Coming to LA, need to rent lights/Don't want to be a Douchebag.

[Johnny St.Ours]

Hey gang,
I'll be in LA in the first two weeks of March and I've got a couple of interviews to film, I'm wondering if anybody here had some basic lighting, and some primes they'd like to rent me for a not so exuberant budget, or can recommend a good source. I thought I'd check here before a cold Google search. The rental would be a day or two within those two weeks, not the whole two weeks (probably March 6th, but I don't have them locked to a calendar yet). I'd especially like some zeiss superspeeds if you got 'em. For lighting- Kino, some open face, couple of stands/gels/blackwrap- basic stuff that fits in a rental car. If you'd like to come along (and the budget allows), I'd be curious to know that too.

Additionally, I'll be in town putting out feelers on the work opportunities, making connections, and Doing Lunches and that kind of thing. But here's the question: I've had my experiences with upstarts, douche bags and scabs- and I don't ever want to join their group. I may not be a seasoned pro, but I'm no upstart, however I am looking for work and money and I'm coming into your town and I don't know the rules. I won't be calling anybody's producer and telling them I'll do it for half the rate (like the douchebags do in my town), but if there's any other guidelines of work ethic etiquette anybody thinks I should know, then I'd love to hear them.
Truth is, I hate vacations, so I'll have a Red in the trunk and I want to be busy- but it's not worth pissing a bunch of you guys off if I accidentally low-ball your prices just because I don't feel like sitting on a beach.

That said, if ya'll don't mind, I'll offer my services (at my I-don't-want-to-sit-on-a-beach rate)

And if some fellow redusers or collaborators or potential clients want to grab a whiskey - give me a shout. I lived in Laguna Beach back in high school, so I'm not a total country boy stranger- but I have no idea where the cool cats are.

434-760-2202 Johnny

 

[MJ Stroud]

Johnny,

My Lighting guy can probably take care of you. Let me know if you still need lighting.

 

[Scott Crawley]

Wow,

Your post speaks with a voice of utterly despondent resolution. Of course I could just be reading into it. You see I'm just coming off of a "job" with an upstart douchebag myself and I'm feeling your pain. Good luck out there Johnny.

With that being said I have to also say; Not knowing you personally, reading your post I am left to think that this guy is either completely cool, or a huge douchebag in a clever disguise. You see when you've been looking at douchebags this long everyone begins to look like one. No offense intended and again, good luck.
:undecided:

 

[BigLu]

I once shot in NY and many people helped me out of no where.
If you run into any problems or need something last minute save my number in your phone.
You never know what youll need last minute, be happy to give you any contact you may need.
rental houses
rental guys
equipment
lights
post
just about anything
good luck

805 822 9870
Luis

 

[Johnny St.Ours]

Sorry to post and run guys- thank you for the offers of help, and nothing wrong with having a curious mind, Scott- none of us knows much about the other until we have the pleasure (or in some rare cases, the misfortune) of working together in person. Anyway- I managed to have a busy time in LA and worked with some great folks, looking forward to coming back soon.

It has been brought to my attention by anonymous email that some folks in my little town saw this thread and took offense- and I can't blame them. I apologize fully to my local collaborators, past, present and future who may believe I was referring to them with my use of the term douche bag. To make it clear, the offending DBs know who they are.

I also apologize for involving Reduser with this little small town drama, but if you please permit me to set the record straight here, I will post the anonymous email and my response- I'm not sure how else to make my mistake and clear intention known. I thought about editing my original post, but I think it's better to live with it, and keep it available for investigation- should someone remember it differently.

Full View
Re: You too douchbag
...
From:
John St.Ours <jsaintours@yahoo.com>
...
View Contact
To: Miss Lovelove <lovelove_miss@yahoo.com>
You're absolutely right: there are many in this fine Ville who by no stretch meet the description. I apologize unreservedly for the generalized statement. Truly, there are only two people who by facts known to me have behaved like text book douchebags, and worse- have willfully acted to sabotage and steal confirmed employment of mine; Scabs, in plain English.
Though it is sometimes true that a bad apple spoils the whole bushel- not so in my heart for my home Charlottesville. Thank you for reminding me of this hastily and poorly composed post of mine on reduser- which I wrote in the midst of economic difficulty and disenchantment of my former friends who at the time (and perhaps still today) were active in their offense on my livelihood.

I will edit the offending post and will carefully consider the implications brought about by reckless posting when I make presence of my opinion on the web here forward.

-Mr. Leather Vest

Johnny St.Ours
www.JohnnyStOurs.com
434-760-2202 (m)

On Apr 3, 2010, at 3:24 AM, Miss Lovelove <lovelove_miss@yahoo.com> wrote:

> http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=41392
>
> So Charlottesville is a bunch of douchbags, scabs and upstarts huh? As many many local filmmakers have expressed after seeing your post.... Cville is done with you too Mr. Leathervest.
>
>

I would like to add, since few here on Reduser has any way of knowing, that Miss LoveLove's picture is incomplete and misleading. One might read this and imagine bricks thru my window or blacklisting- which isn't the case. I have a good rapport in my town and enjoy work and mutual respect with many of my fellow townsfolk.

 

[Scott Crawley]

Glad to hear that you did well... And you still sound like a straight up guy. ;-)