[Grant Wilber]

For others wondering. I just bought a macbook pro, upgraded to El Capitan, installed FCP7, and it’s been running ok. Certain projects have crashed a lot, I think it’s just when it’s pushing a heavy timeline with layers of video or lots of effects. But it’s still functioning for those that need it.

[Grant Wilber]

For anyone still searching for an answer to this issue – I made an XML of the sequence I was working on. Then opened up a new project and imported that XML and it asked me to reconnect all the missing files fine.

[Grant Wilber]

Think I figured it out.

Go to System Settings and redirect the video capture folder

[Grant Wilber]

Alot of good info in there. I do think it’s a little harsh sometimes and border line ‘videographer ranting about low offers’.

I think if you wrote it more of a educational piece from the start it would come off a bit better. For example you pretty much say anyone wanting a $500 video isn’t legitimate and your almost attacking them for it. Most bands probably just have no clue, and this article should help them understand. Just because they aren’t educated on what goes into making a video doesn’t mean they aren’t legitimate.

And with this as one of the last bullets:
And this is why MUSIC VIDEOS DO NOT COST $500.00!

It’s almost like you are angry and yelling at people who suggest $500. Therefore offending anyone who might pay alot in the future.

I think starting off with these lines you wrote would be way better:
We absolutely LOVE making music videos. However, after doing a number of them, its frustrating to be constantly asked for such a huge, all-encompassing undertaking for such a tiny amount of money. We aren’t greedy, we just won’t take on a project that we can’t make successful.

It shows your passion first and that you genuinely want to help inform people.

Even at the end saying ‘go find a college kid off craigslist’, comes off as a mad videographer. I’d just take all that out and leave just the good content about the production in. Even take out all the lines where you keep saying ‘this is why its not $500″ or “the costs are MUCH greater than $500.00”. I think you say it like 8 times which seems too much. Mention it once at the beginning then never again.

Maybe adding a few ‘final’ budgets with examples, even if its a range, would be good too.
So shooting ‘live’ in a room or studio vs shooting at 10 different locations with crazy lights and sets.

[Grant Wilber]

Thanks for all the feedback and thanks Mark for the good post.

I try hard to implement alot of those things but sometimes I get clients that no matter how much I push for a script and plan and am willing to sit down and write everything out – they just don’t get it and see how much it effects the video and cost. For this project I ended up over estimating the editing hours and then pretty much saying I’m only gonna charge for the hours I work. Good enough client were I’m fine doing that.

[Grant Wilber]

Thanks for the advice guys. Kinda mirrors my thoughts and good to know how others normally do things.

[Grant Wilber]

What I don’t want to be doing is have clients thinking why the heck it took me an hour to look for music or three hours to make titles which they think are simple. I’m trying to stay away from clients that get nitpicky about things, but wondering if there is anyone that goes go into detail for their invoices – if you feel people question it or you don’t have people return.

[Grant Wilber]

Don’t worry about credit. Getting ‘credit’ is usually worthless with jobs like these.

I would be upfront with them about how you haven’t gotten any money and would like to in order to continue editing. Lie and tell them you got rent due or another paying company has job for you so they are gonna get priority. Hopefully they give you something. Then tell them they get one more revision and then you’ll need to re-negotiate the project. The last revision I’d give them a watermark or SD version maybe?

But this sounds like a huge pain, take what you can and get out. The experience you’ve learned from this project is probably more valuable then whatever you make anyway.

[Grant Wilber]

Thanks Mark. I do realize that giving up control is something I gotta just do. Your point of teaching is good too which is something I think I need to learn. I have no clue how I’m able to put together a video outta some of crap I shoot so its tough to explain to people what I’m looking for and give directions to go about it when I don’t have any methods myself.

Are there any good ways of setting up or preping an editor for a project? Sometimes I have a script, but alot of times I don’t. Do you transcribe speech and pick out lines or shots that you know are going to work for the client, or just give objectives then let them go to town?

[Grant Wilber]

Alright so found a solution. Unfortunately couldn’t get it to work with above suggestions. However Rafael taking about FCP pipeline helped.

I ended up using a crop filter (Alex4d or Andy’s) and just placed it before/above the 3dfilter in clip. That did the the trick. There is a slight wavy line sometimes, but not nearly as jagged as before. Thanks for thinking this through with me.