RFD-TV / Rural Television

I've worked in the motion picture and tv industries now for more than thirty years and it is only in the last few years that I've been systematically faced with more and more collection problems. I know that times are tough, but producers who knowingly hire you with no intention, or capability of paying for the services should be eternally damned to hell (or worse). My current lead "deadbeat" is a cable network called RFD-TV or Rural Television. They are based in Omaha, Nebraska and also have a production facility in Nashville, Tennesee and a theater in Bronson, Montana. They claim to be a "family values" network, except when it comes to honoring their word to employees and vendors.

I worked as the lighting director for their coverage of the Rose Parade on New Years Day in Pasadena. We also shot an hour long documentary about the making of their float which was co-sponsored by the FFA (formally known as Future Farmers of America). In total I worked four days (and nights) including New Years Day, provided ENG cameras and extensive lighting,cable and grip truck as well as an additional technician. They paid about a third of the bill, in the amount of the original estimate which was for one technician for two days. I'm owed almost $5000 since January 1st, now 120 days plus. All the extra charges were approved by the unit manager, the producer and even the owner of the network, who now refuses to sign a check for the balance due. Despite glowing thanks for a job well done from all the others concerned, including their hosts, Crook and Chace, the producers, the live director, etc. I still do not know why they will not pay. I can only assume they don't have the money.

The least I expect from a "family values" network is honesty; I would be comforted if the people in authority returned my calls and emails, but that just doesn't happen. When I do manage to get through to the producer, with whom I made all the deals and received all the approvals, the best I can get is that he's trying to get the boss to sign the check. For the last four weeks the boss hasn't come to the office on Fridays which is the day checks are signed.

As technicians do we have to run credit checks in advance, do we have to get deposits against our wages, do we have to have signed "change notices"? To pursue legal remedies against an out of state corporation is fruitless. It costs more than you might win, let alone the trouble of collection. Unless you have a written agreement so specifying, you can not even sue for the legal expenses incurred in the process . The cards are stacked against the lowly technician.


I'm writing to warn everyone to be very cautious if RTD-TV calls you, or if you're referred to them for an assignment. They will most certainly be back next year for the parade again. If you work for them you will likely not be paid!

John Sharaf
Cinematographer/Lighting Director
Pacific Palisades, Ca.

Raymond McCormack

I worked on a documentary project for Raymond McCormack (director, producer) in the first half of November 2009. I have not been paid, nor have any of the crew as far as I know. I have heard stalling excuses about payroll paperwork, waiting for grant money from the Irish film board, and now he says he is "endeavoring to borrow money." Basically he got us all out to Boston to work for 2 weeks without having any funding for his film. I am owed $4,312, I know the DP is owed a whole lot more. I hope to be able to rescind this notice, but as of now I am not counting on being paid.

Barry Bowles / Showstoppers

I worked for Barry Bowles DBA B-Luv Productions on his movie "Showstoppers" in 2006. I worked 3 days and should have been paid $450 total, but instead they sent me a check for $150. I tried to get in touch with him and his producers Darisha Rolle and Lisa Diane Washington, but no one ever returned my calls. I sent letters, but they were returned to me by the post office. If anyone knows where this guy is, please post.

John Ewing III, Marie Hedwood

Warning: Don't work for John Ewing III (executive producer) or Marie Hedwood (line producer)!

They will not pay you! They will offer you less than minimum wage, then give you B.S. runaround stories about why you aren't being paid per the terms you originally agreed. More than a dozen crew members on their latest venture together are now waiting for their pay that was due at the end of the shoot!

So... If they are hiring you as the editor, good luck! You probably won't get paid either!

(...just bend over...)

David O Neal

Hello i recently answered an add for a guy that called himself David O Neal. He wanted stock footage around the L.A., Santa Monica, and Hollywood area. After I filmed what he wanted and he said he would send me a harddrive to transfer the files onto. He kept telling me it was on the way. Kept telling that. It was the holiday season so I gave him the benifit of the doubt. The harddrive never came and and he stopped returning the emails and phone calls. He is a scammer.

