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Dodging and Strange, Need Advice
So I'm going to finally start traveling this year (yay!  ) but there is one wrench in my plans. I am planning a trip to San Francisco, California for either spring break or summer, decided date depending. I already have a photographer who is great and is dying to work with me, lots of dialogue, no problems. But another photographer has been very dodgy and scatterbrained, and he's the one paying for my plane ticket. He contacted me the last day of December (2009) saying that I would be perfect for a project he is working on. Here is the breakdown of dialogue, it's a bit long so I will shorten my parts where I can: Photog: your perfect for a shoot im planning. Would you be willing to come up to sf for a couple days Me: That sounds wonderful, I would love a trip to San Francisco. I have a few questions first: What is the project you would like to shoot? Will my airfare be covered? If I have to drive will my transportation cost be covered? What is your budget for the project/would you be willing to pay my rates? Thank you very much, I am excited to hear back from you. Photog: a fake tongue fetish video, that a character views in a feature film I'm directing airfair will be covered $100 for shoot plus accomidations Me: Hello, I'm sorry for the delayed response. I have been thinking it over and I'm sorry to inform you that I do not have interest in doing video at this time. Thank you very much for your offer, let me know if you would like to include me in a future project. Thank you, Photog: theres also a photographic aspect if your interested Me: What would be the concept specifically? Photog: you showing off your long tongue in a mansion with exotic plants One shot would also feature one of the power rangers like characters in my film Me: With the shot that involves the "power rangers" character, what exactly would I be doing in the shot? Photog: doing something seductive as he's trapped in a cage with a monster latex suit actor. Not a cliche as licking ice cream, but along those lines Me: I won't be licking anything will I? Photog: it could be a lollypop; or morning dew off a plant, something evocative, and your tongue obviously is sexy in itself Me: That would be fine. What dates would work best? Photog: last week of jan, whenever in feb Me: The last week of January is no good for me, I start classes again that week. February should be fine. Is it possible for this to all occur in one day? (I fly out in the morning, we shoot, and then I take a flight home that evening?) That would be easiest for me since school will be in session for me. Photog: ya, that or on a weekend. Am I flying you from chicago? Me: A weekend would work as well, I was also just thinking along the lines of you not having to pay for lodging by having a one-day shoot. Yes, I live in downtown Chicago, so I can fly out of Ohare or Midway, both are completely within my abilities. Photog: you can stay with me if it has to be longer. cool, sounds good ------------------------------- Here's the part where it doesn't matter, the other photographer (the one who has been in contact with me, but not flying me out) offered to pay for my own hotel room, so this is a non-issue. ---------------------------------- (a week later) Me: Hello again. I have a few more questions and then I would love to set a date. What wardrobe is required for the shoot? Will you be providing it or am I bringing it? Who is doing the actual photography? If not you, who and how may I contact them so that I can get to know them and their work? Will there be any crew? (MUA, hairstylist, etc) Or am I responsible for my own hair and makeup? As of right now I am free: Feb 4-7 Feb 11-14 Feb 25-28 (the next day) Me: Are you still interested? (a week later) Me: I am going to assume you are no longer interested in put up a travel notice. If you change your mind, PM me. (2 weeks later) Photog: I'm still interested. Can I txt you? Me: I would rather do all my messages and planning here on MM because I'm bad at texting as well as I'm back in school. If you are still interested I would like to confirm and know: (copypasta of all the stuff we discussed above) (2 days later) Me: Hello? (the next day) Photog: I'll pay you 500 if you do the erotic scene Me: What erotic scene? And can you please answer a few of my other questions- such as what wardrobe is needed/being supplied? And are you taking the photos or is it someone else? ------------------------------------ At this point I'm confused and suspicious. He hasn't been answering my questions and instead only throws out random things like "what about this?!" I only asked about the "erotic scene" because at this point I have no idea what he considers "erotic." I'm pretty close to telling this guy to fuck off, but part of me wonders if he's just one of those completely scatter brained artists (I have worked with a few in the