Lie. Get the job.

Recently, I answered an job posting for a short film. The writer-director liked me and my resume. I was offered my pick of jobs on the set. I asked what the shooting schedule was. [With two kids under the age of three and a wife that works about 12-hours a day, I don’t mind late or long hours but I have to have a schedule (tentative at least) so I can make sure my kids are covered.] I never got an answer.

I asked about the shooting schedule again. I was asked what job I wanted. I replied. I was told, “…great, welcome aboard”. I asked a 3rd time about the schedule- I never got a good answer.

I was given dates- that "may or may not be all of the shooting dates". It took me 2 days to make sure that I had triple back-up child care since I had no clue as to what times we would be shooting. I let the director know that I was totally available without restriction- and was then told that the position had been filled.

What? Was I being difficult by asking what the shooting schedule was? Was it unprofessional of me to explain that I just had to ensure that my children were taken care off?

In the making of my film, Phobia, I was irritated, annoyed and occasionally pissed when people would pull some schedule conflict out of the air. I appreciated and thanked the people that had provided me with their schedules and conflicts well in advance so that they could be worked out.

In my opinion, be honest… as early and as often as possible.

Don.