I‘ve been on both sides of it - I have done work for less than I was worth, and I have paid people more than they were worth, and in both circumstances I have learned the hard way: money does not buy loyalty. In both scenarios, what the other party learns is that they can take advantage of me. I’ve worked for a reduced rate thinking I was creating an opportunity for something bigger, not realizing that working for a reduced rate has flagged me as someone not worth their time, to the people who hold the keys to the opportunity i thought I was seeking. And when I’m the one paying people, I’ve learned that no amount of money can inspire people to Rise to challenges, they will always choose their own comfort or convenience. A very hard lesson came when I realized that I had a picture in my head of the group I was working with as a band, a group of people ready to walk through hell together to reach the top. But the reason the group came apart is because as soon as it got to a point where they had to put some skin in the game, they would sooner not get paid any more than have to give up something of their own. Like that Horror movie I produced - the dude would rather get nothing from me ever again, even if it might be more in the long run, than give up a little bit now for a potential huge payoff down the line. This is the sort of thing I talk about when I say “I wish I was meaner”. I Love collaboration and I love creating opportunities for people, but it often seems like life would be less stressful if I was more ruthless about seizing all opportunity for myself to the greatest degree possible. I would have less stress in my life had I never offered to create a film based on someone else’s I.P. Even then, I would have less stress right now if I had insisted on being the writer/director and had the creator of the I.P. Onboard as a consultant. That’s why my whole strategy for the next ten years is about the projects I want to make. I can’t give other people their dream until my dream is locked and secure - that’s the foundation without which the whole thing collapses. So ten years and five movies for me, and after that I can shift focus to a producer role and applying my creativity to bring up other talent.
