My First Commercial Shoot (Wisdom Needed)
- Thread starter shoook
- Start date
ProfessorU
Veteran
Some of the points for delivery specs you'll want to check with the destination. Especially since letterboxing may give you postage-stamping or worse by the time it goes to air in February. I would shoot 16:9 HD and consider 4:3 safe if you want to go out without letterbox to 4:3.
givemefood
Well-known member
I agree with Frisco...
I think the only real advice i read on this thread is from Frisco...
I think the only real advice i read on this thread is from Frisco...
Shooter
Veteran
givemefood
Well-known member
Shooter.. calm down, contribute knowledge, and not add to the sarcasm that floats around here sometimes...
Thanks for seeing this with open eyes......
I do have to apologize for "Tone" in which my posts have had. To the OP, the mods and anyone I offended.... I apologize.
That said...... I stand by the content and how it applies to making effective commercials. Making commercials goes against just about what every artsy filmmaker believes in. Guys that specialize in making commercials have been called every name in the book by "filmmakers" for years. Sellout, Money whore..... My point is that you just don't go sign up to shoot commercials. A background in advertising is at least the minimum requirement you should have to create successful commercials. Sure..... there are tons of people out there doing the low budget commercials that we all laugh at.... Most these people get stuck there just doing one crappy commercial after another.
To the young aspiring film makers out there with tons of energy and excitement.... The last thing I wanted to do was discourage you. I'm a firm believer that a series of small victories equals a large amount of experience and confidence. I have seen to many people take on projects that were way to much for them and they failed. It is true for some, that failure is not always a bad thing. For me..... Failure is just about the worse thing in the world and does nothing for my confidence. Don't get this confused with testing out things on your own. I test allot of things before a job that fail.... But I only bring things to a job that I think will work.
I think my point is.... Just cause you have a camera.... Doesn't mean you should shoot everything. If your interested in making commercials, start working on crews that make them and take some class in Advertising. For the OP..... Maybe take on a partner that does commercials for this job. Sure you'll make less.... But I'm sure you will learn more.
frisco
Shooter
Veteran
I cant disagree with much of that frisco.
I have often felt that I should write something similar when I see " I am making my first TV commercial...how do I do it?" type posts. I got over being territorial a long time ago.
In this case it was uncertain what role the OP was undertaking. It would have been helpful to know if he was Producer, Director, D.P, writer, creative director...etc
I assumed this was to be a simple TVC for a local church and most likely working to an established formula. I never once imagined it might be anything that had "Advertising Agency" involved. ( You never know though because there are some big bucks in the GOD business)
I think he has had some very good all round advice proffered . Hope he posts a link to what his end result is.
frisco....We can be friends again (it is Xmas after all)
I have often felt that I should write something similar when I see " I am making my first TV commercial...how do I do it?" type posts. I got over being territorial a long time ago.
In this case it was uncertain what role the OP was undertaking. It would have been helpful to know if he was Producer, Director, D.P, writer, creative director...etc
I assumed this was to be a simple TVC for a local church and most likely working to an established formula. I never once imagined it might be anything that had "Advertising Agency" involved. ( You never know though because there are some big bucks in the GOD business)
I think he has had some very good all round advice proffered . Hope he posts a link to what his end result is.
frisco....We can be friends again (it is Xmas after all)
mb72378
Well-known member
This is RIDICULOUS!
This is RIDICULOUS!
This is RIDICULOUS! This forum is supposed to serve as a help to all those needing it. A place where we can get together and socialize about the things we love to do. I think SOME of the statements presented are rude and unnecessary. Help the man if you can, provide knowledge on the subject at hand; but nothing else. Pick a different place to hop on your soap box. Listen to Jason's warning and think twice about turning the website that so many people love, into your own personal boxing ring.
Matt :angry:
This is RIDICULOUS!
This is RIDICULOUS! This forum is supposed to serve as a help to all those needing it. A place where we can get together and socialize about the things we love to do. I think SOME of the statements presented are rude and unnecessary. Help the man if you can, provide knowledge on the subject at hand; but nothing else. Pick a different place to hop on your soap box. Listen to Jason's warning and think twice about turning the website that so many people love, into your own personal boxing ring.
Matt :angry:
After this.... I'll have to get off the Soapbox.....
I may be wrong ..... But this is how I see open forums:
Forums are great places for like minded people to exchange knowledge and ideas, Not a replacement for an Education in film making, law, medicine, marketing, advertising, engineering, ect.
When is it not ok to warn somebody they are about to step into a mud puddle?
Shooter....Merry Xmas
frisco
Last edited:
Luis_
Well-known member
Hey all... 
I'll just get back to the subject in hand.
First off... everyone on here (wether in their own way) have shared very good info.
