[Nick Griffin]

Wow. Great stuff and uncharacteristically well scripted and produced for a real estate video. Especially like the time lapse. Certainly not an inexpensive thing to do, but does a phenominal job showing the house in its environment.

Tim’s earlier post said a lot of great things so there’s not much I can add except to say that a shooter I used to work with told me that his secret and competitive advantage on real estate videos was that he had and always used a dolly. Dolly and/ Stedicam movement does a lot more to convey the sense of visiting and touring the house than can a fixed camera.

Now a question about the house. How old is this video? Is the house still on the market. I could really use a place in the Bay area. That is if I actually had Tim Wilson kind of money.

[Nick Griffin]

Bruce –
Let me give you a new number one. “Find out the budget” can drop to number two.

1. There is NOTHING wrong with making money.

You don’t have to apologize for it or think you’re ever doing something wrong or shady by having a mark-up on any goods or services which pass through you. It’s called being in business.

What you DO need to do is accept this and therefore be up front about it. Our standard letter of agreement spells out that we mark-up goods and services which we purchase “on your behalf (Mr. Client)”. Granted it’s in the middle of a lot of other language regarding all aspects of our engagement and I don’t make a practice of saying things like “You know, if you bought your own camera tapes you could save the 30% we mark them up.”

Our mark-ups vary by item and, frankly by client. The standard in the advertising world is 17.65% (So that when 15% is deducted from the total, you’re back at the original net cost.) But even in that world the mark-up on some items like printing can be 25%, 33%, 50%.

The important thing to remember is that wherever possible you have to add value. By providing the crew and handling the payment and by having the tapes and the props and everything you need for the shoot or the session, you are providing a service for the client — you are making it easier for them. That’s why it’s OK to have a mark-up. And you know what? The convenience store a mile from where I live can charge more for a gallon of milk (have a higher mark-up) because they are providing the service of being open at midnight and being closer than the grocery store which has cheaper prices.

[Nick Griffin]

David –

I would agree if this were a spot for a commercial entity. I would also agree if there was some storyline being put forth which would reflect poorly on those whose images are used. BUT… this is a PSA for a school system, right?? Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t consider this situation all that seriously. Certainly not serious enough to bring anyone’s “integrity” into question.

(And yes, on my own shoots I routinely get releases signed and always try not to take any chances.)

[Nick Griffin]

David and Mark are correct but the real issue for old photos where tracking down the subjects is a near impossibility comes down to luck, or Karma as David puts it. Will you be lucky enough that the spots will air for a period of time without someone coming out of the woodwork complaining about not having given permission for this use.

The bottom line is that, assuming you didn’t defame anyone in your spot, if someone complains you’ll simply have to pull the spot or edit out the complainer. I’m not an attorney (yada, yada, yada) but I believe that’s all someone could demand and they’d never get damages out of this. The party who stands to be hurt the most is your client who either loses the spot or has to foot the bill for the re-edit. TELL THEM ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM UP FRONT. And TELL THEM IN WRITING.

Getting back to luck, my guess is the chances of generating a complaint are small and this might be a risk worth taking. (But I’m not an attorney, yada, yada.)

Perhaps one creative solution would be to get a male and female headshot released and then retouch those onto everyone in the group pic. Could be kind of humorous.

[Nick Griffin]

Don’t know who originally said this, but…

“The problem with political jokes is that they get elected.”

[Nick Griffin]

Mark Suzko wrote: “The problem is connecting the needy to the need.”

Mark, you’re right on the money here. I agree fully. If you’re looking to get into the rental business then the best entry is, as Mark points out, the high end decks. But then the initial capitalization cost will be high. Maybe if the cost is high, suddenly it doesn’t seem like such a good idea?

[Nick Griffin]

The vast majority of the legalities discussed here pertain to US and European law and best practices. But Perheron didn’t say what part of the world he’s working in. This is not to say that any of us should condone trampling on copyrights or ignoring ownership, but there are countries where this is so routine it can be a non-issue. It’s admirable that Perheron wants to do it the right and legal way but, in some places, the need to do so may not be much of a factor. Sad, but true.

Yea, $1,500 doesn’t sound like much money. But again it depends where you are working. And while there is something to be said for getting started, don’t expect this client at any point in the future to EVER think this kind of production is worth more than $1,500. That’s why when you’re starting out it’s good to keep trading up clients, using each job as a stepping stone to where you want to be.

[Nick Griffin]

Mark Suzko wrote: “I think the doctor and lawyer examples are at once the best and worst examples you could give.”

Mark, Mark, Mark. Yes obviously if I had a need for criminal attorney (God forbid) or an Oncologist (doubly God forbid) I’d be seeking out a specialist. But the majority of my clients view the services I provide much the way as they do their General Practioner physician or attorney. They’re seeing the service(s) I provide as filling their need for media-based communication. I doubt that anyone gives it too much thought beyond that because understanding the details of what I do for them is not their primary concern. Their concern is that it GET done with an understood level of quality, at an agreed upon cost and within the alotted timeframe.

If they want a Star Wars’ quality of green screen-matted laser sword fighting as part of their sales video, they should assume that I’ll have to bring in resources. They’re not calling Aharon Rabinowitz or Andrew Kramer directly because, again, the details are not their primary concern. Is your business much different?

[Nick Griffin]

First and foremost I am NOT trying to defend any amateurs who take jobs that they haven’t the knowledge to complete and then look for help once they determine the limits of their own knowledge. Not good. Not cool and certainly not people who are likely to be hired again — especially if their client reads the COW.

But I think Unzarjones is kidding himself if he thinks this doesn’t ocurr in other professions. I like the idea that my doctor would look outside of his own knowledge base — just wouldn’t like it if he’d first promised me that he was an expert in a particular area. If I ask my lawyer about a particular situation I expect him to take some time on Lexus-Nexus and/or in the law library getting more familiar with the specifics of an area of the law.

While asking how to perform the basics once landing the job is ridiculous, is it wrong to look for alternative techniques while in the middle of a job? If I remember some technique that I’ve seen and go into the After Effects forum to ask how it’s done have I misled my client or am I simply looking for ways to extend and vary the skill set I already have?

This isn’t black and white, right vs. wrong. Presenting someone else’s demo reel as your own IS black and white (and wrong, wrong, wrong on so many levels). But looking to expand one’s horizons whether at the beginning, middle or end of a job isn’t. I’ve been hired to deliver an end result which reflects a visual style different (and hopefully better) than what’s done by my competitors. The more resources I bring to bear to get there, the better.

Now as to the COW being a public place where friends, family, co-workers, competitors, and even clients can read your deepest personal thoughts… well DUH, think about that when you’re writing them. (And if a certain softare company south of LA but north of the Mexican border wants to look here to learn that I think they’re a bunch of morons — more power to them. And no it’s not you Jim… it’s the other putz.)

[Nick Griffin]

I believe that Flip4Mac is $30 (or so). QT Pro? Think it must have come with something I have -or- wasn’t needed for me to take .wmv files over to QT.

BTW, for what it’s worth I believe the free Flip4Mac won’t convert anything longer than 2 minutes so I HAD to buy the Pro version. But at $30, whose gonna complain?