Stuntman required

I don't wish to add anything to the above debate (everything I might have commented on has already been said by people far more qualified to say it than I...), but one of Andy Fraser's comments tickled my interest:

"Budget, or the lack thereof, is no excuse. Absolutely not. If you can't afford a Fight Director or Stunt Co-ordinator, then don't do the project".

Its hardly uncommon for indie producers to cite budgetary restraints for not being able to afford professionals in their projects, whether that is on or behind the camera, or on or offstage. Now before people start getting angry about what I'm about to say - I'm just testing people's ideas here - its an issue which I have mixed thoughts on and am wondering what other people's opinions are:

I do wonder whether the problem Andy expressed concerning fight directors etc is part of a wider mentality in indie film/theatre generally in WA - that is that stage/film costs, set costs, publicity costs are things you save and budget for, whereas people you can expect to come free (or for whatever amount is left over at the end).

Now this IS predominantly an amateur theatre website, and those who know me would realise that I'm certainly not targetting the many amateur theatre groups in Perth with the above comments (given my involvement with a few I'd be somewhat of a hypocrit if I was). This is a question more confined to indie film and co-op stage. Also, like most actors in Perth who (occasionally) collect money for their efforts I am well and used to performing for free or for rather small shares of profits. And I enjoy it. But, I do wonder, particularly when doing co-op gigs, whether or not the willingness of people in the performing arts to do things out of the love of it occasionally leaves us short-changed. If there was an attitude of 'If you can't afford the stage-manger/actor/fight-director/choreographer/etc don't do the project', I wonder whether the people who plan and budget so hard for venues, film costs, publicity etc would also budget for professional people and wages on their indie projects. On the other hand there would undoubtedly be projects that would not go ahead if that level of cost was required.

I'm wondering what other people's views are on this? In the scheme of producers often wishing and aiming and succeeding at moving on to bigger venues, bigger sets, and better quality film, is there a lack of ambition in Perth for indie producers to move beyond using free/co-op actors and crew?

I don't mean to sound one-sided on this - by disclaimer I myself and a few others own a fledgling theatre company that will be putting on several shows in the next couple of years. And they'll almost certainly be meagre co-op for cast and crew, as there is no way that our budget could allow for equity rates. But on the other hand, maybe that's just a by-product of knowing that in Perth at least, people are never part of the fixed expenses that you must budget for.

Wondering what your thoughts are...