[Andy Hart]

Great suggestion. I actually did use the 32-bit version of Vegas to get this same project to render, but I had to run out of town so I did it on my bootcamp’d win7-64 macbook pro i5 with a GeForce GT 330M (on which the GPU runs hot at 70 degrees all the time but doesn’t fail). It took about 3.5 days to produce a mpeg 2 video stream to fit on a DVD from the HD footage, but worked. I have to catch up on a few other less intense but time sensitive projects before I get back to making this blu-ray, but once I can try it again (with graphics drivers rolled back to a earlier version recommended by Asus-the graphics card manufacturer) I will let you know how it goes with 32-bit Vegas 11 on my PC.

[Andy Hart]

David, you answered my primary question deftly by replacing “what to charge” (a dollar amount of some type) with “how to charge” (use a day-rate); I already know more-or-less what I need to charge to make it worthwhile. Thanks for explaining that a simple invoice/breakdown works best (again using the day-rate idea) because I would’ve been bound to ask later. My next question – the best way for me to get their footage – is obviously via overnight mail, I just wanted reassurance that there wasn’t an online file-service that would be user-friendly and reliable enough for both parties to use. I doubt it.

My only concern still to be addressed is this: Is it appropriate for me to ask to see the footage they have before saying “I’ll do it for eight hundred a day and it will be done in ten days,” (or something like that). What if they don’t have any idea about editing and think their footage is fine, but it still needs tons of little adjustments made? If the footage is in bad shape I could end up in a position where I agree to complete a project MUCH larger than I can possibly finish in such a short time frame, OR they end up with an ugly DVD and I get booed.

I should have titled the post: “Is asking for a sample OK?” or

“Is getting the footage from a client before agreeing on a price bad freelance-DVD-authoring practice?”

When I call Monday morning and ask them to overnight their materials I would like to say:

“I would be happy to do this project for x dollars in x days if everything is edited correctly or y dollars in y days if it needs additional editing where there are major problems with the footage that would hinder authoring this project as we previously discussed. I’ll let you know “x or y” immediately upon receipt of the footage, and that is the last point at which either party can cancel or change this contract.”

Would that be inappropriate?

-Andy

[Andy Hart]

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it, I like its conciseness, and I read your profile David -so your experience adds further weight to your words- but as I am still extremely new in the field I want to hear more. So: Anyone else who’d like to take a shot at any or all of the questions in my earlier post should feel more than welcome to. Thanks again.