His email is editingbydave@aol.com
The title of the add was "2 day Stock Footage shoot Camera Person wanted (LA)". He also did one in Las vegas too I saw later. He said he would pay $950.00 Thanks and beware.

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Date: 2009-01-18, 6:12PM
I feel for you... David Oneal hired me on Dec. 17, 2008 to do the shoot and he asked me if I can deliver the footage to him before the end of the year? Then he wrote again (the same day) saying it would be nice to go out and get some footage in the rain and if I can start that day(it was raining that day). I thought that was odd since we haven't even spoke on the phone. So i told him i can start the next day and I would be happy to drive by his place in Burbank to introduce myself and also to pick up deposit since this was a big job...He never responded so i never did the shoot. I learned my lesson last year when a friend of mine friend ask me to shoot and edit his corporate event. We agreed on the fee of $700.00. I sent him the final and he said the check was in the mail. That was January 2008.
Good Luck, sorry you have to go through this just cause some idiot is out there trying to rip people off. This is one reason why us (camera ops) need to stick together and 1st stop taking work that pays peanuts and 2) get some kind of deposit up front. I know it's hard to ask, cause so many cameramen just are so hungry to get work we don't want to rock the boat.

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Date: 2009-05-01, 11:43AM PDT

Due to the many responses regarding this clown I have to tell you to stay away. It's obvious he has done this to many of us free lancers. He hired me and quite a few others to shoot for some show on discovery about theme parks and stock type footage. I was stupid for starting the project without a contract, my mistake. As free lancers sometimes you take the work that way....Most of the people I have worked for are professional and appreciate the work that we do.

I shot some stuff and he kept telling me to send it to him on a drive. I told him to buy the drive and send it to me with the deposit. This he agreed to and even asked for the paypal account. After 3 months of "Oh yea I will send it over right away" I gave up knowing my work was a loss. I told him I was going to file with small claims and he kept saying "Don't do that, let's talk" HE NEVER DID WHAT HE SAID HE WOULD IN ALL OF OUR CONVERSATIONS.

I got some emails telling me that some of you were hired by him and even got paid while some of you did not. Feel lucky he paid you. I imagine he just hires a bunch of us to go shoot with for a steady rate then the first one of us who sends the footage on the drive either gets screwed or partly paid, while the rest of us who have worked get nothing.

I found postings on craigslist from other free-lancers that said they were hired for the same exact job as me and they were not paid either.......

LET MY STUPID MISTAKE BE A WARNING TO NOT WORK FOR THIS SCAM ARTIST WHO DOESN'T CARE ABOUT OUR INDUSTRY....

daveoneal.com
DAVE ONEAL
DAVID ONEAL
DAVID SHANAHAN

Kevin Shulman/Kevin Dwyer @ Axiom 8 Films

I have worked on several jobs with Kevin Shulman/Kevin Dwyer, owners/producers of Axiom Films inc. aka Axiom 8. On each job I have done with them it has taken months to receive checks. There are several jobs from January that I haven't been paid on yet. I am not alone, there are other crew members in the same boat, ranging from Steadicam operators, grips, electrics all the way down to PA's. These people are not to be trusted, they have told me, and others, numerous times that my check is "in the mail" only to never receive one. They need to be stopped. They applied these same shady techniques with Raging Nation Films until they were both fired from that production company and started Axiom films Inc. applying the same shady practices.

Signed,
Disgruntled Gaffer

Michael Bowers / Xhaled Productions

Cam ops/Editors: AVOID Michael Bowers and Xhaled Productions

This is a warning to all Camera ops and editors:

Do not do any work for Michael Bowers or Xhaled Productions. He writes bad checks and refuses to pay for work you have billed him for. He might pay you on time for a couple jobs, but eventually he will just stop paying you.

Xhaled does paintball videos, and operates under the company CAM Business Solutions.