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Low pay for extras at Baja Studios


Extras are droping out of the movie "Little Man" being filmed at Baja Studios due to NO pay or low pay. Barbarella casting claimed to pay $70.00 per day, but are paying as low as $55.00 for extras working up 16 hours a day. Other Americans traveling from the U.S. were told they would be paid $100.00 per day for their work, but are being paid the same 770 pesos as others. When some Americans questioned Barbarella Casting about the pay they were let go for asking to many questions.
Barbarella Castings will not pay in American dollars, and with the current state of the peso at 13.9 the daily pay of 770 pesos is shrinking. Some Americans after working up to 5 hours having costumes fitted were denied pay. Barbarella Casting stated they don't pay for costume fittings.
Some extras were called in for costume fittings and were put to work driving cars for the next days shoot, but were not payed for their work either.
Everyone deserves to be paid for their work. Most Americans went into this filming hoping to make a few extra bucks and experience the fun of movie making. Instead some feel their being taken advantage of.
This is not the way to promote filming in Baja.
It seems to me if Officals want to promote filming in the area they will have to step up to the plate and pay for it.

First, welcome to the forum, Stargazer!

Originally Posted by stargazer

Barbarella Castings will not pay in American dollars, and with the current state of the peso at 13.9 the daily pay of 770 pesos is shrinking.

Actually, no, it's still 770 pesos as far as Mexico is concerned. Were these US folks promised pay in dollars or on a dollar scale for work in Mexico? Where and how were they recruited? Did they attend a casting call or just show up at the studio? Did they sign an agreement or anything? Did those who participated in the costume fittings hang around for any of the filming?

I was an extra/bit player in two films in different countries (not Mexico or the US), and the only thing you describe that seems unusual is people not getting paid at all, presuming they worked full days. You can't just put in a few hours and expect pay for half a day or whatever. Admittedly, it's hard work, the hours are long, and the pay is low. In my case it was "per day" and not adjusted for length of workday, which mainly depended on how long it took to get everybody ready and how the shooting went (retakes, etc.). There was a lot of waiting around, and it got tedious, but we had to do as we were told and stay for the duration if we expected to get paid. In one film, some extras did walk out because the long days were more than they'd bargained for. Not saying it's "right", but based on my limited experience, maybe that's just how it is?

They probably shouldn't be working anyway. How many of them have been legalized through immigration to work in Mexico? I haven't seen one mention of this.
If I were a member of the local Mexican populace, I'd be screaming.

And...what kind of crap is this that the producers choose a country in which to film and require an ethnically different cast to populate the movie?

This whole venture stunk from the start.

Good points, Dennis. A little googling turned up this article from July (very roughly translated by me):
http://www.ecosderosarito.com/history/528/2_8094.html

Long casting queues for the film 'Little Boy'"

Long lines of hopefuls to fill "extra" vacancies have registered at Baja Studios for the film that actor Eduardo Verástegui is preparing under the direction of Alejandro Gómez Monteverde.

Called "Little Boy", it deals with the story of a little American boy who waits for a miracle by which his father returns to his side after having been sent to war.

The film attempts to reflect a message of hope in this child, whose father has been sent to fight at Pearl Harbor during the Second World War.

Although the producers have kept undisclosed the details of this production, information supplied by the State Tourism Delegation reveals that it will be financed with US and Mexican capital for a sum of about 14 million dollars.

Filming will begin in the month of August with a tentative duration of 10 weeks, to be released in the year 2012.

Since the beginning of the recruitment process that began two weeks ago, long lines of hopefuls to play a role in the film have been registering at the entrance of the locations of Baja Studios.

Although representatives of "Barbarela", the agency charged with doing the casting, announced that they will give preference to Rosaritans, the requirements that they are seeking show the contrary.

In the publicity announcements they establish the physical characteristics that applicants must have: Persons of Caucasian origin, Anglo-Saxon and light haired of both sexes and all ages, as well as men 18-55 of Japanese or Mongol origin.

But Mexicans don't give in. Far from agonizing because they don't fit the ethnic criteria, many go to the interviews even when they know they don't meet the requirements established in the ads.

"I need work, and I'm going to try to see if with luck they accept me. They say they're going to pay very well and I come to see if they'll make me an actor, because I like war films, because they say that it's going to be about the Second World War," says one of the applicants, of Chiapan origin, while waiting his turn for the interview in the middle of a long line at the entrance of Baja Studios.

Oh were do I start. This film has put many locals to work. Set crew, casting agency, food service, set builders,costumes, lighting, audio staff, drivers, and some extras. Maybe 25 percent of the extras are of Medican decent. All of the extras are light complected. Let's face it this movie brings much needed money into area. I for one am legal to work in MX. I can't speak for others. When I went to the studios for the casting call I was told I would be paid 1/2 days wages for costume fittings. Seeings I was there 5 or 6 hours this seemed fair, also the minute they put me to work driving for the film I think I should be paid something. It's only fair. I am living up to my word by staying with the film until it's complete. I feel they should pay me accordling as they said they would. I welcome all coments and will try to answer them as they are posted.