Now, I'm not the super producer, but ever since I bought my HVX200A... I have been making commercials for 2 different TV Station in Philadelphia.
I don't work for a big company or anything I do all this as my own little private business at home and deal with many different clients for these TV Stations.
Just turned another completed commercial in last night. And my advice I guess would be to share my experiences... since I'm doing this like every other week.
My advice to you would be to first check how the TV station wants it delivered. Because after my first commercial I learned my lesson. (It was not fun) I deal with 2 stations and one them wants it in BetaSP (lately they have been taking a master DVD and they convert it them selves) Because I explained to them that I lost my connection to the beta SP guy. The guy that use to convert it for me in a nearby recording studio got laid off.
ANIWAY!.... The other station that I deal with wants it delivered in Blueray. They have also accepted master DVD's lately because burning the blueray stuff is not easy for me all the time.
My TV Stations require 1 minute of bars & tone, then 10 seconds of slate (something simple made with text right in your editing software) and 2 seconds of black empty video which I call "Slug" I don't really know what slug is.... but when I drag and drop a slug from the bin in FCP and make it 2 seconds long it works.
I also add 2 seconds of just black video to the end. (or another slug)
Now... to the creating part. I sit down with the client and ask them:
1-What is the product? (There is always something to market, wether it's a product, an idea, or an event, or what ever it is)
2-How long do they want it? ( I usually explain that most are 30 seconds)
3- will there be any disclosures? ( any text that needs to be displayed on the screen for a certain amount of time?
4- Then I ask if they have done commercials before? if so do they have them? (they usually do) (but only if they want me to see them to make something similar but better of course)
5- if they do have a previous one, do you want it like that one?
6-if they don't have a previous one (skip step 5, just kidding!)
7- when ever possible take a stop watch with you to the meeting to demonstrate that it takes a certain amount of time to say something. They don't belive it til they see it with their own eyes :crybaby:
8- and one of the most important! Don't asume! ask the client.. probe, probe, probe...it'll be worth it!
The more you ask, the better off you will be. And the more details you get from the client the better off. The reason I say this is because I recently made a commercial for a calling card and I only icluded the cards throuout the whole commercial. Well it turns out that the client wanted the stub to also be displayed on the TV. Yes... like the part that you rip off and throw away!
Anyway... that goes to show that the client can tell you what they want, and you can give them what they need! and still they will make you change it to what they want!
( I remember some discussion on this part earlier in the post...lol...)
So the more you talk about the details at your meeting.. the less painful your experience will be.
Then I write a script if I have to. Run it by the client over the phone. If they like I continue or make changes as nescessary and then I put it together.
I started eMailing 2 or 3 samples before the final one. Now I'm down to eMailing out the first sample and by the second revision we are usually good to go!
Now to the next part:
I have timed a lot of commercials and I see that they spend the first 20 seconds doing somekind of useless acting and then cram all the important info into the last 5 seconds.
WELL... some of them I like depending on what it is but!
I do different!
I have been attacking commercials in 3 sections and sometimes 4.
I start with what "it is" straight to the point..
then bridge into the offering of what "it is" that I presented at the beggining.
Then I explain the details, features and benefits and etc... or how ever you want to describe what the commercial is about.
and if there is any acting I throw it in right after that so that people already know what the acting is about. (or clips or what ever assets you have for this part) The acting or the clips in this part I use it to support what I just explained. or in other words to give samples or what ever.
Then right after the acting (if there is any, or clips) I bridge into the last part which is to me what I call "the ending" or "the closing"
Also make sure the audio matches the tone in the bars and tone, and don't over blast the viewer with loud audio or they will end up turning your commercial down and then it will be worth less.
What I have discovered (or at least what works for me) is that if I attack any of these projects in sections, it always comes out better.
Like if I concentrate on only the beggining (or the opening) until I'm happy with it, then I move on to the next part even if I have to revise the previous part later. But revising the previous part later usually does not happen often.
When I first started I use to work on these commercial as a whole. Like trying to mold the full 30 seconds at once! (not good!) Now I do it in parts. (and it feels so good :beer:!
Also... I do not shoot my commercials in the P2 card. I have discovered that shooting on tape at the highers quality does not display (or at least) it drastically reduces the ugly interlacing lines. My first commercial on CBS3 in Philly..... OMG! I was so upset! It may have been ok to the public but for me...?!?!?!?!?
I get smooth crispy clear looking video when I shoot on tape. I'm not saying that you have to do it that way, but that's just easier for me. I capture right into FCP and I'm all good...:beer:
So that's it from me! I have just shared some of my recent experiences it may not be much but that's what I have to offer for now.... hope it helps and the best of luck to you!
♪Lou
Producing anything from Philadelphia to New York
LRCProductions@gmail.com
I'll just get back to the subject in hand.
First off... everyone on here (wether in their own way) have shared very good info.
