Claudia Syhre: I wish to communicate effectively, clarify my quote and establish clear boundaries in my final negotiation with the director. I need help with how to do this. I'm honestly also still struggling to define my 'number'. How much am I willing to sacrifice for my first credit on a very flawed feature-film - that might never see the light of day?

• Decide what amount of your life you are willing to exchange, knowing the film’s risks, creative challenges, and uncertain future, before negotiating money, timelines, or scope.
• Get crystal clear on what the director actually wants versus what he needs, then anchor every boundary to two questions: “What do you want from me?,” and “When do you need it?”
• Use budget as leverage to define scope, hours, and availability, tying pay directly to output, pace, and expectations rather than vague promises of going all in.
• Set non negotiables around time, workload, and duration so a rough cut, assembly, or editor’s edit aligns with what you are paid, not with guilt or fear.
• Recognize that helping raise money strategically can increase your leverage, credibility, and future rate, while still protecting your energy and long term sustainability.

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