Originally Posted by kate

First, welcome to the forum, Stargazer!



Q.Actually, no, it's still 770 pesos as far as Mexico is concerned. Were these US folks promised pay in dollars or on a dollar scale for work in Mexico?
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A. I was told I could be paid in pesos or dollars.
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Q. Where and how were they recruited? Did they attend a casting call or just show up at the studio?
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A.I attented a casting call at the studios. This casting call was placed in the newspaper,internet, and a sign was posted outside Baja Studios.
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Q. Did they sign an agreement or anything?
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A. Yes I signed an agreetment, but can't remember everything written on it.
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Q.Did those who participated in the costume fittings hang around for any of the filming?
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A. On the days I'm refering to (no pay) We hung around to have our pictures taken in costume, but no actuall filming took place.
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Statement.I was an extra/bit player in two films in different countries (not Mexico or the US), and the only thing you describe that seems unusual is people not getting paid at all, presuming they worked full days.
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Noone worked all day without pay.
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Statement. You can't just put in a few hours and expect pay for half a day or whatever. ----------------------------------
A.Yes I can expect to be paid, because I was told by staff members I would be paid 1/2 for fittings.
Admittedly, it's hard work, the hours are long, and the pay is low. In my case it was "per day" and not adjusted for length of workday, which mainly depended on how long it took to get everybody ready and how the shooting went (retakes, etc.). There was a lot of waiting around, and it got tedious, but we had to do as we were told and stay for the duration if we expected to get paid. In one film, some extras did walk out because the long days were more than they'd bargained for. Not saying it's "right", but based on my limited experience, maybe that's just how it is?

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I will stay as long as they need me, reguardless of how long it takes to finish the days work.

I hope this answers your questions. Comments are always welcomed. Thanks for responding. I'm glad I found this site.

Statement They probably shouldn't be working anyway.
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A. I realize I'm new to this forum, but this statement seems mean spirited. This film is injecting much needed money into the community.

Q. How many of them have been legalized through immigration to work in Mexico? I haven't seen one mention of this.
A. I can't speak for the majority of the extras, but several extras from America have FM2s and FM3's.

Statement. If I were a member of the local Mexican populace, I'd be screaming.

A. The locals on the set were screaming with joy to be working.

And...what kind of crap is this that the producers choose a country in which to film and require an ethnically different cast to populate the movie?

A I'll answer this with as much respect as I can. There are studio's all over the world that film movies that hire ethnically different cast to populate a movie. It's the nature of the industry. Lets face it if Baja Studios only filmed movies with Mexicans they would loose a lot of money from big name directors, etc. This studio is billed as the largest indoor water facilty in the world.

Statement. This whole venture stunk from the start
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A. I disagree with you again. This brings much needed money into the community.
Even though we disagree I appreciate your comments

Barbarella Casting is a Tijuana based company that apparently got its footing when Titanic was filmed at the Rosarito studio. (Is the world better off for James Cameron?)

So, whatever beef Stargazer has, it appears to be strictly Mexican based, and in no way involves casting of performers not legal to work in Mexico.

Originally Posted by stargazer

This brings much needed money into the community.

Originally Posted by stargazer

It seems to me if Officals want to promote filming in the area they will have to step up to the plate and pay for it.

Doesn't this seem contradictory to you?

Were immigration documents required to qualify for the job?

Originally Posted by Bajahowodd

So, whatever beef Stargazer has, it appears to be strictly Mexican based, and in no way involves casting of performers not legal to work in Mexico.

I don't see the logic or reasoning in that, Howard. How do you know this?

My guess is that formalities would be waived because of the nature of the work. People wouldn't even know they had work until after the interviews at the studio. Somehow I can't imagine hundreds of Anglo-Saxons and Asians in WWII uniforms sashaying in to the local INM to apply for working FM3s, then filming being held up until all those documents were issued. Not to mention the cost-ineffectiveness of such a scenario.

Obviously, people should be paid if they were promised pay for certain work. Unfortunately, unless there's something in writing, it probably won't happen. Stargazer, for your sake, I hope it turns out to be a fun adventure anyhow!

Kinda like the guy from Chiapan's positive attitude ... I mean.. that's going for the gold...

Originally Posted by DENNIS

I don't see the logic or reasoning in that, Howard. How do you know this?

Perhaps I'm counting on the idea that Mexican companies are regulated by the IMM folks and they don't need the grief they would encounter if they are caught.

Fact is that when US studios look to this facility, they are the one's that deal with the legalities of "foreign" actors who may be needed for roles in production at this facility.

Or, were you wondering just how I managed to post about the lineage of Barbarella?