[Nick Griffin]

I have a sixteen year old daughter who wants nothing more than to grow up to be a journalist. While her story may be coming a little late for Elizabeth to benefit from it, perhaps others might.

At age 14 my daughter began writing for her school’s newspaper. The next year she was made one of its editors. She then extended her writing skills onto the web on numerous sites. One political site in particular named her author of the month earlier this year.

Both last year and this year she has attended the “Images and Voices of Hope” conference. This is a large number of journalists working in both print and on-air, plus several high level media executives discussing new approaches to national and global issues. As the youngest person there, her first year, she was exceptionally well received, invited to attend the board’s mid-year planning meeting for this year’s conference and, probably of greatest significance, made friends with a few unbelievably high profile newspaper and TV people.

One of our local TV stations has a once monthly, half hour teen-hosted news show. My daughter submitted an application and (surprise surprise) was able to include a letter of recommendation from the IVOH’s President, herself a past on-air talent for CBS News and later a segment producer for 20-20. Needless to say my daughter easily made it through the hundreds of other applicants to the interview phase and was one of seven new kids brought onto the program.

In addition to writing and doing stand-up delivery of per own packages, when one of the third year participants was out sick she was invited to serve as that episode’s producer, timing out segments, structuring the show, and cueing the on-air people over the IFB from the control room. This fall she will begin her second year on the show.

Now obviously we have the case of an extremely proud father here, but my daughter already has the start of a killer resume for getting into the business — and she’s just 16 years old. The point is the importance of developing a foundation in writing and story development, getting to know people who can help you learn and advance, starting young and pushing hard toward your objectives. And frankly if you want to be on-air, it doesn’t hurt to be quite good looking.

(Proud parent diatribe off.)

[Nick Griffin]

[Steve Martin] ”
Do you guys typically charge full or discounted day rates for travel days.”

Steve –
And isn’t THAT one of the bigger issues many of us have to deal with. In the past I have often fallen on the side of, “Well if they could hire somebody locally am I not putting myself at a competitive disadvantage by charging for something the other guys don’t have to?”

These days I regard travel as something I try to get at 50% of normal day rate. Especially when its justified by being a specialist in an area that the local guys are unlikely to know. “Try” is the operative word since when push comes to shove that always seems to be one of the areas that is cut first. Realistically it often comes down to how much I want the individual job and how much the client wants us to be the ones to do it.

While that is negotiable, expenses (air, auto mileage) are always charged at 100%, but without mark-up.

That’s how we handle it, but different strokes for different folks.

[Nick Griffin]

First, I think Steve’s comments were excellent.

To what you already have I would add editing, color grading, etc “to first cut” 8 hours, additional hours for client requested changes at $X/hr.

Also, are you getting any portion up-front? 1/3rd is normal so you can at least cover your crew costs.

[Nick Griffin]

At the risk of making this seem complicated, here’s the left side of the spreadsheet we use to develop pricing:

Pre-Production
Meeting & planning, Pre-scripting
Shot list development & finalization of scripts
Location Scouting & site coordination

Production (Field or Studio Shooting)
Director / Cameraman
Producer / Senior Grip
Grip, Junior
PA / Script Supervisor
Equipment Rental (Lighting / Jib / Dolly)
XDCam Media
Actors (Union, On-Camera, Speaking)
Actors (non-union, non-speaking)
Stylist / Hair / Makeup
Props
Wardrobe
Location Fees
Airfare
Transportation & Lodging
Crew Meals / Day
Travel days

Post-Production
Audio
AFTRA Voiceover Talent
Voice-over recording session
Prod Music, small audience, no net, X min
Production Music, Unlimited use*, X min
Sweetening of Audio from Video (& Folly)

Video
Window burns (no one has asked for them in YEARS)
Transfer & Shot Logging
Non- Linear Editing (Suite & Editor/Director)
Off-Line Efx & Titling (Opens/Closes/etc)
Producer (seldom used at this stage)
Master to Digital Files
Mastering Disk Stock

Then we present each of the tasks, Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production as sub-totals so the individual costs aren’t picked at. This is a tiny portion of the standard budgeting sheets used by larger productions but it works for us and our clients.

[Nick Griffin]

I want to know what restaurant in Baltimore you work in. Hopefully you’re making a lot more than egg sandwiches. If you don’t want to go public with the info add email or a phone number to your web page.

The revised version is MUCH improved. Still an un-even edit or two, but much, much better. And I agree with Mark (as usual). Close-ups and ECU’s are the way to go and yours are working.

[Nick Griffin]

How do we communicate with clients? Any way they want.

