Have you ever considered working on some project with a team for free to support an idea or to develop and show your skills?
I have been planning to post this for a while now, but I feel this is the perfect moment for it.
Since I started to work as a freelance artist I have received TONS of emails and messages about working for free or with low payments on projects. So here is my take: by accepting these types of offer, I always felt I would help to slowly destroy the very industry that now gives us jobs. Why? Because by providing work for free or a really low rate I’m devaluing the rest of the industry.
No matter how famous a director or a property is, you have no reason to give him a very low rate or free work because is a cool project. If someone takes your work seriously and he wants to partner with you on a project, he will offer a percentage or something along those lines. To simply say “its such an awesome project” or “your work will be on the big screen” is a very manipulative way to take advantage of artists.
I will give you a good example. I have my own project called EDGE, and everyone I have hired to work on it has been paid their full rate. My project and budget are much smaller but I give the respect I want to receive from other artists.
If he is a well-known director that has a passion project, he probably has the means to pay the artists he wants to hire. If not, they should do the same as I do and save money for it. Or even do a crowdfunding to raise money and actually delivers a product to fans.
In my view, nobody has the responsibility for your passion project other than yourself so put some money aside (or do a crowdfunding to raise money and pay the artists you need) and don’t try to scam younger artists to do free work.
Let me draw a small parallel for you. Try to walk into a car dealership and do the following:
Approach a sales person and say: I’m a HUGE fan of your car! I love your car so much that I want to drive it for free… but check this out: I live in a great neighborhood where people have lots of money and that will give your car TONS of exposure!
See if that is going to work.