The Problem with Microbudget Filmmaking is...

...how do you adequately compensate your crew? Recently I've been learning a lot about the guilds and how their different tiers of wages help their members to make a living and to receive health care for themselves and their families. With a non-union microbudget shoot, how is my grip or best boy going to be able to afford to pay for his kid's medical bills? The obvious answer is that he should probably look for a better budgeted job. But with the current shifts in the industry marketplace razing cushy straight-to-dvd productions and causing indies to shutter their doors and majors to slash the number of films shot per year, that might be easier said then done.

Lately I think that there's been entirely too much praise bestowed upon filmmakers in their race to the bottom. While I've seen beautiful features produced for only $15-$20K, I can't help thinking about all the technical people who sacrificed a living wage only to reap nothing in return. How can these folks pay for health insurance, let alone rent, when they're only making $200/day, and have to hide their guild membership to prevent getting punished or kicked out for taking on these labors of love?

I'd love to hear about more filmmakers sharing the rewards from their films with their whole crews, from drivers to PAs to production designers and DPs. Filmmaking is both an artistic and business pursuit. I hope directors and producers continue to fight, beg and bleed for art and for adequate financing.