Studio Cypherpunk. Hashim Shubbar and Ida Thomasdotter.
Where’s the harm? The name of the production in the hands of these two individuals; Hashim AlShubbar (Producer) and Ida Thomasdotter (Director/Writer). Well it seems that the harm comes to those who have been unfortunate enough to become involved in making this particular piece of work via their company Cypherpunk Studio, as all who did (both cast and crew) have been left empty of pocket, having trusted these two to pay their invoices but found, when they were were submitted, that the cupboard was very bare indeed.
Ida, who claims she has an “unavoidable propensity for the melancholic and bleak” is clearly so absorbed by the dark side that she has found herself unable to focus on the bleak and melancholic immediate future of the cast and crew being unable to pay their bills, given her lack of interest in saying when that payment might be. Hashim too is also somewhat diffident about such earthly things, taking umbrage at the idea that it might be part of his duties as “Producer” of this particular project, to meet the crew’s invoices with some cold, hard cash.
Vague promises there have been plenty but actual money: none. Apparently it is AlShubbar and Thomasdotter‘s intention to make more of these shows. Let’s hope not. The intention of the series is (apparently) to “shed light on the dark side of humanity”. They’ve certainly done that, given their failure to treat people with the minimum amount of respect that a paid invoice conveys. Dark and unpleasant indeed.
As such, these two hapless individuals are a couple of names to keep a firm and wary eye on in the future as it would be clearly wise to take a wide berth around them, together or individually. That is if you want to be paid for your work.
Studio Cypherpunk. Hashim Shubbar and Ida Thomasdotter: freelancers, kit suppliers and the rest of the industry – avoid!
**EDIT**
In the many months since Hashim Shubbar and Ida Thomasdotter first stiffed the cast and crew on this production, Hashim has come up with a long list of excuses why he has refused to pay his workers. To wit:
Anyone who asks for their pay is trying to “blackmail” him.
Anyone who asks for their pay is being “racist”.
That his personal data has been hacked by mysterious forces and that the “authorities” are currently pursuing them for their crimes.
According to Hashim, until these “authorities” have completed the international manhunt for those responsible for these heinous crimes, no-one will be paid for their work as (obviously) they have to get to the bottom of these assorted crimes before…er…that is…I mean…anyway no-one is going to be paid and that’s the end of it. So there.
It’s a novel set of arguments but ultimately it comes down to the same thing that applies when any employer takes a freelancer’s hard work and then decides not to pay them for it: he and Ida are taking what does not belong to them, the pay that these workers need to meet their mounting bills.
Pretty despicable behaviour. BECTU are pursuing him and legal action is underway.
Meanwhile: freelancers AVOID!