Dongli Deng. Wice Studio.

Another company freelancers should be warned about: Wice Studio and Dongli Deng.

A number of freelancers worked for this company and producer on a (somewhat chaotic) commercial production for the Chinese brand Moutai. The shoot overran on many days - mostly as a result of Deng’s own ineptitude - and when it came to the crew invoicing after the shoot had wrapped, he suddenly decided that he wasn’t going to pay the extra hours that had been agreed on set.

Apparently (in his view) as the overtime had not been agreed in writing and done through the company’s system, that was a good enough basis to withhold the extra pay (albeit it is more likely that, as the company had utterly fucked up the budget, he decided to use that excuse to help plug the financial hole).

Given multiple opportunities to address the issues raised (including the offer of a compromise of half pay), Deng simply threw up the drawbridge and walked away. Clearly not a company or individual that should be trusted in the future then.

Wice Studio. Dongli Deng: Freelancers beware.