Do you think DiscoveryHD channel will accept HVX imagery for their channel?
- Thread starter radtex
- Start date
It is show and order (number of episodes) specific. Co-production or straight buy. Best way to get started is develop a treatment, budget and have a concept short ready to go. All DCI programming is non-union, so make certain you crew and cast accordingly for the pitch.
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Gibby
Red Savant
overlandfilms said:
Well stated. Beyond co-production and straight buy (they purchase airing rights to your already completed series or program), there is a third way: commission. Fiscal policy at DCI necessarily limits the number of commissioned series or one-offs they will approve. In reality, the easiest way to air your projects is for you to bring an already completed series of one-off program to them that is really compelling content that they want. They do a lot of co-production deals, but once again as Overland has mentioned, for that you will need a reasonable production resume, a good abstract (it's pitched online at their producer's portal), and either a good "sizzle piece" (3-4 minute trailer), or another short demo piece that gives their programming staff an idea of the production values of what you want to co-produce with DCI.
Gibby
www.cut4.tv
Gibby
Red Savant
alpi69 said:
What an awesome experience it was! It was the second Super Bowl I’ve done production at – the first being the 1988 Super Bowl at San Diego (Redskins/Broncos).
alpi69 said:
Well stated. It is really hard for a television-programming executive to be overly concerned about an acquisition format when a program with great content professionally directed, shot, and edited is sitting in front of them. That’s still no guarantee you’ll close the deal with them, but they have a long memory for who pitches them with quality shows – regardless of the format used in the pitch piece.
alpi69 said:
No doubt. Focus and lighting are much more critical in HD than in SD. Preview monitors, DV Rack units, etc.in the field will save you a lot of grief in the edit bay. A good DP can achieve some pretty amazing results using inexpensive High definition cameras…
Gibby
www.cut4.tv
Sumfun,
Like I said, that is show specific. I can't put a number out there and say what is typical. Suffice it to say that one show might only cost $30 or 50k per episode while another could run well over $300k. It really depends on what you're doing.
Write it, do your breakdowns and then develop your budget starting there. If you've never line produced anything, well, suffice it to say that you are at a disadvantage.
e
Like I said, that is show specific. I can't put a number out there and say what is typical. Suffice it to say that one show might only cost $30 or 50k per episode while another could run well over $300k. It really depends on what you're doing.
Write it, do your breakdowns and then develop your budget starting there. If you've never line produced anything, well, suffice it to say that you are at a disadvantage.
e
Gibby
Red Savant
Stabwound,
Here's some more links that should give you some leads to find freelance work with your HVX200 in the Vancouver area:
Vancouver HDTV discussion forum
http://www.digitalhomecanada.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1288
Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (links to BC cable system web sites)
http://www.ccsa.cable.ca/mbrcos.asp
Craigslist Vancouver Section (click on “TV, Video, Film” link for freelance job listings)
http://vancouver.craigslist.org/
Stargate Films (Vancouver film & HD production company)
http://www.stargatefilms.com/
Yaletown Entertainment (Vancouver film & HD production company)
http://www.yaletownentertainment.com/
Insight Film (Vancouver film & HD production company)
http://www.insightfilm.com/
Mandy List (Job and equipment board. Click on "Production Jobs", and "Canada" and "Vancouver". Options will then be "Crew" or "Production". There's also a board to sell your films)
http://www.mandy.com/
I've done sports and adventure travel television production in the Vancouver city and Vancouver Island areas several times, including covering salmon fishing at Uclulet, and professional snowboarding on the mountain above Vancouver (Vans Triple Crown of Snowboarding). From there I went north to produce a series of cable TV commercials for Alaskan Cable Network.
If you can get around the work permit requirements, You may be able do some HD stringing for the Seattle area network affiliate stations that want news and human interest stories about the Vancouver area. I believe a couple of the Seattle stations broadcast in HD now.
With the HVX being able to shoot in both 720p and 1080i it is really versatile for HD freelance work. If a station or production company wants DVCPro50, DVCPro25, or DV, no problem for the HVX.
Cheers!
