It was a busy week. I shot and edited 5 commercials, helped to shoot a really cool dotmatrix project show and drove to Staunton, Virginia and shot Dr. Bill Schneider speaking at the Woodrow Wilson Library’s annual luncheon.
I had some time to reflect on the busy week.
Commercials
I’m contracted filmmaker in the Greensboro area for Turnhere.com, a company that creates professional-quality, authentic, engaging online video around the world at a fraction of the cost of traditional production. My role is simple. I get the contact information about the client, I call and ask simple questions about what they are looking for. I show up with my tripod, camera and wireless lav. I sit down and interview the owner or someone that has passion for the company…sometimes the owner is not camera friendly. From the interview I gather b-roll footage and I’m done. That takes about 90 minutes. I get everyone to sign location and appearance releases and I’m off to edit and send off all the video files, releases, finished commercials and project file within 48 hours.
I really like the concept and idea that Turnhere has created. I really appreciate working with the owners of these businesses. You really get to feel the enthusiasm that they have for their business. It is also a great way to network. The owners understand that you are contracted through Turnhere but would like additional video work for their website or other events.
Dotmatrix Project
DMP, had another great show on Thursday night. Micah, Blake, Jen and I shot the show and with an audience full of appreciative music fans that filled the back bar at The Green Burro in downtown Greensboro. I arrived a few minutes late after mailing off my Turnhere videos. Got together with my filmmakers and planned a way to shoot the show and shot it. The night ended around 12:00.
Staunton, Virginia
Got to bed around 1 AM Friday morning, couldn’t fall asleep till 2 AM. Woke up at 5 AM, got ready and opened the door and saw snow on the ground. Crap! I wondered what it looked like 180 miles north of Greensboro. Picked up Blake and we were on the road. I held off on getting gas in NC because I knew it would be cheaper in VA. Sure enough, it was $1.69 a gallon compared to $1.93 in NC.
We arrived at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel in historic downtown Staunton, VA around 10 AM. Set up both Cameras and ready to shoot the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library’s 2008 Annual Luncheon Address. The guest speaker, Dr. Bill Schneider was simply an amazing Presidential Historian. He spoke about US presidents and the elections as if it were his own family and really brought a new perspective about the US elections. Not only about the Presidents but how the elections were run and what each Presidential nominee were running on. It was an enjoyable and a fascinating shoot and a huge thanks goes out to Jarod for referring me for the gig.
Later that day we head back to Jarod’s and begin editing the 2 camera shoot. It is such a breeze with multiclip editor in FCP 6. I’m editing the luncheon and Blake was editing the dotmatrix project show. Meanwhile in the background Jarod invited his friends to hang out at his great house and we (Blake & I) are being geeks in the kitchen editing. Thanks for the hospitality Jarod.
The next day Blake and I rise and head back home. On the way we have a delicious breakfast at Cracker Barrel where I was two steps away from embarrassing myself when Blake chimed in, “They have two Men’s rooms.” I knew that lady walking to the sinks didn’t look like she belonged in the Men’s room. It was a long week and I needed rest. Back on my feet and ready to wear myself out again.
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1 response so far ↓
1 Rob // Dec 1, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I was very interested in reading about TurnHere.com. I’ve seen a number of offers to create short video pieces as works-for-hire. One example is the RealHealth.com folks. Another is Current.tv.
I always worry about the “fine print” in the contracts you have to sign. For example, in the TurnHere.com Independent Contractor Agreement, term #4 it says, “Independent Contractor agrees to verify all facts in the Film and Related Materials submitted”.
How can you reasonably “verify all facts in the Film”? That is quite an all-encompassing statement, in my opinion. If your subject says his name is “John Smith”, do you check his ID? If you don’t then you are technically out of compliance with this agreement.
The next sentence reads, “Independent Contractor will not include in any of the Film and Related Materials any material that is defamatory, offensive or that infringes upon or violates the rights of others or that is otherwise unlawful.”
It all seems reasonable except the “offensive” part. How can you insure that nothing you submit is offensive to somebody somewhere?
I’m sure they’re not trying to do anything underhanded and that the agreement was written by a lawyer that’s trying to cover every possible liability they might face. I just worry when I see such all inclusive language that seems to be open to such subjective interpretation.
I’d be interested in hearing if other independent contractors worry about this and what they do about it.
Thanks for sharing this interesting information.
Peace,
Rob:-]
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