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Free Video Productions How would you like to get your next video idea produced by professionals... FOR FREE!
Scripting - Talent - Sets - Shooting - Editing - Scoring All done by an experienced, professional producer with professional broadcast quality video equipment. FREE!
Hard to believe? Read on! Everybody knows how effective a good video can be at conveying an idea, demonstrating a product, advertising, training, instruction, and let's not forget entertainment! But, producing a high quality video can cost a fortune. Low end production companies can charge as much as $1000 per day for a one man crew! Most small businesses just can't afford it. Are you going to try and do it yourself? It doesn't look so difficult. Just get a good camcorder and go to work, right? Believe it or not, this is how I got my start in video 16 years ago. It isn't as easy (or economical) as it seems. For every person who has the determination to learn all the necessary skills and the instinct to put them to good use, there are thousands that end up with disastrous results. Check out the video Hall of Shame! Why risk making your company, products, organization, or cause look like home movies when you can get professionals to produce your video for FREE! Wouldn't you like to know that your video was going to be a success before you pay the production company? Better yet, wouldn't you like to pay only after your video starts producing results? What's the catch? This plan works a lot like the big movie studios do in Hollywood. When someone has a great idea for a movie, they present it to a studio executive (usually a "Producer"). If it's a good idea, the studio will fund the production to completion. Then, the studio will recover its production costs by charging a royalty for each viewing (in theaters), performance (broadcast), or copy (DVD) of the film. That's how Free Video Productions works. If you have a good idea, I will produce your video for free and then charge a royalty for each viewing (web or broadcast) or copy (DVD) that you want to distribute over a fixed period of time (typically six months). It might not cost you anything Let's say that you are an instructor and you would like to have a video produced for your students. Maybe it's a pottery, painting, or sculpture class. Maybe you teach karate or gymnastics. Maybe you coach a team, do motivational speaking, or train health care professionals. Whatever it is, you can have your video produced for free if you agree to require that your students purchase a copy as part of their course. You might even make some money Maybe you plan to sell the video on a web site, eBay, or in retail stores. If you price your copies higher than the royalty, you'll make money guaranteed! Maybe you want to send a DVD out with a direct mail advertising campaign. People just can't resist playing a DVD that comes in the mail. Your response rate will be much higher than a campaign with just printed materials. High quality video production services at pay-per-click prices! Maybe you have a great product and just can't afford the sort of demonstration video ("infomercial") that it needs to get the message out to prospective buyers. Free Video Productions will make those production costs easy to afford.
Here's how it works: 1. Pitch your idea for a video to me. In addition to the format, plot, and length, I will need to know how you want it distributed (web site, YouTube, direct mail, catalog, retail, broadcast, etc.). Based on my experience and judgment, I will decide if the idea has enough merit to fit into the "Free Video Production" business model. If I see potential, then we move forward. If not, then I may propose changes in format, plot, length, or distribution. If these won't work, then I may suggest a more traditional production model (up-front funding, letters of credit, completion bond, insurance, etc.).
2. I estimate the cost of producing the video. There are hundreds of variables involved so no two videos will be alike. And, every estimate will include a number of assumptions and conditions. For example, a live shoot on location with a production crew would cost quite a bit more than using some existing photos in a slide-show. In most cases, HD costs more than SD. You might want to supply a location, a script, a story board, a pre-recorded voice over, or your own music. These things are all factored into the overall cost.
3. From the estimated cost, I will come up with a royalty that would pay for each copy distributed (or viewed). This is your "pay per click" price. In general, I will want to recapture my production expenses in six months, so I would divide the estimated production cost by the estimated distribution volume over that six month period and add a fixed profit margin. I would also come up with a "buyout fee" which would grant a license to distribute an unlimited number of copies without further royalties.
4. You may want to change the scope of the video to adjust the royalty but once everything is agreed upon, contracts are drawn up and signed. At that point, I would be committed to produce the video. You would be committed to pay a royalty on each copy distributed (viewed) for six months. YouTube counts views. Web log files can keep track of hits. Broadcast placements can be tallied. And, if the video is distributed on media (i.e. a minimum commitment for DVD copies), then duplication costs can be added to the royalty.
5. After six months, you can decide if you want to keep distributing the video (at the same royalty) or if you want to discontinue. At any time you can decide to pay the buyout fee and receive an unlimited distribution license. It's important for you to understand that you will not own the rights to the finished product, just a license to distribute.
Here's why it works:
I'm really motivated to make a great video for you. If I make a flop, then nobody will want to watch it. If nobody watches it, then I won't get the royalties I need to cover my production costs. So, I'm going to invest my best talent and equipment in every project that I take on. I use professional broadcast video cameras with 1/2" three chip CCDs and high quality (Fujinon and Canon) lenses. Video is recorded using the professional DVCPRO digital format, professional analog formats (Beta SP or MII), or burned directly to DVD for absolutely no loss in image quality. All editing is done in the digital domain which is native to the original recording format. I really want your video to be very successful!
