[Aaronstockton]

I really appreciate your post. Thank you for putting my mind at ease. I’m just going to have to trust the equipment I have and let my storytelling skills be the ‘money-maker.’ I’m an extremely organized person, so that will certainly be helpful. Thank you for your advice.

[Aaronstockton]

That’s actually really good to hear. So to clarify, you think it would be okay for me to shoot in DV as long as when I output the final video I go straight to Beta. When you say I would need to edit uncompressed, what timeline settings would you suggest? I am working in FCP. Thanks for the help.

[Aaronstockton]

Thank you for your response. Believe me, I feel the exact same way you do about my doing this. Unfortunately, my voice is rarely heard around here, and I have a mortgage to pay, so I have to deal with it the best way I know how.

I’m not really at liberty to talk about the project itself. What I can tell you is that we are working with talent that already has their own national cable show. We have been their advertising agency for a number of years. Their show has always been produced by a company that specializes in that type of production. However, they want to do their own spin-off show on a much cheaper budget. Naturally, they have the unrealistic expectation that the shows that I will create will be just as good as they are getting with the other company.

To answer some of your questions: my boss will produce and direct (he has zero experience); the talent has written their own script, nay! outline, nay! notes on a napkin; the show will be shot entirely on location; there is talent; we presently will be doing three shows, but I know they’ll want more eventually; the shows will most likely be broadcast and sold on DVD, probably no webcasting; I will build the graphics; I’ve been looking at music rights for using Top 40 type music but I haven’t had much luck there.

I understand your concerns on the equipment. I too am concerned that we don’t have what we need, and I have voiced these concerns repeatedly. Of course, my hands are tied. Here’s what I can tell you. We have done everything in a very “run and gun” style with our other projects for this client. We don’t use lights, we use wireless mics that go directly to tape (no mixer), and I basically handle all of the equipment myself. Obviously, not an ideal setup.

Unfortunately, as I said before, we won’t be able to bring in an outside company for this. I will be expected to solve these matters on my own without a lot of help. I certainly appreciate your responses. Any additional suggestions will be taken to heart.

Thanks!