The audacity of “We recognize we grossly underpaid you so we’re going to just double it and then expect you to continue to work for free” is astounding. So glad you all stood up for yourselves and at least got paid for working on the perks!
Omg. I had to pause just now and put my hand over my mouth. Jay Bushman made me excited about Transmedia storytelling in 2013 to the extent that I tried to do it myself. And he is still so generous and passionate he appeared on this recap multiple times. Furious. Flames. Flames on the side of my face.
basing the payments that were basically making up for the cast and crew being underpaid ON those previous underpayments is the most baffling thing I've ever heard. I'm glad you're sharing this now bc it's clear the majority of the audience had no idea!!
Gosh, this is so frustrating to hear. I'm glad to know what happened with payment for people who worked on the series, but it makes me so mad. I'm sorry, Ashley, and everyone else.
I am glad that you are willing to recount your experience with the Kickstarter. Production is complicated, which is why so many production companies don't last. There is also a reason why unions entered the picture decades ago. I hope that your story helps your audience better understand just how complicated the process is, financially, and why the actors, who make or break a series, are often the least-prioritized. I am always awed by the willingness of actors, like you, to live in financial uncertainty in order to pursue your craft, especially as you continue to create new content (like this) (thanks to your Patreon subscribers). I can't wait to hear about the residuals!
I noticed pretty early on that Bernie was not a part of the Look Back Diaries, and I wondered why. I wonder no more. And I am so frustrated for the cast here. :(
I think Brendan shared something about SAG payments years ago… after he did Frankestein. A year or two? My memory tells me these payments never came, did they?
I’ve been watching the Look Back Diaries since you started making them, and it was amazing to watch you revisit the series/revisit the series myself. It’s brought me so much joy over the years, and I’m appalled you were all so underpaid. Like I’d assumed that was the case because, like you said, it was a scrappy production- but the fact that even after the kickstarter raised THAT MUCH money, paying the cast and crew what they were worth wasn’t a priority baffles and appalls me. Y’all are the reason why there IS a show, and it wouldn’t have the longevity and status it does without all the heart you all poured into it!
I definitely fall in the category of people who supported the Kickstarter to support the cast and crew - I remember going in at the book+DVD level and later donating the book. I don't think I've even ever watched the DVDs, though I still have them. I'm certainly interested to learn the end of the story before completely passing judgment, but it does not look good. On a separate note, this video made me reflect on how much free content I have consumed from you (and other creators), just in general. Last year I signed up for a bunch of Patreons of people I love on the internet, but I had to cancel or not renew them later on due to financial changes. I truly appreciate that you have produced this series and posted it for free on CZcams. I hope to be able to put my money where my mouth is again soon. ❤
“Sisters, sisters // Never were there such devoted sisters…” (As someone who has played in the pit orchestra for a community theater run of “White Christmas”, I see-and enjoy-your Irving Berlin reference, Ashley!)
See, now I want to know about payment to talent in the subsequent series (Emma Approved, Frankenstein MD, etc). It also makes me wonder if these issues are partly why Pemberly Digital seems to have fallen off the face of the earth.
It sounds like communication was a real issue. Like, not only did you not get paid enough, but it sounds like several times they promised you more money and then you didn’t get it, and that’s even worse. I had a job who told me I would get a large bonus (and even deposited it into my bank account!), and then they pulled it back and made me write them a check to pay them back! It was so much worse if they had just never promised it in the first place.
😱 I don’t think that should be legal, but I know from experience that if a company accidentally overpays you, they are entitled to recoup. Which I also don’t think should be legal!
This was all really disappointing to hear. I remember at the time not being able to donate myself, but being so thrilled for the cast because I assumed with so much money raised in the Kickstarter, they would be paid in a way which reflected their efforts and impact on the show. It's great that you're speaking up on this, because I think it's important to understand what happens when you consume free content from small creators- or when there's a lack of transparency in small productions. It seems all too easy to take advantage of people. Really enjoying the epilogues!
Quick tangent to say that I vividly recall Emma Approved being announced at VidCon so, Ashley, you're correct that it wasn't announced/public knowledge during the Kickstarter.
