TV Commercials: Need advice, resources, and other threads!

R

Ryan-Guy

Well-known member
I've been approached by a TV network to pitch a commercial to a tourist shopping center in Hawaii (long story). I have made my living off of the cliche way - wedding videos - and have made short films and a produced a feature-length documentary. But I have no idea how to go about approaching, pricing, permitting, insuring, etc. I know basic marketing, but the TV :30/60 structure is foreign to me. Lets approach this like I know nothing.

Can you guys give me some pointers, advice on absolutely necessary gear, links to other threads and other reading materials such as books or blogs about TV advertising & business practices that I can sink my teeth into?

OR what was your experience on getting your first TV spot gig?

Thanks guys!


NOTE: THis may be in the wrong section, so MODs can move if you need too.
 
The first thing you have to do is get the broadcaster's specs. Format, codec, bitrate, aspect ratio, HD vs SD, broadcast safe, etc. Different stations have different requirements.

Ask if they require you to have insurance, permits, contracts with talents etc. My clients don't care, but yours might be different.

Just did my first local cable TV gig. Other than following the TV station's tech specs, there was nothing to it. They are there to help you as well.
 
chromeboy007 said:
The first thing you have to do is get the broadcaster's specs. Format, codec, bitrate, aspect ratio, HD vs SD, broadcast safe, etc. Different stations have different requirements.

Ask if they require you to have insurance, permits, contracts with talents etc. My clients don't care, but yours might be different.

Just did my first local cable TV gig. Other than following the TV station's tech specs, there was nothing to it. They are there to help you as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response. And congrats on wrapping your first TV gig!

I've worked with the TV cable's general manager before on a few projects for them, so I'm good there as far as delivery formats... 720p, prores 422hq, etc, :)

My main areas of concern are more about pre-production and principle photography production side of things. Also it would be great if someone recommended some books on TV commercial development and production.

The pitch we are selling is a $10,000+ concept, according to the partner of the TV network exec that is setting up the meeting.

This is some random info that I have gathered so far, PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong on anything (And I understand that it is completely subjective to the project):
1) Permits are needed in Hawaii when shooting on public land. If on private property no permit is needed.
2) I need $1 million general liability insurance
3) Clients generally want to oversee the production, so a secondary production monitor is needed for them to view the shots as we are filming.
4) Shooting days usually run about ten hours
5) I need to cater, or feed the crew... obviously lol!
 
Well your concerns stems from the fact that you are running a $10,000 plus project, not necessarily because your work is going on TV. Good for you for landing a big job! My TV commercial worked out to be like a $1000 budget :(
 
First step, hire a producer.
Second step, hire a DP.
Third step....well, there really isn't much more of a third step. Most of your problems are solved.
 
RyanT said:
First step, hire a producer.
Second step, hire a DP.
Third step....well, there really isn't much more of a third step. Most of your problems are solved.
Click to expand...

If Ryan-Guy was to hire a producer, what would his position be? Executive Producer? Just out of curiosity.
 
Depends on what he wants to do, what he wants to learn, and his experience. If he wants to direct, try and let the producer take over as many of the producing responsibilities as possible and just direct this one. If he wants to learn more of the producing side, he just has to take over some of the work the producer would be doing and try and learn as much as he can from the person he's hired. If he has more interest in the business side of all this, just be the executive producer and hire a producer, director, and DP to figure things out.

Heck, if he wants he can hire a director and DP the thing himself. When you have some control of the money, you have control of where you put yourself on the production.
 
chromeboy007 said:
If Ryan-Guy was to hire a producer, what would his position be? Executive Producer? Just out of curiosity.
Click to expand...

Super-producer... haha!

I'm more of a producer kinda guy. My brother who is the real creative talent will be doing the directing/DP work. Where my skills end his start to overlap, so its a nice partnership.

What was it like running your guy's first commercial gig? How detailed were your pitches? Were the clients present during the shoot? Did you set a price and then hope that you would be under to make a profit, or do you give an estimate before and then bill the client afterwards?

Lots of questions, and if only one was answered I'd be happy
 
Set a price and then budget accordingly. If you try and spring a bill on them after the fact I have a feeling it won't go over so well. All of your spending should be approved in advance.

The commercial shoots I've been on, the client or the ad agency is usually there. I did do one clorox branded web series where there was a bunch of story elements, and then some product placement shots. The agency folks could care less about the story aspects, but when it came to the product shots they were really specific on everything. They are almost always very difficult to have around, but it seems good to give them a monitor, some directors chairs, and make them feel like they're part of the process. That was they feel like it's something they've created and it's something their proud to show off.

I am more of a DP type, so I definitely don't know it all. This is just what I've figured out from being on a handful of commercials in a bunch of different positions.
 
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