Hey!
Yesterday Sept 29th, I was in my way home, and about 11am I saw 2 cop cars pull in front of a local bank near the green in my town, New Milford Connecticut. I went home got my GL2, tripod, and started shooting. Got shots of the K-9 Dogs and State police and FBI arriving.

This is after 3 murders in 1 week in my town, and this never happens here, rarely any crime last 3 weeks weve had the 3 murders one a lady beaten to death in her tile store, another of a 31 yo woman and her 4 month old son brutally stapped more than 30 times by her boyfriend. After that 2 plane crashes in a local lake, 90 tombstones flipped over and american flages burned in a cemetary, and now a bank robbery.

We never have this type of crime here in NW CT, now all this in the past 2 1/2 weeks!!!.

So anyhow, I called NBC30 CT News, Told them abot the recent robbery, I told them I have footage of the cops arriving and the K9 dogs looking for the suspect, and they said "another crime in New Milford?" Said she will send a satellite truck out, I met them later on that afternoon gave them my footage, got to see the inside of a satellite truck, he sent my footage over to the station and he said pretty good shots, and used it at 11pm for a 35 sec story on it.

The reported asked if i asked for any $$ I said no, this is my first footage for the station so I thought to myself I need to build a relationship with them, next time. He asked for my name address etc, and said hell make copies of it hand it around and when I come knockign on the door for a job in the future thell know what I shot. Well hopefully I got my foot in the door.

Should I of done that not asked for $$?

CAn't really say but.. I would have asked for money. I don't think they would think any lesser of you for asking for a compenastion for your work. That's normal. And if you want to build a proffesional relationship with them.. why not?
Congrats on the air time though!

Hey cool stuff man....good luck in the future with it.

Also, in the meantime send them stuff you shoot anyway. It can't hurt, and one day they'll call you because your fresh in their minds.

Murph

Kevin, since that's your first time, I understand that feeling you have about getting your footage used and almost feeling guilty to ask for payment. These organizations have plenty of money so don't feel sorry for them. If you have exclusive video and they want it, they will pay for it. The trick is that you have to make them believe that you are confident and know how the game is played and that you've done this many times before. I'm not saying that you're going to get top dollar, depending on the content, but something is better than NOTHING. They WILL take and take and take from you what you let them. You don't have to be obnoxious, well sometimes you do, but just be confident like I stated earlier and they will know that you mean business. If they really want it bad enough, they will pay for it. Another strategy to use is to say, okay let me check with my other contacts to see if they're interested and I'll call you back and here is my number if you are able to meet my rate. They can't stand knowing that you are talking to the competition. Believe me, they know how to play the game and it is the job of that producer to pay as little as possible to get that footage, especially if it is exclusive. Also, I don't know what market number you're in, but I wouldn't rely on shooting news as a primary source of income. Atlanta is number 9 or 10 and they are some cheeeeeap asses!


Relevant Thread
www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?threadid=13990

Hey thanks guys!

James,
I was the one that contacted NBC and they said they will send a truck out, they didn't mention any money, nor did I ask for any money for my footage at the time.

I called NBC 30 and said "I'm Kevin live in New Milford, and wanted you guys to know there was a bank robbery at the NewMil bank on main street in the town center. They said ok do you know what happened etc, I said blah blah blah, I also told her by the way I have footage, she asked me what kind of camera etc, what I got shots of etc, then she mentioned, sending the truck etc.

Then when the satellite truck came, and sent my footage, the reporter said now let me have your name info etc, he then said did you talk money at all? I said no, dont worry about it, I guess it was the excitment and my first time doing this.

I then called NBC30 later that night and asked about paying me for the footage, I said "the reporter mentioned possibly paying me for the footage" they told me to call back during normal business hours. I dont want to get the reporter in trouble because he didnt exactly tell me to call, now its 2pm thursaday, should I call NBC 30 and ask for money for my footage, or is it too late? and leave it at that? And if so how would I go about asking for money. How much? I live in Northwest CT, 1 hour away from Major Cities like Hartford and New Haven. So I dont know what kind of market it is.

