Let’s ignore the reputation issues of ‘name actor’ being associated with a production company that can’t pay its employees. Let’s ignore the moral issues about offering only promises and hopes to said highly-skilled employees. And let’s just delve straight into the legal issues associated with having said highly-skilled unpaid employee working with your precious name actor especially on, of all things, a motion picture feature. Is your insurance company fine with that? You do have insurance right? What happens if your unpaid employee accidentally sends a light rig crashing down upon your named-actor’s head? Accidents happen – especially when you cut corners. What happens if your unpaid employees decide they don’t wish to be involved any further and walk off – three weeks into the shoot? Just how do you compel your volunteers to work? Especially when they’re filling such mission-critical roles. I hope you’re able to control your temper and demonstrate far more tact than you showed me.

Now, here’s the pro-tip: If you pay peanuts you WILL get monkeys.