It's important to understand that this isn't a scheme to sell low quality production services. This is the same scheme that the largest movie studios in Hollywood use to produce and fund the greatest major motion pictures in the world! When everything works right, you end up paying the same amount that you would if you hired any other top notch production company. The difference here is that you only pay when you successfully connect with your audience (someone watches the video).
There are two ways that things can go wrong:
1. The video turns out to be a flop. It happens - even in Hollywood. You would think that they have enough experience and talent to avoid flops but it's just impossible to predict the future with 100% accuracy. In spite of my best efforts, I'm sure that my track record for picking projects won't be perfect either. You might get an easy payment plan with a traditional production company, but you will still be on the hook to pay the entire cost of the production. With Free Video Productions, you pay only for results (the views, broadcasts, or copies distributed).
2. The video turns out to be a smash hit! Demand is much higher than anyone expected. You would think that this is the best thing that can happen. But, if you are on the paying end of the deal, it can be a disaster. The pay-per-click royalties of a smash hit video can drain your bank account in no time at all. So, I've included a "safety valve" that I call the "buyout option". It's a one time fee that you can pay at any time which grants you a license for unlimited distribution. Here's the best part: you still get to take advantage of a smash hit video!
Free Video Productions works because you get the high quality video you want without bearing any of the risk commonly associated with such expensive productions. You can't lose!
Long Distance work
I f the production must be shot at a specific location, then travel expenses may be added to the overall cost or required in advance. It might also be possible to hire a local crew to do the principal shooting but this would also drive up the cost. Most videos are shot in generic locations (office setting, home setting, parks, streets, etc.) so exact location isn't usually an issue. Product demonstrations can be done by shipping the product. Slideshow photos can be sent by email. If you want to do your own voice over, it can be recorded on your own PC or in a local studio and the audio files sent to me (email, snail mail). Scripts, dailies, and rough cuts can be reviewed by email, online, or sent by snail mail. I think that distance does introduce some complexity but nothing that can't be easily overcome.Here are some great examples: It would not be ethical for me to provide client videos that are currently under contract to use as examples. This would artificially boost the viewership of these videos - generating invalid royalties. These particular videos are not under contract and are being provided here at my own expense. Keep in mind that these videos are examples. They don't necessarily represent the cost of production for all videos of a certain type and length. Each project must be considered individually. However, the samples here will help you to see the possibilities and show off some of my work. This is a good example of the "slide show" style video. It is very easy and inexpensive to produce but has a big impact on viewers. It works great for restaurants, remodeling contractors ("before" and "after" photos), Realtors, etc. It can easily grow into a "Ken Burns" style documentary with slow pans and dissolves between photos. It's a great format for a company history segment. In this particular case, a photo-shoot was scheduled because the client didn't have any existing photos. The music was selected from a buyout collection. There was no voice-over needed. Costs would be considerably reduced if existing photos were used. The royalty for this video would be $1.68 per view. Buyout would be set at $500.
Videos like this cooking demonstration are very effective at communicating ideas while keeping costs low. A simple one camera setup can be used with existing locations, props, and talent. Since these are activities that are performed routinely, a minimal amount of scripting was required. Because the viewership is so much higher, the royalty is considerably lower. The music was already available from the "slide show" video (above). This video would have a royalty of $0.84 per view. Buyout would be set at $2040.
This video was produced for distribution on DVD as an introduction chapter to a 55 minute instructional video. It was a live shoot with two cameras. Shooting was done over a two day period. There was about a day's worth of editing and voice over recording.
Here are some more factors that contribute to the production cost:
- The locations were available for free and could be reserved without interruptions - No sets needed to be built - All of the props were available for free - There was no travel involved - There was a storyboard (a visual shooting plan) - No talent needed to be hired – I did both the voice over and the “acting” - The voice over was recorded in advance and played back during shooting - The music was from a buyout collection
I expect a video like this on YouTube will probably get about 1200 views over the period of a year. I would set the royalty at $2.22 per view. They could continue to have the video available indefinitely but would be obligated for at least six months. Alternatively, they could buy an unlimited license at any time for $2500. They might want to do this after the six month period, or in the event that the video is a lot more popular than expected.
This production could have been a lot more expensive if any of the above items were done differently. For example, a professional voice might cost $250 (or more). Interruptions during the shoot could stretch one day into several. Renting a table saw and other props could add hundreds to the cost. Sitting around trying to decide what to shoot next can add hours to a shoot. Trying to write a script (voice over and sequence of shots) after the shoot can be a nightmare. And, getting rights to use your favorite band’s music can shoot the cost through the roof. Who am I? My name is Ed Bennett has been producing videos since 1993. Most of my videos have been product demonstration, training, and instructional. I also have experience doing promotional videos and documentaries. Give me a call or send me email with your project ideas!
Sincerely,
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