Who wants to get their own video made?

[qzar9999]

Originally Posted by MadmanDarkHeretic

This really sounds ridiculous. Does anyone really think quality video projects show up for 100 bucks? Those comics that get sold around here usually cost the creator more than that per page.

Did it really need a thread in almost every board on the forum? This is straight up sales spam, meant to lure as many folks as possible to opening their wallet. Could you at least keep it to one thread?

You know, the problem is that I worry that General Discussion tends to get ignored by a lot of people who are only here for content--which would be the kind of people who might actually commission a video.

And the only reason the price is so low is to encourage people to contribute. Dave wasn't thrilled to death at the prospect of doing so many commissions, but it's what we had to offer, and if we went around asking for $200, $300, or more to do one video...well we didn't like our chances. I could point out that some other people who take commissions (or have previously) tend to ask in the neighborhood of $175-$200, so it's not like we're being completely ridiculous.

Originally Posted by Katsumend

Well, I for one think this is highly relevant information, and I'm glad it was shared.

Once again, I would like to point out that I invested almost as much--more recently--and I feel like it went well. So take it with a grain of salt.

EDIT: Oh, by the way, this is from 11fifty's tumblr in answer to LK's "He never improves" complaint:

"What makes you think you can do any better with more money you havent improved in years.

Anonymous

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Why what a nice question!

I would normally shrug delete this and move on, but I decided to actually answer it.

So the main problem with improvement are three simple things, Time, Money and Space. These are the limits on what can be done. I will go through each of them and how they will be improved.

Time:

I shoot 4 to 6 clips per shoot, we have to move fast, model time is costly, and even if you could pay them more there is a limit to how long they will be able to stay and shoot. Other studios can take time and shoot 1 clip because they self shoot or have a single focus. We have 3 hours to shoot 6 clips, that is 30 minutes each, no time for scripts no time for many takes. That includes quick camera set ups and moving the cameras around.

Now, in the future, we will be shooting more clips, as many as 25 a month. What is different is *how* we shoot them. Using virtual sets, 3 camera shooting we can more finely edit things, with less camera movement. Motion capture clips are 1 continuous takes… the whole thing in 1 shot without pausing. We can now use 80-90% of the shoot’s time to actually *shoot*.

Money:

Right now…we use have a small shooting budget and some overhead from gear loans. The sales from 1 month determine the shoots for the next month. Clips pays around 7th of the month, we cannot book until we have it, so we lose a week.

Post Upgrade: Money is solved, there would be a much larger (3X ) shooting budget and a more flexible one at that. More chances to book those traveling models, chances to pay a day rate, or import models from afar for a weekend of shooting. In short, flexibility.

Space:

Our space is very very limited, the green screen is 9 feet wide, and it requires me to re-arrange parts of the house. and we are limited to a couple areas of the bedroom. That is not a lot of space, we can barely have two models on the screen at the same time. Motion capture we have to move a computer, and set it up each time, recalibrating and it so forth, it is a kind of a pain, actually. Further we cannot use the boom due a low ceiling.

Post Upgrade: The space we are looking it is HUGE, it is currently being used to store 2 large boats and a couple large campers… with lots of space left over. The new green screen will be 30 feet wide, much taller (for low angle shots). The ceilings are 15 to 20 feet, so boom is not a problem! There will be a separate motion capture area, with the set up being left in place, carefully calibrated.

So that is the short-ish answer. This does not address all the lovely features and concepts. New uses for technology I have been testing. New *people* helping with clips, and new ways to shooting things and such.

Tired of coasting along, want to make big and do new things."