[Steve Kownacki]

Hi Daniel
another video shows the unit and the projector, pretty cool mount with extreme keystone correction.

Steve

[Steve Kownacki]

Hi Zen
Why not get the manufacturers name of the sensor and call them up? I’d also check into how the whole alarm system works. You wouldn’t want to compromise the system and have liability for anything should something go wrong somewhere else in the facility.

And remember to tell your lighting guys to keep the hot lights away from the sprinkler heads – that would be disastrous.

Steve

[Steve Kownacki]

Not to belabor the issue, I feel these discussions provide insight for all the readers for future situations.

I see you’re in Alaska which could be an issue, but aside from price, we (all on the forum) are not just video people, but solution providers. If a client really needs it, I can get to the airport in 30 minutes by the 9:30PM cutoff and toss packages over the fence to FedEx and they’d have it Saturday. This costs a bundle. I will do what it takes.

But you are right in the negotiation of the price. Stuff like this is factored on the actual manhours needed, machine time, is the machine barred from making any other money, time of day the request is made, when they need it, but most importantly: what does that client mean to me in the future.

I think the numbers floating around now are a “5% client retention can mean 65-125% increase in profit.” That’s HUGE. Finding new work is tough. Keep ’em happy; if $100 of time now means $10K in 3 months… no brainer.

Steve

[Steve Kownacki]

Billable yes, but in what fashion? If your client is strictly time and materials, looking for bare-bones pricing, then they need to be made aware and you bill them a fair price (that’s been covered). But what’s the “cost” really? We have about 5 Rugged drives floating around at any given time. To stick a drive on the system and copy files is a simple background task, this is going to happen. Easiest way is to have the client buy the drive that you specify (500Gig Rugged at Best Buy is $130), copy the files, hand them the drive and let them FedEx it for $120 early AM delivery. Keep yourself out of the dollars as much as you can. Your fee is then around $50-75. If they want you to handle it all, then add in the other #s and bill them $350-400.

Steve

[Steve Kownacki]

Mark, you forgot to credit where you ripped the photo.

Steve

[Steve Kownacki]

I’ll agree with the Pepper getting lost in a lit scene. Plus if you’re doing multiple setups those peppers stay hot for a long time after being shut off. If I have to pack and move quickly I’d sooner use an Arri 150 fresnel because they cool faster. This cold weather in the east makes it easy this time of year – we just take ’em outside to chill. I mentioned earlier I’m totally sold on the Source4 now. It’s not that big and I’d sooner have to cut down/flag/dim/cookie/gobo output on a single fixture than use multiple lights.

I can’t remember if the original poster ever stated what type of background he was trying to light. Muslin, studio set, office location? Or how big his crew was. All that would play a huge part in deciding what to do. There were a few mentions of Dennis’ truck. I jam pack a mini van and my LD would do the same on a larger shoot. Guess this would tie into the biz/marketing forum now about charging for what you offer and be able to afford the proper transportation – even if you rent a truck for $50. Most associations I deal with have their staff rent cars for out-of-town trips because it’s more cost-effective than paying the employee mileage. Just like you rent gear, I get the right vehicle too. A full-size van on shoots that need a more run-n-gun approach would be more effective if I can have easier access to the gear without constantly re-packing and burying in a small vehicle.

Steve

[Steve Kownacki]

I was so driven by this thread that I tried out the F4 and I am humbly thrilled with the capabilities – Go COW! They rent pretty cheap by the week and can get the gobos out the wazoo. Purchased 2 adapter clamps to put ’em on c-stands. The pic is my foray into product photos in a light tent.

Happy New Year to all of you!

Steve

[Steve Kownacki]

Can’t remember when I sent a reel or disc out last, been years. Most people calling have already seen my sites and just want more info. No one yet has been turned off by sending them a link. However I have most stuff ready to zip and email when a corporate client is completely locked down and has no access to streaming video. When I’m at a lunch meeting I pull out the Droid and play web demos there – interestingly enough it’s a soft sell that we do “web videos”.

Steve

[Steve Kownacki]

Along with adulterating cinefoil, take a sabre saw to some 1/4″ luan plywood and make some patterns on a 12×12″ piece, stick it on a c-stand 2′ in front of your 300 fresnel and play with the focus for different effects. If you’re in retail locations, I’ve lit backgrounds with the track lights already in place – you can get the cookie up there too. With a little effort you can make a cinefoil snoot on the 300; cut the customer logo out of cardboard and blast it on the background. If you have a projector & laptop, make up some patterns and shoot that on the back wall. Try small 150s uplighting from the floor, close to the wall. Gell ’em to the customers corporate colors and you’ll be a genius.

What type of background are you trying to light? Muslin, retail, office wall?

Steve

[Steve Kownacki]

https://www.lowes.com/pd_119095-23132-119095_0__?productId=3102759&Ntt=landscape+fabric&pl=1&currentURL=/pl__0__s%3FNtt%3Dlandscape%2Bfabric
Problem with this stuff is its only 3′ wide so you can drape side by side or tape lengths together. Will allow some light to come in.

https://www.lowes.com/pd_16906-18632-RSBH410-25B_4294865824_4294937087_?productId=3238059&Ns=p_product_quantity_sold|0&pl=1&currentURL=/pl_Sheeting%2B5F%2BFilm_4294865824_4294937087_%3FNs%3Dp_product_quantity_sold|0%26Va%3Dtrue
This is 10′ wide. If the windows are small enough you can even just slit garbage bags on the sides to get a sheet that’s 3’x6′ in a pinch. Nothing special, nothing pretty, simply blocking light.

As far as the lights, that’s a relative question. Are you using any existing lights like fluorescents or halides that may be in the room and you are supplementing? How artsy are you trying to get? How far back do your lights need to be? How big a focus issue do you want? Less light = opened iris = less DOF. If they move around alot focusing will be more difficult. My thought would be to get the room ambiently lit with some big lights and use your kit to do a bit of modelling.

I re-read the thread and you want semi-permanent/nice looking. The plastic can be put up and off in less than an hour. I like Marks idea of the wooden frame that you set in place. In a hospital the other day I used 6′ shower curtain tension rods from Target. Taped the curtains to the rod while on the ground then hopped on the ladder and set them in place. Blocked nearly all the light, but total blackout wasn’t necessary. Maybe the tension rod with nicely sewn (Michael’s idea) duvetyne would do the trick, they’d look like curtains. Good comment on the fire retardant issue. Any local seamstress could do this for you quite cheaply. Look to a high school costume parent too; this would be nothing for them to whip up.

For any more ideas you’d have to post some pix of the room – let us see the windows, floor and ceiling. That would really help.

Steve