Do you give a % to the theater director?

Dean Harrington · June 8th, 2003, 03:55 PM

My deal involved a shoot (two man - two cams) for an orphanage stage production used for financial promotion. The basic costs were tapes, beta master, 20 vhs copies and a number of Quicktime movies on CDs. It was a 3 day edit.
My situation was not exactly structured like yours but I figured something like a 50-50 situation in the end was how it was going to work out. So, your quesstimation is about right.
Whenever you do something that's not really a money maker or going to have a wide audience, you can feel good because it was the right thing to do and shamelessly use the piece for self-promotion. That's what you get out of it.

Scott Silverman · June 8th, 2003, 05:40 PM

Yeah I though about that - self promotion. Good ideas. Thanks,

Mark Argerake · June 9th, 2003, 07:16 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Scott Silverman : Dean,
When you give 30% to the organization, about how much did you charge or about what was your profit? Like I mentioned earlier, I am charging $15 per DVD and raw materials costs $4. Thats $11 profit and 30% of $11 is $3.30 which brings my pay for all my time and work down to $7.70. Does this sound about right to you? Thanks for you input! -->>>

So your costs are only $4 for a DVDF and case? What about your time? Time fo for the shoot, eidting, dvd setup and burn? If you only sell 1 dvd is $7.70 enough? If it takes more than an hour you'r already working for less than min wage. Sure self promotion is priceless. Did the school actually expect anything from the sales? Do they know that's your plan?

Scott Silverman · June 9th, 2003, 03:16 PM

I know the school was not expecting anything, and I do feel like $7.70 is a little low, so maybe I will give them 15% or so. I think the only time I will do something like this is when the organization is non-profit (such as a school). People and companies are in the same position I am, but its good to benefit the nonprofit guys. Thanks.

Lorinda Norton · July 1st, 2003, 12:52 AM

For Boyd, Richard, Robert, RozeAnn,

So, if I had only a verbal agreement with the counselor in charge of a high school graduation to shoot the ceremony (which included students singing popular songs) and sell copies, without all the aforementioned signed releases I could get sued? I know of a company that does this all the time. It's their livlihood! Are they playing with fire, or are lawsuits of this nature relatively rare?

Gints Klimanis · July 1st, 2003, 01:36 AM

"it could be a real can of worms for you"

I hear this expression a lot. It should refers to using a cans of worms for fishing in its entirety. A lot of my corporate weenie friends use this phrase, but I know the closest they've ever been to fishing is a watching Bass Master on TV. Unused worms usually don't survive a fishing trip, so you have to use them all or throw them in the water when you're done. If you decide to open a new can of worms, you'll be fishing for a lot longer. I'm not sure if anyone ever canned worms. I certainly didn't.

Dean Harrington · July 1st, 2003, 02:01 AM

It's good to get releases from the Principal as well as anyone performing. As for the songs, I guess you are talking a chance. I don't believe any music company will come after you if the event is Non-profit but.....ya never know! My understanding is that the school has to get permission from the music companies if the video is broadcast. This is usually a "courtesy of" situation. That means the video company is supposed to get a signed release for the songs. A lot hinges on what's done with the piece. There is a set of release forms and other info on the net at various sites under the heading independent film making and legal obligations. Check them out.

Lorinda Norton · July 1st, 2003, 02:16 AM

Thanks, Dean.

I'll take that advice, along with the earlier satire from G.K., and relax.

John Heskett · July 1st, 2003, 10:13 AM

When I videotaped and edited a dance school's performance, they paid me to do it. The school gave a quantity they wanted in VHS and DVD. I delivered that amount, and they paid me the agreed price. What they sold them for was up to them. Paying copyrights or fees was up to them. This may or may not be the technically correct way to handle these things, but I'm comfortable with it.

June 8th, 2003, 03:55 PM	#16
Dean Harrington Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tokyo Posts: 898	costs..... My deal involved a shoot (two man - two cams) for an orphanage stage production used for financial promotion. The basic costs were tapes, beta master, 20 vhs copies and a number of Quicktime movies on CDs. It was a 3 day edit. My situation was not exactly structured like yours but I figured something like a 50-50 situation in the end was how it was going to work out. So, your quesstimation is about right. Whenever you do something that's not really a money maker or going to have a wide audience, you can feel good because it was the right thing to do and shamelessly use the piece for self-promotion. That's what you get out of it.