I heard 72 thousand dollars and so thought oh that’s not too bad at all but then realized that that made no sense with what you had been saying so when I rewind and heard 72 hundred my jaw dropped I am so sorry that this happened to all of you omg (also happy belated birthday)
When you say "the cast and crew" i was wondering around how many people worked on the show? like i know around the number of actors and writers; but i was wondering how many other crew members there were? like lighting, sound, editors, etc? I get the idea it was pretty skeleton crew, with no wardrobe, and one sometimes used make-up artist, and that it'd be hard to remember exactly, but i was wondering if you had a ballpark idea.
Gosh honestly I am so glad that you get to be transarent with us and that we get to know the truth. Like I could still remember when I participated in the Kickstarter, I was honestly thinking that I want my money to go to the people who created the show, like the merch was second thought and I probably just had a brief idea that it'd be so much work and I love the series and god this is so frustrating to hear. I just wish they would at least like pay out the current views revenue from the whole series to those cast and crews!!! Not having an idea of how to distribute revenue and not having an idea how much value the people brought in are two different things. This just makes me appreciate what MK has been doing at Shipwrecked even more, like all their productions and they have continued the efforts for so long, I so wish I could be more financially stable again to support them (But given that I guess now I also understand why web-production series kinda go downhill after a few years, guessing the financial situations of them are also just tricky to handle and the money could be coming so little and at time that's not great for scheduling or any estimates)
I’m assuming that people watching this series are fans of LBD (possibly an understatement, but I think it’s a safe assumption!). Those who have the ability, let’s see if we can partially right the wrong of the low low low pay that the actors got. Ashley has a patreon, Mary Kate has a patreon, anyone else have one? You can pledge and then cancel once you’ve been charged to do a one-time pledge, which is what I plan to do (can’t do more subscriptions right now).
You recorded an entire audiobook before knowing what they would pay you for your time. Also! Bonus means bonus. Just because they gave you money doesn't mean it's paying for future work. So in Chicago, when I started working as a stage manager, they paid with stipends. I would be paid $500 to work for 3 months. That's 6 weeks of rehearsals, production meetings, and a 6 week run. As stage manager, I was first one in and last one out plus creating reports every day. Typically I'd get to rehearsal at 6 PM and leave around 11 PM to go home and do the rehearsal report, then wake up at 6 AM to get to my day job by 8AM. We usually rehearsed 4-5 days a week. Production meetings were typically a minimum of 2 hrs, plus time to write up a report, and they were usually every Saturday during rehearsal plus every day during tech week. Tech week starts with paper tech the Saturday before opening night and runs through open (usually Friday). I would come in every day as soon I got off work and leave around midnight. That was the first 6 weeks. After open I'd be in on show days and either a little early or a little late if something needed to be repaired, because that was also my responsibility, and needed to report it if I couldn't fix it. Then closing day we would have a performance and I stayed until everything was removed from the performance space and it was confirmed clear by the venue. 12 weeks, $500 total stipend. Think about that next time you watch a CZcams show or attend a play. This is what pay transparency is in our industries.
That is ridiculous. I would get paid about €450,- for tutoring twice a week for 3 months. That is 30 hours of work, total. Tbf, that does not include travelling time/costs, which quickly add up for only teaching 1-1,5 hours at a time, and tutoring pays really well, but still. I mean even babysitting pays better than that and that is barely a job. You just sit in someone's home while their children are asleep.
Thanks for being so open and honest. One question: who is "they"? You keep saying that there wasnt trust between the production and the crew +cast, but is the production then just Hank and Bernie?
She seems on pretty good terms with Hank (and he appeared twice in the look back series), so my guess is "they" mainly refers to Bernie and other producers.
This was illuminating but not in a good way. Glad it’s part of the series, though. It’s definitely something fans deserve to know. It does not surprise me that certain crew members got larger bonuses but it does surprise me about Jay.
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The audacity of “We recognize we grossly underpaid you so we’re going to just double it and then expect you to continue to work for free” is astounding. So glad you all stood up for yourselves and at least got paid for working on the perks!
