[Nick Griffin]

[Mark Suszko] “Don’t buy the most expensive tape, buy the medium-quality tape”

OK It’s finally happened. On this I disagree with Mark. The tape is the least expensive thing on the shoot, so why skimp? When shooting with our XL-2 I’ve never used anything other than Panasonic, Master-Grade AY-DVM63MQ tapes. I’ve never had a lick of trouble with them.

I think the idea of starting with used equipment is universally a good one. I also think that for just starting out, and the kind of stuff that Jody wants to do, an SD camera is fine. And a used SD cam is FAR more affordable than even the least expensive of the HDV cameras.

My next camera will be HD — after renting for the past 5 HD projects we’re ready to own. It’s also becoming increasingly clear that there are fewer and fewer places willing to repair our trusty Sony Beta SP camera. That and the only clients who still want SD projects are those who use rear-screen projection as part of a show which integrates live cams. Here the cost of HD cams, HD switching, playback and projection is still too costly. That’s likely to change and gradually come down, but it may take a few years.

BUT… for someone just starting out and in a smaller town too, it’s a lot more marketable to have lights, a decent mic (or two), tripod, etc. than to have an HDV or HD camera and not be able to afford little else.

Also, for what it’s worth, I’ve been using Macs since late 1984 (yes — the year they came out) and only went into video with macs in the mid nineties when it became possible to get something approaching on-line quality. I have, but seldom use, Final Cut Pro because I find myself much faster with Media 100. That said, for someone just starting out, there’s not a great deal of difference between most NLE software systems. Once you learn one they’re all pretty much the same in principal. (IMHO.)

[Nick Griffin]

Wayne-
Do you have a studio with soundproofing and a lighting grid? If anything I’m inclined to see them as more of a potential resource than as a competitive threat. And judging by their “sample PSA” I don’t think many of us should feel threatened in the least.

Here, one county away in Maryland, TV studio space is tough to come by. There are the TV stations and, I believe a couple of production company facilities, but other than that, not much else. Flite III used to have a fairly impressive, Hollywood-class soundstage, but they closed a few years back.

So unless they’re actively going after the same clientele you are, it doesn’t seem like you should have too much to worry about. But yes, I can see how it’s a little irksome to have an organization supported by our tax dollars in the same marketplace.

[Nick Griffin]

Jody-

We communicated directly on questions brought up in your post and I encouraged you to ask the group, so much of what I have to say will be redundant for you, but hopefully good for the discussion as a whole. (See, that Mark Suszko is one smart fellow — Artist videos — what a concept! And Lindeboom… he’s no slouch either when it comes to bright ideas.)

You mentioned wanting to “break into” the business and I have suggested that you are unlikely to be able to gain an entry-level position in a business which attracts so many in their twenties. Not saying that it’s impossible, just extremely unlikely and, in the long run, probably more difficult than the end result would justify. So what’s the alternative? Stay on the path you’re on and ramp it up. Hire yourself and get out and sell.

Priced reasonably and offered as a completed package there are any number of businesses, organizations and even individuals who will pay for videos. For example, your animation of stills could be used to make “Hall of Fame” / “This is Your Life” pieces for your local Chamber of Commerce, for civic organizations, and likely for families wanting to commemorate a special birthday.

These days you can’t rely on one thing. As stated above, you have an obviously broad skill set, so use it and push it further. Spend nights and weekends getting your software skills to the next level.

I too suggest that you work on your graphics & titles. Capture things you like off TV, be they spots or news graphics and work on re-creating them just to get a sense of their visual balance and alternative ways of seeing and building things. Do the same with your web site design work. Try to move beyond Front Page, as I suspect the reason so many things done in it look alike are its severe limitations. Along those lines…

It may be very worth your while to take (or teach) a community college course, if only for the college ID. That would enable you to purchase many software products at an “education” price — in the case of Adobe products that’s about 80% off.

Welcome to the world of posting on the COW. I’m sure you’ll get a wealth of good ideas, along with some of the best tutorials in the business.

[Nick Griffin]

[Sebastian Alvarez] “You are talking about a production center that probably has tens of thousands of dollars in equipment.”

I’m pretty sure that Walt’s facility has just a tad more than “tens of thousands of dollars in equipment.”

Sebastian – as Bob Zelin said, “Welcome to business.” It only works when you have the correct match between what you can invest and what you can charge.

[Nick Griffin]

Or… if you are an employee of the entity to whom you are donating you may very well be able to take employment hours and donate them. As a self-employed individual I am not (I’m told) able to take any form of tax deduction for my time.

It will be interesting to see what we both find out.

[Nick Griffin]

Possibly the difference is one of locale. I’m told that in the US I cannot deduct from my taxes for any professional time I choose to donate. If you are in the US Sebastian perhaps the “donation form” has no tax significance and is for just that, a donation. Then again, if you’re NOT in the US, the laws may be very different.

Just to be sure, I’ll ask my accountants again.

[Nick Griffin]

Sorry to be a wet blanket, and… I’m not an accountant, nor a tax attorney, BUT… I don’t think you can write off your own labor when donated. You can write off things like mileage, tape costs, etc. — things that cost you money. Please check with a professional tax preparer. This was the advice given by my accountant.

[Nick Griffin]

So that we can be part of their much larger health plan we joined the local chapter of the Printing and Graphic Arts Association. One of the services they offer is the ability to show other members companies with whom you are having “collection problems.”

I’m not an attorney, (but probably could have paid for law school with the number of times I’ve said that here) so my un-educated guess is that this kind of “blacklist” is safe from litigation because it is stating only highly factual information — who owes money over long periods of time.

The biggest problem with the true grinders is that they typically dispute that monies are owed. That and the fact that you have to have a crystal-clear paper trail of what’s been done and the truly talented grinders seem to have a way of making that nearly impossible. (NOT that a certain software company in suburban DC ever managed to spin me so strongly with their grinding that I would have paid THEM just to be done with their project.)

[Nick Griffin]

[Tim Kolb] “Well…Media Batch is the Cadillac delivery method”

Please! It’s the BMW delivery method. Actually in its elegance, closer to the Apple method of delivery.

The “notes” feature on Media Batch creates a great environment for exchanging information and the ability for everyone to leave specific markers and draw on the video is wonderfully straightforward.

[Tim Kolb] “can’t live without indoor plumbing? Hmmm…I should check that out.”

Oh that explains soooo much. Thanks for sharing, Tim.

As to the rest of your post, you are right on the money. (So to speak.) It also reminds me how fortunate I am to have a highly B-2-B clientele who have far more interest in their own business than the techniques and details of my business. I try to avoid people who want to “direct” as part of their job as “Senior Vice President in charge of Marketing and making vendors crazy.”

[Nick Griffin]

Here’s my opinion and a fairly good thread from a little more than a year ago:
https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/17/858547

Now, a year later, I can say that if anything I’m MORE positive about MediaBatch. Like cell phones, FedEx, even indoor plumbing… hard to imagine life without it.