Verne Carlson
EF5
Was this the production company who's name sounds like a tasty frozen treat? LOL
JR Hehnly
EF4
I think it's a British frozen treat, they always have the funny spellings for words like colour, aluminium, and Fridae.
They said they were looking for the "BEST TORNADO FOOTAGE", so I didn't bother replying. I don't have any of that.
Shane Adams
I still don't know what "best" is supposed to mean. I've seen a lot of crappy up-close tornado video.
KMcCallister
EF3
But, probably be a better "frozen treat" if it were strawberries though. I'm not sure why they don't just solicit us for "FREE TORNADO FOOTAGE" instead. Isn't FREE the actual going rate these days anyway?
I actually must be a really bad chaser since I have no tornado video from any of the 17 dates they are asking about.
Chris White
EF0
Great discussion. After the initial contact, I pointed them to an HD high bitrate 720p timelapse they said they were still interested and sent them a copy of the RAW(1080i) on Tape on Tuesday using their fed-ex #. I generally tape alot more video than I ever watch(i.e. I have never watched 50+ % of the footage I have taped). I mostly focus on stills. They asked for all the stills & other material I have and quite honestly I am finding it difficult to put together some type of screener (which I could use again down the road) for submission but, probably should to be able to submit at a moment's notice. In the response I specifically stated subtly that I could care less about exposure and more about covering my expense in the formal letter attached.
PM's encouraged
Mod's: please move to Bar and Grill
PM's encouraged
Mod's: please move to Bar and Grill
Shane Adams
Hopefully you didn't just send them a tape for free. Never send anything for nothing, be it a screener/sample/whatever you wanna call it. In fact, I charge about the same amount for a screener as I do a 'minimum rate' price:
Years ago I gave a tape to a producer who wrote me a $500 'deposit' check. She said she'd get back with me in a week to let me know what they wanted to use. After about a month of her not calling or returning my own calls, I received my tape back in the mail with a nasty message that said, more or less, "since it's so obvious you need the money more than I do, I won't ask for my deposit back." Bi#ch, you weren't getting it anyway.
Had I just given her the tape, I never would've gotten it back and they could've used it for whatever and I would've gotten nothing. Don't enter into video sale negotiations friendly. The media senses 'friendly' and auto-assumes 'sucker'.
BE VICIOUS. If you don't make the sale, who cares?
Years ago I gave a tape to a producer who wrote me a $500 'deposit' check. She said she'd get back with me in a week to let me know what they wanted to use. After about a month of her not calling or returning my own calls, I received my tape back in the mail with a nasty message that said, more or less, "since it's so obvious you need the money more than I do, I won't ask for my deposit back." Bi#ch, you weren't getting it anyway.
Had I just given her the tape, I never would've gotten it back and they could've used it for whatever and I would've gotten nothing. Don't enter into video sale negotiations friendly. The media senses 'friendly' and auto-assumes 'sucker'.
BE VICIOUS. If you don't make the sale, who cares?
scott r currens
EF3
Warren Faidley
Supporter
Most media outlets "think" chasers will let footage go for nothing.
Trust me, on the market, good footage, especially from this year, will go for about $90.00 per second for actual footage of a tornado. If you have something really graphic, like you being chased by a twister or you have the only tornado footage from a major event, then charge a flat fee of $1,500 to $2,500+. Do not undersell yourself. And... don't fall for the old media trick of letting them con you into selling it cheaper "because" you will be on TV or get a credit--- or when they say "Everyone else is paying this price." This is BS, they called my office two weeks ago and offered a substantial fee for footage a tornado next to my chase unit.
Charge a min. of 5 to 10 seconds. Be firm. Selling footage for cheaper prices just devalues the market.
Make sure to carefully read the agreement. Never license footage for any use BUT THE SPECIFIC PROGRAM LISTED ON THE RELEASE. Some media outlets try to wrangle a hidden term making it able for them to use it forever, for whatever they want. Make sure they are responsible for securing your footage by not transmitting it as raw footage via satellite or computer. NEVER SELL AS EXCLUSIVE!!!!! This will really hurt you in the long run -- and possibly put you in a legal bind. If they want an exclusive, charge a lot more, triple the normal rates and make sure the exclusive has a shot time limit to cover the first airing of the show only.
