TV Watercooler

Anthony Aurelius runs Raising Awareness Productions, an organisation that soundfs like some kind of pressure group or charity. It isn't though, it's a fully fledged commercial organisation. As it says on its site:

Raising Awareness Productions is an innovative software solutions and corporate video production company based in London and West Sussex. We provide complete software and corporate video production solutions for small, medium and large companies.

We create outstanding corporate video productions that are always delivered on time and within budget.

So how does Anthony Aurelius keep those productions "within budget", well one handy way is to ignore the Minimum Wage regulations and use illegal unpaid workers:

Vacancy: Runner/Sound Assistant
Employer: Raising Awareness Productions
Location: London [view map]
Duration: 1 day, starts Weds 6th January

Runner/Sound assistant needed for a shoot in London on Wednesday. More work coming up for a good runner/assistant on this film
Please call 07931 560412 and ask to speak to Anthony between 9am and 5pm ONLY Today or Tomorrow
More Info: http://www.raisingawarenessproductions.com

Apply to: Anthony Aurelius

Dear Anthony,

I apologise for bothering you but I am writing about your advert as I wondered whether this position should be paid if you expect this person to do work for you?

Is that not the case? I would be grateful you could let me know.

Many thanks

No reply.

Hi Anthony, would it be possible for you to address this?

No reply.

I apologise for bothering you again but would it be possible to have an answer to this?

Many thanks

I am not sure and a bit confused.

I paid the runner £20 and bought him lunch too.

Anthony

£20 and lunch does not cover the Minimum Wage if he worked more than a few hours Anthony - surely you should be paying him a bit more?

This was an unpaid job on my side actually, I am not earning from this project myself at all. Helping a friend out.

I am still confused, I thought people on Mandy want to do work for the experience? In-fact, only last year I worked several days on a shoot myself for no payment at all, not even expenses myself. I did it to help out on a project and to continue learning. I worked 4 days on that shoot but learned a lot. No money, no expenses. It is in the lo/no/deferred basis.

Are you part of Mandy?

A bit confused by your emails by responding to your questions anyway even though I have no idea who you are!!!

Anthony
anthony.aurelius@choi-bo.com

Anthony Aurelius
Producer
Raising Awareness Productions
http://www.raisingawarenessproductions.com
Tel. 0845 223 4601

Hi Anthony, no I'm not from mandy, I just saw the advert and thought it should be paid. If you take on a worker and use them this way, you do need to pay them, whether or not you make money from the work or not. Does that make sense?

I do pay people to work for our company, several employees, but new people first have to prove their worth. Like a job interview really. I will be using the runner on this job again as he was hard working, decent and reliable. He also had a good attitude so he is worth investing my professional time into.

Be careful with thoughts, they are just opinions and not reality.

All the best, you have had enough of my time now!

Anthony

Hi Anthony, many thanks but the Minimum Wage regulations just don't work that way - if you use a worker you do have to pay them, even if they are proving themselves to you and you are investing your "professional time" in them. It's what the law says - surely you do not intend to break the law in this way?

That is not how this industry works. I worked for years for FREE for many big production companies on odd days. I do understand your opinion, but it just doesn’t work like that. I am a really hard working guy who tries to help people out where I can. The law IS NOT WORKING. If you want to gain good experience on a project, I have a documentary in pre-production called ‘Corporate Child Abuse?’ which is a serious project, I am going to change the law in terms of what is sold as healthy to children, when it is far from it. Lots of people will be helping me out for free on this production and 50% of the profits are going to a childrens charity who are dieing from cancer. You would gain experience, but first I would need to listen to you to see if you have any skills, because some people are quite honestly just a waste of time.

I am sorry but I do not have time for this...

I am not going to bother to reply to your emails anymore. It's what the law says - surely you do not intend to break the law in this way? This was a slightly condescending.

However, if you want to speak to me today about getting involved with Corporate Child Abuse? Positions are filling fast, my mobile is 07931 560412

Anthony, whatever experience you might have had, this is not just my opinion, it is what the law says. Work for a charity is entirely different, that is specifically excepted - will you at least check this with the relevant authorities?

No reply.

Would you be able to do this Anthony?

No reply.

So somewhere along the line Anthony has got it into his head that because he has worked unpaid it's OK for him to ignore the regulations. Either that or these youngsters are getting something better than pay - the opportunity to learn at the feet of Anthony Aurelius, something which he clearly feels is worth more than punds, shillings and pence. Try that one on the bank manager or landlord.

Incidentally a Google Search for Anthony Aurelius turns up someone who looks like this:



Apparently he's some kind of martial arts expert. Assuming he won't particularly care for me publicly pointing out that he is breaking the law, I'm off to hide.

Meanwhile Anthony Aurelius. Raising Awareness Productions. http://www.raisingawarenessproductions.com: Freelancers beware!

Hi FilmFan
Thanks for this. As ever you are doing a grand job. Anthony Aurelius’s ignorance is a worry. His picture is interesting though and I wonder if he put his hands up (to his naïve view of the NMW) would his trousers fall down?

After exchanging several more emails, Anthony has now confirmed that he has checked the situation with the relevant authorities and will be paying this runner a sum which brings his pay over the Minimum Wage.

Hurrah! Well done, Film Fan.

Good on you Anthony.

Hi folks, I appreciate that I'm dragging this thread from the depths of January, but I've only just come across it via Google.

Have been noticing this lad's job adverts on Mandy sporadically for the last few months, and also noticed him peddling the "experienced producer from Sky TV" line. Unfortunatly, that's not true. He is not a producer at Sky TV (and judging by his show reel on YouTube, is certainly not experienced either). I, however, AM a producer at Sky, and have checked the staff list and also asked around various people in a range of departments. No one has ever heard of him.

Just a word of warning to watch out for him, he's clearly pulling a fast one for whatever demented reason, and it'd be a shame if any of us hard working media souls get taken advantage of or screwed over by falling for one of his adverts.

Thank you mmm

And great to know that you came here via a Google search too.

Welcome to The Cooler - I hope we'll see you back here often.

i spotted his advert on mandy too, while i was desperately trying to get any experience i could in this industry. I am a mug or am I right to be taking oppurtunities wherever I can possibly find them. I have been working for a small independent production company filming a romantic comedy set in south east london. It has been a really great experience and although I mostly feel like I am getting in the way, they have actually been really freindly and accomodating, I have learnt LOADS. They feed us all and all the crew have a great time.

However, since reading this thread I am really concerned that perhaps I am working for an illegal organisation out to exploit naive and vulnerable film students. What on earth should I do, I want to learn how the f**k the cameras work but I dont want to associate with criminals..

Ive been working for on a set where neither the sound man nor the other runner, nor the make up artist are paid. just well fed and having the time of their lives. all very grateful to be involved in such a great project. what are you all talking about..

No-one is blaming freelancers who want to gain experience (let alone "associate with criminals"), it is never their fault if people want to use them illegally unpaid on commercial productions. Glad to hear people are having the time of their lives, however it doesn't mean that they, and everyone else who is due it, shouldn't also be paid - does it?