June 8th, 2003, 05:40 PM	#17
Scott Silverman Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Cupertino, California, USA Posts: 301	Yeah I though about that - self promotion. Good ideas. Thanks, __________________ Scott Silverman Shining Star Digital Video Productions Bay Area, CA

June 9th, 2003, 03:16 PM	#19
Scott Silverman Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Cupertino, California, USA Posts: 301	I know the school was not expecting anything, and I do feel like $7.70 is a little low, so maybe I will give them 15% or so. I think the only time I will do something like this is when the organization is non-profit (such as a school). People and companies are in the same position I am, but its good to benefit the nonprofit guys. Thanks. __________________ Scott Silverman Shining Star Digital Video Productions Bay Area, CA

July 1st, 2003, 12:52 AM	#20
Lorinda Norton Wrangler Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Southwest Idaho, USA Posts: 3,066	what a world For Boyd, Richard, Robert, RozeAnn, So, if I had only a verbal agreement with the counselor in charge of a high school graduation to shoot the ceremony (which included students singing popular songs) and sell copies, without all the aforementioned signed releases I could get sued? I know of a company that does this all the time. It's their livlihood! Are they playing with fire, or are lawsuits of this nature relatively rare? __________________ Lorinda

July 1st, 2003, 02:01 AM	#22
Dean Harrington Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tokyo Posts: 898	Generally.... It's good to get releases from the Principal as well as anyone performing. As for the songs, I guess you are talking a chance. I don't believe any music company will come after you if the event is Non-profit but.....ya never know! My understanding is that the school has to get permission from the music companies if the video is broadcast. This is usually a "courtesy of" situation. That means the video company is supposed to get a signed release for the songs. A lot hinges on what's done with the piece. There is a set of release forms and other info on the net at various sites under the heading independent film making and legal obligations. Check them out.

June 9th, 2003, 07:16 AM	#18
Mark Argerake Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Murrieta, CA Posts: 227	<<<-- Originally posted by Scott Silverman : Dean, When you give 30% to the organization, about how much did you charge or about what was your profit? Like I mentioned earlier, I am charging $15 per DVD and raw materials costs $4. Thats $11 profit and 30% of $11 is $3.30 which brings my pay for all my time and work down to $7.70. Does this sound about right to you? Thanks for you input! -->>> So your costs are only $4 for a DVDF and case? What about your time? Time fo for the shoot, eidting, dvd setup and burn? If you only sell 1 dvd is $7.70 enough? If it takes more than an hour you'r already working for less than min wage. Sure self promotion is priceless. Did the school actually expect anything from the sales? Do they know that's your plan?

July 1st, 2003, 01:36 AM	#21
Gints Klimanis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,222	"it could be a real can of worms for you" I hear this expression a lot. It should refers to using a cans of worms for fishing in its entirety. A lot of my corporate weenie friends use this phrase, but I know the closest they've ever been to fishing is a watching Bass Master on TV. Unused worms usually don't survive a fishing trip, so you have to use them all or throw them in the water when you're done. If you decide to open a new can of worms, you'll be fishing for a lot longer. I'm not sure if anyone ever canned worms. I certainly didn't.

July 1st, 2003, 02:16 AM	#23
Lorinda Norton Wrangler Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Southwest Idaho, USA Posts: 3,066	Thanks, Dean. I'll take that advice, along with the earlier satire from G.K., and relax. __________________ Lorinda

July 1st, 2003, 10:13 AM	#24
John Heskett Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Terre Haute Indiana Posts: 181	When I videotaped and edited a dance school's performance, they paid me to do it. The school gave a quantity they wanted in VHS and DVD. I delivered that amount, and they paid me the agreed price. What they sold them for was up to them. Paying copyrights or fees was up to them. This may or may not be the technically correct way to handle these things, but I'm comfortable with it. __________________ Illuminate the Vision