Repercussions Part 2

Several weeks ago, the studio called my boss and offered her a really big project - over 200 million and 3 countries. She told them she didn't want it but they asked her to meet with the producers anyway. She did and they liked her and it looked like she'd be taking it.

Fast forward to last week when her direct boss at the studio called her and told her they needed her to pass on the project. Apparently there were people higher up the food chain who felt they needed to take a break from working together because of what transpired on this multi-named monstrosity.

So what does that tell me? That yes, there are repercussions but they are not always in the direction one may think. It also tells me I need to find out who is getting that show.

 

Part II

We don't know how or why, but Darby got better. She figured out that we weren't trying to kill her and stopped trying to reciprocate. Can't say she actually started "playing" but blood stopped flowing so freely. We didn't even have to extend the deadline.

Sometime during all of this, we decided that Darby was Russian. Something about the way her eyes looked, a straight line across the top, made us think Soviet. So ever since she's been a loyal member of the Communist party and often threatens to put her cat brothers up against the wall for various infractions.

Darby and her brothers never did get along. Baxter was the worst for tormenting her - lying in wait and then jumping her. And then she'd turn around and kick Quincy's ass because he was a wuss.

But she did tolerate the dog fairly well. 

Darby - A History in 3 Parts

Part I - October 2004

I decided we needed a 3rd cat. We went to the Van Nuys pound and looked around and I liked the looks of this one cat - a brown spotted coat with a gold/yellow undertone. They opened up the cage door and she head-butted my hand and that was that. Thundra was ours.

The shelter sent her to a local vet for spaying and they did a terrible job; she got an infection that could have killed her. We took her to our regular vet and they immediately started her on fluids and then kept her overnight. It was an expensive start.

When Darby finally came home, her dad took care of her and kept her company. She didn't recover right away but she got better daily. Then we realized that she was a mean little shit who had no concept of play. She was around 2 years old and we had no idea of her history but it wasn't nice if her temperament meant anything. She bit and clawed and left a lot of scars. It was so bad that we actually decided that if she wasn't better by Thanksgiving she would be going back to the pound.

Darby Says Hello

Another Possibility...

I've tried to make myself feel better about all of this by telling myself that if my boss didn't trust in my ability to do the job right then she wouldn't leave so much up to me. Sadly it only goes so far...

Demeaned

I have never worked on a show that disregarded the needs of payroll as much as this one does. More often than not, I sign the time cards and send them to the payroll company. I've even cut checks and distributed them before the people with authority have even finished signing them. It's not supposed to be this way. I'm not supposed to have this kind of power. I think if I wanted to I could slip an extra person or two into the mix and no one would even notice...

The husband keeps asking me if I'm ever going to work for this woman again and I keep telling him no with the caveat that at some point she may be the only job option. Even then it will depend on the size of the show and the amount of staff. She really can't expect do keep doing these bigger shows if she's not willing to put in the time necessary to do the work.

I sent the time cards in on Monday under my signature. The UPM finished signing them yesterday around 5:30pm (after telling me to come to his office at 11am and then never being available). My boss left at her usual time between 6 and 6:30pm after promising me she would sign them in the morning. I just went in to get whatever she had finished with (because I already have edits from the payroll company) but she hasn't touched them and doesn't think she's going to get to them today. So I took them. I'm going to do my work with them and she can deal with them afterward. They won't be in the nice code-order she prefers but I think she's going to know better than to say anything...

So Fucking Annoying

I am so tired of having to deal with crew people who don't think I know how to do my job. The DGA trainee wrote me an email asking if she should do new time cards for 2 of the AD's because she forgot to note meal money. I wrote back and told her I pay by the rules, not what she writes on the gd card. Really? I've been doing this 12+ years and I'm supposed to rely on a trainee to be able to break a DGA time card?

And then there are the people who have 10 hour guarantees... I know they have that guarantee. I'm usually the one confirming that it is approved and noted correctly on the paperwork. But when they have a short day they always feel the need to push out the wrap time to make sure it shows 10 hours. Doesn't matter that it screws up meal penalties or turnaround. By dog! If they don't show 10 hours they won't get paid 10 hours! BULLSHIT!!! That's my job - that's what I'm paid to do. And you make it harder when I have to find out why your time card doesn't match the production report and then deal with the extra nonsense that your little adjustment caused. ARGH!!!

And this movie is so close to going over budget it's ridiculous. I get the feeling we may not be paying the director after all - it may be the only way to keep under the $75 million cap for the state rebate. Not like he needs the money but I do wonder when the shit's going to hit the fan. We only have 3 weeks left...

F U Non-Disclosure Agreements!

Repercussions

I had a sweet job offer the other day and I really wanted to take it. I had it all set where I would work my current show through the end of December and then go onto the new show. We finish shooting on the 16th so that would give me 2 weeks to get things cleaned up instead of the 6 weeks they have planned.

I went into my boss' office last night and told her about my offer and it didn't go well. I can't even remember all the things she said to me but I can remember she told me that while she couldn't stop me from leaving, I would have to know there would be repercussions for my actions.

Wow. That stopped me pretty cold.

