I was hired as a videographer for a shoot for the TV show Destination X TV. It should have sent up a red flag when he started breaking promises from the start. I required a hotel room in Palmdale. He said his assistant would make the arrangements and send me an email that afternoon with confirmation number and hotel location. No email arrived. I got the information about an hour before I was scheduled to leave for California. I was told that Dallas Tanner wanted to have a meeting that night at 10 to go over locations, camera angles, etc. At 10 that night, I started to call Dallas Tanner. He finally called me and said that he was running late and would not arrive until later and we would meet in the morning. I had no clue what time we were to meet at the racetrack for the shoot and if I hadn't accidentally met one of his spokesmodels in the parking lot, I may never have gotten to the shoot.
During the shoot, his production team was painfully short on equipment and used much of my gear to accomplish the shoot.
Then came the bad news. After we were done shooting, I approached Dallas Tanner and asked for payment. He had an excuse about why he couldn't pay, but told me on his word that he would send me a check by Wednesday (two days after the shoot). He was so happy with what I brought to the table, he told me to expense my gas, meals and $100 for the use of my gear.
The next day, I emailed him a revised invoice with all of the agreed to charges. He sent me back an email acknowledging receipt of invoice. Wednesday came and went and no check. I wasn't able to reach Dallas Tanner until the following Tuesday. He said then that he didn't have my address. I gave it to him and he said that he would overnight a check that day and apologized that it took so long, explaining that he had to deal with investors who were not familiar with the processes of freelancers the need to pay quickly.
Next day, no check and the next and the next and the next. All the while, I tried reaching him, his co-producers Jonathan Heap and someone named Richard. Richard was somewhat reachable and often told me that Dallas Tanner had no money and was constantly waiting for money from investors. I told Richard that I would work with Dallas Tanner about payment if he would keep in contact with me and let me know what is happening.
Hundreds of phone calls, pages and emails went by the boards. I finally got an email from Dallas Tanner on August 22 stating that he should "have this
resolved by the end of the day Tuesday and will shoot
you an email confirming what payment will be going
out." No email, no payment.
Wednesday I got this email from Dallas Tanner: "Okay, I just got the word... We will be able
to send out a payment for you to arrive by Friday, or
if you want, we can do a direct deposit... Let me know
what you want to do..."
I responded right away, once again giving my mailing address and then... Nothing again.
Friday, August 25 I got this email: "I know you think I am making excuses. I am not.
YOu can choose not to believe me on this, but I got an
email from our financier that they are making the
transfer to the account tommorow on Saturday directly
at the bank so that we can pay you. I will follow up
with you on Saturday afternoon. If you could be in my
shoes as the director and have to rely on others who
in turn make me look like crap, you would understand.
Hang in there. Dallas"
That was the last communication I have gotten from Dallas Tanner or any of his cronies. I am in the process of legal action against Dallas Tanner and his company Destination X TV LLC. I have been in contact with sponsors, venues and others.
Do not do business with this person. He is a criminal and will make excuses, break comittments and promises and then disappear. He has many other reports on this site and always has an excuse why things aren't his fault. I have emails and other documentation backing up my claims.
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