Getting a commercial job

Colione

Colione

Active member
Here is my situation.

Aside from getting into filmmaking, my day job is a hip hop / breakdancing instructor / performer / guy.

I teach at the biggest adult drop in dance studio in Vancouver, called Harbour Dance. My boss, whom I have a good relationship just called me. She wanted to me forward a commercial I shot for this contest to this TV station here, because she is thinking about getting a commercial made for her studio.

(View Commercial here: http://www.djcolione.com/Videos/daysgoby_Z_web.mov )

She said she tried explaining to the guy at the TV station what I did, but he didn't understand.

Anyways, I know the TV station would charge her an arm and a leg and give her limited creative control.

My question is how could I go about informing her that I could do as good, or better of a job, for cheaper and give her complete creative control. Are there any points I should make explicit? Is should I show her more footage?
 
Re: Getting a commercial job

Dude, if she's already happy with what you did, then you just say what you said to us. "You realize the TV station is going to do a lousy job, and I could do better, for less. Why not let me make your commercial?"

The problem is, most TV stations charge DIRT CHEAP prices for making commercials, in exchange for getting a longer contract for the airtime. So they may be charging her $300 total for the commercial. If you want to do it for less, that's your choice, of course.

TV stations typically do not do "creative" commercials. They're well-known for showing up, waving the camera around the store, and slapping a voiceover on top. If she wants something different, and most especially if she wants something like what you've already done, then it seems like you're in a great position to just go get the job.

Ask her for the job. Tell her you can do it the way she wants it. But ask for it.
 
Re: Getting a commercial job

TV stations typically do not do "creative" commercials. They're well-known for showing up, waving the camera around the store, and slapping a voiceover on top.
Click to expand...

That's so the truth. ;D

I used to breakdance back in my early days. Oh, brings back memories. Back to the topic, bro do it yourself. This is your chance to show off your creative skills. Don't depend on boring commercials, you can do a way better job. If William Hung can do it anyone can. ;D
 
Re: Getting a commercial job

Thanks for the tips guys.

I know the price for the commercial doesn't include airtime, and I'm not sure how much they station is going to charge her for airtime ... but the commercial itself..no where near dirt cheap.

...for a basic commercial. 4 hours shoot + voice over 1 vhs tape ... $2500 CAN!
For something more, and 8 hour shoot, 2 voice overs, and a bunch of other crap $3550.

If you don't like how the commercial is editing, they'll redo it for you ... for $700!

Yeah, I will talk to her tomorrow. Thanks guys!
 
Re: Getting a commercial job

Well, you better check with your local TV stations. I highly doubt a VHS tape will cut it.
 
Re: Getting a commercial job

$2500 canadian?  That's like $2100 US.  For a four-hour shoot?  That sounds extremely high, compared to US prices.  In my local market the station would probably charge $500 for that.

So, by all means, now you're even in a stronger position.  Tell her you'll do a much better job (she already has seen and knows your work) for less expense.  The station wants $3550?  Tell her you'll do it for $2500 and guarantee that she'll absolutely love it.  And if she doesn't?  Re-edits are FREE.

Deliver the master on either a DV tape, a DVD, or get it transferred to BetaSP (whatever the station requires). A BetaSP transfer shouldn't cost more than about $25 or so.

(I only recommend going cheap because you're young and this is your first gig.  If you were well-established, you wouldn't have to discount the price, so do this, do it well, and you'll be in a better position next time).

Seems to me like you've got this one in the bag.  Now just go get the job!  ;)
 
Re: Getting a commercial job

Barry Thanks for the tip!

$2500, yeah I was gonna go even cheaper, but I like the idea about the free reedits. Cause It's incentive that she'll love it, and I highly doubt she'd want me to reedit it anyways... yeah, $3550 CAN ... look...

INVESTMENT BREAKDOWN

Planning $560
Videography $1120
Post Production $1170
Talent/Materials $700
Total Investment $3550

That's the mid level package, script writing, 'talent', up to 8 hour shoot, 'premium' lighting, two voice over, up to 8 hours of editing, and final delivery on VHS.

Reading that again, I could only forsee it producing really expensive crap. Ok, I am commimting myself to this gig, not only cause I want experiance, and I want to earn some money, and I'd have fun doing it ... but to stop my boss from doing something stupid, and paying a ton of money for garbage being sold on a VHS tape.

Thanks for all the words guys! Helpful and motivating. ;)
 
Re: Getting a commercial job

..colione, good luck man, and have fun with the shoot! be sure to let us know how it goes if you get the gig ;)
 
Re: Getting a commercial job

About "final delivery on VHS"... I doubt that they're actually delivering the final copy TO THE STATION on VHS... they're probably just giving the client a VHS copy. The final version to the station will almost undoubtedly be BetaSP or DVCPRO/DVCAM...
 
Re: Getting a commercial job

[quote author=Barry_Green link=board=MesPhotos;num=1101411783;start=0#8 date=11/26/04 at 10:51:15]The final version to the station will almost undoubtedly be BetaSP or DVCPRO/DVCAM...[/quote]

That's the unanimous word from every television station I've ever checked with . . .
 
Re: Getting a commercial job

The cable company here wil take a miniDV tape, although I realize that's the exception.

Their minimum in house production cost is a grand though. Which actually works out well for me, since I won't look so pricey for what I give.
 
Re: Getting a commercial job

[quote author=Colione link=board=MesPhotos;num=1101411783;start=0#0 date=11/25/04 at 11:43:03]how could I go about informing her that I could do as good, or better of a job, for cheaper and give her complete creative control? quote]

tell her. You could type it if ya like.
show her your reel then give her a bid.
 
Re: Getting a commercial job

You do need to shoot low for commercials for reasons stated above about TV stations shooting for cheap.

Be aware when setting your price and writing the commercial that actors don't necessarily come cheap and if you were to use the video in your link (just as an example) you would need to pay serious broadcast license rights to get that Dirty Vegas song into the commercial (if the rights are even open to be used).

I would assume that dance studio would want some music in their commercial so you would need either royalty free music library or some original music from the dance studio, friend, etc. to do on the cheap.
 
Re: Getting a commercial job

if you were to use the video in your link (just as an example) you would need to pay serious broadcast license rights to get that Dirty Vegas song into the commercial (if the rights are even open to be used).
Click to expand...

Yeah, no kidding. The only other commercial I've ever seen that in was a Mitsubishi add back in 2002, and you better believe they paid through the nose to use that song.
 
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