Omg. I had to pause just now and put my hand over my mouth. Jay Bushman made me excited about Transmedia storytelling in 2013 to the extent that I tried to do it myself. And he is still so generous and passionate he appeared on this recap multiple times. Furious. Flames. Flames on the side of my face.
basing the payments that were basically making up for the cast and crew being underpaid ON those previous underpayments is the most baffling thing I've ever heard. I'm glad you're sharing this now bc it's clear the majority of the audience had no idea!!
Gosh, this is so frustrating to hear. I'm glad to know what happened with payment for people who worked on the series, but it makes me so mad. I'm sorry, Ashley, and everyone else.
I am glad that you are willing to recount your experience with the Kickstarter. Production is complicated, which is why so many production companies don't last. There is also a reason why unions entered the picture decades ago. I hope that your story helps your audience better understand just how complicated the process is, financially, and why the actors, who make or break a series, are often the least-prioritized. I am always awed by the willingness of actors, like you, to live in financial uncertainty in order to pursue your craft, especially as you continue to create new content (like this) (thanks to your Patreon subscribers). I can't wait to hear about the residuals!
I noticed pretty early on that Bernie was not a part of the Look Back Diaries, and I wondered why. I wonder no more. And I am so frustrated for the cast here. :(
I was also wondering why the wedding of Lizzie Bennet never happend and now I also wonder no more... that whole situation sucks
I’m going to tell that story, too.
Well Hank is. For sure Hank had some saying in how all this was managed, or not?
I think Brendan shared something about SAG payments years ago… after he did Frankestein. A year or two? My memory tells me these payments never came, did they?
They did Jay SO dirty WOW
Srsly
I’ve been watching the Look Back Diaries since you started making them, and it was amazing to watch you revisit the series/revisit the series myself. It’s brought me so much joy over the years, and I’m appalled you were all so underpaid. Like I’d assumed that was the case because, like you said, it was a scrappy production- but the fact that even after the kickstarter raised THAT MUCH money, paying the cast and crew what they were worth wasn’t a priority baffles and appalls me. Y’all are the reason why there IS a show, and it wouldn’t have the longevity and status it does without all the heart you all poured into it!
I definitely fall in the category of people who supported the Kickstarter to support the cast and crew - I remember going in at the book+DVD level and later donating the book. I don't think I've even ever watched the DVDs, though I still have them. I'm certainly interested to learn the end of the story before completely passing judgment, but it does not look good.
On a separate note, this video made me reflect on how much free content I have consumed from you (and other creators), just in general. Last year I signed up for a bunch of Patreons of people I love on the internet, but I had to cancel or not renew them later on due to financial changes. I truly appreciate that you have produced this series and posted it for free on CZcams. I hope to be able to put my money where my mouth is again soon. ❤
“Sisters, sisters // Never were there such devoted sisters…”
(As someone who has played in the pit orchestra for a community theater run of “White Christmas”, I see-and enjoy-your Irving Berlin reference, Ashley!)
See, now I want to know about payment to talent in the subsequent series (Emma Approved, Frankenstein MD, etc). It also makes me wonder if these issues are partly why Pemberly Digital seems to have fallen off the face of the earth.
It sounds like communication was a real issue. Like, not only did you not get paid enough, but it sounds like several times they promised you more money and then you didn’t get it, and that’s even worse.
I had a job who told me I would get a large bonus (and even deposited it into my bank account!), and then they pulled it back and made me write them a check to pay them back! It was so much worse if they had just never promised it in the first place.
😱 I don’t think that should be legal, but I know from experience that if a company accidentally overpays you, they are entitled to recoup. Which I also don’t think should be legal!
This was all really disappointing to hear. I remember at the time not being able to donate myself, but being so thrilled for the cast because I assumed with so much money raised in the Kickstarter, they would be paid in a way which reflected their efforts and impact on the show.
It's great that you're speaking up on this, because I think it's important to understand what happens when you consume free content from small creators- or when there's a lack of transparency in small productions. It seems all too easy to take advantage of people.
Really enjoying the epilogues!
Quick tangent to say that I vividly recall Emma Approved being announced at VidCon so, Ashley, you're correct that it wasn't announced/public knowledge during the Kickstarter.
