Yes, I’m using that term deliberately. It fits and it’s part of the title of a new book by a very well respected Stanford professor, Bob Sutton: The No Asshole Rule. While this book deals more with bosses and employees, as I understand it (it’s not out yet so I haven’t read it), the information Sutton provides on his blog often applies to our industries. I bet the book will too.
I’m particularly sensitive to this topic because I’ve seen some creatives be really quite lousy to other creatives, and it pisses me off. It’s hard enough making it in a creative industry–why should we make it harder on each other? For example, I personally had a boss (owner) who told his workers (about 6 of us) that there needed to be “belt-tightening” in the company. We all needed to “pull together” to get through the financial bad times, and vague promises of profit sharing in the future were offered. A few days later he showed up with (and showed off!) his new Audi. Interesting that he lost two key players (including me) not long after that.
Another place I see abuse is in the treatment of interns in agencies and assistants by photographers. These people are often treated like scum. I don’t mean that they are asked to clean the bathrooms (which they often are, but that can be okay if others do it too, like in a small studio or firm), I mean they are verbally belittled (a pro assistant being told he’s “just an assistant” even though he has lit and set up the shot for the photographer–or even called names!), paid grudgingly, late, or looked at like they’re nuts for expecting to get paid at all, and even not fed when everyone else gets lunch provided…things like that.
When, for example, a photographer talks on-set about his last trip to France and the AD shows off his new car and laptop, and the AE drives a high-end sports car and wears Armani, it is insulting to tell a highly-skilled digital (tech) assistant that s/he can’t be paid more than $250 a day because there isn’t any money in the budget. Then to say that you won’t pay the assistant until you get paid (same goes for agencies not paying photographers until they get paid) is beyond unacceptable.
When I ask creatives why they think it’s okay to do things like this, the answer I get most often is “This is how I was treated–they have to pay their dues!” That is the biggest bullshit answer, ever. You got kicked in the teeth, therefore it’s okay for you to kick the next person? No. That’s the same rationalization abusers give and it is does not speak to the fundamental fact that such behavior is, quite simply, wrong.
Bob Sutton points out that this behavior is directly connected to power. Getting power seems to turn people (if they are not careful) into assholes. When you become the boss, you are instantly transformed into a person with power. You then have a choice–to become a good boss or an asshole. For those of us in the creative industries, we may have a more difficult time overcoming the “asshole poisoning” Sutton refers to, as this article points out, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do it.
Were you forced to do scut-work or treated like trash early in your career? I am sorry you had to go through that. It sucks. Your boss was wrong to treat you that way. Tell yourself that–“My boss was wrong to (fill in the humiliation).” Imagine what you would tell that boss if s/he tried that on you today.
Now, don’t pass on that venom.
Each of us has the choice of how we act and react and can decide to stop being an asshole today. If you’ve been known to, say, stall payments to your vendors, write those checks today. Thank an intern. Tell your assistant that you appreciate her/his efforts. Take your crew out for cocktails, just to say “I know you work hard.” My prediction is that you will get better productivity out of these people (productivity increases with respect) and that you, as well as they, will be happier at work.
Leslie,
Thanks for addressing this issue.
While many of those not familiar with what really goes on in the pro end of the commercial photo industry, your comments my enlighten them.
Personally I have more than paid my dues.
On many jobs were the photographer is getting $10,000 to $60,000 a day I:
Sit down and discuss what lighting style from someone else’s shoot he wishes to use.
Pre-produce the job, order the equipment and studio or book the location.
Higher the other assistants or Digital techs.
Guide the crew, set builders and set stylists.
Calm the client and the photographer when the set builders knock over a 12K HMI and order a replacement.
Setup the lighting that the photographer selected from my lighting archives.
Tweak and color correct when needed.
setup, position and frame the first shot. (…and the 2nd & 3rd & …..)
Let the photographer know that stylist needs to put shoes on the model that’s on set.
Shoot each set sans models for the retoucher.
Secure the film and digital files and send for processing if needed.
strike the set and pre-light for the next day.
Accept that until this job the photographer was shooting book jackets, but now can’t take 15 seconds to thank you for the day.
One day soon these photographers will find themselves with out a crew and they will have to focus their own damn cameras.
Just an Assistant.
This is one of my favorite quotes and I think it fits well with this subject.
“Rank does not confer privilege or give power. It imposes responsibility.”
Peter F. Drucker
Preach on. The first photographer that I ever worked for gave me this advice: “We’re a strange lot. Don’t trust us….any of us. We’ll fuck you [over] the first chance we get.”
It’s about 1AM. I just got home after working a 13 hour day. A peek in the mailbox reveals a little more than junk mail. The check for the teching job that I did during the first week of January has still not arrived……even though It was “mailed” almost a week ago. So, I’ll call the studio tomorrow, and talk to the personal assistant, who then will wait for the bookkeeper (in another state) to return her call (which will take about 2 days). In the meanwhile, I’ll stress over what bills I can pay on time, and the photographer will enjoy a good night’s sleep.
Quote:
The first photographer that I ever worked for gave me this advice: “We’re a strange lot. Don’t trust us….any of us. We’ll fuck you [over] the first chance we get.”
I have to disagree with that photographer. Just as in any profession, there are some assholes, but there are more really great and honorable people. Watch out for the bad ones, but don’t let them color your whole working life. If you do, they “win.”
By the way, Info is me. –Leslie
I worked for 8 years in a commercial product studio. Started by pushing brooms, learned how to make coffee, archive film, book models, pay bills, light sets, etc. Pay wasn’t great but always included lunch and I was treated with respect. I loved it and sometimes regret leaving.
After I went freelance, I had some painful experiences assisting for other photographers. Berating me in front of clients. Weird passive-aggressive communications. Slow bill payers. “Why do I feel like a less worthy human being after working for this guy?” I politely refuse to work with some people now. “Sorry I am booked.”
Know that you are competent and valuable. If you are having nightmares, get out of that job situation.
As with all advice, there is a certain amout of truth to it, even if the delivery is a bit heavy handed. I think it was his old-salt way of saying “don’t just assume that we have your best interests in mind, and make it easy for us to take advantage”.
Do I think that poorly of all photographers? Not at all. I’ve got some really good clients in my roster. To be able to survive in this town, solely as an assistant, should attest to that. Just as income is feast or famine, there is an emotional roller coaster that rides shotgun. You’d think that after 5 years, I’d be over it, but that frustration still surfaces when I have to fight for my due over a job well done.
In any case, the write up on my assisting page still holds true. In the grand scheme of things, I am very happy with my life, and what I do. Otherwise, I would have long since cashed in my GI bill to Woodbury.