past). I need some insight as to what to do. The other photographer has been very patient and generous while waiting for this guy to get his act together and give me a solid date even. So, red flag? Or scatter brained artist? Jan 28 10 10:14 am Link I would say its a red flag. Maybe just time to move on. If he keeps changing his mind on MM he may do so in person as well. Its not worth the trouble. Jan 28 10 10:31 am Link That sounds super sketchy I'd move on to someone else. Better safe than sorry. Edit: There have been so many cases of models being forced into the sex trades lately this whole conversation you had makes me nervous http://www.canada.com/news/Calgary+huma … story.html Jan 28 10 10:37 am Link It sounds like he's slowly building up talking you into licking some guy in a latex suit, but maybe I'm just cynical. Sounds like a fetish video with some stills. Jan 28 10 10:42 am Link It sounds too sketchy to me. Who's to say he won't get you alone and then try to force you to do this "erotic" scene? Maybe you could work something else out with the other photographer? Jan 28 10 10:43 am Link Thank you everyone, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't being overly paranoid. I'm going to decline any further messages from him and let the other photographer know. Jan 28 10 10:59 am Link Little Alice wrote: Good. I don't want my Alice to get hurt Jan 28 10 11:22 am Link Big red flag!! dont work with this photographer. He is trying to get you to stay at his home... first red flag... he has a toung fetish, and wants you to lick something? I say run away from him as far as you can. Jan 28 10 11:22 am Link Beatrix Mae wrote: Aw, Jan 28 10 11:53 am Link Hah... You're even contemplating shooting with this weirdo??? Cage? Alien? Plants? Erotic scene? End of January anytime in February? ...your tongue obviously sexy in itself? Paying your airfare? Not sure how many red flags you need...but here's one for you.   B Jan 28 10 12:00 pm Link What the heck is "fake tongue fetish?" New one on me. Jan 28 10 12:13 pm Link If it were me, I'd have dropped the conversation long ago, and said I wasn't interested and moved on. You have the patience of a saint. At this point though, I'd say just move on. IMO, continuing to change stuff up like that says, to me, that the photographer either doesn't know what he's doing, and will be horribly disorganized the day of the shoot (resulting in tons of wasted time), or that he'll try to change things up the day of the shoot (resulting in either uncomfortable situations, pay rate changes, or both). Jan 28 10 12:18 pm Link Photographer offered to fly me to Boston to do a shoot. I was skeptical right off the bat, as I'm sure there are plenty of lovely women in Boston he could shoot with (I live in L.A.). Just like in your situation, through getting to know him and inquiring more about his project ideas through online chatting, it became clear he wanted a little more than just a photography shoot--under the guise of capturing "tantric ecstasy." You gotta give him credit for creativity, I guess. Also, I asked for references, and he gave me 2 email addresses of "models." When I emailed these models, they both worded their references the EXACT SAME WAY. Hmmm...wonder if those were fake emails... If someone paying your expenses to fly you out somewhere sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Drop this guy like a hot potato, just like I did w/the Boston dude. Jan 28 10 12:47 pm Link Yeeeaaahhhh... I'd skip it. Sounds as if he may very well change the shoot around again once you get there. Red flaggage abounds. Jan 28 10 12:51 pm Link Rachel Jay wrote: Quite so. Jan 28 10 12:59 pm Link This is kind of random in my thought process and Little Alice, not directed at you. I can never understand why some dude half way across the country would want to fly a model in from somewhere... especially when that model is really no different looking than a crap load of models one might find down the street. Every time I hear about something like this here, I am skeptical. I'm not suggesting that you are any less of a model than anyone else but the fact is that you are less of a model than some of the super models that grace our popular fashion magazines on a regular basis. Models of your exact style, look, experience can also be found out there. Why would he fly a model in? Why would he NOT be direct and up front with ALL of the information you need? If making a trip to any area like that, I would contact many local photographers and do a LOT of prior research to see if they can support you in this trip. I see models offering this quite often. Jan 28 10 01:14 pm Link JSVPhotography wrote: I know plenty of models who get flown around the country and I have been offered this as well. Some are legit and some want more than a photoshoot. Its figuring out which offer is legit and which isn't. Jan 28 10 02:27 pm Link I'd pass on this. At best, the