Gibby
www.cut4.tv
Here's some more links that should give you some leads to find freelance work with your HVX200 in the Vancouver area:
Vancouver HDTV discussion forum
http://www.digitalhomecanada.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1288
Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (links to BC cable system web sites)
http://www.ccsa.cable.ca/mbrcos.asp
Craigslist Vancouver Section (click on “TV, Video, Film” link for freelance job listings)
http://vancouver.craigslist.org/
Stargate Films (Vancouver film & HD production company)
http://www.stargatefilms.com/
Yaletown Entertainment (Vancouver film & HD production company)
http://www.yaletownentertainment.com/
Insight Film (Vancouver film & HD production company)
http://www.insightfilm.com/
Mandy List (Job and equipment board. Click on "Production Jobs", and "Canada" and "Vancouver". Options will then be "Crew" or "Production". There's also a board to sell your films)
http://www.mandy.com/
I've done sports and adventure travel television production in the Vancouver city and Vancouver Island areas several times, including covering salmon fishing at Uclulet, and professional snowboarding on the mountain above Vancouver (Vans Triple Crown of Snowboarding). From there I went north to produce a series of cable TV commercials for Alaskan Cable Network.
If you can get around the work permit requirements, You may be able do some HD stringing for the Seattle area network affiliate stations that want news and human interest stories about the Vancouver area. I believe a couple of the Seattle stations broadcast in HD now.
With the HVX being able to shoot in both 720p and 1080i it is really versatile for HD freelance work. If a station or production company wants DVCPro50, DVCPro25, or DV, no problem for the HVX.
Cheers!
Gibby
www.cut4.tv
stokestack
Active member
transcoding
transcoding
Well, you'll need an Xpri system for that, since that's the only one that has the HDCam codec.
transcoding
Gibby said:
Well, you'll need an Xpri system for that, since that's the only one that has the HDCam codec.
Gibby
Red Savant
stokestack said:
That may be true for that exact workflow, but there appears to be a lot of workarounds for DVCProHD footage to be mastered to D-5 HD and HDCAM for broadcast. Varicam-originated 720p DVCProHD content is found widely on multiple broadcast and cable networks in the USA, in 720p for networks that broadcast that, and converted to 1080i for networks that broadcast that. Well-shot HVX footage should be able to follow the same path, with the added benefit that the HVX can shoot 1080i or 720p, something the Varicam can't do.
Jeff Merritt, Product Line Business Manager, HD, Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems, gave some great input on the question of Varicam use on HD broadcast on an 8/28/05 thread on the Varicam forum of Creative Cow:
Link: http://forums.creativecow.net/cgi-bin/new_read_post.cgi?forumid=120&postid=855023
Varicams are used to shoot Discovery's hit series "American Chopper", and the 720p DVCProHD footage is then output to HDCAM 1080i for delivery to Discovery. Jeff also gives an impressive list of networks that Varicam-originated DVCProHD footage air on.
Obviously the HVX is not a Varicam - 1/3" CCDs vs. 2/3" CCDs, lens quality, etc. I feel that if the HVX is shot carefully, using professional techniques, that it's DVCProHD footage will become readily accepted by all networks. There will be a learning curve for programming executives to understand the quality of the footage for the HVX and differentiate the HVX in their minds from the HDV cameras. As a B camera for Varicam productions, and as the sole camera in some instances and genres of programs, the HVX will probably make it's mark in the HD television industry.
Looking forward to it!
Gibby
www.cut4.tv
alpi69
Veteran
it will be interesting to see if they can distinguish the HVX from others in certain programmes.
we were able to match the DVX to our BetacamSP so we could intercut without any colourcorrection etc in the end. it depends on the shot, but there will be a lot of productions that the HVX and a Varicam will go along just well (if the HVX turns out as we hope).
we were able to match the DVX to our BetacamSP so we could intercut without any colourcorrection etc in the end. it depends on the shot, but there will be a lot of productions that the HVX and a Varicam will go along just well (if the HVX turns out as we hope).
Gibby
Red Savant
alpi69 said:
We've had the same experience intercutting well-shot 3-chip DV with Beta SP and other broadcast formats. In some shooting scenarios where we couldn't risk using a high-end camera, or a high-end camera wouldn't fit the mobility needed, we have used 3-chip DV quite successfully. When the VX1000 shipped in 1995 we adopted it for use in custom water housings, aerial shots, etc, and intercut it with Beta SP. We've used the DVX for a similar role, where a more color-saturated look was needed.
