Mike Cohen
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COW Coin
Forum Replies Created
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That website is funny. “Because I have a computer science degree, we were the first to go digital!”
The writing style and really long pages seem to be inspired by MLM scheme websites and/or conspiracy theory websites.
Mini DV is about the best quality of video available today, so this guy must be doing something right! 🙂
Mik Cohen
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To quote a client from a recent conversation:
“The cloud doesn’t always work”
I was recently sitting at a computer in a hospital conference room – no Flash player and an old version of Windows Media Player, nor DVD playback. And network access was slow.
The real world can be much different than the world we media pros live in.
Know thy audience – offer options depending upon the client.
Mike Cohen
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We either make a demo specifically for a prospect or send them a disc off the shelf. This comes down to knowing your audience. Some folks on corporate networks have trouble with online video or likewise need a disc to show others. Case by case basis.
Mike Cohen -
We show appreciation for our customers throughout the year by giving them great service. You can’t wrap that in a bow!
Some of our vendors send us cookies, candy, popcorn etc which generally disappear within 15 minutes of arrival.
A few vendors who I work with directly (narrators, designers) have sent me modest restaurant gift cards, or simply a card.
I think a card is the best way to go – preferably something with the company name on it.
Mike Cohen
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You have already stated “low budget.” In terms of a music video, low budget is probably under $50,000. But if the band is paying, rather than the label, then assume they have very little money to spend.
You can probably count on a nice t-shirt and a copy of their latest CD!
As in any business activity, decide what you need to earn to cover your expenses, your overhead and your salary. Assuming you are not doing this 100% for your reel, then this number will need to cover your time for the duration of the project, assuming you will not be working on anything else, a portion of the cost of your gear, any rental gear or extra crew you need and materials, travel, etc.
Figure that out and you have your minimum number. The band is either going to balk, agree or negotiate.
Mike Cohen
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Mark
It was the propaganda style VNR I was talking about, and not so much as a criticism.Video footage provided as pool footage or provided as b-roll for stations to do with as they please is useful. For example, on NASA tv they run b-roll feeds of shuttle or payload prep, with NAT sound and no voice over.
Mike
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There was a concept back in the 90’s called VNR – Video News Release.
I worked on one as an intern. We shot news style coverage of the governor talking about health care. Then we “interviewed” the ceo of a pharmaceutical company, and cut a VO, a VO/SOT and a 2 minute package, make BetaSP dubs and then I drove around to the 3 local network affiliates and handed the tapes to the assignment editors, who no doubt deposited the tapes in the recycle bin or immediately degaussed the tapes themselves!
It is a slow news day when you need corporate produced propaganda as filler.Note to all future readers of this forum:
If it sounds too goo to be true, it probably is.
If it sounds like it might be a bit shady, it probably is.
If you have to ask about a website or business which seems not quite kosher, chances are it isn’t.
Mike Cohen
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[Bill Davis] “BLUE or pastel GREEN pads”
This part of the conversation reminds me of the 5 part colored carbon script paper we used back in the day. Canary for the director, pink for the audio engineer, green for the producer, blue for Jim Boyd and purple for Susan Warnick. This was the WCVB mid-day news in the early 90’s. I don’t know if they still use these carbon form feed scripts here in the early 2010’s – but this is how I remember it!
I often do this sort of brainstorming sitting on airplanes. I used to carry around a hardbound notebook. Now I use my laptop, but you can’t be quite as free form electronically as on paper. When all else fails I’ll use one of those vomit bags the airline provides, preferably a clean one! It is actually funny that the airline assumes the possibility of every person on the plane needing to hurl, or at least they want to be prepared for one person getting sick by placing these bags at every seat.
Ok, back to the program – how to find non-traditional video work?
Here in CT, we have a burgeoning film community. I’m not talking about Spielberg taking over New Haven for a month – while that was no doubt good for New Haven. We have many people of all ages participating in independent filmmaking activities. The ring leader of some of this is a guy named Neal Thomassen. He works full time in video for a non-profit, but has dedicated the rest of his free time to organizing film and video activities in the state, holding annual film mixer seminars and film screenings. And he cross promotes other activities, groups, freelance gigs, unpaid fun activities and networking in general. Being friends with him on Facebook provides monthly opportunities to connect with others with like interests.
I went to one of his mixers and met about a dozen new people in film and video, and also got connected with my state’s MCA chapter. In fact the president of my MCA chapter was my theater 101 professor from college.Find someone like that in your state or city and you will be on the right track. A lot of off the grid production work is also outside the banking system. But if you have a passion, find something you like to do and you might make something out of it.
Mike Cohen
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I get the impression that certifications sold by Apple and Adobe are simply attempts by Apple and Adobe to make more money for Apple and Adobe.
Don’t get me wrong, I love these companies, but the best way to become proficient at software is to use it on a daily basis on projects. There are enough tutorials online and on DVD’s costing a lot less than the certified training classes to teach you much of what you need to know. But experience is what you need, not a certificate to hang on your wall.
Mike Cohen
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Wow, what a long and interesting thread. I will add just a few notes:
1. You need to make your own opportunities. If business is bad, double your efforts.
2. When I first started blogging here on the COW, I wrote about past experiences, my training and bits and pieces of my every day work, but avoided outright promotion. But then I noticed that Walter, Richard Harrington and others blogged about their business activities and new projects as well as new products they have produced. These are two successful guys, so I started writing more specifically about events and products that we create and sell. Given the COW’s ability to get instantly indexed by the search engines, it seems like an added benefit beyond the enjoyment alone.
3. Yeah, the recession is sticking around. It affects everyone from the butcher to the cobbler to the candle stick maker. But don’t take a bad economy as an excuse to stop trying to sell your services and improve your business offerings. Now is the time to prepare for the recovery which will happen and likely result in a slightly different meaning of status quo.
4. To both the regulars and new visitors to this site – read everything from the top posters on this website – they are some smart people who know their stuff.
5. Refer to item 1 – print that one out and hang it on your wall.
Mike Cohen
Medical Education / Multimedia Producer