Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1533885
10 PROP CULTURE I SPRING 2025 Is life in the biz getting you down? Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed or not know where to turn? There's no need for you to suffer alone. Theresa and Scott want to help. They're right here for you in the pages of Prop Culture! Dear Theresa and Scott, I've been working in film now for almost two years, mostly as an art PA. I am now starting to get calls to property master though obviously on very low-budget productions. I am creative, I have a strong work ethic, and I am often complimented on my attention to detail. I feel any production would be lucky to have me. I just keep getting a lot of calls to work for free or for very little pay. Is this just something I need to suffer through? I get so envious when I see all those beautiful trailers lined up at the prop house and I so hope that is me someday. Signed, How Do I Survive at the Bottom of the Barrel Dear Barrel, When you first start out, you will encounter a lot of people looking to get you to work for free. All productions are not in beautiful office suites on famous studio backlots. It is up to you to decide if you see a great career opportunity or just someone trying to exploit you for some free labor. What I will always recommend in these early days of your career is to take the free work as a tradeoff for the education it will bring you. It also allows you to build up a professional resume. They may be using you, but in return, you get to use them as well. Just keep in mind from the start what you want to get out of it and then know when to jump off the "will work for free" list. I can also point out some warning signs for you to watch out for. Get your highlighter out! This is my personal favorite: "We don't have much money on this job, but we will make it up to you on our next one." Yeah, sure. Tell them to pay you on this job and you will work for free on their next one. Either way, you will never hear from them again. Here's a classic you will undoubtably hear: "Unfortunately, we can't afford to pay you, but this is something you will be very proud to watch." You won't be watching much once your internet or cable is turned off because you can't afford to pay the bill. The low-budget film world can be the perfect place to expand your knowledge and try out your skills. I would recommend poking your head into one of those beautiful trailers and ask the Property Master if you can pick their brain for a few minutes. I think you will find many of them started out just like you! And remember to play it forward years from now when you are sitting in your beautiful trailer, and that young face pokes their head in and