Now, I'm not the super producer, but ever since I bought my HVX200A... I have been making commercials for 2 different TV Station in Philadelphia.
I don't work for a big company or anything I do all this as my own little private business at home and deal with many different clients for these TV Stations.
Just turned another completed commercial in last night. And my advice I guess would be to share my experiences... since I'm doing this like every other week.
My advice to you would be to first check how the TV station wants it delivered. Because after my first commercial I learned my lesson. (It was not fun) I deal with 2 stations and one them wants it in BetaSP (lately they have been taking a master DVD and they convert it them selves) Because I explained to them that I lost my connection to the beta SP guy. The guy that use to convert it for me in a nearby recording studio got laid off.
ANIWAY!.... The other station that I deal with wants it delivered in Blueray. They have also accepted master DVD's lately because burning the blueray stuff is not easy for me all the time.
My TV Stations require 1 minute of bars & tone, then 10 seconds of slate (something simple made with text right in your editing software) and 2 seconds of black empty video which I call "Slug" I don't really know what slug is.... but when I drag and drop a slug from the bin in FCP and make it 2 seconds long it works.
I also add 2 seconds of just black video to the end. (or another slug)
Now... to the creating part. I sit down with the client and ask them:
1-What is the product? (There is always something to market, wether it's a product, an idea, or an event, or what ever it is)
2-How long do they want it? ( I usually explain that most are 30 seconds)
3- will there be any disclosures? ( any text that needs to be displayed on the screen for a certain amount of time?
4- Then I ask if they have done commercials before? if so do they have them? (they usually do) (but only if they want me to see them to make something similar but better of course)
5- if they do have a previous one, do you want it like that one?
6-if they don't have a previous one (skip step 5, just kidding!)
7- when ever possible take a stop watch with you to the meeting to demonstrate that it takes a certain amount of time to say something. They don't belive it til they see it with their own eyes :crybaby:
8- and one of the most important! Don't asume! ask the client.. probe, probe, probe...it'll be worth it!
The more you ask, the better off you will be. And the more details you get from the client the better off. The reason I say this is because I recently made a commercial for a calling card and I only icluded the cards throuout the whole commercial. Well it turns out that the client wanted the stub to also be displayed on the TV. Yes... like the part that you rip off and throw away!
Anyway... that goes to show that the client can tell you what they want, and you can give them what they need! and still they will make you change it to what they want!
( I remember some discussion on this part earlier in the post...lol...)
So the more you talk about the details at your meeting.. the less painful your experience will be.
Then I write a script if I have to. Run it by the client over the phone. If they like I continue or make changes as nescessary and then I put it together.
I started eMailing 2 or 3 samples before the final one. Now I'm down to eMailing out the first sample and by the second revision we are usually good to go!
Now to the next part:
I have timed a lot of commercials and I see that they spend the first 20 seconds doing somekind of useless acting and then cram all the important info into the last 5 seconds.
WELL... some of them I like depending on what it is but!
I do different!
I have been attacking commercials in 3 sections and sometimes 4.
I start with what "it is" straight to the point..
then bridge into the offering of what "it is" that I presented at the beggining.
Then I explain the details, features and benefits and etc... or how ever you want to describe what the commercial is about.
and if there is any acting I throw it in right after that so that people already know what the acting is about. (or clips or what ever assets you have for this part) The acting or the clips in this part I use it to support what I just explained. or in other words to give samples or what ever.
Then right after the acting (if there is any, or clips) I bridge into the last part which is to me what I call "the ending" or "the closing"
Also make sure the audio matches the tone in the bars and tone, and don't over blast the viewer with loud audio or they will end up turning your commercial down and then it will be worth less.
What I have discovered (or at least what works for me) is that if I attack any of these projects in sections, it always comes out better.
Like if I concentrate on only the beggining (or the opening) until I'm happy with it, then I move on to the next part even if I have to revise the previous part later. But revising the previous part later usually does not happen often.
When I first started I use to work on these commercial as a whole. Like trying to mold the full 30 seconds at once! (not good!) Now I do it in parts. (and it feels so good :beer:!
Also... I do not shoot my commercials in the P2 card. I have discovered that shooting on tape at the highers quality does not display (or at least) it drastically reduces the ugly interlacing lines. My first commercial on CBS3 in Philly..... OMG! I was so upset! It may have been ok to the public but for me...?!?!?!?!?
I get smooth crispy clear looking video when I shoot on tape. I'm not saying that you have to do it that way, but that's just easier for me. I capture right into FCP and I'm all good...:beer:
So that's it from me! I have just shared some of my recent experiences it may not be much but that's what I have to offer for now.... hope it helps and the best of luck to you!
♪Lou
Producing anything from Philadelphia to New York
LRCProductions@gmail.com