Re: Blade II language: The price of conlanging

see comments below...

Spirit Bear (ShinZui Guma)

===============================================
Naturally of course... as our Creator intended!

Levi Caddell
levica@one.net
w3.one.net/~levica
ICQ: 19541914 (PapaBare)

On Thu, 8 Feb 2001, J Matthew Pearson wrote:

> Levi Caddell wrote:
>
[snip]

> > Now the numbers.
> > - Average professional makes about $24 per hour in this area.  A Ph.D..
> > would make about 3-4 times that, but let us take the average.
> >
> > 24 x 3 = 72 x 2 = 144
> > 144 x .10 = 14.4
> > 144 + 14 = 158
> >
> > You should be getting about $158 per hour for your work.
> > Figure a 8 hr work day:  158 x 8 = $1264 per day.
>
> These are the kind of numbers that my freelance graphic designer friend started
> throwing around when I asked his advice.  Being used to academic salaries, I was
> shocked.  Now I know how he's able to afford a nice car and an expensive
> computer and 4 vacations a year.  :-)
>
Ahhh, I do wish I had time for a real  vacation.  About the most I can
squeeze out is a week around Xmass and a few days in May to attend our
National Karate Tournament/Seminar.

When I have my Hacker hat on (as a professional consultant of course :-),
I get $1500 up front for scanning a customer's network for security holes
and providing them with a written report.  If they want to know how to fix
them I go into hourly mode at $110 per hour with a four hour min.

If the work was constant I would be doing ok.  However, currently it is
only part-time so I must also have a real job.

Pricing may differ for a Linguist, but I can't imagine it would be by very
much.


>
> > I would guess that it would take at least  24 man hours of work to present
> > them with a basic dialogue if you do it right.  However, keep in mind that
> > directors and producers will want you to make all kinds of changes.  Will
> > they pay for this by the hour or should you roll it into the lump sum
> > figure.  At $3000 your price was a bargain for them.
>
> I was estimating about 30 hours work, including changes.
>
Tha sounds about right.  Once you have deciphered what is there and built
a basic vocab and grammer most of the work is over.  After all you would
not be writing a novel in Vamparic only a few phrases.

However, few people actually have the skill to do even that.  I believe
language construction and tranlation is more of an Art that a
Science.  You can scientifically study the etymology and grammer, but it
is an Art to express thoughts and emotion.  I am not sure that art can be
learned.

Like playing a musical insturment.  With enough work almost anyone can
learn to read music and produce what is written down.  However, to create
and play music that emotinaly moves those around is an artistic gift.

Almost anyone can write a letter, but to write a poem that moves the soul
is another matter.....

>
> > If Snipes is in this move he alone will be making millions for his role.
> > The support people will be paid union or guild wages.  You might want to
> > check what they are being paid.  However, remember you have a Ph.D..  They
> > may not even have a HS Diploma.
>
> Of course, if the movie doesn't have Wesley Snipes (and lots of cool special
> effects and fight scenes) in it, nobody will go to see it.  By contrast, if the
> vampires in the movie just speak subtitled gibberish, nobody will care.
>
>
> > This may be a hobby for some of us, but you are a professional linguist.
> > As a registered Interpreter for the Deaf I used to make $55 / hr back in the
> > 70's and 80's.  People who translate languages for business purposes often
> > make much more.
>
> > Matt, don't sell yourself short.    My producer friend here said they would
> > probably be coming back to you if they are smart.
>
> Comforting words, but I seriously doubt they will call me back.  I certainly
> wouldn't call back if *I* were the producer!  :-)
>
They are professionals caring about an end product.  If the movie is going
to be half as good as the first they will realize that the need
professionals.  It is simple buisness - unless of course your really
offended them in some way.

If the movie is a quick shot at filling some seats with marks then they
will not care about the product the produce.  It will be low budget with
the intention of grabbing some quick $$$ based on the reputation of the
first movie.

>
> > Also, I have been kind of wondering... Do you know what Prof. Fromkin was
> > paid for the first script?
>
> I'm dying to know, but I can't think of any way to find out.  The production
> company that's doing the sequel is completely different from the one that did
> the original movie, so those guys wouldn't have any idea.  There's a slight
> chance Prof. Fromkin's widower would have some idea, but even if he did, I
> barely know him and would *not* feel comfortable calling him up and asking him.
>
Yea! Unless you know him well the coversation could get complicated and
offensive.


> And Rosta wrote:
>
> Well, it's too late now.  I've already put it behind me.  I'm not calling them
> back, and they're almost certainly not calling me back!  It's not worth the
> trouble for some stupid little movie.  (I'm not being bitter when I say that.
> The movie really is stupid.  Trust me, I read the script!)
>
I would not give up just yet.....

However, like your partner said - don't sell yourself short.  Someone may
be watching from the background and hire you for a different movie.  If
you sell yourself short on this one it may be expected in the future.

Levi