[Jbaumchen]

I’m curious as to how this has turned out. Just in case it’s still pending, here’s my $0.02.

I agree that you should transfer the files over to your own drive, then delete them from the ‘clients’ drive.

If they want the files, I’d be tempted to add a ‘carring charge’ on top of what they already owe. Settle for half? No way. Payment, how about a bank wire transfer directly into your account. To heck with checks.

If these guys are really going belly up, they should know that they aren’t about to get the work you’ve done without a guaranteed form of payment.

Hope it will work in your favor if it hasn’t already.

[Jbaumchen]

I always used the customer’s courrier to send them rough cuts and to return their graphics/raw footage. I used my own account to send them the completed master. Just a customer service sort of thing with me.

[Jbaumchen]

I’m just a bit curious how you intend to loop it and provide an interactive menu. I was always under the assumption that a dvd was either a loop, (drop and play), or select an item, play it and return to menu.

Is there a trick I’m missing?

[Jbaumchen]

Check to see if Calgary has a small business center like this one:

https://www.smallbusinessbc.ca/index.php

The one in Vancouver has a database where you can enter the industry code and retreive information on the companies doing business under that code. Stuff like how long they’ve been in business, annual reported revenue, number of employees, contact names, etc……

Choose your industry first, (target market). Then do some informal telephone calls along the lines of a survey. (I’m contemplating starting a business that provides…..and just wanted to check to see if your company has ever used/thought of using these services….

There are a lot of Canadian Federal and Provincial programs to help small business startups. If you’ve been downsized, check to see if there are any entrepreneurial skills training programs in your area. I know there is one at BCIT. It essentially helps you do up a markeing/business plan while collecting EI for up to a year while you get your business up and running. Here is a link to some of the BC programs:

https://www.beyourownboss.org/programs/bcit.htm

Cheers.

[Jbaumchen]

I would venture to say that the client IS NOT entitled to the authoring files unless you agree up-front to provide them. Just as in producing a video, the client gets the finished product, not the photoshop, aftereffects, project files, or raw footage.

If they want the ‘source’ files, it means that they are unlikely to come back to you for repeat business. I would charge at least 4 x for the source codes over what I would charge for just the finished product.

Cheers.