Making films can be a costly business, one where budgets often have to be closely monitored and difficult decisions made. As a result some Producers seeking to make short films like to save on cash by using unpaid cast and crew. While morally dubious (as is oft pointed out, experience doesn’t pay bills), there is some mitigation if no-one, including the Producer, profits by the exercise.

A very different situation arises however when a Producer picks and chooses who they want to pay, with some getting a fee and others not - especially when it is only those who occupy the lowest rung of the career ladder who end up penniless from the experience.

Step forward then “actress and filmmaker” Louisa Connolly-Burnham, Producer of “Sister Wives”, a short film being shot in January 2024. This individual has advertised on Facebook for 2 Runners to work on her film without remuneration, while also requiring them to supply their own cars for the privilege. In lieu of pay, she offers the enticing award of gaining “onset experience…to get their start in the industry”.

Louisa doesn’t explain how or why the opportunity to act as her unpaid chauffeurs would be such a great opportunity to learn at the feet of her experience. She has however advertised other roles on the production which are paid, presumably on the basis that their labour is worth something to her while a mere Runner’s is not.

When asked, Louisa had nothing to say to the question of why her Runners should be unpaid while others were receiving the benefit of a wage. Her agent had nothing to add on the subject either.

It seems there isn’t anything to care about here then.

Louisa Connolly-Burnham: Freelancers Beware!