MovieChat Forums > Doonby (2015) Discussion > Extras stiffed on pay

Extras stiffed on pay

posted 14 years ago by perrills
12 replies | jump to latest

Sadly, I was conned by these people into working for 2 days for free. Some of the extras were paid $50. I guess they didn't realize that For Profit Companies are required by law to pay minimum wage--no exceptions! I new this and inquired about it on the first day. The production assistants extras continually lied and conned us into staying. This pattern of abuse is becoming more and more normal across Texas. I don't know about anybody else, but I will complain to the authorities about this

[–] Duhhh_ 14 years ago

I thought the extras casting company was very clear about pay. When they signed us up, the form clearly said that extras wouldn't be paid. When they called us for a shoot, they were also clear. For a couple of shoots in Smithville, the casting office said we would be paid, and when I got called back for some extra scenes on another day, the casting office and the people at the production office were clear on who got paid and who didn't.

Even with that, Everyone we dealt with was VERY nice to the extras. Peter Mackenzie greeted everyone, asked each person their name, and when calling them on set, remembered those names and was very nice. Craft services was open to us, and when we had a shoot that went on until 4 a.m., a couple of the extras were falling asleep, and they offered a trailer for them to take a nap.

Did you look at the form you signed when casting took your picture? Even without the pay, I had a great time, met some very nice people, and have a lot of funny stories to tell. Now if only that Ford Fairlane would start! :)

[–] messugayesuah 10 years ago

I was on the set of a movie made by a Christian company and I loved it for the same reasons you mentioned. It never made it to the screen for reasons unknown.

[–] AliceLouise 12 years ago

It's pretty rare for extras to ever get paid anything more than free lunch. I was an extra twice, and the second time, I didn't even GET lunch!

The minimum wage rule you're talking about must be different for movie production companies, because I've never heard of extras getting paid for TV or movies, and I really doubt all these productions have been getting away with flouting the law all over the country since minimum wage laws have been on the books. Besides, think about it: how could they possibly afford to pay tens, hundreds, and on some movies, thousands of extras anything at all let alone $7 or $8 an hour?? We would either have movies with no extras or we wouldn't have movies at all!

Honestly, just feeding them is a monumental expense, and most extras are glad to get that along with the potential industry contacts they make while on the job. It's just understood, that's how it is when it comes to extra work.

Nature, Mr. Allnut, is what we are put in this world to rise above.

[–] messugayesuah 10 years ago

I was an extra in many films and received minimum wage on every one as well as over time and double time. It was only one movie that I got a flat rate of $50 a day and I was happy to do it for the sake of the gospel

[–] AliceLouise 10 years ago

I really do think the standards vary from state to state, but it may also be that it has changed since I did my two jobs. They were both in Southern California in the '80s, and though both were major Hollywood productions, neither paid us any money. I was friends with someone who was friends with the casting director. It was pretty much just that we were doing her a favor.

Nature, Mr. Allnut, is what we are put in this world to rise above.

[–] One_Man_Army 12 years ago

I guess just about every restaurant in this country should be sued than considering most waiters in this country don't even get paid half of minimum wage. Don't know if you realize this, but there actually ARE exceptions to the minimum wage law in this country. Some of those exceptions are for restaurants. Others are for family owned farms. I'm sure there's even a few exceptions when it comes to extras in movies, too. Maybe you ought to look into the actual minimum wage law there.

Never give in. Never give up. Never surrender.

[–] Milkdoesabodygood 11 years ago

They could be working for Walmart or my sister or Donna wolf.

[–] louis-skipper 10 years ago

I hate when people make the claim that waitstaff do not get paid minimum wage. At the end of the pay period, the numbers of hours worked is calculated, the amount of tips received is added up, and if the total pay doesn't come out to minimum wage, the difference is made up out of payroll. At the end of the pay period, waitstaff are paid minimum wage or higher.

[–] sajiky 7 years ago

I spent a couple years as a waiter and we never did that. All we did was count our tips divide by 2 and then claim that amount for taxes, unless tips that night were particularly good, then we claimed less.

Doubt I was ever under minimum wage anyway though. The whole reason I became a waiter by threatening to quit if they didn't make me one, was cause I figured I would get significantly more then what I was being paid in the kitchen. Which was accurate, if your good with people waiting can be well worth it for a youngster starting out in life. I was over minimum wage already in the kitchen, but waiting still made significantly more.

Politics is deliberately making things better for some by deliberately making them worse for others.

[–] jellyree 10 years ago

You were lucky!

Watching this I'd say any cast member who got paid could reasonably be charged with theft.

[–] MortimerSpice 10 years ago

The authorities?? Which authorities?? You think they give two ***** about you. They have a lot more important things to do

[–] Teraisa 10 years ago

More than likely it depends whether the film is union or not.