Was approached for use of my cl***ic car, and have some questions. They seem to be a legit outfit (being used for HBO movie), and have provided me with some paperwork, such as sample insurance coverage. What do I ask for compensation (car won't be used in any stunts, but maybe driven by actors, probably backdrop in a few scenes)? What kind of contract should I have, with what information written in it? What other considerations should I be aware of? Thanks for the input! Tony
Based on my experience with film crews it goes like this - it's not their car and they treat it accordingly. Yes, they have the best intentions, but... I would wouldn't let them, my use my car, house or anything else to shoot in. I know they have to get props from somewhere, so it really depends on the money and how brave you are. It could all work out fine, but that's just my thoughts.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=282906&highlight=motion+picture Lots of good info here...lots
I use to rent out my photography studio back in the day-- after the third time -The money wasn't worth it- I couldn't shoot or use the darkroom...Kinda dead in the water... $.02= I'd contact YOUR insurance agent first & lay out the scenario. Show him/ her the film's rider/ coverage. I'd personally think it as if you let a total stranger have your car for ____period of time to do what they need to do. Then they give it back and $$$$. Ya gotta know your hear creaks / or noise you never heard before !! -41-
Don't! I rented a motorcycle to a film crew.I told them to bring a cashiers check for x $."You wreck it,you own it".Last day they backed a truck into it.I made them pay but it can be a harrowing experince. It depends on your vehicle.My bike was rare (Vincent) but I could fix most things on it. It can be an interesting experince but like one poster said,they really don't care about your car.
sell it to them & they can use it all they want. i wouldnt dream of letting them use it unless i was right there all day guarding it.
i wouldn't do it. they don't give a **** about it. a friend lent his 911 to a crew filming desperate housewives and they bottomed it out and cracked the engine case.
I let a crew use my 50 Plymouth (I know, not much value!) in a movie and it was a kick. They had it for a couple days, paid me $400 or so, insured it, and fixed my clutch while they had it. They were great and I enjoyed seeing my old ride in a movie. It must depend on who they are and common sense, asking how it will be used, etc.. Can't be that hard to figure out.
Its already been said but if you like your car dont. I saw a rare just restored car get color sanded one time so the paint wouldnt reflect the film crew in front of it.
My Vega was in the movie Contact, I had to stand by it all day to keep people (extra's) from using it for a chair. Plus the movie company stiffed me on the pay for it (I was told three days and was paid for 2).
DONT. I used to work in film and tv... at best even a caring crew will likely mess something up... an uncaring crew will do some serious damage.
The Coen brothers are currently filming a movie here in the Twin Cities. A couple of months ago I had my 55 F100 at a local cruise night. I was approached by the "car coordinator" for the movie about using my truck in the movie. He even described the scene he wanted to use it in. He liked that it was kind of "beat up" and stressed that I absolutely shouldn't change anything on it until they would start filming. He had a notebook full of people's names and descriptions of their vehicles and gave me several of his business cards. He said the movie was set in 1968 and they needed 1954-1968 vehicles. I was kind of skeptical so I looked him up and found he checked out. Over the next few weeks I gave it a lot of thought. The truck has a lot of "issues" I've learned to live with. The transmission was shifting a little funny and the shifter takes some getting used to- I wasn't wild about the idea of someone driving it that didn't know how to operate it correctly even if it was the guys that won the Oscar for Best Picture last year. A month p***ed and I never heard back from him- he must have found a more "beat up" truck to use. I was pretty flattered and excited about having my truck in a movie but it also worried me a bit. I wasn't too disappointed when they didn't call me back... Jay
no.don't do it!!!!!!! if you like your car at all, don't do it. cause they don't like your car at all. and treat it as such. cadillac dave
I took my 1928 Buick to Union Station in LA to be in Seabiscuit. When I got there the car lady took my keys and sent me to wardrobe to get 1920's clothes since I was going to drive the car. An hour later they had moved my car several blocks. Who knows what clown drove it and with no synchro, how many gears they ground. They shot some footage of me driving it but it never made it into the movie. Next time I stay with the car the entire time or no deal.
I got the same notice on my windshield last week...are they offering money or just the use of the car?
I let universel use my 63 ford Galx in 1976 to make jackson county line, it cost me a clutch. they said it would be used as a parked car. it was but they also used it in the escape seen and fried the damn thing. never again
My name is Tom Bambard and I'm business partners with Ted Kempgens. I'm also a film producer and I can give you some insight on this topic. As a "car guy" and an owner of my own cl***ics, I look at this from the car owners point of view. It is true that many productions take liberties with rented and borrowed property and that can turn out badly. On the other hand, if handled properly it can be an exciting and rewarding experience. In fact, on the films I've produced I make sure to get the owner of the vehicle a place in the film as an extra which can be a lot of fun. Key things to pay attention to when considering your vehicles use: Get a copy of the productions insurance policy - they all have it if they're legit. If anything happens (god forbid) make a claim. You have the right... Next, don't turn your keys over to the car coordinator unless you know them. If your car needs to be moved or driven, be there to give them the keys. Stay and supervise the cars use. There are a lot of un-paid and low paid ***istants wandering around and yes, you may need to chase them away so they don't set a milk crate on the hood of your show car! Get friendly with the car coordinator and get them on your side. They'll watch out for you. As for compensation, remember that films have a wide range of budgets and there is no "set price" for the use of a vehicle. What you get paid will depend on the films budget, the nature of the use, the length of time it will be needed, if it will be at risk etc. Typical rates range from $50 to $400 dollars per day depending on these factors and in some cases more if its a rare or hard to find vehicle though most productions will chose to buy these types of vehicles or rent them from a specialty company (like us) if the use is more than background. Ted has been my car coordinator on several film projects and he built some of the special vehicles needed for the productions. We have vehicles that we rent to the film industry as part of our business so both of us have a lot of experience with this. Believe me, if handled correctly it can be a lot of fun. Just remember - Stay in the "drivers seat" when it comes to supervising your vehicle. You are your best insurance. If you have any questions regarding this topic or you're considering letting a production use a vehicle of yours, please feel free to call either myself or Ted at Creative Motion Concepts - 352-588-9621 and we'll be happy to give you more information and insight. We want you to keep your cars nice!
Wow, so many negative responses. Does it matter that I have a ****ty paint job, no interior, and automatic transmission? heh The guy from the production company that I spoke to lives in the area, and said that they are much more carefull/respectful here than he's experienced in Lousiana, and LA (if that makes a difference). I tried to get more details, and they said it'd probably be a six week shoot, and they'd most likely want to keep the car the entire time (although, it'd be parked in their warehouse for most of it). I asked if I'd get paid for 40+ days of use then, and they couldn't tell me...but I was given a range of $75-$150/day. Supposedly it was in the script as the main character's car (he told me the gal's name, but I didn't recognize it). thanks again for the input, everyone. Since I haven't been talked out of it yet, any more advice on what info I should be asking for to evaluate the decision would be appreciated! -Tony
six week shoot,in their warehouse for most of it....Key words......They use it for two days out of the six weeks.sum total of $150/$300...for your car being tied up for 6 weeks...They Couldn't tell you or wouldn't tell you...looks to me as they were vague with you and wouldn"t tell you the facts!!! I would not even consider it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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