I heard 72 thousand dollars and so thought oh that’s not too bad at all but then realized that that made no sense with what you had been saying so when I rewind and heard 72 hundred my jaw dropped I am so sorry that this happened to all of you omg (also happy belated birthday)
When you say "the cast and crew" i was wondering around how many people worked on the show? like i know around the number of actors and writers; but i was wondering how many other crew members there were? like lighting, sound, editors, etc? I get the idea it was pretty skeleton crew, with no wardrobe, and one sometimes used make-up artist, and that it'd be hard to remember exactly, but i was wondering if you had a ballpark idea.
Great question, I’ll make a note to address it.
Gosh honestly I am so glad that you get to be transarent with us and that we get to know the truth. Like I could still remember when I participated in the Kickstarter, I was honestly thinking that I want my money to go to the people who created the show, like the merch was second thought and I probably just had a brief idea that it'd be so much work and I love the series and god this is so frustrating to hear. I just wish they would at least like pay out the current views revenue from the whole series to those cast and crews!!! Not having an idea of how to distribute revenue and not having an idea how much value the people brought in are two different things.
This just makes me appreciate what MK has been doing at Shipwrecked even more, like all their productions and they have continued the efforts for so long, I so wish I could be more financially stable again to support them
(But given that I guess now I also understand why web-production series kinda go downhill after a few years, guessing the financial situations of them are also just tricky to handle and the money could be coming so little and at time that's not great for scheduling or any estimates)
I’m assuming that people watching this series are fans of LBD (possibly an understatement, but I think it’s a safe assumption!). Those who have the ability, let’s see if we can partially right the wrong of the low low low pay that the actors got. Ashley has a patreon, Mary Kate has a patreon, anyone else have one? You can pledge and then cancel once you’ve been charged to do a one-time pledge, which is what I plan to do (can’t do more subscriptions right now).
When you first brought up the Kickstarter numbers my quick brain math assumed you'd get at least $10k. Minimum
You recorded an entire audiobook before knowing what they would pay you for your time. Also! Bonus means bonus. Just because they gave you money doesn't mean it's paying for future work. So in Chicago, when I started working as a stage manager, they paid with stipends. I would be paid $500 to work for 3 months. That's 6 weeks of rehearsals, production meetings, and a 6 week run. As stage manager, I was first one in and last one out plus creating reports every day. Typically I'd get to rehearsal at 6 PM and leave around 11 PM to go home and do the rehearsal report, then wake up at 6 AM to get to my day job by 8AM. We usually rehearsed 4-5 days a week. Production meetings were typically a minimum of 2 hrs, plus time to write up a report, and they were usually every Saturday during rehearsal plus every day during tech week. Tech week starts with paper tech the Saturday before opening night and runs through open (usually Friday). I would come in every day as soon I got off work and leave around midnight. That was the first 6 weeks. After open I'd be in on show days and either a little early or a little late if something needed to be repaired, because that was also my responsibility, and needed to report it if I couldn't fix it. Then closing day we would have a performance and I stayed until everything was removed from the performance space and it was confirmed clear by the venue. 12 weeks, $500 total stipend. Think about that next time you watch a CZcams show or attend a play. This is what pay transparency is in our industries.
I've also been a grossly underpaid stage manager. I've felt this pain.
That is ridiculous. I would get paid about €450,- for tutoring twice a week for 3 months. That is 30 hours of work, total. Tbf, that does not include travelling time/costs, which quickly add up for only teaching 1-1,5 hours at a time, and tutoring pays really well, but still. I mean even babysitting pays better than that and that is barely a job. You just sit in someone's home while their children are asleep.
Thanks for being so open and honest. One question: who is "they"? You keep saying that there wasnt trust between the production and the crew +cast, but is the production then just Hank and Bernie?
She seems on pretty good terms with Hank (and he appeared twice in the look back series), so my guess is "they" mainly refers to Bernie and other producers.
This was illuminating but not in a good way. Glad it’s part of the series, though. It’s definitely something fans deserve to know. It does not surprise me that certain crew members got larger bonuses but it does surprise me about Jay.
OMG I want to see these documentssss
Who are the "They" you keep talking about?