Please let me know!!!

I do it in my spare time, I eventually want to do it full time for life!
One more thing.... do they have to say on the newscast footage courtsey of so and so? Or if they pay you they don't.

B/C a while back a residnet of New Milford shot a church fire and it was more like home video and the newscasters said this is from blah blah they videotaped it on homemovie.

What I shot of the Robbery I think was 100% like the news photogs do, simple steady shots with a tripod, wide angle then another shot of a cop car etc.

Ide appreciate your feedback from James and everyone. I know alot of questions, I appreciate all of you taking the time to get back to me.

One more thing, alot of the news we see on TV IE: local news staitions, is that 99 % done by the news photogs only or is a good porion from people like us? I mean in an average city. Say where I live?

Hey Kevin

Can you post some footage for us to see?

Well, do you still have the raw footage? Technically, you still own the rights if there was nothing in writing and especially if you didn't receive compensation. If you really wanted to stick it to them, you could name your price now and/or make them pay you for every time that is was rolled over the air, including where they shared it. Of course if they wanted to balk, that means you'll have to get a lawyer and on and on....... probably not worth it for this. Because it's your first time, just ask them for 75.00 -100.00 and be done with it. If they're half way decent, they should pay you at least something in that range. Next time though if the price doesn't seem right tell them that your going to call your other contacts and sometimes more money magically appears in their budget for your footage. They just don't like seeing the competition airing that exclusive footage especially when they were first to know about it and had it in the palms or their hands.

Some stations will mention your name as a barter for the footage and they'll definitely CG the video with amatuer video or say that if it has a home video look to it.

I'd say that most shooters are on staff or freelancers, that is, they're full time but with no benefits. However, technology is leveling the playing field allowing for more independents to provide quality footage. That means that as independents, we could actually make more money than the staff guy who has to do more work like cut it together but he gets paid every day and we're always looking for another shoot. If we could shoot every day it would be rediculously worth it. I'd buy my own health insurance, just give me the work!

Ya, How do I get the footage on the internet? I have Dail Up at home and Cable at work. I have Pinnacle Studio 9 at home. I can put it to CD-R?

I have the raw footage. They only used the first 3 shots of 5min worh of video I took. I also taped the Newscast of what they showed.

So, should I call them and who do I speak to? Do I call the news room? Thats who I called when I told them about the robbery.
They already have the footage, is it too late?

lemem know.

Kevin, don't call them or sue them....none of that jazz. That's totally NOT cool for two reasons....number one, you called them remember? Number two, is that you said you want to do this for a living? It's a really, really small television world and if you sue them...you're done with shooting video locally! Seriously...not worth it.

My suggestion to send them stuff when you have time. The news segments they run are called, "packages". Anything that is something they can run that's a couple of minutes during a newscast is a "package". The local pumpkin festival could be a "package", or the local bank thing you just got is one too.

Anything they can use to fill time or is hard news....that's a "package". It must have a beginning, middle and end....could be 30, 60 seconds...or up to 2 minutes if it's really good and not timely. Try to make it an even number if you can...otherwise, the tape operator and director and waiting for odd numbers. Also, an "OUT CUE" is essential if there is audio that stops the story cold....believe me, make sure that's on the tape box, and the script notes! An "In Cue" is useful for the audio person...they like to know when to "POT" up the audio as well as down.

SO, timely means they will run it that morning, and it'll still be relevant that afternoon and nighttime.....sometimes they'll run it the next day if they can add footage or a new piece to it. (the bank thing is perfect example)

If you want to get in there...the easiest thing to do is watch their newscast. Re-create exactly what they are doing, but with something totally different storywise. If you know someone in town that's turning 105 years old...and you can interview that person, go for it. Do a sit down interview, but make sure your voice won't be heard....ask lots of questions and get "b-roll". Just like you got "b-roll" with the bank stuff....the cop car etc. Those shots are NEEDED when you do "V.O.'s" (voice overs)....also, get "SOT's" (sound on tape) Those are newsroom staples...gotta have them or it won't run. The V.O.'s are to fill in the information later with stuff you learned...and use the b-roll for visuals. The old persons house...things that show their age like old photos, or items of that nature. The SOT's are things like....maybe this old person has an old record player with old records...put them on and record the sound. That's video with sound....hence, an SOT. The editor at the station would need footage, SOT's and b-roll to make the "package" for the newscast. I'd go ahead and gather the stuff yourself, edit it...and bring it to them.

