Steve Martin
Forum Replies Created
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Lots of very good info on this post… and i agree with most of it. I’ll a few additional thoughts (not entirely on topic, but close) in case some might find it helpful.
Like others here, we’re a small shop (6 people including me) and we’ve been in business for over 20 years. So when we do a good job of determining the scope of work (SOW) before hand, we can usually estimate how long something will take within about 10%.
One of the tool we use is Quick Books for estimating. For everything we do and every piece of equipment we have, there’s an “item code” with a client friendly description and a unit price. So for example, an AF-100 camera package w/Manual Nikon Primes is $500/day. An ARRI Fresnel Combo kit is $75/day and so one. We have about 150 different item codes in all broken down into categories: pre-pro & creative development, equipment, crew, post production and expendables.
On the estimate, we simply select items codes & quantities and we generate a reasonable accurate estimate. In many (most) cases, we send the estimate to the client in a “blind” format – it strips out all the unit prices and quantities and only prints the a description for each line item along with the total cost at the bottom of the estimate. So while we see all the details on the screen, on the client print out (or PDF) it just looks like a detailed outline of the project and a flat fee.
At the top of the estimate, we write a custom paragraph project description (SOW) that out lines the deliverable(s) and production variables (i.e based on a 2 day shoot at such-and-such location with a post production that includes xyz revision cycles and a yada yada yada… This helps eliminate a common client thought that the project is an all-you-can-eat approach to our time and resources. If the they start pushing past the SOW, we gently (or not so gently in some cases) remind them that while “we can certainly do that for you” it’s not included in the SOW that we all agreed to and will cost $x.
Like I mentioned, this is a bit off topic, but this approach has worked pretty well for us over the years.
Production is fun – but lets not forget: Nobody ever died on the video table!
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Hi Adam,
This is a tough one because everyone soooooo different in what they expect from an employment agreement – on both sides of the table. So other than the obvious questions about skills, style and techniques, my suggestion is to spend some time and focus on how you expect the relationship to work.
For example, are you a very “hands off” type of person who wants to defer to a professional editor and let him/her make lots of creative decisions? Or are you deeply involved in creative direction? How will your approach to a project affect how they work? Are you both OK with that?
You mention that you hope to keep them busy for 30 hours per week. If they’ll be paid by the hour, make sure that you are prepared to set deliverable goals in terms what kind of productivity you need him/her to achieve. If you’ll be paying based on a final project deliverable, flesh out how you’ll handle changes and re-edits. Is there a limit to the number of revision you’ll expect performed without incurring additional costs?
In general, try to determine potential flash points (i.e., creativity, time/effort & money) and make sure that you are on the same page.
I hope this helps!
Production is fun – but lets not forget: Nobody ever died on the video table!
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I “long” for new ideas all the time! Glad you guys liked the PUP piece – it was a lot of fun to make.
Production is fun – but lets not forget: Nobody ever died on the video table!
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Sound like fun Greg, here’s a spot we did for a Medicare HMO plan that revolved around the ID card. It was fun to shoot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfjDMhRO6k8
Also, here’s a little BTS (behind the scenes) video we did for the making of…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4uuLiZrqJ0
I hope it gives you some ideas!
Steve
Production is fun – but lets not forget: Nobody ever died on the video table!
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Hi Gabby and congrats on a growing client list. If you are to be a freelancer working towards making it your full time job, I would encourage you set up a legit business. It doesn’t have to be overly complicated, but I would find an attorney you can trust (referrals from other successful freelancers you know?) and get your self set-up.
Many folks choose an S-Corp because it offers some legal protection from claims made on you personally but allows for you to pay taxes as an individual. There are other benefits that may or may not apply to your particular situation – which is why you should consult an attorney.
As for liability insurance, again consult a commercial insurance agent. Small business packages are generally not too expensive and cover you against a variety of potential claims. The scale and scope of your clients’ projects (and thus potential exposure to liability) as well as how much of your assets will be at risk will inform a good agent to make recommendations about how much coverage is appropriate for you to carry. Again, talk with freelancers in your area for recommendations.
And if you don’t already have one, find yourself a good CPA or bookkeeper that can help you get started on the right foot. Software like QuickBooks is quite powerful and only about $200. But depending on the size scale of your operation, you may be able to use something as simple as Quicken.
Sounds expensive, huh? Maybe a little, but think of it like this:
You’re a professional and would probably scoff at a rookie shooting and editing a short film. They say, “Hey I have a camcorder and iMac with iMovie, I can do this myself and save a bunch of money.” The problem is that they don’t know what they don’t know. Can they muddle through it? Sure. Should they? Not if they want it to look good.
Don’t make the same mistake. Gather as much info as possible from great forums like the COW and you’ll learn a lot from a variety of very experienced folks here. But there’s no way for any of us to know the intricacies of your business situation.
At the end of the day, be prepared to get some professional help to guide you.
And no, I am not an attorney, CPA or insurance agent 🙂
Production is fun – but lets not forget: Nobody ever died on the video table!
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I concur with Mark & Todd.
Not having a clear understanding of what happens if (when!) s*it hits the fan is probably the single most source of questions on this forum. Not having that understanding in writing is a close second.
Consider this an important lesson and move on.
Best of luck to you!
Production is fun – but lets not forget: Nobody ever died on the video table!
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Craig,
I’m in Orlando and wasn’t aware of this “school” set up.
However, in a related story, I recently got a call from a company who wanted multi-cam HD coverage of their event. Sensing that their budget was tight, I put together what I thought was an aggressively affordable budget proposal.
When I followed up with them a few days later I was told that the Event Planner they had hired for the event had some connections with a popular for-profit digital media school in town. The school would do the production in exchange for promotional consideration.
Granted, I don’t think students will be able to create a program as good as what a professional crew with years of experience might do, but my guess is that the school will have enough adult supervision in the form of instructors/staff so that the program will be at least “passable.”
I wished him luck – I just can’t compete with free.
Agggrrrrhhh!
Production is fun – but lets not forget: Nobody ever died on the video table!
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nicely put Mark!
Production is fun – but lets not forget: Nobody ever died on the video table!
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D. Tann,
I think I agree with Mark. But perhaps it’s because I don’t know what you mean by a “GVs of a property.” I’ve never heard that term.
Regardless, I think that unless you’re bringing something very valuable to the table (spectacular marketing, super efficient production process, brilliant content, etc…) it seems unlikely that you’ll be able to charge enough of a premium to offset the cost of outsourcing everything and protect your margins for the long term. And the idea of policing a nationwide network of freelancers from stealing your clients sounds like a time consuming and perhaps futile effort.
There might be something I’m missing and I hate to be negative, but I just don’t see it. But I’ve been wrong before.. many times! Best of luck to you!
Production is fun – but lets not forget: Nobody ever died on the video table!
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Hi Mick,
We’re finalizing plans now. Should know hopefully by Friday.
Thanks!
SteveProduction is fun – but lets not forget: Nobody ever died on the video table!