[Mads Nybo jørgensen]

Hey Justin,

[Justin Cordes] “Is there some sort of legal document that I and my client can sign that will indemnify/protect said client from lawsuits”

I think that the word that you are looking for is called a “contract”. And yes, even if a client has signed said document, ignorance will not protect them. I.e. one would expect your client to use your production as part of their public marketing/training/PR materials and if it was to contain something obvious, like a piece of chart music, say Lady Gaga or a clip from the latest hit TV series, say Sopranos or True Blood, then they are responsible for distribution. And if they haven’t satisfied themselves that you had the rights to use that material, then they could be deemed guilty.

Take the case of Viacom v Youtube. As much as Youtube is not the “producer” they are the point of distribution/publication. Since Viacom is not going to gain much from suing a spotty 14 year old and their poor parents, but are likely to get more from a Google, then this made a natural target. The same goes for a one man band video producer working for a multi million dollar client – if your copyright had been breached, who would you go to for damages?

So it would be ignorance on your clients behalf to believe that a document would indemnify them from lawsuits, unless that document explicitly said that and stated all copyrighted materials had been cleared for release. In that case, it would come down to the honesty of the production company, i.e. you.

All the Best
Mads
London, UK

Here used to be a big video – now you can watch another one here:
https://www.macmillion.com/showreel.htm

Mac Million Ltd. – HD Production & Editing
Blog: https://macmillionltd.blogspot.com

[Mads Nybo jørgensen]

Hey Justin,

I am personally not a great fan of unions simply because of a long past experience (in another country) where I found my union more concerned about my employer than me…

The main union in the UK is https://www.bectu.org.uk/home – I have never been a member, but I know people that has been and is very happy with it. Bectu also have a very large document section including rates etc.

However, bottom-line though is that a union does not guarantee you fair practice, this has to be the responsibility of the individual. And as harsh as this comment is; you are guilty in accepting to do a 52 hour job “just to be the hero”, when in fact you are putting your own and other peoples lives at risk – one of the industry’s hidden killers, including that of innocent bystanders, are when workers/freelancers without enough rest decides to drive their own car home and fall asleep at the wheel… So learn to say “No”, and negotiate your own fair terms, but don’t rely on organising a bunch of hungry film makers.

All the Best
Mads
London, UK

Here used to be a big video – now you can watch another one here:
https://www.macmillion.com/showreel.htm

Mac Million Ltd. – HD Production & Editing
Blog: https://macmillionltd.blogspot.com

[Mads Nybo jørgensen]

Hey Max,

It would really help if you told us where you are based? That tends to have an impact on the cost of insurance.

I’ve had a situation previously where an insurance company (in this case Axa) left the media industry all together because of too many claims, but a single client, when this is the time for them to ear their money back – sounds unlikely. So do ask them why you are getting dropped?

Zurich is our preferred insurance company, and do get quotes from at least 3 brokers – there is a big difference in the UK depending on who you use.

All the Best
Mads
London, UK

Here used to be a big video – now you can watch another one here:
https://www.macmillion.com/showreel.htm

Mac Million Ltd. – HD Production & Editing
Blog: https://macmillionltd.blogspot.com

[Mads Nybo jørgensen]

Hey Patrick,

I can’t speak for the website that you are using as an example.

However, the hire game is a very tough business to be in, even if it is just for a few dollars on the side. You have to make sure to check your kit before it goes out and then when it comes back in again – in particular the lenses are a sore point for hire companies. Then there is checking the stranger who will hire your baby. Not to mention insurance and getting flight cases etc. And finally there is support, when your clients doesn’t know how to replace the CF card, set the shutter speed etc – they’ll always phone you about this on a Saturday evening…

So no, I don’t think that for one HD-SLR that this venture will be worth your efforts. However, to get some extra income to finance the purchase try instead and find other shooters locally who you on a personal level could “share” the kit with. And maybe a college or local TV Station might be interested in using it for shorts and commercials etc.

Hope this helps?