REMEMBER!! Do not bring it to anyone that you'll be competing against....like a videographer (called "photogs" - shot for photographers) or anyone else like that. Bring it to a newscaster, or reporter and say you have a piece for them and you're totally new. Can they look at it, and see if it's useful to them for a "package"? If they watch the piece and like it....tell them that you have ANOTHER copy with you MINUS the V.O., so they can do their own. Give them "notes" about the story, anything important.

Also, tell them it's theirs...free and clear. You only want them to consider you when a position opens up....trust me, they'll call you and sooner than you think.

Do this a few times over the course of a month or two. They'll like you, and make sure the stuff is not TIMELY...so, they can run it a few days after you give it to them if they don't have time to run it that day or night. It's in your best interest to make something that isn't "newsworthy" THAT day. Like the pumpkin patch festival...or even some "feel good" story....they need those stories more than hard news. They are covering the hard news, and don't want you messing with it if you aren't on staff. The "feel good" stuff should be presented to the "Producer" on call that day...they LOVE having extra padding for newscasts. You never know when the hard news tape will fail....so, what to do for the next 2 minutes?? "Run that tape that dude brought in....cue it up!!!"

That's my experience personally...worked at ABC affiliate for 4 years!

Murph

Hey, I just went back to what I wrote and added stuff that I remembered. It might be worth another look..

Your welcome!

Murph

WOW thanks Chris, very informational. What news channel should I go with? Should I stick to NBC30? I mean since their the first ones who really were interestd in my footage?
I'll take your advice, I definatly was not thinking about suing them, Way too over the top! :-)


Maybe I'm a little confused about SOT, the satellite guy said there is no audio, There was when I was recording, maybe he didnt have the correct cable hook up. What exactly are you talking about the audio is a must? There wasnt anyone talking, all i was shooting was just shots of cops, cars etc, I didnt do any interviews, Did you mean next time get interviews, You just hear alot of background noise, is that what you mean?

Also another responce to what you said about hard news...What happens if I get shots of Hard News, is the bank robbery footage considered hard news? You mentiond to stay away from that........ "they are covering the hard news, and don't want you messing with it if you aren't on staff." ....what happens if im the only one there to catch it, and the news station is miles away?


BTW: My Cousin is a TD (technical director) he did the past olympics in Greece. Hes won 2 emmys. Been doing it for over 30 years, Should I talk to him? Would he help getting my foot way in the door?

to anyone how do i get my footage on here?

Yes, I agree with Chris. You really don't want to push things to a legal issue if you can avoid it, at least and especially because this was your first experience and the content wasn't necessarily that high profile. Use this first experience as a guide for the next opportunity. One other important thing, if you call them about a breaking news story or anything that possibly only you know about, don't give them any specifics until you make a deal. They will more than likey tell you thanks but they're not sure or that they're already aware of it, uh huh, and then send a crew to cover it anyway and you will have just worked for free again for informing them of the story. They need to understand that you're not going to just provide them with information for free either. When you are negotiating these things try to be as nice as you can and if you can't make a deal then just don't do it, it's their loss and it's business. This happened to me, they said that they wouldn't pay my rate and were going to send a crew anyway, which they did. I couldn't stop them. I can just remember what they did to me and you know the rest. Well, I guess I don't have to tell you that they cut their own throat there. They are now the last on my list to call if I do at all. One day something big is going to happen beyond the typical news story and they are going to pay for that little stunt.


Chris. How long ago was it that you worked at that ABC affiliate, what was your position and were you full time?