So I told the new show that it wasn't going to work out (unless they hired a friend of mine to start and I would come on at the beginning of February). It's an option but it's not ideal for anyone.

But the repercussions have already begun. I don't think my boss said 2 words to me today, including walking past my door on her way out with out saying goodbye. I can't believe I worked so hard for this result. Makes me think I should just leave anyway...

Roses from Sunday

My Sunday

I can't vent on FB anymore so I thought I'd keep a running commentary on my day to help get through it.

I really don't want to be here.

People are really sloppy with paperwork that gets them paid.

If we had 4 animal trainers working on Tuesday, why is there no mention of an animal being needed on the call sheet?

My assistant took payroll to set last Thursday and said it was the most uncomfortable set she'd ever been on and that the director wasn't happy. I asked how she knew - she said the yelling gave it away. Apparently he didn't like the stunt double they brought in.

I had to write an email to the guy in charge of the production reports. He's supposedly giving me the most up-to-date reports for Sunday's work but they never are. It's very frustrating having to look at several sources to get my info.

I overpaid mileage - hard to keep track when it's not the same for everybody.

Eh, it's the same old crap every week. I'm tired of it. But I did buy myself flowers today! Too bad I can't get them to post...

6th Day

I'm at work on my 6th day because I couldn't get everything done in 5 days. I'm not getting paid for it so you'd better believe I'm not doing anything more than the minimum. I'm not taking phone calls or dealing with anything else. I did initial the vouchers because I would have been taking them home otherwise. And it's a way to kill time until the payroll company finishes with my stuff.

I don't even really have any good stories from this show. The main actors are kids and aren't doing much. One of the adult stars was overheard having a phone conversation where it sounded as if was hooking up with two women at once. That sent us on a hunt to find out if we had twins working as extras in WV but we couldn't confirm it.

Fucking Teamsters

Those fucktard Teamsters out of Pittsburgh are grieving the show over the most ridiculous bullshit. I hope they all fail the next dmv test and have to find work doing something else. Damn, I hate them.

Baxter

When I got home last night and saw Baxter I knew his time had come. He's very thin and frail but seems to be alert and pain-free. He knew who I was and let me scratch him under the chin awhile. But it's time. I'm glad I got to see him and I'm glad I'll be there to hold him while he goes. My handsome Boo.

Done

I hate this job and I would quit in a heartbeat if it wasn't for my boss. I know she's trying to find help for me and I know it's just not out there. I also think if I left her high and dry she'd blacklist me.

Tanks

We have a bunch of tanks and stuff in this movie (military moving something out of Area 51 and all). I've been asking since I found out for a ride. Today, I'm going for a ride in a tank. Doesn't quite make up for these past few weeks but damn, I'm going and I'm going to enjoy it.

Rough Week

I've had a really rough couple of weeks. This job has been nothing but 12-14 hour days, 6 and 7 days a week, bad paperwork, and unpleasant people. Nobody is happy to be here anymore and it's showing. I've been accused of not being able to do my job (which will be another post), of being at fault for people getting paid late, and I'm dealing with some psycho local who is on disability and worked too much and wants me to pull of some kind of miracle for her (which in the end would be illegal). My cat is dying, my husband has to deal with him all alone, I miss him and my furry family, and going home seems to be a long way off.

Then I hear from E and realize there are still worse things in the world than what I'm going through.

Facebook

I canceled my Facebook account. I'll set up a new one but I'm only allowing friends and family on it - no more coworkers.

Failure

I can no longer do my job to the standard to which I aspire (sounds pretentious when it's grammatically correct, doesn't it?). But the truth is I feel like I'm having a slow-speed meltdown trying to be perfect. I've been told I'm better than other payroll accountants but at what cost? I get so frustrated with the stupidity I have to deal with on every show, thinking that if I did my job the way they do theirs I'd never work again. But the truth is I could probably do 75% of what I'm doing now and still be fine. I could get it all done if I worked 12 hours a day, 7 days a week but that's contributing to the stress, not alleviating it. Smaller shows - I'm on my own. Bigger shows get more help but never enough or not the right kind. I just don't see a way out. I want to do a good job without it being so damn hard.

Okay, vent over...

Time for bed. Got to get up and do it all again tomorrow. 

Oh, check YouTube - there's video of the explosions from the other night. So much for secrecy, huh?

How Much Longer?

The VFX producer came by to give me some info and let slip that she thinks we're going to be here longer than originally planned. Not sure how long but probably a week... She said she was supposed to have the cemetery scene (a big VFX scene) on Friday but it's Tuesday and they're just now shooting it.

I really want to go to home. I miss the husband and I want to see Baxter before he gets too sick. And I'm tired of working 12+ hour days 6 and 7 days a week. The money is good but it's exhausting.

They've been trying to find someone to do the CA payroll but no one is available. The 1st offered to do it on a 6th day, which would be cheaper than hiring a new body, but it hasn't been approved yet. At this point I just want to stop having to ship paperwork back and forth across the country.

In other news, I'm planning on going to the Warhol Museum this Saturday. Not that I was ever a big fan but I don't dislike his work and it might be interesting. If nothing else it's not Weirton for the day.