[Jay Curtis]

Bob, my understanding was the original effect was relatively simple.

It involved filling the silhouette of the person with a shot of some liquid full of swirling glitter. (You didn’t say if you wanted to do it without the silver particles, or something simpler.)

I’d suggest another post on the After Effects forum.

Jay Curtis

Blue Vase Productions

[Jay Curtis]

At my last full-time job as an editor, I used the task timer in Microsoft Outlook (not sure which version it was, though).

Once a client is listed in your contacts, you can set up a task, call it “Production 1.” There’s a timer you can start and stop as long as you keep that task window open. You can Alt-Tab over to it when you have to take a phone call from another client, etc.

The timer keeps track of your time in user-definable increments — we used tenths of an hour. That way, when the DP/Business Manager called down the hallway “How long did you work on the ____ project?” I could quickly and easily look it up. (Later, I got into the habit of emailing him the total after we sent out dubs of the commercial, thus saving the down-the-hallway yelling.)

Hope this helps as well.

Jay

[Jay Curtis]

Before you go any further, ask him how much he thinks he wants to spend.

If you have an hourly rate you’re comfortable with, look at how many hours you have to work with based on his overall budget. Then you decide if you can do quality work within the number of hours he’s willing to pay you for.

If you don’t have an hourly rate, then you’re guessing. Are you willing to do the work for the amount he’s willing to pay?

Then there’s the emotional connection, which may be the reason he called you in the first place. Are you willing to give him more than he’s paying for, just “for old time’s sake?” If so, that’s great — just make sure you’re going in with both eyes open.

Jay Curtis

Blue Vase Productions