EX1 for Broadcast

[Craig Seeman]

But someone else on this forum said XDCAM disc is the next Beta. Surely they can accept that, no?

Certainly XDCAM EX as data file on XDCAM disc would be an archival comparable to tape or better.

Are they looking for master on HDCAM or all shoot material> I can’t imagine the latter unless they were doing the post.

[Greg Ondera]

Thanks, Ed for your ample response. I was away in the mountains this weekend.

Greg Ondera
http://www.Plexus.tv
http://www.SurgeonToday.org

[Greg Ondera]

I want to add some more to this: First of all the best means for archiving XDCam footage is still not so easily set, in my opinion. DLT tape which is an old means of backing up MFX footage is looking pretty good. The XDCam discs seem very expensive to me, and they have the same life cycle as DLT according to the pundits. However, you need the DLT recorder that will handle XDCAM.

Also Discovery Channel is no easy nut to crack for a cameraman alone, even though they may be the only cameraman for miles in a simply fabulous location. Discovery and Nat Geo only want to deal with incorporated producers for multiple reasons other than liability, so that they are assured of getting a program in the event of that cameraman passing away or getting hurt on the job. Therefore they will likely listen to your ideas and go ask a producer that they have worked with before about doing your idea. So watch out.

And yes, they own every bit of your footage once you start work on the project. But above all, they look for a track record over ideas. And if you have something interesting in your area to shoot, they would rather send someone than you, unless possibly, you already have the footage.

Greg Ondera
http://www.Plexus.tv
http://www.SurgeonToday.org

[Jordan Dwyer]

That is so true. I attended a wildlife film festival here in Durban a few years back and everybody was scared to speak to the reps from discovery for fear of them taking the ideas and using it themselves.Surley discovery channell is aware of this bad PR. THey should embrace ideas and proposals and put in place a proper system of onwership of these proposals, so the originator of the idea will atleist be involved with the production. I think your right greg in saying that you need to already have the critical footage in the bag when you approach them.

My Website: https://www.newagetv.co.za
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MrNewAgeTv

3D Animation: Light Wave 3D
My Camera: Sony EX1
Web Design: Flash CS4
Editing: Liquid Edition

[Jordan Dwyer]

Here’s an idea Greg maybe you can advice me on this. If i were to go out with my EX1 and film some HIgh Definition wildlife footage of say the big 5 (or 7 as it is known now) would i be able to load that up onto a website and sell it off as source footage?

My Website: https://www.newagetv.co.za
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MrNewAgeTv

3D Animation: Light Wave 3D
My Camera: Sony EX1
Web Design: Flash CS4
Editing: Liquid Edition

[Greg Ondera]

I had a friend who was a pro-diver as well as an outstanding cameraman and he got some fantastic footage of an area of the ocean that no one visited before and it was truly unique and he took it to Discovery and they would not let him in. He caused some kind of small ruckus in the lobby and just sat there and said he would wait for the appropriate guy to talk to. The Discovery guy caved in, looked at his footage and basically told him that they always use so-n-so to do the programs for them, which was a team of 5 different producers. Although the footage was good, they had no place for him.

I knew another guy that was a fantastic cameraman who worked on programs for many Discovery channels, and the only way he could get it on with them was to attach himself to an approved producer with Discovery–letting the Producer produce, and he was essentially the cameraman. This is really the only way to do this. Don’t go to Discovery, but go to the Producers that work for Discovery. You might get the list of attendees that go to the RealScreen Summit in Winter in Wash DC. Don’t waist your time with Discovery. They are not really the people you want to go to first.

Also, the first guy I mentioned created his own DVD. Not that this helped any, but you might also try creating your own program. If you load it up on your own website, then Discovery will still want to come out and shoot their own stuff. That footage will be considered “tainted” like the publishers don’t want you to show your work online, where there are rights issues. Notice that Discovery does not do this. So assume they have reasons.

You might think about attending RealScreen Summit if you are really ambitious about this, but I would try to contact various producers first. And I am no expert. I tried something similar to no avail several years ago.

Greg Ondera
http://www.Plexus.tv
http://www.SurgeonToday.org

[Greg Ondera]

That being said, there was a viral video going out on YouTube several years ago, the “Battle at Kruger” <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM> which is still up. Its camcorder footage capturing an unbelievable event. Nonetheless, because of the narrative unfolding and the continuous tension built into the story, Discovery assigned one of their producers to complete a whole story around it and they made a full hour long one-up about this footage. So they milked it for an hour with all this other additional footage and reiteration of the youTube footage. Essentially they broke their own broadcast standard principles for this one because it was that valuable.

Greg Ondera
http://www.Plexus.tv
http://www.SurgeonToday.org

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[Michael Palmer]

There is only ONE Rule,
Content is King.

Good Luck
Michael Palmer

[Jordan Dwyer]

Yes i remember that youtube video. I remember watching it on Discovery and i think the narration mentioned it was a 8 minute video, then i remember wondering how they were going to make a whole hours program out of it.

Discovery operates in a funny way, only using their own producers all the time. I wonder what must of happened to them in the past that led to them being so overprotective now. thanks for the advice on finding a producer. I think i will give that some consideration.

My Website: https://www.newagetv.co.za
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MrNewAgeTv

3D Animation: Light Wave 3D
My Camera: Sony EX1
Web Design: Flash CS4
Editing: Liquid Edition