Warning: Don't work for John Ewing III (executive producer) or Marie Hedwood (line producer)!
They will not pay you! They will offer you less than minimum wage, then give you B.S. runaround stories about why you aren't being paid per the terms you originally agreed. More than a dozen crew members on their latest venture together are now waiting for their pay that was due at the end of the shoot!
So... If they are hiring you as the editor, good luck! You probably won't get paid either!
(...just bend over...)
Friday, March 20, 2009
Menetie Ejeye / M. Ejeye Films
Back in November, I was hired to work on a low budget horror film titled 'Angels of Death' which was being produced and directed by Menetie Ejeye of M. Ejeye Films. When we wrapped in December, Menetie told everyone he had gone over budget but would be able to pay everyone within 30 days. He even wrote a few people checks that he post-dated 30 days. However, all
of those post-dated checks bounced. Now it's 90 days since we wrapped, and we still havn't been paid, not to mention that Menetie won't return phone calls or e-mails. And to make matters worse (for the actors), it now appears that he never filed any of the SAG paperwork for the show.
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Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 8:38 PM
Thank you to the creator of this blog and the individual who originally added Menetie Ejeye / M. Ejeye Films to the Hollywood Blacklist. I too worked on the film specifically mentioned. I do not disagree with any of the details already posted. In addition, contracts were handed out and signed on the first day of the shoot. M. Ejeye continuously "forgot" to provide copies of the signed contracts, finally stating he would mail them because that's how it is "normally" done. Needless to say, I never received a copy of my contract from him, and was fortunately only able to get one thanks to another crew member who had obtained copies of some. Since various cast/crew members have contacted M. Ejeye requesting payment, M. Ejeye has only responded once, as far as I know. In that response, he demanded written apologies from some individuals for being "immature, rude and for harrassing him," before remitting payment to anyone. He provided his own experience, saying he once worked on a big-budget production with an A-list actor and was not paid for a month, claiming that the way he was handling things was how it "really works in Hollywood." Of course, it has been over three months now that he has not paid anyone. I personally stopped contacting him regarding payment due to his last response, which contained what I consider to be veiled threats, and made me worried for my safety, especially since he has my address. Also, on the odd side, I continue to be on his mailing list and have received promotional messages regarding his prior feature film, "Roadside Assistance," which he is currently selling online. To other filmmakers who read this, especially editors, composers and others working in post-production, please remember the names Menetie Ejeye, M. Ejeye Films, and "Angels of Death" and do NOT work on the project. It cannot and should not survive post-production and hit distribution until ALL cast/crew are paid. Thank you.
of those post-dated checks bounced. Now it's 90 days since we wrapped, and we still havn't been paid, not to mention that Menetie won't return phone calls or e-mails. And to make matters worse (for the actors), it now appears that he never filed any of the SAG paperwork for the show.
------------------------------------
Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 8:38 PM
Thank you to the creator of this blog and the individual who originally added Menetie Ejeye / M. Ejeye Films to the Hollywood Blacklist. I too worked on the film specifically mentioned. I do not disagree with any of the details already posted. In addition, contracts were handed out and signed on the first day of the shoot. M. Ejeye continuously "forgot" to provide copies of the signed contracts, finally stating he would mail them because that's how it is "normally" done. Needless to say, I never received a copy of my contract from him, and was fortunately only able to get one thanks to another crew member who had obtained copies of some. Since various cast/crew members have contacted M. Ejeye requesting payment, M. Ejeye has only responded once, as far as I know. In that response, he demanded written apologies from some individuals for being "immature, rude and for harrassing him," before remitting payment to anyone. He provided his own experience, saying he once worked on a big-budget production with an A-list actor and was not paid for a month, claiming that the way he was handling things was how it "really works in Hollywood." Of course, it has been over three months now that he has not paid anyone. I personally stopped contacting him regarding payment due to his last response, which contained what I consider to be veiled threats, and made me worried for my safety, especially since he has my address. Also, on the odd side, I continue to be on his mailing list and have received promotional messages regarding his prior feature film, "Roadside Assistance," which he is currently selling online. To other filmmakers who read this, especially editors, composers and others working in post-production, please remember the names Menetie Ejeye, M. Ejeye Films, and "Angels of Death" and do NOT work on the project. It cannot and should not survive post-production and hit distribution until ALL cast/crew are paid. Thank you.
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