My first role after acting school was the lead in an Independant Film by Pure Productions, LLC. I was thrilled at the opportunity so soon after the completion of my studies. Little did I know what I was getting myself into.
The Directors and Producer of Pure Productions, LLC are scam artists. They prey on the naivety and inexperience of young talent. I found out the hard way.
There was an understanding that the project was low budget in addition to their first attempt at a feature length film. It was also made clear that it was a no-pay gig, which would include meals, credit, transportation (to and dangerous neighborhoods in East NY, Passaic and Newark) and a copy of the finished film. There was a talent release form to be signed to ensure that no pay would ever be offered to the talent and to give full rights to use our image in any way. IT WAS NEVER COLLECTED.
Stike One - In a multi-racial cast with myself as the only Caucasian, I almost left the project after experiencing feelings of discrimination. I was made to feel incapable. I believed I wasn't right for the role and expressed this to the directors, explaing that I wanted to quit. They promised to work with me. I was manipulated in my naievity to stay on the project, after this false sense of trust was re-established. I took it upon myself to ultimately try not to take any racially discriminating remarks personally, but rather as constructive criticism for the development of my character.
Keep in mind I'd never practiced or been in a racially discriminating situation before, so I didn't know my rights. This is not to slight the majority of the cast. However, the directors did not make any effort to hinder an harrassing remarks from the cast, and even invited people unrelated to the film production onto the set to give me "ponters' on how to act like a thug. It was not done in a professional way and only served to hinder my creativity and performance.
Strike Two - The first violation of our oral contract was the lack of transportation after the second day of production. We shot for a month in neighborhoods where crime rate was very high. I was told that I would have to take the subway there myself, walk to the set in strange neighborhoods alone, walk BACK to the subway ALONE AT NIGHT once the filming was wrapped for the day (usually after midnight), and take the subway alone. This was decided due to the lack of motivation by the production assistant who was assigned the task of picking up and dropping off the actors. Lickily nothing bad happened, but the risk was not one That should have been inflicted on the talent.
Strike Three - MEALS. We were only provided ONE meal a day. Our shooting days were unbearably long due mainly to the inexperience of the filmakers on this particular project. The shoot was during August. The heat was inescapable. We were starving and thirsty, but they could care less. At one point the other members of the cast asked me to refuse to go on set until we had breakfast served. I was afraid to protest with them and went to the set.in my young mind I thought that the sooner we shot the scene, the sooner we'd be done and be able to eat. WRONG! They took full advantage of us.
STRIKE FOUR! - You'd think by now I'd have quit, but I'm the type of person that gives the benefit of the doubt. Besides, they had me fooled into thinking that I was their right hand man or something. It was decided after the second week I believe, that a trailer would be provided for us to rest in and escape the heat when we weren't required on set. Shortly, the septic tank was full. Nobody took the responsibility of taking it to a station and emptying it. We were forced to decide between the lesser of two evils-sit outside and smother in the heat, risking heat stroke and dehydration, OR sit in a van full of noxious septic fumes with air conditioning. We all began feeling very ill after a while. The production offered us the opportunity to sleep in the van instead of commuting home as a compromise to the lack of transportation. I personally opted to take my life in my hands on the subway instead of lodging in unhygienic quarters. Some of the other actors were not so lucky.
Yet ANOTHER Strike - Once the film was wrapped, there were some pick up scenes to be scheduled. I made it my business to be a trooper and attend them, despite the fact that at this point I had LOST 10 pounds and was in very poor health. It turned out that I was too weak to commute to East NY for one of the re-shoots. I was too embarrased at my inability to perform and explained that I couldn't make it due to a familial obligation. I went to the doctor shortly after, only to discover that I had somehow contracted Epstein Barr Syndrome. This virus develops after coming down with Mononucleosis. It causes chronic fatigue and cannot be cured. It was never in my system previous to this film, which means it was contracted due to the unhealthy situations on set.
When I attended the next reshoot, I was not asked why I could not attend the previous one. I was not asked if I was well or not. I was given a cold shoulder frrom there on out, despite my dedication and energy devoted to the entire project UP TO THAT POINT.
SO IT GOES-The film is completed. I don't hear from anybody for several months. I gain back the weight and return to a semblance of health I had prior to the film.
I find out through a cast member on MYSPACE that the film is in a festival. I was not contacted by the producer or directors.in fact, when I tried to contact them about further information and tickets, I didn't recieve a response. I finally got the information from the cast member and had to PURCHASE MY OWN TICKETS for myself, friends and family to attend the screening of a movie in which I was starring.
The Directors finally contact me shortly before the screening and explain that they need me to do some voice-overs before the movie is screened. They are curteous because they need my services, so I oblige. They call me again shortly to schedule another session. They say they will get back to me about a date. I never hear from them.
It's the day of the premiere. I arrive at the theatre and am avoided, escept to be told hastily by Edwin to "expect some surprises, but to trust them". Okay. I figure it can't be that bad. Right?
WRONG! The film begins and I realize that they had SOMEBODY ELSE do voice overs for MY CHARACTER. I am completely embarrased in front of industry friends and family that I invited to see MY work&and it isn't MINE!
I try to call them the next day. Can't get through for a week. I finally get a call from Edwin at 7am waking me up when I'm too tired and confused to pursue my argument. I am left with the suggestion that they got another actor to do the voice overs because I wasn't good enough. It is said that I insulted them by requesting they allow me to fix it.
When I argue that I made myself available for the voice over session, they say that I am unreliable because I was unable to make ONE reshoot. They refused to admit that they misrepresented my work in any way by hiring somebody else to do voice overs for my character (WITHOUT A TALENT RELEASE FORM SIGNED) and hung up on me with on bad terms.
I should add that the make-up artist they hired was also Caucasian. They treated him similarly. On the final day of his work on set, they told him that they weren't saitsfied with his work and were NOT going to pay him. His work was wonderful. The fake blood stuck sometimes in the heat of August, but that was not a factor of his unprofessionalism in the least. Racism is a new concept to me. It's taken some time for me to even ADMIT that there is the SLIGHTEST possibility that I have been a victim of it in this situation. I still don't like to believe it could be true, but it just may be. It certainly feels like a violation!
The movie has since gone on to other festivals where it has been awarded "Best Picture" and is generating exposure. It is also listed on IMDB, where they MISPELLED MY NAME. This time by misrepresenting my work, I do not even get the credit for it. I am unsearchable and disassociated from the project for no justifiable reasoning. When Asked to AT LEAST fix this on IMDB, they will not respond.
I have also never recieved a copy of the final cut!
There was no promise kept with our ORAL AGREEMENT, only every one BROKEN.
IF YOU ARE OFFERED THEOPPORTUNITY, PLEASE THINK TWICE BEFORE WORKING WITH THIS COMPANY! PROTECT YOURSELF. I have wished that I could take back the time and energy I generously invested into this project since I figured out how abusive it was, but I will NEVER recover it. It's shameful.
If there is any legal action that may be taken to correct the wrongs against me, please contact me with advice. It will be greatly appreciated and hopefully stop these scam artists from hurting any other vulnerable, unsuspecting young artists.
Thank you!
PS This is not to slight the majority of the actors and crew that I worked with who were hired with me by Pure Productions in ANY WAY. There work and ethic as professional actors and crew is to be commended for the most part under these circumstances. I highly recommend viewing the movie to witness their talent! Unfortunately mine has been misrepresented, but hopefully that can be amended without harming the work and exposure of the other artists involved.
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