I received an email today from someone a PA of the art department of a film that saw my photography booth at a recent arts festival.

They say they are interested in using my work to decorate a few of the rooms/sets for the movie they are working on.

As this is the first request like this I've ever received I'm kind of out on an island here. I looked up information on the movie. It does feature several well known actors in supporting roles (the lead actor and director are both new), but appears to be a pretty low budget independent film. From the tone of the email it did not seem like they were interested in paying (instead promising to show my "label" in the film and credit me in the credits), though they did not say specifically.

Anyone ever had anything like this before? Do these films typically have a budget for this kind of stuff or do they expect to trade for screen time? I have to admit the novelty of having my stuff in a movie is appealing and the unlikely scenario of the movie becoming some film festival darling is as well, but I want to make sure I'm not being taken advantage of.

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  • I wanted to post an update on this, and a proposal as a bit of a sanity check here.

    I did write them back and have heard back from them on the matter.  They said that they would prefer to borrow and return the prints but would be willing to just buy them outright.

    It's been interesting working with a semi-big organization compared to a private client.  They are coming by in a few days to pick the items up and as of yet have still not even mentioned how many pieces or what size they want (even when I asked).  I guess they're just going to want whatever I've got?

    Anyway, here's where I need the sanity check.  I'm actually considering doing the former and lending them the work instead of selling it.  My thoughts are that I would assume the prices I would sell them for will need to be in line with how I had them priced at the festival (where they saw the work) and I had stuff priced fairly low there as it was a young trending festival with a lot of lower cost photo competition.  My thought was I might be able to sell the stuff for more down the line if it was the piece that physically appeared in the movie, especially if I'm able to have them get the actors to sign the pieces or something like that.  The actors are household names and ones that I like to boot.  And worst case, it would be cool to own those pieces myself knowing where they've been.  Don't get me wrong a few thousand bucks would be great but this is not yet my full time job so I am still making plenty of money at my 9-5.

    Lastly, as a real longshot, they've mentioned that one of their main goals for this film is getting it shown at Sundance.  I was wondering if perhaps having those pieces that were in the film, especially if they are signed, might help me get into the Park City Arts Festival at all?  One of the things generally lacking in a photography portfolio is any kind of "original".  They're all prints.  If I have some pieces that are one of a kind because they physically appeared in a movie at Sundance then maybe that would have some weight with the jurors, who generally seem to prefer stuff that is one of a kind?  I'm not even sure if there would be any way to show this to the jurors though or if they're just looking at the digital image files (do they read any kind of write-up with the files)?

    Anyway, I guess the short version of it is with this all being supplementary income anyway, maybe it's worthwhile to swing for the fences even if it's a lowish percentage swing versus the sure-thing of a few thousand bucks (to buy a new camera?).  That's where I'm leaning at this point, especially since the worst case scenario for that is that I end up "stuck" with some pieces that mean a lot to me personally.

    • You could also ask them to buy them outright, have them signed by the actors and give them the option to return them for a full or partial refund.

  • Well, it sounds to me like this is a low budget, independent film that probably doesn't have a lot of money to throw around to purchase props, maybe you could rent them your artwork?  I know someone who's in the antique business, who used to rent old drug store props to the film industry.  In any event, we'd all love to hear how this works out and find out more information about the film and who's in it...thanks and good luck!

  • Get some kind of payment. Sometimes payment can be money plus goods and services. But if you've ever sat through and paid attention to movie credits like I usually do, you'll notice a gazillion folks names you'll never ever remember or hear of again. Credits are expected and deserved, not payments.

    GET PAID SOMETHING!

    • Ryan, Most films have a budget and there is money available for decorating a set.  They can buy some of your art and sell it when they are done.  If they liked it to begin with I am sure the art work is going to walk right off to a permanent home in one of the crew member's homes.  They aren't going to have any goods or service you are going to want.  They are movie people. 

      If the special thing you are getting is your name in the credits, that isn't worth it.  My husband and I sit through the credits but we are the only people in there.  So, nobody is going to notice your name as it quickly scrolls on by. 

      When films use someone's home, they pay for it.  They are paying for many other things so they can pay you, too.  They might just be seeing what all they can get for free from many people.

  • Wow, this is cool!  Let us know what happens!

  • Unless they want to purchase your pieces you should tell them no... Movie producers spend a ton of money for making films and any worthwhile company should buy it.

    • Hi Ryan,

      I had my pottery used in a plot line for the show Pretty Little Liars of ABC Family.

      They purchased all of the pieces that they used.

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