I have worked on several jobs with Kevin Shulman/Kevin Dwyer, owners/producers of Axiom Films inc. aka Axiom 8. On each job I have done with them it has taken months to receive checks. There are several jobs from January that I haven't been paid on yet. I am not alone, there are other crew members in the same boat, ranging from Steadicam operators, grips, electrics all the way down to PA's. These people are not to be trusted, they have told me, and others, numerous times that my check is "in the mail" only to never receive one. They need to be stopped. They applied these same shady techniques with Raging Nation Films until they were both fired from that production company and started Axiom films Inc. applying the same shady practices.
Signed,
Disgruntled Gaffer
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Bruce Reisman
2/25/11
To anyone considering doing business with Bruce Reisman and Kris Black...PLEASE BEWARE! These two are complete con artists! They did a movie titled "The House That Jack Built" and completely padded the budget..putting the majority of it in their own pocket. They conned a man in Toronto and Chicago to give them final finishing money to pay a debt to the post production studio for "Jack"...NONE of that money saw the film, but went into their pockets. They will continue to con people, charm them, make them believe they are your friend/business partner..but then suck you dry. Please beware of these two men as they are thieves that use the facade of the movie business as their cover.
----------------------------------------
09/15/08
I worked on a film called "The House that Jack Built" for director/producer Bruce Reisman. The paychecks for four of the crew members bounced, and three months later, Bruce has claimed on numerous occasions that the checks will "go out next week", though this has never come to pass. He claims that someone "stole" money from his production account, but as far as I'm concerned, he's simply stolen money from the crew.
-----------------------------------------
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing in response to the posting referenced above and to let the manager/owner of this blog know that I feel its a libelous and fraudulent claim against him, posted by someone with clear ill-intention, made with malicious intent, in effort to defame Mr. Reisman's long standing in this business and his most recent film project, "The House That Jack Built." I ask that this posting be removed immediately.
I feel this way specifically because of a half hour phone conversation today with Mr. Reisman in regard to this issue; even though I did not work on that project, nor have ever worked with or had any prior communications with him before today.
This blog caught my attention in a negative "red flag" sort of a way against this blogger because I find it very hard to believe somebody as upstanding as Mr. Reisman would be attacked in this unsuspecting manner without any direct confrontation by the individual and/or multiple individuals who allegedly have an issue with him.
If so many people have issues with Mr. Reisman, why did he refrain from mentioning any pending class action lawsuit? What this blog has shamefully done and has become, is given angry people and others a forum for yelling "FIRE" in a crowded theater, where there is none without confronting the very source of their ill will. If there is no fire, there is not a reason to call for alarm, as was the case here in my opinion.
I also find it not only unprofessional, but deplorable that the actual person who posted this about Mr. Reisman, in his own defense, if the allegations were/are true (which Mr. Reisman states they are not in my phone conversation) that he has not in his posting outlined any steps necessary he is taking to rectify this situation directly with Mr. Reisman, or via the California legal system; which pretty much makes a libelous and defamatory statement without explanation or purpose. Purpose and attention must be paid.
There is not one word of justification of this poster's steps he/she has taken to rectify this, and for that reason alone I recommend that it should be removed from this blog due to libel and defamation without explanation or just cause.
While I feel this blog is satisfactory and beneficial for people who have truly been wronged by corrupt and unprofessional individuals to point out those people (comparable to public access laws in knowing where sex-offenders reside) I categorically and whole-heartedly believe that people posting behind such anonymous facades, willing to identify who allegedly wronged them without documentation and thorough explanation, yet unwilling to identify themselves is nothing except mere rhetoric, speculation, and equally disrespectful; promoting the very unprofessional behavior it was designed to prevent, and ultimately curb and doing a DISERVICE to the production community instead of the service it was designed to be.
I demand that this scandalous and libelous posting be removed in the name of professionalism.
Sincerely,
Michael Silberman
Line Producer/UPM
--------------------------------
update: 11/21/08
The crew members whose checks originally bounced have finally been paid. It took 7 months. I feel the attention drawn to this situation thanks to this blog was a large part of their payment finally being rendered.
To anyone considering doing business with Bruce Reisman and Kris Black...PLEASE BEWARE! These two are complete con artists! They did a movie titled "The House That Jack Built" and completely padded the budget..putting the majority of it in their own pocket. They conned a man in Toronto and Chicago to give them final finishing money to pay a debt to the post production studio for "Jack"...NONE of that money saw the film, but went into their pockets. They will continue to con people, charm them, make them believe they are your friend/business partner..but then suck you dry. Please beware of these two men as they are thieves that use the facade of the movie business as their cover.
----------------------------------------
09/15/08
I worked on a film called "The House that Jack Built" for director/producer Bruce Reisman. The paychecks for four of the crew members bounced, and three months later, Bruce has claimed on numerous occasions that the checks will "go out next week", though this has never come to pass. He claims that someone "stole" money from his production account, but as far as I'm concerned, he's simply stolen money from the crew.
-----------------------------------------
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing in response to the posting referenced above and to let the manager/owner of this blog know that I feel its a libelous and fraudulent claim against him, posted by someone with clear ill-intention, made with malicious intent, in effort to defame Mr. Reisman's long standing in this business and his most recent film project, "The House That Jack Built." I ask that this posting be removed immediately.
