Quote for Project

P

Party_Pooper

Active member
What is a reasonable price to ask for a 4 minute long project that includes interviews and a photo montage. The video will be output to web and DVD. The video will only bee seen by employees of the company and screened at a company party. Also what are the legalities of music in this situation? Thanks so much!
 
Re: Quote for Project

How much work will it take to make it?

When in doubt, figure out how many days it'll take you to do the project, and figure out what you'd like to get paid per day. If it's a day of shooting and two days of editing, and you want $400/day, and you don't have to rent any equipment, then your cost could be as low as $1200. If you have to rent equipment, add that on there. If it takes longer, add that on there.

Finally, add in a reasonable profit margin (which is *not* coming out of your $400/day!) After all, if you got busy and had to hire someone else to make it, you still have to have a profit margin built in there.

I'd say anywhere from $3000 to $5000 could be appropriate, without knowing more about the project.
 
Re: Quote for Project

The problem I run into when pitching quotes for Music Videos for unsigned artists is that when you start throwing out numbers like $2000, $5,000, $8,000 and so on, that seems to scare away people. By the same token, I am not trying to short change my talent, time, and effort to make the project look and sound nice.

I guess you could find out how much they are willing to pay for the project. Just tell them to give you a ball park figure then you could base your quote on that.

After you do several projects and people are really digging you work then you might be okay to start hitting them with the high end figures. I think if you start off with something high, they are going to be like $3,000 for a 4 minute video? Are you kidding me? Little does the average person know how much work is involved in shooting and editing a project and that time adds up to "mo' money"!

Are you going to be doing Graphics too? If so, add that in because that takes time too!

As for the music, you can always resort to using the Royalty Free Music Libraries out on the market. If you have software like Soundtrack, Garageband or your own musical equipment you could create your own song.
 
Re: Quote for Project

Good point, that was definitely on my mind. Thanks. :)

Edit:

One more thing:

For music, since this project isn't being sold, is it okay to use any music?

If it's not, I'll most likely use local bands or composers music. What's the going rate for using a song for a project like this?
 
Re: Quote for Project

sorry, one more question:

Is it procedure to ask for some initial pay up front?

again, thanks ahead of time
 
Re: Quote for Project

Always. Especially if you're hiring crew.

I usually specify 25% to 33% upon contract signing, to fund development (script writing, storyboarding, etc). Then between 2/3 and 3/4 of the total before production begins: I won't hire someone and put them to work until the company's check has CLEARED. No way will I get stuck with the bills. Then, upon final delivery, the final 1/3 or 1/4.
 
Re: Quote for Project

hey barry,
do you (or anyone else reading this for that matter)have any distributable copies of various contracts for contracted labor like that specifically for video production. or a good reccomendation for where i could buy some good contracts from. or do you reccommend i do the safest route, and have each one written up separately through a contract lawer?

the ones i have are pretty generic :-/
 
Re: Quote for Project

The thing about generic contracts is, unless it's written specifically for your purpose (or you're a lawyer yourself), then you'll likely be signing something that you don't understand. So it's of limited value.

I wouldn't say that each one needs to be written by a lawyer separately though -- you could certainly have one crafted that would be broad-based enough to cover most circumstances you'll find yourself in. You just want to make sure that it protects your interests and is specific to your state.

It doesn't have to be pages and pages long, but it does have to spell out who's responsible for what. I use one that is mostly one page (although fairly small type) and it declares who expects what from whom, and when, and who owns what and who has what rights to what.

A generic contract is *much* better than nothing, as long as you understand what it says, and as long as what it says properly reflects the understanding between the two parties.
 
Re: Quote for Project

[quote author=DVX100Shooter link=board=Jobs;num=1097198030;start=0#3 date=10/07/04 at 19:45:08]The problem I run into when pitching quotes for Music Videos for unsigned artists is that when you start throwing out numbers like $2000, $5,000, $8,000 and so on, that seems to scare away people. By the same token, I am not trying to short change my talent, time, and effort to make the project look and sound nice.
...

After you do several projects and people are really digging you work then you might be okay to start hitting them with the high end figures. I think if you start off with something high, they are going to be like $3,000 for a 4 minute video? Are you kidding me?[/quote]

The problem is once you've established yourself as a low-cost alternative within a given market, then that is what you will be known for.  

It is very unrealistic to think you would appeal to your customers based on 'price-point' then expect customers to later want you based on 'quality'.
 
Re: Quote for Project

I met with the company today and quoted them at $2500 for the project as I anticipated about 2 days of shooting and maybe a 3 or 4 days of editing. However they now want me to fly to three different locations which might take about 4 days of my time. Now, what do you do with the price with this situation?
 
Re: Quote for Project

Are you shooting in those different locations? Then each gets counted as a shooting day, so whatever you set your shooting rate per day at, that's what they have to pay. If they're asking for more than 8 hours a day (i.e., 8 hours of work, plus 2 hours of flying each way) then they have to pay overtime.

If they're bringing you in the night before (and they're springing for the airplane and hotel room, of course) then you typically charge a "travel day", which gets billed at half the regular rate.
 
Re: Quote for Project

Thanks Barry. Looks like I'm going to Mississauga, Orlando and Colorado. Any tips for flying with camera gear? I was planning on putting my DVX wrapped in a bunch of towels or foam (for cushion) in a backpack so I can carry it on with me. As for the tripod, I was thinking of putting it in a duffel bag to go along with my luggage. How safe will this be? Alternatively, I was also thinking of bringing instead this dinky crappy plastic tripod.
 
Re: Quote for Project

That's a lot of flying! Hope they're paying for travel days...

Only use good gear. Don't bring a horrid tripod along just because it's the only thing you can fly with; instead either check the tripod as baggage or find a place at your destination where you can rent a quality tripod for the day. Porta Brace and others make DVX-able carry-on camera bags.
 
Re: Quote for Project

[quote author=Party_Pooper link=board=Jobs;num=1097198030;start=0#12 date=10/13/04 at 15:10:48]As for the tripod, I was thinking of putting it in a duffel bag to go along with my luggage.[/quote]

Buy an inexpensive golf club bag (hard shell). Pop out the interior dividers and you have a great case for your tripod.

For example, something like this hard shell:

http://www.exploreproducts.com/doskocilgolfguardgolfcase.htm
 
Re: Quote for Project

i leave tomorrow night (sunday) anyone know of the airport ruining tapes with magnetic security devices, or anything on the plane? I'm taking my camera stuff including tapes with me on board.

thanks!
 
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