Thanks,
Ya I will remember that for next time, I'm sure another thing is going to happen around my town, LoL. Its weird. I have some more questions as well, but I'm all typed out for now, can I contact you and maybe talk on the phone? James or Chris, I'de appreciate it.

-Keivin

I'm a Director for a local station here in Norfolk, VA. This situation presents itself a lot more than one might suspect. As most of you already know, television news is all about the pictures. Video sells the story, period. News Departments live by this rule and will do almost anything to get the pictures, including pay for them. TV stations are the first to recognize and appreciate good quality video. So if anyone out there catches news as it happens it's expected that you might ask for a little compensation. And you will make more money and build stronger ties with a station if you sell it as exclusive video. Stations love anything exclusive. I know a few people who actually sit by their scanners at home just waiting for news to happen so they can be the first on the scene with their video and sell it to the highest bidder. So, for your first time shooting news I don't blame you for not asking for money. But now you know for next time.

P.S. $70 - $100 is a good price depending on market size, video quality, and significance of the story

Hey Chris,
I will contact the station to see if they are Union or Non-Union. Hopefully thell accept my footage. I have 1 quick question for you. The Video I am doing, the "package" that will be about 2 min long, the "Art Dogs of Kent, I have video of the town road signs, b/c I was thinking that the station can ad a VO saying in the town of kent there are painted ceramic dogs etc etc, then I have the tape go to the lady I interviewd talking about that with footage of the dogs while she is talking, then cut to more footage and have the station do a VO and cut to footage and then end. Do I need to write the VO, or have the station create their own and give them background on the story what its about? Hope to hear from ya!

Please be sure to post your experiences with the news organization(s) over the next few weeks or longer. I'd be interested to see how that market handles freelancers as far as frequency and rates. Thanks.

Well, they probably wouldn't have given you much (unless it was a lost video of the JFK assasination) so it's probably worth more to you to have a good relationship with these guys if you're serious about wanting to be professional.

Kevin. Any updates on the newsgathering with this affiliate?

Just a couple of thoughts based on my own experience. I've been shooting stringer video for a local station for five years now. COntact the News Director at the station and make an appointment to introduce yourself and discuss supplying video to them as a stringer.Take a short demo reel with you, showing both edited footage and some raw unedited stuff. Find out up front about what they pay and how they pay you. $70 to $100 in a small or mid market is pretty decent. Around here it's generally in the $40 - $50 range. See if they pay mileage if they call you. Be aware you will probably get a 1099 from tehm at the end of the year for taxes. It makes some nice extra money to support your 'habit' for gear but unless you are in a relatively urban area, is probably not going to provide your primary income LOL. There can be some long drawn out periods where you don't get used, then others where you may shoot several stories in a day. Generally stringers provide spot or breaking news coverage when a staff shooter isn't available. That can mean a call at 2AM for a 30 mile drive for a fire or accident. Aftre they become a bit more comfortable with your skills you may start to get some lighter gigs. I've shot everything from fatal accidents, fires, murders, holdups and drug busts to CLifford the Dog visiting a school, city council or school board meetings to benefit walks to interviewing a candidate for governor. I've even run camera on the satelite truck during some hurricane coverage. ( My first official credit on CNN LOL).
It also means listening to the scanner - drives my wife nuts sometimes - and deciding whether to go on a story. If I know there is a chance that a staff crew may be available, I usually call the producer so we don't both show up. Or If I know I'll get there quicker, go shoot the early stuff before the staff shooter gets there.
I generally provide full unedited footage, with a time code for any useable SOTs or especially good footage.
A couple things to keep in mind, even if they call you, be up front about what you get. I've rolled to some accidents or fires that were realtively minor. I generally shoot at least a few minutes of tape, then call the producer to tell them it wasn't really anything, but if it turns out it is I have the tape if they need it. That's paid off on a couple of minor fires that were eventually ruled arson, and I got a call to see if the tape was still available.
I've found if you are as available as possible you get more calls. I rarely turn down a call from teh assignment desk or producer. This morning between midnight and 3AM I shot an accident and arson fire, got to bed finally about 4 AM and went to my day job this morning.