Hopefully the HVX will dovetail with the Varicam and SDX900 in the same way. Depending on how footage from the HVX looks, it may be good enough to be the "A" camera for certain types of productions. Saweeeeet!
Gibby
www.cut4.tv
Brian Petersen
Well-known member
That Producer's portal on DCI is a nice tool. Are there other such online avenues available to the other HD Channels (HDNet, INHD, etc.) Have you dealt with those companies in trying to submit HD material to them? Is the process much different? Are they open to unsolicited content?
Thanks,
Brian
Thanks,
Brian
Gibby
Red Savant
Brian Petersen said:
Here's a link for info on pitching HDNet to air projects. They are looking for scripted, completed 35mm-originated features and HD-originated films. They're also looking for unscripted, completed non-fiction HD-originated programs, including documentaries, concerts, etc. There are links on the page link below to communicate with the right person to pitch your project to them.
HDNet link: http://www.hd.net/opportunities.html
Right offhand I don't have info on other HD programming opportunities, but it should be available by visiting the corporate web sites of PBS, NBC, ABC, INHD, ESPN, Fox, and CBS.
There's going to be increasing opportunities for good HD-originated productions to air as HDTV proliferates around the world. HD production technology is becoming more affordable and demand is increasing...
Gibby
www.cut4.tv
thisiswells
Retired
I believe HDNet offers a flat rate of $1000 per half hour of content. I heard this from someone who has a business relationship with Mark Cuban, so I figured it was true...
Gibby
Red Savant
thisiswells said:
Interesting...
At that rate, it would be a non-exclusive airing agreement - obviously not a buyout situation. The thing to factor in is if they would allot some inventory of commercial airing slots and billboards (if applicable) to you so you could close some sponsorship deals for the airing (s) to generate additional gross revenue for yourself.
If it were a non-exclusive syndication deal you would be free to also cut deals to air the same program on other networks after the contracted airing. If the network wants an exclusive airing contract, they'd have to pay a lot more than $1000 per half hour...
Gibby
www.cut4.tv
Brian Petersen
Well-known member
$1000 per half hour sounds REALLY low. I'd have to turn my camera on the earthworms in the backyard for half an hour just to try and make a penny profit.
Gibby
Red Savant
Brian Petersen said:
Even straight barter airings, where they aren't paying you anything for airing your program, can generate significant revenue if you negotiate a contract that assigns you commercial airing slot and billboards. The business progression for self-syndicated airings goes as follows:
1) Airing commitment: potential program sponsors need to see that to quantify the number of households reached and their demographic profile.
2) Close sponsorship deals: Title, presenting, and product. You can either close those deals yourself, or partner with one of the reputable media placement companies that are in most major cities. Media placement companies will bring the sponsors to the project for a negotiable percentage of what the sponsors are paying you to sponsor your program.
In this model you are retaining all copyright to your program, and since it's non-exclusive you are free to cut other similar airing deals. The gross revenue from the model above can be several thousand dollars, depending on the number of households reached, and the strength of the sponsorship packages you are able to market.
In the above model I have done scores of time buys, where I'm buying the airing time form the network, sold the sponsorship packages, and returned a very handsome net profit. If HDNet was paying $1k per half hour, the deal was non-exclusive, and you negotiate the right to sell sponsorship packages for the airing (s), you can turn a reasonable profit. I haven't done one of those deals with HDNet, but I have with multiple other networks. If HDNet wanted to simply pay $1k per half hour, and wouldn't allot me commercial/billboard inventory so I could market sponsorship packages, I simply wouldn't cut the deal with them, I'd look elsewhere.
Gibby
www.cut4.tv
Actually this is how most of syndication works. The TV stations only pay for the more popular shows such as Oprah and Dr. Phil. With many lesser shows, they just barter commercial time. It's hard for a producer to make money if the show only airs in 1 market, but if you've cleared 100 markets, then it can be quite profitable. But you have the added work of selling the commercials or paying commissions to a media placement company.
I would be surprised if HDNet only pays $1000 with NO bartered commercial time. No producer can make a profit at that level.
I would be surprised if HDNet only pays $1000 with NO bartered commercial time. No producer can make a profit at that level.