Low-budget indie in New Orleans — $175/day, 7 days, director was incredible

$175/day for 7 days on a low-budget indie feature shooting in New Orleans. By the numbers, this was bad money. $1,225 total for a week of full-time work. But the director is someone special. She's shot two features before, both went to festivals, and she directs actors better than anyone I've worked with at any budget level. She knows exactly when to push and when to back off. The script was a slow-burn Southern gothic thing — beautiful writing, complex characters. I got scenes that I'll be showing casting directors for years. Conditions were basic — small crew, barebones craft services, 10-hour days. But everyone was professional and the vibe was collaborative. Am I glad I did it? Absolutely. Would I recommend someone take $175/day as a general rule? Absolutely not. But this was one of those rare situations where the work itself was the reward.