As others have said, get their Fed-X shipping number and charge for sample reels -- $50.00 to $100.00 is normal.
NEVER send original tapes or discs. Send a digital copy.
Most importantly.... COPYRIGHT THE FOOTAGE!
Cheers:
Warren
Trust me, on the market, good footage, especially from this year, will go for about $90.00 per second for actual footage of a tornado. If you have something really graphic, like you being chased by a twister or you have the only tornado footage from a major event, then charge a flat fee of $1,500 to $2,500+. Do not undersell yourself. And... don't fall for the old media trick of letting them con you into selling it cheaper "because" you will be on TV or get a credit--- or when they say "Everyone else is paying this price." This is BS, they called my office two weeks ago and offered a substantial fee for footage a tornado next to my chase unit.
Charge a min. of 5 to 10 seconds. Be firm. Selling footage for cheaper prices just devalues the market.
Make sure to carefully read the agreement. Never license footage for any use BUT THE SPECIFIC PROGRAM LISTED ON THE RELEASE. Some media outlets try to wrangle a hidden term making it able for them to use it forever, for whatever they want. Make sure they are responsible for securing your footage by not transmitting it as raw footage via satellite or computer. NEVER SELL AS EXCLUSIVE!!!!! This will really hurt you in the long run -- and possibly put you in a legal bind. If they want an exclusive, charge a lot more, triple the normal rates and make sure the exclusive has a shot time limit to cover the first airing of the show only.
As others have said, get their Fed-X shipping number and charge for sample reels -- $50.00 to $100.00 is normal.
NEVER send original tapes or discs. Send a digital copy.
Most importantly.... COPYRIGHT THE FOOTAGE!
Cheers:
Warren
Dan Robinson
Yeah, $200 is a non-profit rate for 20 seconds of rain or fog footage. A production company may offer that for a tornado if they think you're an amateur that doesn't know better. They know what they pay the pros for good footage.
If I can't make at least $500-$800 on a stock sale I don't even bother. It's too much hassle by the time you get done with sending the screener, the master, the invoice and then later playing bill collector to get your check over the course of 3-4 months. There are a lot easier ways to make $200 if that's what you're after.
I typically pass on 9 out of 10 potential sales because most buyers want things cheap. Some people see the wholesale stock video sites where you pay $10 for a clip, and expect the same deal from you. Storm footage has a very high acquisition cost and does not go for Wal-Mart prices.
The stock business is tough these days, but you're better off not allowing your valuable material to go to someone who's going to make big bucks off of it no matter what they paid you for it. If you really need $200, go mow a few lawns on a Saturday. That will be much easier than dealing with a stock sale, trust me (and you get some exercise). Just don't give your goods away, even when things are slow and money's tight.
And definitely don't be dazzled by the prospect of seeing your work on TV. It will get you nothing. No future sales, no web traffic, no notoriety, no publicity, no repeat business. You'll only benefit from the deal if you're paid well from the start. Even your next door neighbor isn't going to know it was yours unless they happen to catch your name screaming by on the screen for 1/4 second in the credits.
If I can't make at least $500-$800 on a stock sale I don't even bother. It's too much hassle by the time you get done with sending the screener, the master, the invoice and then later playing bill collector to get your check over the course of 3-4 months. There are a lot easier ways to make $200 if that's what you're after.
I typically pass on 9 out of 10 potential sales because most buyers want things cheap. Some people see the wholesale stock video sites where you pay $10 for a clip, and expect the same deal from you. Storm footage has a very high acquisition cost and does not go for Wal-Mart prices.
The stock business is tough these days, but you're better off not allowing your valuable material to go to someone who's going to make big bucks off of it no matter what they paid you for it. If you really need $200, go mow a few lawns on a Saturday. That will be much easier than dealing with a stock sale, trust me (and you get some exercise). Just don't give your goods away, even when things are slow and money's tight.
And definitely don't be dazzled by the prospect of seeing your work on TV. It will get you nothing. No future sales, no web traffic, no notoriety, no publicity, no repeat business. You'll only benefit from the deal if you're paid well from the start. Even your next door neighbor isn't going to know it was yours unless they happen to catch your name screaming by on the screen for 1/4 second in the credits.
Last edited by a moderator:
Similar threads
