have you considered the insurance aspects, Chase or persuit driving certainly isn't normal social domestic and pleasure, or business use, and NO insurer will cover you for loss of an external camera. In fact loss of something from a moving vehicle could involve "unsafe load" considerations.

 

Go back to the beginning and start some real costings, sort out how much it costs to do the job you state. Sort out what jobs you can do within the law and best practise.

 

Realistically for on set movie use your vehicle could be costing you £200 - 300 a DAY before fuel, for tax insurance and MOT and servicing and tyres and devaluation. In the ambulance I drive I usually use about £12 fuel a day BUT one long day recently I used nearly £400 worth (yes it was a long hard run) Your £10 an hour doesn't start to cover for this.

 

Yes there is a market for vehicles in movies, no this isn't the best place to look though some will have wisdom to share. Spend a month reading movie forums, look at credits on films you like for the cars, driving etc research the companies that are credited. One of my best friends had his cildhood best friend killed by a car on a set when they were both doing gofer jobs years ago, how would your insurers like it if you were the driver?

[Jram]

I hope you have considered the legal aspects of things. Stopping traffic in a public street isn't a trifling thing.

 

Any production worth it's salt will liase closely with the police and council on this issue. I have worked shoots where the police stopped traffic as required/ requested throughout a morning, and another where the council shut an entire street for a week. Even the no-budget short I did had police liason officers involved.

 

On the subject of clarifying rates, those I mentioned above relate to dailies who are in for lifting and shifting, and provide no tools of their own. You should decide the daily rate you want to take home, then add extra to cover their hire of any specialist kit, vehicles or services you provide. Plus something towards insurance and other running costs as suggested. I know someone who regularly provides unusual vehicles for Scottish productions, who refused point blank to drive a hired vehicle to the location unless his fuel was covered to and from as well as during. Since they couldn't film a scene with a car without the car, he got his money.