Hey Bud! Welcome to the forum. Good first post!

Hey Bud, that's way to funny about the hurricane thing. Back in 1996 I started working at the local ABC affiliate here in NH. It's incredible what you are able to do just by circumstance. It truly is being there at the right time, and the right place. After being a PA for early morning news doing promoter, tapes and studio camera I got to do a major thing. My first real credit was also on CNN...interestingly enough!

There was a huge ice storm in the New England area, and when the ice started to melt a lot of towns were literally under water. All the reporters were out covering places, and no one was available to cover this one town that was in horrible shape. They pointed to me and some new intern...handed me a $35,000 beta camera and said go cover it. Now, granted on the way there I figured we were going to ge "b-roll" footage for their next newscast. I didn't know that I'd be driving through 5 feet high water with the beta cam on the roof of the car!! When we finally got into the center of town...all the cops and fire were there. I started "interviewing" everyone, getting b-roll...the whole nine yards. The coverage on this story was huge, but me and my little intern come back with the best footage and interviews. We uplinked to CNN, and for the next 24 hours it was me on CNN as a "reporter".

Just a little lesson to anyone. You can do anything in this world...it's just a matter of being in the right place and the right time. The main thing is to PUT yourself there....don't wait. Make it happen. I've followed this path, and since then have done 1000 things just as amazing.

Murph

Hi James Hi Chris!

Hey everyone I've been trying to contact NBC30 since Oct 1st. I still cant get a hold of the VP of News, I did talk to her before and she told me to call back b/c she was busy, I called back a couple of days later, still no responce. I emailed her and left voice messages, no responce.

This is what she told me in an e-mail a couple of days after the Bank robbery Footage,

"Hi, Kevin
We will pay for stringer video. Please call us any time you shoot anything newsworthy. Anything more than that would be a whole other discussion, but one I'm willing to have.

Sheila

Sheila Trauernicht
Vice President/News Director
NBC 30 Connecticut
860 313-4214 (office) "

What should I do keep trying to get a hold of her? I want to send them a couple of packages...

This Sunday in my "old" hometown, My brother and family live there, but anyhow they just built a huge new Volunteer Fire Dept, my brother is a Fire Marshal there, and they are having a ribbon cutting cermony. I was thinking of bringing my camera and get some shots of it then call NBC30 and try to get them to air it. It seems like they may be hurting for news? They keep airing this stupid flue vaccine shortage and thats about it. I was thinking of interviewing a town official etc, and ask: what this will do for the community etc. I've seen this type of footage with other ribbon cutting ceromnies before. Do you think they will take my footage?

I will appreciate any type of answers you guys have.

Thanks!!

Yeah man, go for it ...can't hurt. Also, start working on short films or some public access television shows. That way you can submit a "reel" to the station as well as show them how well you shoot news.

Murph

Hey,
I got the footage, I called NBC30 She said she'll have to talk to her producer and call me back, I called her she said he wasnt in yet shell call me, I never got a call back :-( should I of expected that? I thought I did a prettty darn good story, I'll post the video. got to run....

My own experience is it's tougher to sell an edited package than it is to sell the raw footage. There are a lot of different angles to look at
1) What other news was there that day? Maybe it was a time thing...
2) In all likelihood they had a press release announcing the ribbon cutting, if they felt they were going to use it they probably would have sent a staff crew to shoot it
3) How timely was the piece, if it was the evening before you pitched them the story, then it may be 'old news'

Generally local news stations are looking for breaking news from their stringers, or if it is soft news, like this ribbon cutting, they will want the raw footage and some general information rather than an edited package. Even if they use it, you don't know how they are going to slot it for time, what looks like a great 1:10 vosot pack to you may only warrant :20 vo in the producers mind.
If you only give them the 1:10 to work with, they may not want to cull out the :20 they want for the piece...

Hey Bud,
Ya I understand what you are saying most definatly.
The ceremony happend Sunday I called right after I got the footage. I did an edited version and I had the raw footage. I didnt mention that to them, I figured they might like it better edited so they didnt have to do any of the work. I wish she would of gotten back to me either way.

