Hiya, Just a word of background, I do TV production for a living. Mostly independent stuff, but some broadcast stuff...
I've been approached a lot by companies like this, especially start-ups. They want me to find ways to reduce costs, and still deliver a large percentage of what I do to clients. The problem is that I do actually have to make a living off of making video, and that's not going to happen if each one takes a day or two to make and the most I can hope to get is $25-100. It's great if you're on vacation, take a few fun videos, and then get a check for $25... that's great. The problem is when I'm asked to create videos with the same level of production that I usually charge many time more for. You're right... there are a lot of start-ups out there who think that the best business model is to create a venue for other people to do all the work, and then they make their cash off the backs of others. Ebay is a great example of that. They've created this quasi-community (less and less these days) and behave as if they were a store like Amazon (with special quasi-promotions, advertising, etc.), but they don't actually stock anything or even lick a postage stamp. They've made their fortune by creating this virtual market. That's fair since everyone is making a little something, but what do I get out of making a video review for $25-50? It's fine if you're having fun, but how to move to the next level? What affects me now is that many clients who approach me now think that this is the status quo for video production. I love the FLIP camera (I have several of them, after all...), but its ease has made my clients think that all video is just that easy. it's funny how shocked people are when they call me for a gig, and I don't jump at the chance to bring thousands of dollars worth of gear to their $200 shoot. Oh well, these topics have been covered before here so I'll quiet down. I love the video revolution, and I love that more people are using video to communicate than ever, but I don't love opportunistic companies who devalue the industries that they try to exploit. >> TurnHere.com, who are an agency who match up filmmakers with small >> businesses, have a new promo going for US & Canadian filmmakers. >> You can offer free 1 minute videos to small businesses, and Turnhere >> will pay you $200 to make them. >> It's a very small amount of money, and is undercutting other people >> who are trying to do the same thing on an individual basis. >> But the requirements are much lower than your average bespoke video >> job. It's pretty much video by numbers. Turn up for an hour, shoot >> an interview with the proprietor, shoot some B roll, cut a 1 minute >> film, get paid $200. >> > > I looked into their business model. I'd want to here from video > producers who did a lot of work for them. Seems more like > http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/10/ff_demandmedia. > > Ironically, Turnhere's orientation video is a downloading WMV: > http://producers.turnhere.com/orientation-webinar-video.html > Guess some there doesn't know how to do simple transcoding? > > Sorry to be a scrooge, but I hate companies that just want to profit > from other people's work. Like an Amway scheme. > > Jay > > -- > http://ryanishungry.com > http://momentshowing.net > http://twitter.com/jaydedman > 917 371 6790 > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > -- -- Bohus Blahut (BOH-hoosh BLAH-hoot) modern filmmaker ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/videoblogging/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/videoblogging/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: videoblogging-dig...@yahoogroups.com videoblogging-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: videoblogging-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
