TurnHere, strange phone calls

bikefilms

bikefilms

Well-known member
Anybody else get a strange phone call from TurnHere.com today?

Our discussion went something like this:

TurnHere: "Do you have editing experience?"

Me: "Yes, lots."
TH: "Do you own a lav microphone?"
Me: "No, but I can walk down the street and rent one."
TH: "Well, that is unexceptable!"
Me: "Miss, renting equipment is a pretty common practice..."

-CLICK. Phone hangs up.

Pretty much the funniest phone call I've ever received .

But wait, there's more. Five minutes later I get a call back, telling me that after a managers approval, renting was "OK".-Andrew
 
Hahaha, thanks guys.

I'll let you know what comes of it.

Ryan- Where are you thinking of moving to? I'm a newbie in Portland, OR. It's nice overall, but pretty nasty in the winter.

-andrew
 
bikefilms said:
Hahaha, thanks guys.

I'll let you know what comes of it.

Ryan- Where are you thinking of moving to? I'm a newbie in Portland, OR. It's nice overall, but pretty nasty in the winter.

-andrew
Click to expand...

I'm thinking of moving to Portland, Oregon, as a matter of fact. I'm also thinking of moving to L.A.

I just got back from portland to visit and check it out, and I absolutely loved it. BUT... I'm headed to L.A. in a couple weeks to check it out, and I'm trying to keep an open mind. I've been to both before, but I need a refresh for the memory ;)

I'll know within a month.
 
Ryan,

Most of my buddies here go back and forth. Portland to LA. There's just so much work in LA, its hard to pass up. Portland is a waaaaaaay better city though :)

-Andrew
 
I just got a call from TurnHere and the representative I talked to was totally cool with renting a lav. Maybe you got the pyscho ***** with little understanding?
 
Zander said:
I just got a call from TurnHere and the representative I talked to was totally cool with renting a lav. Maybe you got the pyscho ***** with little understanding?
Click to expand...

Or maybe they reprimanded her....
I just checked out their site.

What kind of work are you guys shooting for them, if you don't mind me asking?
 
Based on the info that I've gathered the videos are 30 or 60 mini-documentary pieces about local businesses. The rep I spoke to gave me a rundown of the typical shoot: 1 hour, 30 minutes for interviews and 30 minutes for b-roll. 2 day turnaround. Sounds a bit quick but totally doable.

Smpproductions has done some work for them. Maybe he can provide some more details.
 
bikefilms said:
But wait, there's more. Five minutes later I get a call back, telling me that after a managers approval, renting was "OK".-Andrew
Click to expand...

you should have said, "but me working for someone as clueless as you isn't."
--CLICK
 
Did you fill out their form online to indicate interest in shooting for them? Probably an intern given the task of calling folks who indicated interest in shooting for them online. Bet their web form doesn't ask about sound equipment (or didn't) and they are having to go back and get that info from those who they signed up but did not get that info from... maybe?
 
Okay - you're phone call make a lot more sense now.

I just got off the phone with someone calling from TurnHere.
Only reason I answered the phone was because it was the third time today that number had called me and they hadn't bothered to leave a message.

She sounded like a telemarketer reading from a script.

Long and short of it was a bunch of questions:
"Do you have a 3 chip DV camera?"
"Do you have a lav mic?"
"Do you have a pro editing system?"

After a minute I found out they wanted me to shoot, edit, and deliver a 30 minute video complete with interview/broll/graphics/titles for $200.

I told her I couldn't possibly do that.
She seemed a bit confused by my reaction.

So, signed up around 6 months ago... got a bunch of email newsletters...then finally get a call from someone to do a total low ball job.
Ah well.

Luckily I'm busy enough right now.
 
Luis Caffesse said:
Okay - you're phone call make a lot more sense now.

I just got off the phone with someone calling from TurnHere.
Only reason I answered the phone was because it was the third time today that number had called me and they hadn't bothered to leave a message.

She sounded like a telemarketer reading from a script.

Long and short of it was a bunch of questions:
"Do you have a 3 chip DV camera?"
"Do you have a lav mic?"
"Do you have a pro editing system?"

After a minute I found out they wanted me to shoot, edit, and deliver a 30 minute video complete with interview/broll/graphics/titles for $200.

I told her I couldn't possibly do that.
She seemed a bit confused by my reaction.

So, signed up around 6 months ago... got a bunch of email newsletters...then finally get a call from someone to do a total low ball job.
Ah well.

Luckily I'm busy enough right now.
Click to expand...
I got the very same questionnaire.

I think you heard them wrong. They don't do any 30 minutes videos. They do 30 second and 60 second videos.
 
HA!
I asked the woman, no joke, THREE times, "30 MINUTE videos?"

She said, "Yes sir, 30 minutes"
I guess she got confused.
I thought it sounded a bit too ridiculous.
:)

Ah well.
I'm not going out and doing a 30 second spot for $200 anyhow... so no big loss.
 
I just got the call the other day also, signed up about 2 months ago...

She was hard to understand but after a few What? and Huh? we made it though the call.

Only time will tell if this is a way to make some cash on the side or not.
 
Luis Caffesse said:
HA!
I asked the woman, no joke, THREE times, "30 MINUTE videos?"

She said, "Yes sir, 30 minutes"
I guess she got confused.
I thought it sounded a bit too ridiculous.
:)

Ah well.
I'm not going out and doing a 30 second spot for $200 anyhow... so no big loss.
Click to expand...
Seems to me they gave some total idiots a phone and told them to dial it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top