[Don Leap]

Thanks for the input, everyone. Very helpful to hear your past experiences with this.

I think a big part of it is what Mark mentioned above, clients are getting conditioned to think editors wear all hats, including the hat of Producer (without the official credit, of course).

I’ve even had some clients expect me to create elaborate show graphics packages from scratch (while still editing the show itself) at the same quality level that a whole Network Graphics Dept would take weeks to design/animate…Sometimes I may be up to that challenge, but only if its in their budget. Usually its not. But they want it, no, they NEED it done anyway. Ahh…the joys of post production.

This all makes me a better Producer on my own projects, though. When I hire professionals, I always come with all the information/elements they need to do the best job possible.

[Don Leap]

Thanks Mads!

I could live with titles missing and/or whole segments missing. but I’m dealing with producers who want me to edit broadcast ready segments without crucial elements that are needed to make it work and get the flow down. It’s like editing a music video without the song track… or editing a scene in a movie where only one character’s lines were filmed because the other actor wasn’t yet available.

[Mads Nybo Jørgensen] “Do remember, that some clients have a tendency to “burn” their budget on the shoot, and hope that post-production will make up for it through reducing their fees.”

This is a big part of it I think. Also, the missing media dilemma forces me to play the role of Producer or Preditor, filling in asset gaps for them.

Either way, you’re right. The solution may be to bail on these projects the moment as I see the writing on the wall.