[Greg Ball]

Thanks for your input Todd, Mark, and Ned. You guys are always the best! I love the B&W and also the split screen look.

This would be shot at night in a retail store. The objective is to show a break-in at the store and the security system launches a visual effect to stun the culprits. For client confidentiality reasons I can release the info on the visual effect. But I like all of the suggestions. Thanks so much guys!

Greg Ball, President
Ball Media Innovations, Inc.
https://www.ballmediainnovations.com

[Greg Ball]

Thanks Shane. The sequence is 29.97progressive, not interlaced. Does that make a difference?

Greg Ball, President
Ball Media Innovations, Inc.
https://www.ballmediainnovations.com

[Greg Ball]

Ned, I don’t use a contract so I can sue someone or prevent my company from being sued. I provide an agreement so the client and I have a complete understanding of what the project entails.

My agreement was created by an attorney so it wouldn’t be “laughable”. I have however had the occasional client’s law department, make changes in the agreement and then I’ve either compromised kept it the same.

I’ve also had the occasional client send me THEIR legal agreement to sign. I never do that. My goal is to do the work to the best of my ability, and do what I say I’ll do. I always consider my clients, but I need to protect my business first.

I don’t think too many clients go to a car dealership to purchase a car while bringing in their own contract for the dealer to sign. I feel that our business is the same, the client hires us, we do the work, and we expect to be paid. I feel that an agreement just lets all parties know and agree to what’s being provided. Change orders are only used with significant changes to the scope of work. I don’t have the clients sign for every tweak. Tweaks are usually discussed in emails.

Greg Ball, President
Ball Media Innovations, Inc.
https://www.ballmediainnovations.com

[Greg Ball]

We always use a contract/agreement that states everything we’re doing and have the client initial each page and sign the last page. This way everyone is in agreement about what the project includes. If there’s a change in the scope, we send the client a change order to sign.

Request for payment depends on what you feel comfortable with. Some people prefer to take payments at certain milestones. For example 30% at the start of the project, 30% after the shoot, 60% upon approval and before delivery.

Some people take 50% up front and 50% at the end. Always try and cover all of your expenses in the upfront deposit

My suggestion is to only deliver the finished product after you receive final payment. That’s how you avoid getting “stiffed”.

Greg Ball, President
Ball Media Innovations, Inc.
https://www.ballmediainnovations.com

[Greg Ball]

Hi Samantha,
As usual Mark has given you tremendous advice. I’ve shot and edited more corporate training videos than I could ever possibly count. For your pricing, it really depends on what the end video is supposed to be. It depends on the audience, and what level of knowledge they have. This really determines how you approach creating a training video.

It may be challenging to just shoot the owner’s brief introduction, without shooting b-roll footage of their company, or products. Stock footage can only accomplish so much, especially when it comes to training. How specific is the training supposed to be?

Remember that video usually can not training people by itself. There may be other materials that the video will support.

For stock footage, we normally charge a fee per shot that includes the footage purchase and our rate for the amount of time and research it takes us to find the most appropriate shots. Remember you’re selling your time. See Mark’s post for what your time is worth.

I hope this helps. Feel free to reach out with other questions.

Do you know what your client’s budget is? Is it realistic? If they’ve already spent $7,500 on the script, they are probably prepared to spend a reasonable amount on the project.

Greg Ball, President
Ball Media Innovations, Inc.
https://www.ballmediainnovations.com

[Greg Ball]

Hi Bob,

One thing I haven’t seen mentioned in Air Conditioning. Where are you located?

Early in my career I worked for a large insurance company. Our studio was located in the parking garage. Although we had AC, the studio was quite stuffy. Also when ever the door was opened, we had some car exhaust enter the facility.

That was not good. The sound was decent unless someone was revving their car.

I would think that you need a minimum of 24′ with tall ceilings, and lots of sound baffling on the walls and ceiling, even the door.

Greg Ball, President
Ball Media Innovations, Inc.
https://www.ballmediainnovations.com

[Greg Ball]

Thanks Bob.

Greg Ball, President
Ball Media Innovations, Inc.
https://www.ballmediainnovations.com

[Greg Ball]

Thanks everyone.

Just to clarify, I’m wondering how to buy air time on local television affiliates. I’m not sure who to contact.

And does anyone have any tips on how to go about getting sponsors?

My desire is to start by offering a local show featuring local experts, charge them to be part of the show to promote their expertise and businesses, and get sponsors also if possible. I think I have a topic that would work. Has anybody else done this?

Tim Wilson, what you mentioned is similar to what I’m looking at doing. It’s very interesting. I’d be grateful if I could chat with you for a few minutes to pick your brains about how you accomplished this in the Keys. Would you have a few minutes tomorrow or Thursday morning to chat?

Please email me your contact info and the best time for us to chat.

I think the last time I spoke with you was when I was learning Media 100 and you were training folks.

Thanks much!

Greg Ball, President
Ball Media Innovations, Inc.
https://www.ballmediainnovations.com

[Greg Ball]

Hi Ned,

Sorry for being late to the party. We shoot lots of conferences and presentations. What I do is in my proposal I offer the option of converting the footage to something the client can view. I attach a price to that. It includes a small USB drive and shipping. Usually I’ll burn a timecode window onto the footage, so it can “help” them. Then if the client wants that, we provide the converted footage.

There’s no arguments or annoyance, and the client has remained in control of what they want. Everyone is happy.

Greg Ball, President
Ball Media Innovations, Inc.
https://www.ballmediainnovations.com

[Greg Ball]

I beg to differ Bob. Just because people have phones that can shoot video, and software that can edit video that doesn’t make them able to do what we do.

In the old days everyone thought that just because they had a PC on their desk with Word Perfect, that somehow they were a writer. That wasn’t the case. Just because you own a scissors and a comb, you’re still not a hairdresser. Just because you own a gourmet oven, does not make you a gourmet chef. The list goes on.

All this means is that we need to convince clients of the value and quality we offer over someone without experience.

Is it harder to sell our services? Yes. But it can be done.

So don’t give up just yet.

Greg Ball, President
Ball Media Innovations, Inc.
https://www.ballmediainnovations.com