I hope they didnt think I was crazy for calling and asking to air the story. I should of told them I have raw footage, but they might of thought it was crappy footage. But in all, I took "newsworthy" footage, just like an everyday pro news photog would do.
On a good note, at the ceremony, one of my mom's friends was talking to her, and she (my mom) mentioned that I've been talking to NBC30 and that she has a cousin that works at the station and shell let him or her know about me.

One more step into the door, I hope.

Also I finally got a hold of the VP of news, and she referred me to her Operations manager, who does all the hiring of photogs etc. So I'm waiting for a call back from him, If he does not call back within a few days should I call him back again and followup?

I probably would try to call him back and make an appointment to come in and talk to him. Tell him you are inerested in providing stringer video for them and you would like to sit down and discuss how to handle the video. When you get the meeting some points to consider...
1) Establish a rate - this is going to depend on how you deal with them as far as the video is concerned. Do they own the video or do you own the video and license it to them? Generally you will own the rights to the video, but make sure that is clear. If you license it to them, is it exclusive in the market? In other words, are you agreeing to only sell it to them, if they buy it you won't try to sell to any other stations. If they don't take it then you should be free to peddle it to whoever you want.
2) Determine if they will be permitted to feed it if you do get a big story. Again this is a licensing consideration, you may give them exclusive in market rights, and reserve the right to sell to the networks yourself.
3) Ascertain what types of video they will want. Breaking news... soft news... etc....
4) If you can be available to supplement staff shooters give them a contact point. I get calls for both soft and breaking news from teh AE ort the producer when they have crew tied up, or sudden breaking news prevents a crew from getting to a soft news event.
5) Determine contact points/contact numbers, who do you call with the information?
6) How do you invoice them for the video. They may have a standard stringer invoice form you use.
7) What does this station consider newsworthy as far as breaking news is concerned.. fire/ accidents etc... some small markets, almost any accident will work, in other markets, unless it's a multi-car/multifatality ax it won't make air... depends on the market and the station.

Unless you are in an urban area, and there is a huge level of competition there, you aren't going to get rich shooting as a stringer, but it can be several hundred bucks a month in extra income, the more aggressive you are shooting, the more you will make :)
Some other points to keep in mind... are there periods when there are no staff shooters? IE overnight or weekend overnights etc? These are times you should pay particular atention to the scanner...
You also want to get to the scene in as timely a manner as you can... Flames sell, the FD racking hose and tearing down just isn't as effective....
Get to know the producers a bit, I usually give the producer or AE a quick call about breaking news if I hear something, before I leave the house. If they have a staff shooter, they usually let e know, which will save me the trip. If they don't, they already know I'm covering it, and they are expecting video of the event and can plan that in their show lineup. It also helps keep your name in the forefront of the producers mind for those times when they need someone to shoot, hopefully they give you the call.

Bud,
Yeah, I wasnt sure if they take soft news form a non employed person other than the 'breaking news". You said your a stringer and they call you if there is breaking news, how long have you been working whit this station? How much avg a month do you make? When I talk to the Operations manager, should I really establish a rate? I mean I'm really looking for a job, ya that is a big step, I'de rather have a job there than a stringer, but if thats what I have to do before I get a job there then I can handle that. Do I just say I want to be compensated for my work? I'm just afraid hell laugh in my face and say your are the one that wants to give us video were not begging you for it so why shoudl we pay you, but I guess thats what being a stringer is all about.
Is it true that stations are allways looking for video to air so at times thell take anything newsworthy.

What is an AE? I will give a day or two before I call the operations manager, I'm sure hes very busy, and see what he has to say. I heard from someone on another board that NBC30 was looking for vacation relief people, and some of the photogs were not working out, so hopefully it will work out.

Thank you very much for all your input I appreciate it alot. I'll let you know how I made out.

