I think there’s danger with a client who “thinks” they know video because they were an exec in a production company. There was no chance to get everyone to one location, as they wanted everyone shot intheir actual environment. So no way to lower the price.
They didn’t need samples, they had a script. As a matter of fact, their first request included that they would just rent our Betacam, mic, and lights and shoot it themselves.
I’m pretty pleased that they went elsewhere. This had bad client written all over it.