[Simon Roughan]

Ahhhh… I have it, thanks

[Simon Roughan]

Hmmmm, nearly. But I need the straight pieces of pipe to bend organicly round a curve. Can you suggest a way to set it up so?
Thanks again for your help…

[Simon Roughan]

Thanks Guys, very helpful!

[Simon Roughan]

Thanks for the reply, but no, thats not it. The disapearing polygons are in a totally different area, well away from the selection tool…

Anyone else?

[Simon Roughan]

This is really doing my head in. Doesnt matter which font, or which codec, even a pic sequence…everything with text and alpha looks blocky.
Weird!

[Simon Roughan]

Actually Scott, I was being sarcastic. Im talking about a principle.

[Simon Roughan]

What do you think? Both.

[Simon Roughan]

Thanks for your answer Mike.
What I probably didn’t make absolutely clear, because unlike some posters here Im not too keen to splash around my firms name on this forum concerning a negative topic, is that when I say we are a “Cable” station, its probably not what you guys in the states know as “Cable”. We are officially known here as a Regional Station. We have 4,5 million people in our “Cable” zone, and on sattelite, the whole of continental europe. We have among our customers big international companys that you would all know. We have the local news window for a big national channel, and according to our (and their) research marketing we have approx. 400,000 viewers every night.

We dont produce crap. I have never, ever produced an ad for a local company with their kids in a speaking part. I use only professional actors from agencies, or local theaters. We are talking about a totally differant ball park. I do quite a lot of work in a producers role for our industry films, and sometimes when I have the time, NIFS and other stuff (weather pics etc) for the news. I do have quite a lot of clout here, and am known to the boss as one of his “better” workers. I love my job, no doubt about it. A lot of people in vid production would kill for it.

My problem was, and still is, how to deal with what I find to be a lazy sales team, who have slipped into a rut that they can make a quicker turnover, selling ads for air-time, with little or no production. I make a client something sexy with Cinema 4D say, and they take it to the next customer and say, “here we make this stuff for 999, including 2 weeks on air.” I say “hang on, you cant give this stuff away like that, it has lots of market worth”. They say “Well you didnt have to leave your office, the software is paid for, youre getting paid anyway, whats the problem?” And its true.
Mark suggested above getting the sales dept into the thinking of their provision for the cost of production. Believe me, Ive tried that. Anyone read that book “Freakonomics”? Its exactly like the example they give with real estate sales people. They wont work harder for the extra few thousand, cause for their provision, it means just peanuts.
I think what I really might have to do, is to negotiate with the boss to get in on the provision payment scheme on top of my salary. Then I wouldnt care so much anymore. Then I really could be a whore!

But seriously, my biggest concern is to the whole market; that we are killing it with this way of selling. We are cheapening the worth of the product. Grinner said above he loves to see shite ads on cable, cause he sees a potential client. Its actually the other way around. We are the ones winning clients. How do you guys feel about seeing shit-hot, kick arse ads on cable, and knowing they were produced for a dumped price that you as small business people could never, ever compete with? And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the whole thing in a nutshell.

I will request a meeting in the next couple of weeks with the big boss, and the sales manager, and talk this whole theme through.
But you know what the biggest hurdle for this whole thing is? Last year was the best revenue ever from sales of advertising. Even with the finance crisis etc etc. The bottom line is a bitch to argue with.
Believe you me, in a purely narcissistic way of looking at it, I’m doing great. My job is secure, Im doing what I love, but I cant help but think that there is something here fundamentally wrong. Perhaps if enough of you say “Dont worry, youre doing alright, just go with it” it would ease my mind a bit. But I just cant help thinking its wrong.

This is the last long rant from me on this topic. Thanks again to everyone for taking the time to discuss it.
Simon

[Simon Roughan]

Thanks Mark, constuctive and productive advice.
Lots of your ideas have been tried already, a few not. I will definately be pushing for a updated reel with examples from both ends of the spectrum with associated costs spelled out.
Again, thanks alot.

[Simon Roughan]

Wow, Grinner. Such venom!
I was originally asking for advice on how to deal with a sales dept. that has no idea of the production process, and doesnt want to know. Just as long as quality spots keep flowing off the conveyor belt. I dont believe we should be giving work away for free.
Your answer was all cable spots are crap, and a waste of time for the customer.
Quote “You’d be surprised at how many people still think advertising on local television is somehow beneficial in this ADD, tivo world. If somebody doesn’t hold them by the hand and explain they are paying for folks to pee, hit the fridge, or fast forward through their dollars, it just doesn’t dawn on them.”
So basically your advice was, or so it seems to me, is to tell a customer not to advertise on cable at all, as its a waste of time and money.

An youre a moderator on a business forum.