F.A.Q.

  1. How much does a TV commercial cost?
    This is usually the biggest question in people's minds. I can't answer this until I've talked with you about your business and what you're trying to accomplish through advertising. There many other factors involved, so it's best that I work up a customized quote. Every business is a little bit different, so it doesn't help you any if I try to fit your advertisement to the same kind of mold as a different ad. It's almost like going up to a real-estate agent and asking "So how much does a house cost?"
  2. What does the cost include?
    The total cost includes a significant amount of time. How much time spent on a project depends on its overall complexity and size. Time is needed to conceptualize and come up with scripts, make arrangements for production, and to bring everything together during the editing and post production process. More on my post production process later.
  3. How long will it take to complete a project?
    The total time it takes to complete a project can range from several hours to several weeks or months. Most TV spots take 3-5 days to complete, including any production time, but my work load and schedule can affect this. As such, it's important to plan out TV advertising in advance. You'll want to avoid waiting until the last minute, because I might not be able to complete the project in time. Also, rushing things through at the last minute ends up costing you more in the long run.
  4. Can you start on my project right away?
    This depends on my current workload and deadline schedule. In some cases, I can begin work on a new project within 24-48 hours of acceptance, but there are times when I need to complete other work before starting on something new. Taking on too much work all at once can have a negative effect on results, and that's not fair or proper for anyone.
  5. I found another place that charges less than you do. Can you match or beat their rates?
    Sorry, I can't simply match another establishment's rates. Video production is not a commodity. In other words, you get what you pay for. I'd rather you bring your business to me because you know that I will deliver a final product that will help and impress you -- not because I'm the cheapest show in town.
  6. I've never made a TV commercial before. How does the process work?
    The first step is contacting me through email or picking up the telephone and calling (907) 646-1408. Before I show up with a camera or a crew, and before I even start writing a script, I need to talk with you and gather information. For the most part, I'll ask a lot of questions about your business. What are you trying to accomplish? Who are you trying to reach? Do you need help getting set up with a schedule for broadcast? Do you have a budget for this project?

    Once I get all the details from you, I can put together an estimate that will give you an idea as to what the total investment on your part will be. I use the budget you give me in our first meeting as a template to figure out how much time I'll be allotted to produce the project. Once you sign off, the real work on my end can begin. Based on all the information I get from our conversations or meetings, I'll write up a script outlining what your ad will look like and sound like. Then I'll send this to you for approval.

    When you approve the script, the next step is to set up and schedule the production portion. Locations and how long a shoot, or multiple shoots, will take has already been outlined in your estimate or quote, so there shouldn't be any surprises. Depending on the budget of the project, a deposit may be required by the day of production.

    Once production is completed, I take all the video back to my editing station to begin the work of editing your project. In most cases, editing takes up the biggest chunk of time in any project. It's a process that involves selecting the best shots from the shoot and appropriately and creatively mixing them together on a time-line. Each shot is then tweaked, massaged, and finessed to bring out the best aspects of color, clarity, and motion. Text, graphics, and effects are all added at this stage as well. Once the ad is complete, I send you a "proof" or preview of the spot, so that you can be sure you're happy with the final product. If you don't require any changes or modifications, I prepare your brand-new ad for broadcast. Your final payment is made, and I deliver the ad directly to the broadcaster(s). The next thing you know, you'll be seeing your ad on the air, working for you.
  7. What kind of working relationship should I expect from working with you - or any videographer, editor, etc.?
    Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for someone to work with:
    • A Great Portfolio- If you've never worked with a video production freelancer or business before, you shouldn't be afraid to ask to see a demo reel or a small sample of previous work done by that person or business. Seeing a what a few finished pieces look like can speak volumes about that producer's abilities when it comes time to work on your project.
    • Good Communication Skills- If you send off an email looking for information, the very least you should expect to see in a response is a letter without glaring spelling or grammatical errors. Sentences should be complete, and you should be able to understand what you're reading.
      When you finish your conversation or meeting about your project, you should know: What you need to provide for the project, what the videographer needs to provide, a basic timetable to completion, and a basic understanding of the process that will be followed to see your project successfully through to the end.
    • Great Customer Service- Does it take a long time to get a response from an email? That should send up a red flag. It shouldn't take more than 24 hours to respond to an email inquiry. Also, a good videographer or video editor will respect his or her clients and value their intelligence. When the project is complete, a good video production business will be available to answer any questions or offer any assistance you might need after the project is complete. There may be some additional charges, but this would be discussed during the meetings and conversations that took place before work started on your project.
    • Good Time Management- Your project should be getting the attention it deserves and should be completed in a timely manner. Larger projects are usually broken down into milestones, and regular contact should be maintained so both video producer and client know the status of a particular project at any given time.
    • Positive References/Trustworthiness- How well do you know the person or people working on your project? Do they have a positive reputation for meeting or exceeding expectations? If you're unsure, ask for references from clients or other businesses they've been involved with.
    • Flexibility- No part of any project is ever set in stone. The videographer/editor you're working with should be able to provide sufficient wiggle-room during each step of the production process just in case something changes.
  8. If I give you a CD or an MP3 file of my favorite song by [your favorite band], can you use that as background music for my video?
    Typically, the answer is no. There are licensing fees involved when using music in your projects. While popular music titles can be licensed, the fees to use them can easily cost more than an entire production budget. If you're in no way deterred by cost, I'm always more than happy to get the proper music rights for your project.
  9. Will you use my project in your portfolio?
    I might! I do reserve the right to use almost anything I create for a client for my own marketing and promotional purposes as well as my online portfolio. Although, I may not use the project in its entirety.
  10. You really do all of this by yourself?
    Most projects I take on can be completed by just myself. On some occasions, I may bring an assistant along to help with production. I've set it up this way to keep things simple for me and for you- my client. It also helps to keep budgets reasonable and overall costs down. However, if you'd like to use me to work on a larger scale project, I'd be more than happy to pull together a competent and overall excellent production team that can handle just about anything. There are several extraordinarily talented and motivated professionals that I've had the honor of working with here in Anchorage, and we always do what it takes to get that perfect shot.

Thank you for taking the time to read through this FAQ. If you've got a question of your own you'd like to ask, please type it in the contact form at the bottom of the page and send it on over. I usually respond to emails within 12 hrs during normal business hours, Monday through Friday.