A passing acquaintance of my dad needed an editor for a show she was producing & directing for a smaller national TV station, which had been picked up by the largest national station.
I was in my late teens, but she assured me, again and again, I’d be treated with the same respect as any adult, as she despised people in the industry who took advantage of kids.
Client: I stuck up for kids who’d been taken advantage of by a TV crew not being paid due payment. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you. I’ll never stiff you on payment.
I thought it weird how much she kept repeating it.
The smaller network was still in the fledgling stages and budgets were tight, and so editing involved getting picked up and taken to her house to edit for most of the day. She was really happy with my work and asked me to jump in on some other smaller projects for her. I obliged, but my parents saw I’d finished the main project and now was working side projects, and still hadn’t been paid.
She felt hurt when I informed her I’d finish the three side projects but that I was backing out of more editing work, but she accepted it. for the next few months, I’d contact her and invoice her for payment and she’d keep asking for a new invoice and assuring me I’d get paid.
About a year and a half later she informed me she won a trip overseas to a large Film and Television conference.
Client: I feel so bad that I didn’t pay you – would you accept these tickets to make up for it?
Me: Fine.
I gave her my info so she could send the tickets. She never did.
It’s been years, and I know she’s had some health problems over that time. I’ve absolutely forgiven her. That said, forgiveness doesn’t mean I’d trust her again after she stole over 2K from a kid.
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