I feel this way specifically because of a half hour phone conversation today with Mr. Reisman in regard to this issue; even though I did not work on that project, nor have ever worked with or had any prior communications with him before today.
This blog caught my attention in a negative "red flag" sort of a way against this blogger because I find it very hard to believe somebody as upstanding as Mr. Reisman would be attacked in this unsuspecting manner without any direct confrontation by the individual and/or multiple individuals who allegedly have an issue with him.
If so many people have issues with Mr. Reisman, why did he refrain from mentioning any pending class action lawsuit? What this blog has shamefully done and has become, is given angry people and others a forum for yelling "FIRE" in a crowded theater, where there is none without confronting the very source of their ill will. If there is no fire, there is not a reason to call for alarm, as was the case here in my opinion.
I also find it not only unprofessional, but deplorable that the actual person who posted this about Mr. Reisman, in his own defense, if the allegations were/are true (which Mr. Reisman states they are not in my phone conversation) that he has not in his posting outlined any steps necessary he is taking to rectify this situation directly with Mr. Reisman, or via the California legal system; which pretty much makes a libelous and defamatory statement without explanation or purpose. Purpose and attention must be paid.
There is not one word of justification of this poster's steps he/she has taken to rectify this, and for that reason alone I recommend that it should be removed from this blog due to libel and defamation without explanation or just cause.
While I feel this blog is satisfactory and beneficial for people who have truly been wronged by corrupt and unprofessional individuals to point out those people (comparable to public access laws in knowing where sex-offenders reside) I categorically and whole-heartedly believe that people posting behind such anonymous facades, willing to identify who allegedly wronged them without documentation and thorough explanation, yet unwilling to identify themselves is nothing except mere rhetoric, speculation, and equally disrespectful; promoting the very unprofessional behavior it was designed to prevent, and ultimately curb and doing a DISERVICE to the production community instead of the service it was designed to be.
I demand that this scandalous and libelous posting be removed in the name of professionalism.
Sincerely,
Michael Silberman
Line Producer/UPM
--------------------------------
update: 11/21/08
The crew members whose checks originally bounced have finally been paid. It took 7 months. I feel the attention drawn to this situation thanks to this blog was a large part of their payment finally being rendered.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Michael Bowers / Xhaled Productions
Cam ops/Editors: AVOID Michael Bowers and Xhaled Productions
This is a warning to all Camera ops and editors:
Do not do any work for Michael Bowers or Xhaled Productions. He writes bad checks and refuses to pay for work you have billed him for. He might pay you on time for a couple jobs, but eventually he will just stop paying you.
Xhaled does paintball videos, and operates under the company CAM Business Solutions.
This is a warning to all Camera ops and editors:
Do not do any work for Michael Bowers or Xhaled Productions. He writes bad checks and refuses to pay for work you have billed him for. He might pay you on time for a couple jobs, but eventually he will just stop paying you.
Xhaled does paintball videos, and operates under the company CAM Business Solutions.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
1171 PRODUCTION GROUP
Date: 2008-01-30, 10:21AM
BEWARE OF 1171 PRODUCTION GROUP!
THEY SHOT A VIDEO IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE IN OCTOBER OF 2007 THAT WAS OVER 20 HOURS AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT PAID CREW.
GRANT CIHLAR, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER,CAROLYN VYE, PRODUCER. BRIAN THOMPSON, DIRECTOR.
I AM HEARING THEY OWE PEOPLE IN LOS ANGELES MONEY TOO.
SPREAD THE WORD!
ADDRESS:
1171 Production Group, Inc.
1680 North Vine Street, Suite 300
Los Angeles, CA 90028
PHONE NUMBERS:
tel. 323.466.1171
fax 323.466.1136
VIA EMAIL: mail@1171.com
---------------------------------------------------------
Leaving a trail of unpaid crew members and still producing videos. Grant Cihlar, owner of 1171 has been sued numerous times, evicted once and has close to a dozen current lawsuits against him according to the Pasadena Civil Court records.
Bad news for people still owed money and for people recently hired on shoots and waiting for a paycheck.
BEWARE OF 1171 PRODUCTION GROUP!
THEY SHOT A VIDEO IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE IN OCTOBER OF 2007 THAT WAS OVER 20 HOURS AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT PAID CREW.
GRANT CIHLAR, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER,CAROLYN VYE, PRODUCER. BRIAN THOMPSON, DIRECTOR.
I AM HEARING THEY OWE PEOPLE IN LOS ANGELES MONEY TOO.
SPREAD THE WORD!
ADDRESS:
1171 Production Group, Inc.
1680 North Vine Street, Suite 300
Los Angeles, CA 90028
PHONE NUMBERS:
tel. 323.466.1171
fax 323.466.1136
VIA EMAIL: mail@1171.com
---------------------------------------------------------
Leaving a trail of unpaid crew members and still producing videos. Grant Cihlar, owner of 1171 has been sued numerous times, evicted once and has close to a dozen current lawsuits against him according to the Pasadena Civil Court records.
Bad news for people still owed money and for people recently hired on shoots and waiting for a paycheck.
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