New business often comes to us as a lead we need to call. Sometimes the call comes from the prospective client, but rarely.

In a couple of cases in recent years I’ve been approached in person at trade conferences where we have a fairly high profile.

Contact with present and on-going clients can be in-person meetings at their offices or ours, but more often then not it’s by phone. Sometimes email, especially those in different time zones. Media Batch software has greatly cut back on clients feeling like they need to come see things in our place to give “notes.”

Then there are some people, actually an increasing number these days, that prefer to receive and send short text messages. These are best for things like setting up times for phone calls or requests for small things like, “I need a copy of your ____ division’s logo in an .eps format.”Or from them, “In meeting now. Will call after 2.” Or, “Meet at freight dock, not front door.”

Each form of communication has its strengths and I’m not sure we could ever function again without each of them. For God’s sake, GET a decent texting phone! You will wonder how you lived without it.

Oh… and there’s Apple’s relatively recent “Facetime” very simple and very inexpensive visual conferencing. Have only had one mildly joking request to use this, but politely didn’t accept. Mostly because I don’t feel like taking the time and resources to set-up the lighting, audio and background to get to a standard with which I’d be comfortable. But I see that on the horizon.

[Nick Griffin]

Basically what Noah said. If you are identifying yourself as part of a company, on a company-related job there’s just a form to fill out and you SHOULD be good to go.

What you DO need to be aware of is whether or not your insurance covers your gear OUTSIDE the US. Most, I believe, does not. Check with your insurance agent and add this coverage as necessary.

My main concern shooting in — a border town of — Mexico was security. Luckily the client was willing and able to provide transportation and a couple of guys who I was glad were on my side and not vice versa.

[Nick Griffin]

[Al Ken] “What is the best way to place a wireless Lav mic on woman with a dress”

Gee, and here I thought the obvious answer was with great care.
🙂

Seriously though, is a adding a podium with a mounted mic out of the question?

[Nick Griffin]

Six thoughts:

1) If you are going to be doing actual consulting then there is an expectation that you are very familiar with today’s tools, at least the ones in use by the people to whom you are offering advice in exchange for money.

2) 15 years away is a LONG time in the “dog years” of technology. For example, saying, “Well in the old days we’d build a four way split screen on our multichannel ADO…” is NOT cool, let alone worth paying for. Versus, “Bring in a kicker light to hit the side of your subject’s face to further pull them out of the background and for a friendlier look make sure the key to fill ratio is between a half to even as low as a quarter stop of difference.” The former is radically outdated knowledge, even if still done some places. The later, on the other hand, has changed little in 15 years. (Oh, except now they might be lighting using LED and Flo instruments.)

3) Charge a reasonable but not inexpensive price to start out. $60, $75, maybe $100 an hour depending on your market and how valuable the information you have to impart. But then be prepared to no-charge parts of your time if you feel that you’re not adding much or are unfamiliar with the tools and solutions. Your clients will respect you when you say you don’t know something and appreciate you more when you do.

4) Which gets to, get your butt in gear and learn everything you can or stick strictly to the areas where you have expertise.

5) It’s a pain, but good consultants write reports and especially prepare written recommended expenditure budgets. Do it. It makes you a pro, not just another schmo.

6) The budget that your consulting clients have, or don’t have, is NOT your problem. Tell them up front what your time costs and lay it onto them to figure out how much of you they can afford. Get used to saying things like, “Gee you say you only have $750 yet this is going to take a lot more than 10 hours. How do see us solving this problem?”

Best of luck. Hope this helps some and it works out for you.

[Nick Griffin]

[Mark Suszko] “In every case, it was a disaster… nothing but a huge drain on their personal wealth.”

This is pretty common, but often instead of disaster it results in extended periods of earning less income than one otherwise would have in a “job” job.

I first identified this in others, in this case operators of SCUBA shops and dive operations. They, in the overwhelming majority of cases (and back several years ago when I was analyzing this as part of a marketing program), weren’t businessmen. They were dive enthusiasts who thought it would be a fun way to earn a living. Some did. At the time I only knew of one who figured out how to get rich.

Then again who here in the COW thought, “Gee, I could get an MBA and go to work for Goldman Sachs -or- I could go into film, video, audio production and make even more money.” I’m as guilty of making this questionable choice as anyone and am reminded of it by seeing former classmates who went to Wall Street or into high priced law firms for their “job” jobs.

Some of us earn a really good living in production. Most earn just a living. Some go broke. Such is the nature of following one’s interests (and talents) rather than following one’s greed.