Mike Cohen
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COW Coin
Forum Replies Created
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Our customers are not supposed to be technical experts – that’s why they hire us.
Are some of the things we hear from customers common sense? Maybe common sense for people who make it their business to know about these things, but business people have their hands in many projects and honestly don’t have time or inclination to know or care about things like DVD vs CD, file formats, file sizes, how much data can fit on a particular format, etc.In the end, I think what this thread shows is that, as has been discussed many times on this forum, we are problem solvers. We help customers so they do not have to try doing something that is not their specialty.
That’s business 101.
Mike Cohen
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Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament
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Only recently joined the MCA-I CT chapter. The main reason I joined was that there is this producer in my state who seems to know everyone and has his hands in lots of interesting projects. Through him I have met a few interesting members of the film and TV community in my state. They have these film industry parties a few times a year featuring short film screenings, lectures, project pitches, booze and food – fun for networking and socializing.
So in Dec MCA-I were having their holiday party in the next town over, so I decided to join and go check it out. I met about 20 interesting people including narrators, animators, shooters, actors, one wingnut who was there for the booze, and about a half dozen people who I had either known in college, worked with previously or knew of. One person had even read an article I wrote in the COW magazine. Perhaps it would be of interest to other readers:
https://magazine.creativecow.net/article/surgical-video-the-cutting-edgeIn fact, the current president of the chapter was a professor of mine from college. Freshman year I took an intro to theater class with him. Then Senior year we had a single camera production class, in which we shot a 40 minute MOW style show. There are numerous amusing and educational anecdotes from that experience. Here is the first part of the edited show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyhDlsCyvhwSo overall the MCA-I membership has proven interesting. They have monthly events around the state, including one this month about using online video to promote your business.
Mike Cohen
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I got these from a friend of a friend of a friend:
“I want the final video on a DVD”
“Ok, a DVD you can watch on your tv?”
“You can watch a DVD on a tv?”
“In other words using a standalone DVD player attached to a tv.”
“Yeah, that. And can it work on a computer without a DVD player?”
“No, we would have to do a CD.”
“Oh, what’s the difference?”___________
“Hi, I am having trouble viewing the videos on your website.”
Ok, what’s the trouble?”
“Well, there’s no sound.”
“I see, can you adjust the volume on your speakers?”
“You need speakers?”_____________
“Did you get the video I sent?”
“Yes, however we asked for videos in DVD video or MPEG-2 format.”
“Oh, so you want this on a DVD?”
“yes please.”
(a few days later a DVD arrives containing the same WMV file that was previously delivered on a CD” -
I don’t see your editing reel on the COW reels section. Show us what you’ve got.
Mike Cohen
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Yesterday I watched two snippets of broadcast news and now I remember why I don’t watch broadcast news.
1. A CNN “reporter/commentator” was interviewing Jack Hannah about the tragedy at Sea World in Orlando and she would not rest until she got Jack to say something bad about the whale. But our old pal Jack Hannah actually criticized the media and would not take the bait.
2. The live coverage of the Healthcare Summit at the White House. The MSNBC coverage consisted of a few minutes of actual live coverage, followed by commentary with the Washington insiders, pretty much making for an unwatchable program.
A newish thing we are seeing was also featured.
For example, Chris Dodd says, “Mr President, I think the real problem we have here is that there are not enough apples and oranges available for the poor. We need more fruit subsidies.” (he did not really say that)
Then immediately the video goes into a picture in picture and another graphic flies in with text that reads
•Dodd: Not enough fruit
•Obama Prefers Doritos, sourceMeanwhile the ticker is running at the bottom – they have stopped the continuous ticker – they now fade out the headline before it finishes its journey, and they fade in another one. And you have stock updates top right and lots of logos around the edges, so the content only takes up 30% of the screen. That’s why tv’s are getting so big, to make room for all the graphics.
So in summary, TV news is dying. I dare not watch my local news because the weather report is always wrong and the local reporting is pretty poor.
Mike
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Hmm, I wish I had bought those used ENG trucks when I had the chance. I coulda been in da pictures!
Mike Cohen
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Paul,
I don’t think any of us were calling you “dumb and stupid” – we like to have a good time on this forum. But we also don’t like to see people taken advantage of nor let themselves be in situations that are beyond their own control.
You got responses from Zelin, Biscardi and Wargo, IMHO the three guys from whom you want to take advice in this business.
The standard rates are what you charge for your own services. That’s the simple answer.
When calculating your rate, make sure you take into account your actual cost (labor), your overhead (heat, lights, computers, accountant, gumball machine) and profit (money to reinvest in the company).
Mike Cohen
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Don’t take this the wrong way, but “you are in NYC doing multimedia and you don’t know what you should be charging?!?!?”
People often come to this forum asking one of a few things:
1 – I am doing XYZ – what would you charge?
2 – I am getting screwed – what should I do?
3 – I am getting paid X to do Y and I think I should be getting Z – what do I do?
4 – What are standard rates for X, Y and Z?
The common answers are as follows:
1 – What would I charge? I would charge a rate that incorporates my costs, overhead and profit. If you don’t know those numbers you need to find out.
2 – How to avoid 2? Have a contract and spell out what you need to and get a signature. And get some money up front. If you are already up to your neck in number 2, then ask a specific question.
3 – Once you commit to a price, it is hard to go back for more unless your contract has such a clause. Be honest if you are in over your head.
4 – Standard rates do not exist. I recently got three quotes for the same job in the same city and they were very different. Rates are based upon experience, skills, costs and what the market will bear. If you are in NY, the market will bear more than in Kansas City.
The point of being in business is to get a decent rate for 1, not to find yourself doing number 2, to know the Z in 3 so as to avoid the X, and to know the X,the Y and the Z of 4 so you can get your number 1.
Mike Cohen
PS – It is worth reiterating – try to avoid number 2.
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The first time I went to capture HDV in Win 7 I couldn’t do it. I could capture DV over firwire no problem. I had to disable and re-enable the firewire port several times and that did the trick.
I think this thread helped me, or at least pointed me in the right direction:
https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/3/899315
Mike Cohen