[Craig Seeman]

Hi Richard,

Actually I’d been assistant editor, editor for political spots for many years. Only recently have I started to produce. That’s why I ask these questions. I have real world experience as an editor and, given the material I had been handed, in nearly every case i believe the material was NOT generated by the client. Neither I, nor to the best of my knowledge, had any of the clients I have edited for have been sued.

I don’t know whether I should base my practices on use material based on my experience (over 20 years) of editing for producers who had their own practices. In that score of years, not one client has ever produced documentation that they had the right to use any of the material. These clients worked the business side with the post houses I staffed so if there any kind of contracts, it was with the post house.

As Dave’s post may indicate, it’s quite possible the material was generated from publicly distributed PR photos and VNRs by the opposition candidate. I can’t say with a certitude but some materials looked like they were “sourced” from newspaper clippings and news segments recorded from TV. At least that was the “nasty/low resolution” look of the material when I was handed the tapes.

Many have said that such hold harmless clauses wouldn’t hold up in court. Some would ask for documentation proving the right to use material.

The question I would have is if the material came from “publicly” released PR photos or VNRs (given to the media) does that cover the right for an oppositiion candidate to use the material. If one grants a newspaper or tv outlet the right to use certain material that may/or may not mean that others have a right to use the same material. Certainly copyright holders can grant rights to specific “persons/businesses” use and exclude others from using that material.

[Craig Seeman]

Compressor 2 will create Real files with the Real 10 Export plugin. Go to the Encoder pange and set File Format to Quicktime Export Components and Encoder Type to RealMedia. Options will give you access to the settings. In my quick test (I don’t get much demand for Real anymore) it seems to be very fast.

[Craig Seeman]

In DVCAM mode the DSR11 can take external code over firewire. The problem is FCP doesn’t send the TC from the timeline out. Actually this DID WORK in an earlier version of FCP (FCP3) but not “officially”

People have used this to prestripe a tape in the DSR11 and then Assembled on to it but it may not be frame accurate.
https://developer.apple.com/samplecode/SimpleVideoOut/SimpleVideoOut.html

[Craig Seeman]

DSL speeds can vary by type of service and distance from “hub.” Cable speeds can also vary by load on the service. Often websites offer two broadband speeds of 300kbps and 500kbps as reasonable choices.

[Craig Seeman]

[David Roth Weiss] “Get the opposition picture from the oppostion… Either request publicity stills from their PR people, or shoot one of their posters. Are they gonna say, “we distributed thousands of these pix, but only friendly media organizations can use them???” “

Actually this explains a lot. The images I’ve seen that I thought were lifted from local media may be those very publicity stills sent to the media and used in campaign posters. Might even add some humor to the ad if one actually shot the poster as it hangs. In my neck of the woods, it’s illegal to hang such posters on city owned property (street lamps and such). It would be ironic to shoot a poster hanging in such a location.

Now what about getting video or sound recording to use? One might have to find a way to get a campaign VNR.

[Craig Seeman]

“Lighting for Digital Video & Television” by John Jackman, CMP Books

[Craig Seeman]

Every market is different. Sometimes there’s lots of “politics” trying to get presentation time at the local business association. One trick was to go out and start shooting store fronts. Owners/managers came out and asked what I was doing (with much suspicion). I explained I was shooting “tests” for a presentation for cable advertising for local businesses. Some asked for demos and others told me how to get on the schedule for a presentation at the local association. Keys to the presentation is that they “relate” to what you show. Seeing their store fronts in the demo can add to the excitement. Seeing that you’ve done work for similar businesses helps too. The local hardware store, restaurant, auto dealer, plumber all want to see you can handle their specific product/need.

In my market, the cable companies have their own ads pitching how advertising on cable can help your business. I don’t think it’s unreasonable for you to do it. You may even benefit from the cable company ad but I’ll go into that later. You’d really have to think about your target and what they’re watching and how to appeal to their needs. In some markets the cost may be very inexpensive, in others the cost of running the spot a few times might equal what you’d get from one client. You’d have to be able to afford repeat ads. It may be a money loser at first but landing the first couple of clients is important.

Once you get the first couple of clients your likely to make great friends with the sales department at the local cable company. You’re bringing them revenue! Many cable companies lose money on the production side in order to gain time buys. This is why THEIR ads they run can bring you money. They give you the production work and they make money on the time buy. You may even find a case where they’ll ask you to do an ad for them or a “test/spec” spot for a target they have in mind. You won’t get paid for the spot but you’re also not paying for the spot time either. All this really depends on your market though. If the local cable company thinks you can be profitable to them you’ll make great friends.

[Craig Seeman]

I think you should have told them what you needed. Could be wrappted in Quicktime, AVI or the “raw” DVCPro50 stream. Not sure what you can “expect” since it’s your responsibility to communicate what you’d like to them. How are they to know what you need? You may have handed yourself extra work by not telling them.

DVCPro50 is twice the data rate of DV25.

[Craig Seeman]

What market are you in?

I’ve done local cable spots and have often thought about doing one for my business. I think many small businesses don’t know where to go for spot production. They often go straight to the cable company. In my conversations with the cable companies, production is often a money loser for them. The time buy has to be large enough to make the production costs worthwhile. These leaves smaller businesses with no place to go to for production when they want to start with a limited media buy.

I think what your doing is a good idea. Curious what your approach will be. Will you simply “laundy list” how TV/Cable advertising will help them? Testimonials? Wiz bang fx and quality on a budget?

[Craig Seeman]

WMV Studio allows you to set Key Frame Rate (what some call “Forced” Keyframes) such as a key frame every X seconds.