A Presidential Postscript...

Much of the work we do for diddly squat does not become an earner, and even if it does have a measure of success and is seen by heaps of people, the crew are rarely acknowledged as major investors in the project. If the project has public money, from Creative NZ or the NZ Film Commission say, then those ‘investors’ will at least have a credit on the film, even if they don’t get any financial return on their investment.

Many of us think it’s a good idea to at least do the accounting - figure out what the production would actually cost if crew were charging realistic rates for their time and equipment. I’m not suggesting ‘phantom invoicing’ with commercials rates, but use reasonable rates for your experience and the hours you’re working. I think we’d be surprised, astounded even, at the proportion of investment the crew put into some projects. That can be acknowledged, through this ‘phantom invoice’ form of ‘shadow’ accounting, and with some sort of on-screen credit.

I have to say the phantom invoice was not my idea, but I have no qualms about colonising the concept if it can serve the interests of us all.