[Shvr]

DVDit PE is a fairly low-end app – may not be possible. Why not just edit all you movies together in Premiere in the order you require then author in DVDit and use chapter stops for the beginning of each segment then set the movie as first play and loop it.

[Shvr]

Your workflow looks good. ON a 24 minute doc, you could probably use your built in Mainconcept MPEG encoder (assuming you are using Premiere and or Encore) and set it at HQ with a decent bitrate and that should do you just fine.

Cinemmacraft SP is excellent, but why spend the money when you probably have a decent encoder built into you NLE and authoring apps?

[Shvr]

I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the shot. If it’s a good shot (and good shots can be hard to come by) that really pertains to the subject matter at hand, then it’s worth keeping. Remember, their is such a thing as fair use.

Obviously, you need to make you own decisions, but I personally resist the copyright paranoia when I have the sense that the shot is legit and really helps me make a point.

Of course, if you were talking about using Batman music and close ups of the Batman Crest and really making Batman stylized segment out of that shot, then that is clearly a different matter. But if this is simply incedental – a kid playing in a costume – then I would keep it.

Fuzzy blocks and pixelated faces are not pretty things and really distract from the content as everyone wonders what the hell are you hiding there – avoid them is possible.

[Shvr]

The other issue, not mentioned, in order to edit various scenes together, you would need to circumvent copyright technology which is against the law independent of the actual copyright issues.

I would suggest the preacher simply show one or two scenes straight off the dvds, putting the fair use burden on his shoulders and leaving you out of it.

[Shvr]

Unfornately, this is a sign of the times when 3 chip cameras are relatively cheap and everyone and his or her brother or sister has a an NLE set up on their computer. The cost barriers to set up shop as a video production business have dropped considerably (unless you are talking HD.) This means more competition at cheaper prices, because their is always some newbie who either doesn’t understand the true cost of running a business or is willing to shoot cheap just to get the experience. This also happened back when I shot 35mm and 16mm film, but to a much lesser degree probably because the barriers to market where much higher and anyone not charging enough went broke almost immediately.

When responding to prospects, I use some basic weeding techniques.

1) Understand who your client is and what you think they can spend: I always avoid public schools both elementary and high school unless you are dealing with the State or sometimes the District (if it’s a large city for instance.) In general, however, you would be dealing with the PTA or some related organization who simply have no money and really do not require a high production value. For these types of clients, I have a few lower cost associates that I will send them to. Colleges and professional non-profits are a different story, and often have a budget to work with.

2) I know alot of people do not agree with this, but I will sometimes size up a client by asking what they have in mind and then throwing out an educated, often inflated, non-binding estimate verbally. I can generally gauge their seriousness by the reaction. Based on that, I will formalize the proposal process.

3) And finally, realize you are always going to have some work related to quotes and proposals that do not turn into jobs – it’s part of your overhead and needs to be factored in when quoting prospects. To minimize this, you need to network with other businesses and start getting referrals which come with a certain level of trust.

Didn’t mean to rattle on, but thats just some of the things I do.

Sean

[Shvr]

Thanks for all the great advice in this thread. I’m cutting and pasting some of the tips for future reference.

The producer came over and dropped off a money order for the complete invoice amount and I kindly handed over the tapes. I explained how the Premiere project files would be useless unless he had a duplicate file system set up on the next editing computer, but, not surprisingly, he didn’t understand that.

He was not courteous and had to get some final digs in about how “unprofessional” I behaved and so on. I bit my tongue, only saying that I did my job at an agreed at price – and that’s that.

Has he left, he warned me to “report my earnings” because he sure was going to. I said “don’t forget to send me a 1099.” And that was that.

Thanks again everyone for chiming in and lending moral support.

Sean

[Shvr]

I spoke to the producer this A.M. and I told him that nothing will be given to the courier until I am paid in full. He said “Of Course.” The courier will have my ‘first payment’ with him. I told him that this first payment must be for the full invoice amount, not a cent less or nothing gets turned over.

Well it got ugly – the producer claims that I misrepresented my abilities as an editor and that the first cut is useless and not what we discussed at all. I said editing is a process, and we can re-cut to make this film work and he’s welcome to sit in my suite with me to fine cut the film. He again said that my rate is too high and that I committed fraud by misrepresenting my abilities.

I don’t know what he means by fraud. I gave him references and showed him my previous work and he agreed to the contract price. Was he expecting a emmy / oscar winning editor for 80.00 / hr?

He is still demanding a rate reduction by 50% or he’ll pursue legal means, claiming I comitted fraud. I told him that he is the one committing fraud by not paying me my contracted amount and a check is not delivered within 24 hours, not only will he not get the tapes and EDL etc, I will pursue a legal course myself.

So do I get a lawyer over a 2500.00 invoice or do I take him to small claims?

[Shvr]

[Nick Griffin] “And remember: JUST GET PAID.”

Oh boy. Now he wants to renegotiate everything, including the money he owes me for the work I’ve done already. I had a feeling this was going to happen since he basically fired me after I sent him my invoice.

I don’t know how I get involved with these types, but I do. Any strategies? I’m holding on to everything to this is sorted out (although he has a rough cut on DVD already – but I doubt he can use that.)

My contract with him clearly states my hourly rate – so legally I’m on solid ground money wise – but can I legally hang onto tapes until he pays up? He’s sending a courier by tomorrow morning…

[Shvr]

[Randy] “Questions like that start to emerge when clients want everything that they supposedly “paid” for. Are you billing the correct amount in order for the client to get everything they want at the end of a project or if they decide to go somewhere else to finish it.”

Well, I though my rate of 80/hr was good enough, but I didn’t anticipate having to wrap everything up and put a bow on it for this guy. I think the mistake I made was to work for hire, with a generic contract that simply states I’m an “at will” employee: “an employee

[Shvr]

[Ron Lindeboom] “It must be a FINISHED work or else (chances are great) you have violated your license. That’s a line I would not allow anyone to push me over.”

Good point. I’m going to draw the line at supplying my music library and also my 3rd party plug-ins for Premiere Pro which he also asked if he could “borrow” for the duration of the rest of the edit.

I’m now convinced the producer is simply trying to cut costs since all this happened just a day after I submitted my first invoice to him. He probably has found some kid to cut the doc for 20.00 an hour.

I’m tempted to go back to the producer and offer my services for a reduced fee – I could use the work, but something in my gut is telling me just be done with this job and move on. What to do….