All the Best
Mads
London, UK

Here used to be a big video – now you can watch another one here:
https://www.macmillion.com/showreel.htm

Mac Million Ltd. – HD Production & Editing
Blog: https://macmillionltd.blogspot.com

[Mads Nybo jørgensen]

Hey Timothy,

I hear you. But there was a real danger for younger less experienced people to misunderstand your previous statement “I pointed my web browser to a folder of photos that I had on my PC and had a website service “automatically” generate a music video from those photos.”

I wonder what would happen if one pointed it to the C drive and said use any JPeg or gif – 12 months of browsing history might suddenly show in the final result… 🙂

All the Best
Mads
London, UK

Here used to be a big video – now you can watch another one here:
https://www.macmillion.com/showreel.htm

Mac Million Ltd. – HD Production & Editing
Blog: https://macmillionltd.blogspot.com

[Mads Nybo jørgensen]

Hey Timothy,

I wouldn’t worry, if it wasn’t you it would be someone else making your video department redundant.

Only problem you have is that your client will expect the same quick service next time around – that will be more fun for you as in: “why can’t your system not deal with doing interviews?” or “Why is there random pictures of people with no clothes on our video?” or how about “We have put your editor forward for an Emmy” 🙂

The results are endless – can’t stop progress, but be careful for what you wish for, you might just get it. Even if it is as fast as doing the paperwork. Just remember to have the right clearance for all those stills.

On a happier note – maybe Getty Images and Artbeats are about to make a lot of money out of you?

All the Best
Mads
London, UK

Here used to be a big video – now you can watch another one here:
https://www.macmillion.com/showreel.htm

Mac Million Ltd. – HD Production & Editing
Blog: https://macmillionltd.blogspot.com

[Mads Nybo jørgensen]

The Club in Covent Garden, London is up for sale:
https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/technology/the-club-for-sale-as-work-stalls/5014831.article

All the Best
Mads
London, UK

Here used to be a big video – now you can watch another one here:
https://www.macmillion.com/showreel.htm

Mac Million Ltd. – HD Production & Editing
Blog: https://macmillionltd.blogspot.com

[Mads Nybo jørgensen]

Simple: Black cases normally do not require as much cleaning as a white case.

All the Best
Mads
London, UK

Here used to be a big video – now you can watch another one here:
https://www.macmillion.com/showreel.htm

Mac Million Ltd. – HD Production & Editing
Blog: https://macmillionltd.blogspot.com

[Mads Nybo jørgensen]

Hey Juris,

[Juris Eksts] “Have there actually been any cases in any part of the world where someone has been doing something criminal or fraudulent, and sued and won damages for being found out?”

I don’t know – in all likely hood not. However, my main point is that as much as it would be a frivolous case, a small production company could be destroyed by the legal fees before an judgement was even to be passed. As a result, I think you’ll find that most of these kind of kind of cases get settled before they even make it to court.

Is that a fair practice? Certainly not, but to ignore the potential threat would not be a sensible thing to do, when a signed release-form will cover all of those headaches…

All the Best
Mads
London, UK

Here used to be a big video – now you can watch another one here:
https://www.macmillion.com/showreel.htm

Mac Million Ltd. – HD Production & Editing
Blog: https://macmillionltd.blogspot.com

[Mads Nybo jørgensen]

Hey Roy,

That depends on your gyms relationship with the individual member? And whether they have sign up saying CCTV in operation and/or how they put a notice up. Also depends on whether the area is seen as private property to the user?

However, bottom line is that you would be best off getting written acceptance from everybody in shot. + the gym might not loose a member as a result of your courtesy.

Also consider the very wacky potential of you becoming a third party in a case between someone that you’ve filmed that should not have been present in a gym. i.e. a person on a disability insurance claim or of work for being ill etc. If you are found to infringe their rights as a result as your filming, even if you are in the OK to do so, the cost of defending that kind of cases is expensive. So having a signed release form makes it easier for your production insurance to deal with it.

The possibilities are endless 🙂

All the Best
Mads
London, UK

Here used to be a big video – now you can watch another one here:
https://www.macmillion.com/showreel.htm

Mac Million Ltd. – HD Production & Editing
Blog: https://macmillionltd.blogspot.com