I usually average about 300-400 a month from local news, and a couple hundred average from The Weather Channel video I shoot, most of that is winter/spring tho, not much really interesting weather here in Central PA in the summer LOL. I've been working with this station for about 4 years now, and get to shoot a fair amount of soft news, parades, council meetings, political announcements, as well as breaking news. Knowing the area, and driving your POV rather than a marked news unit are often a great advantage. Several years ago we had a major industrial fire about 10 miles North of town. It happened to be about a mile from my mother's home where i grew up. Since I knew the area, I was able to get within a couple hundred yards of the fire to park and walked the rest of the way. I was able to spend about 90 minutes shooting the progress of the fire, and had the only news camera actually on the fireground. All the others tried coming in from the main road which had already been shut down with restricted access.
If you are looking for a staff job then by all means let them know when you meet with the ops manager. ( AE btw is assignment editor) Have a VHS sample of 'news' video, make sure it has all the elements.. wide, medium, and tight shots; cutaways; nat sound etc... givee them a raw version, and then a edited version. In the edit, avoid music, use nat sound- keep it short 40 seconds edited per story is probably plenty. The trick to good stuff is being able to tell the story in pictures, in a limited time frame. Good sequencing, and good cutaways will give the editors something to work with, and shows them that you have the basics of what is needed to tel the story.

You sell your video to The Weather Channel as well? How do you go about that? So you are a stringer for that channel only, or do you go to other stations if they don’t you’re your news. What kind of equipment do you use? I have a GL2, Bogen tripod etc. I’m looking to get a good light, and better wireless setup pref a handheld un UHF. What do you use? When you go get soft news are you alone, or are you the one who asks all the questions? Just want to learn as much as I can about this. Hope to hear from you. Thanks

The Weather Channel stuff I deal thru a stock video house that handles the TWC stuff, all done via the internet, he does the all the billing, pitches the video and also deals with some of the other major network and cable outlets. He takes 25% for handling and then sends the balance via paypal.. very slick system. As far as gear, I shoot on a Sony VX2100, a couple of different sets of sticks depending on the situation- how much setup tima and how mobile I have to be :) Sennheiser SHotgun, wired uni stick, and two wireless lavs, 50/100 watt bescor top light which I rarely use since the VX has such great low light capability. I usually only deal with the one station locally, the market is pretty well spread out, and of the four stations in our market, this is the only one that is actually in town, the others are 40 min to an hour out, and only one of them has a bureau that is open past regular business hours LOL... we're a mid 90's market. On soft news, it all depends on what the package is intended to be used for. Usually I'm alon in the field, and handle any questions, sometimes there are some prepared questions they give me to fit a package, sometimes it's just the nat sound, or the SOT is part of a speech, or meeting discussions. A lot of the questions are asked off camera just for background if I have a pretty good idea the story is going to be a VO only. If there is some compelling reason on breaking news I may do the interview on cam. I shot three or four stories about reserve units returning from overseas and did some basic interviews with a couple of the reservists.. those were easy to do with those guys... What stuck out most in your mind in <insert country here> ; What is the first thing you are going to do now that you are back stateside. etc...
Breaking news for fires and accidents are usually the basics.. cause, anyone home at the time ( fire), number and extent of injuries, special concerns or risks during the operation etc...

Hey Everyone,
The producer returned my phone call this past Friday. I guess thats a good sign. I left him a message about working there last week. I just returned his phone call saturday, now its phone tag. I hope he has good news!. I'll keep you up to date. Hopefully there looking for photog's.

I just got off the phone with the producer. He said to send him a "demo" reel of what Ive done. I told him I want to get into the business and want to be a photographer.

He said to send it to him and he will talk a look at it.

So, I got another step in hopefully.