photographer is horribly disorganized. At worst... People fly me across Europe, though, and taking pictures is the only thing they have in mind with me. But, well, that's what it's like for me. Jan 28 10 02:39 pm Link Guy can't write, can't spell, can't make up his mind, can't give a straight answer to a simple question. Just the kind of guy you'd want to cross the country to work with. Jan 28 10 05:37 pm Link Beatrix Mae wrote: Is "so many" really accurate? This one is the first I've heard of. Is it really common enough to be a serious worry? If so, where have I been? Jan 28 10 05:53 pm Link I hate it when people cant seem to communicate coherently. After awhile I lose faith in the person and entertain it for laughs and to confirm that they are retarded, and then I just block them since I'm no longer interested in getting disconnected, jarring messages from them, not even for laughs. And if their brain is that fucked up, I really dont want to do business with them in the future either so I set fire to that bridge. Jan 28 10 06:00 pm Link Lets see, He's paying for air fair, accommodations and can only scrape up a $100 for actual payment. You'll spend that much on food and come home with less then you left with. Time to move on. Jan 28 10 06:06 pm Link David Thorpe wrote: Are you going to chew me out about this too? Jan 28 10 06:32 pm Link Beatrix Mae wrote: Who's chewing you out? I'll rephrase it for you. Jan 28 10 07:51 pm Link TG Cocciolone wrote: Models routinely stay with photographers, completely legitimately. I had three in a month, and I've stayed with a model when traveling. Jan 28 10 08:38 pm Link David Thorpe wrote: Just got a PM. Phewf! sorry to get all defensive Jan 28 10 08:44 pm Link Sounds shady to me. When approaching a model with a job offer, one should be fully prepared to give a clear, concise description of what will be offered to and/or required of the model. Actually, this applies to any job offer in any field. Jan 29 10 01:07 am Link ...power rangers? Jan 29 10 01:12 am Link If people can't communicate coherently, I lose interest fast. Although my next door neighbor has a friend who I talk with sometimes and he's completely ADD, but has a University degree and a successful commercial fishing business in Santa Barbara. I mean he's legite, but I can't stand trying to have a conversation with him. I feel like I ask the same questions over and over and that I'm talking to three different people at once. There's nothing better for legitimacy, I would guess, than having models who liked working with you tag you. Also, getting to know someone before you shoot is a good thing for me, and I appreciate that. In fact, it results in better photographs after you have time to talk with the person and study his or her portfolio. That way you know if there is at least some friendly connection with the person and how best to shoot their particular body and facial features. The thing that bothers me with this guy is that he's completely sporadic and is as if he doesn't know who you are each time you talk. He also seems very wary and secretive. I'm glad you passed on this guy Alice. Jan 30 10 01:01 am Link Danger Ninja Production wrote: Obviously someone is on the cutting edge of popular culture. Jan 30 10 05:08 am Link shortage of information but willing to pay you pretty well: definite red flag Jan 30 10 06:02 am Link aquarelle wrote: this deserve an echo Jan 30 10 06:21 am Link You can get money from lots of people on here who have a good idea what they want to shoot, they're not shooting wierd stuff, no licking or power rangers, etc. Don't waste your time working with someone who has questionable content. If someone is discussing questionable content with me, I always worry that if I get into the shoot with them, they will try to push it on me or give me a creepy feeling. Then what if they chop you up? scary  But seriously, there are too many other people on here willing to pay models to bother with the ones who make it so difficult to discuss the details of a shoot. Jan 30 10 08:18 am Link If you have any doubt about a shoot in general, it is wise to err on the side of caution. This sounds like a big mess waiting to happen. Jan 30 10 08:21 am Link red.flag. Jan 30 10 08:25 am Link So today I received my last message from him, surprise! The "erotic scene" was going to be between me and him he said. I was like, um block! Thankfully I worked out the whole plane ticket issue and I'm no longer worried about this idiot. Thank you for all the responses. I'm just going to chalk this one up as a good laugh.  Jan 30 10 11:23 am Link Little Alice wrote: Holy shit, guy has balls to ask. Jan 30 10 01:35 pm Link Art of the nude wrote: +1 Apr 02 10 03:08 pm Link Little Alice wrote: ... Apr 02 10 03:09 pm Link Feel free to help everyone else out and report his name to the admin. I'm here to model, not end up in a dumpster after being tricked by some weirdo. Apr 02 10 03:13 pm Link |
