IM Sound and Music: Voice Seeker #39519

Nathan Lowe

Please be cautious if you run across a lead from this 'Voice Seeker'. A job posted with this ID (titled "Insight Tiffany 2") listed a 30 second regional TV spot for a $500 buyout. I was approached by John Massari by email on 17 Sept, who told me I had the job - then told me he had just learned that the 1 spot IM Sound and Music listed in the lead was now 12 'scripts' they were going to edit into one (or two) spot(s). To be clear, Mr. Massari works for Sparkhill - a company this 'voice seeker' contracted with to do the producing/recording, and the only person I've actually had contact with regarding this project.

After voicing suspicion to Mr. Massari, he said he would contact IM Sound and Music regarding budget and the use of this material. He got back to me and said they had $750 for my time. Still suspicious, I asked him to email over the copy, indicating that I would look at it and see (I thought it’d basically be one master spot with some phrases that could be read down and punched in if they decided they liked one phrase over another – I don't need to say that this thinking was extremely generous!), and give them an answer.

My thought was that if it's one spot with some lines that could be done wild, I would give them a hard 30 minutes of my time (Sparkhill's studio is local to me here in LA), read the master down twice, read the phrases down twice, and let them deal with editing it...

I get the copy, it's clearly 12 distinct spots – complete with differing camera directions for each! I told Mr. Massari that I didn’t believe they were not going to use the material for just one spot, told him I’d be glad to do each spot for $200 a piece. He said he’d float it by IM Sound and Music and get back to me. Promised to let me know either way, as the session was to be 19 Sept (Thursday) AM. As you can guess, I've not heard a peep.

I have some small issue with Mr. Massari in that he did not get back with me as promised - but hey, we all know that game. I never really expected him to get back to me - it's Hollywood! The real issue here is with IM Sound and Music and their bait and switch.

This just highlights the need to vigilant, to insist on fair compensation, and to not be taken in by what could seem to some at first glance as a decent payday for half an hour of one's time. It's bad enough that we have rampant cut-rate pricing in this industry, no need to encourage it further!

Best

Nathan Lowe

Kathleen Keesling · Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007, 01:08 (GMT) Post subject:

Thank you for posting, Nathan.

Very enlightening information.

I think it's a great idea to post the Voice Seeker's number as you did.

Kat

Chris Mezzolesta · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007, 16:21 (GMT) Post subject:

This isn't the same John Massari who worked with animator Mike Jittlov on "The Wizard of Speed and Time", I wonder??

Nathan Lowe · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007, 18:12 (GMT) Post subject: