Best Way to Give the Client Footage

J

JPschmidt

Active member
I was just cameraop on a pilot recently, shot on my hvx and a 2nd. 3 16gb p2 cards

I copied the cards' files (contents and lastclip doc) to my external, now what is the best way for me to burn this footage to DVD to mail to my clients' editor? When I tried zipping my camera's folders
A001
A002
B003
etc

each folder as one zip after about halfway through it says ERROR and quits out of the zipping

is there an easier/better way to do this ... that works?

Each camera folder is roughly 16gb, im assuming it's too big to zip.

The editor will be running mac and final cut (If that matters for info)

Thanks guys!
 
I insist that the client provides the hard drive.
I keep my copy for up to 3 days then delete. Backups are their responsibility.
 
A follow up question then,
I'm just getting into freelancing and somewhat starting up my own business after i get the hang of this ...

is it more proper adequate to ask the client to come to you for that, to go them, or meet up somewhere?
 
For my part, I include a hard drive and FedEx costs in each and every estimate. That way I always have the client's needs accounted for in advance.

As far as getting them the footage, just do whatever's easiest for them. They're the client, make them happy.
 
You should never expect a client to have to send something back to you, unless you need it to complete their project.
 
i include the cost of a 300-500 gig external drive in the cost of every new client engagement. and that drive is theirs to use as they please
 
Awesome, I will defiantly keep that in mind for future events.

Though, new issue if you guys are able to help ... and I feel very irresponsible for not knowing this for the client ahead of time, but we learn from these when we're young i guess ... hate being young!

He said the $64 for the harddrive isn't in his budget, so i need to find another way than a harddrive for this. Suggetions? is there a way to break down the P2 data to be reassembled and zip it in smaller bits. or something
 
You're best bet at this point is to spring for the hard drive yourself and consider it a lesson learned. It's better to spend $64 of your own money than lose a client who might come back to you for more work.

Do not attempt to break down your P2 data. You will regret it. Keep the structure as it is on the cards.

Jim
 
He said the $64 for the harddrive isn't in his budget
Click to expand...
WOW! you need to dump this loser. if he cant swing $64 for an archive of his data, he has no business using video in the first place.

but yeah, like jim says, youd be best advised to just come out of pocket for the drive this time. even if you only lost THIS client, he might bad mouth you around town. so id consider this $64 a cheap, cheap marketing expense.

as a side note, what drive are you getting for $64?
 
I was thinking of getting a 32GB flash drive, unless you'd advice against that ... lol
This is my first job that I wasn't editing so I'm new to the whole giving footage to someone else
Bad move I take it? If you have a cheap but reliable recommendation, let me know.
Thanks for your help guys
 
FWIT...I always make sure to discuss all this before hand. If you give your client options let them decide how they want to receive the footage.
Most of my clients will send me a hard drive and I'll just load the footage and send it back to them. That way they have the hard drive for their future use.
Just be clear up front you'll be fine.
Good luck!
 
You might ask him how he would like it delivered if that wasn't specified in your original deal. If there is a cost involved to deliver per his specification, then he should pay. If he has a laptop, you could upload to that.

I don't know what type of work you did for this guy, but refusing a small charge like that is pretty CS.

After having owned several businesses over the last twenty-something years, I use a easy method for closing a deal. Using a worksheet for every job, which has a list of all the standard stuff you have to resolve before work starts, I take time to work through each question while learning the customer wants and needs. The list leads you down the path of negotiation with the client. From that, I create an line item estimate which includes all those talking points. From there we go to, at minimum, a purchase order which references the estimate. If there are add ons to the job, additional estmates are issued and signed off by the customer before continuing. The real purpose of all that is to communicate with your customer before the work is done; make them understand what they are getting for a certain price. Extras are extras and need to be treated as such.

You can do this in a friendly way; I just say it is a good idea so we don't forget anything. Good customers will expect and welcome a clear black and white approach like this Bad customers won't.

Grant
 
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