Well Kevin. I have read the last couple of pages of the this thread since I posted last and what I thought would happen did happen. I didn't say anything when Chris Murphy told you to do all of the song and dance for these news folks because a) you could have gotten your lucky break and done alot of work for them and b) I wanted to let plenty of time pass to see how it played out before I spoke too soon because things can turn around real quick in this industry for whatever reasons. Chris has great intentions but unfortunately that's not the way the news industry works or the direction it's going. I just don't think that he should say "all you have to do is..." like it's text book to be a news shooter and most importantly get paid. However, any or all of what he said could very well happen. What works for one does not work for all though. It is a lot of hit and miss as you are now seeing. The reason that you're not getting called back is because they ARE NOT interested. Believe me, when they want you or what you have, you can't get them to leave you alone. Every person's experience with them is unique. A few years ago, I went through the same thing that you are now. I shot something, gave it away just for the thrill and then a few years later shot for actual money making 250.00 to 300.00 per story. Then, it dried up this past year and Atlanta is a top 10 market. The stories didn't disappear, but the budgets did. Thank goodness I don't shoot news as an independent for a living! These folks that called and called and payed and payed just disappeared. This was because of management turnover (oh yes, starting over building relationships) and budget cutting. I could go on and on about what I know and what I've been told by the news directors and shooters, full time and freelance. Nothing comes easy unless you just get lucky and it all falls into place at the right time and that is very possible. This game of phone tag DOES NOT stop. So you need to find an alternative in this industry to make a living and/or just enjoy what you're doing. Remember they will only call you or talk to you IF and only if they are interested in what you have. It is important to know that this is not just happening to you but to seasoned pros as well. The turnover rate in the news business is kind of high and that is for a reason, low pay and long hours. There is hope though. If you get some really dramatic and exclusive footage that absolutely noone else has, watch how fast they respond and call and call and CALL. This will be your opportunity to actually make some money. Don't let them intimidate you or fast talk you out of that footage because they want it and all you have to lose if you walk is the time it took to shoot it. When they try to low ball you on the rate, the best bargaining method that I have found is to make sure that they have your phone number and then simply and calmly say okay, thanks for the offer, let me check with my other clients and see where they stand. At that time they will realize that you are for real and if they don't pay, they ain't gonna get it or even worse their competition may get it. They can't stand that scenario. You need to make them think that you've done this a million times before and it's just another story for you. They can sense when you don't have a clue and that's when they get you. Even so, sometimes even with the threat of losing it to the competition, they may just decline for any number of reasons. That's what I mean by hit or miss. Now, as far as them accepting and using pre-edited footage, why? I don't know of any news organization that wants or expects edited footage. They will want to cut it to their specific needs and time frames. Let them do the editing, you're not obligated to do that by default.

Darn,
Not the news I was hoping for. Ya on B-Roll.net I was talking to a guy whos a Photog / Microwave truck operator for a Fox Station up here and he said the he knows some photogs at NBC30 and that they said that some of their photogs are not that great and they are looking for some. Thats why I thought I maybe had / still have a chance.

I'm going to submit my demo reel and see what happens. The Producer said hes been busy b/c of the elections when we spoke. When he left a message he said that he was looking forward to taling to me so who knows. I'll let you guys know what goes on.

I just would die to be a photog, I just love the rush and all the attention of the camera LoL.

I'll continue to get "breaking" news around my area, if theres anything major. I'm about 1 hour from all the major cities, Hartford and New Haven where the stations are located, and their rarely out my way, so I can cover my area. Are there other peopel like me in other towns?

BTW what are these top 10 mkts? the higher the number the more news they cover? please explain


Well any advice please let me know. Thanks guys.

The market value is the rating given to an area based on several things such as viewer population which can determine revenue from commercials. The lower the number the better the market value.

Take a look at this thread from B-Roll.net. Great site by the way. This should give you an idea of what's going on at least with budgets anyway. You need to read every post on this thread.

www.b-roll.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000179

I dropped my Demo CD off to NBC this past Sunday. I just got a call from the producer to whom I dropped the tape to, he called and was just letting me know that he will look at my tape by the end of the week and will give me a call. :-)

I was talking to a photog at another station and he mentiond that their looking for photogs at NBC, vacation relife people, etc.

I hope he likes what I have. Well see, I'll keep you posted.

He received my demo reel and he liked it, he just mentioned that I should have a little bit more "natural sound" in it, I dont know what he meant by that. He asked if he has a copy of my resume, I said no, and he told me he would like to see it and send him a copy.