The Window Channel

[Christopher C. Murphy]

Good point!

[Steven White]

They only pay $150 for HDV material but $300 for other material?? what's up with that?

The HDV cameras are cheaper than any other camera that produces 60i content. They are more portable, shoot on less expensive media, and in general would not require more than one person to use. They also shoot in a more more compressed format, and thus are of more limited use to the company.

That said, these kinds of shots are exactly what HDV does best (within it's own format). Locked down scenery is easy on the compressor, allowing the maximum amount of the data rate to account for motion etc. etc. Pretty cool.

-Steve

[Claude PierreLouis]

Thank you all for your inputs on my query.
I have noticed a cityscape (SF) footage with street noises on the Window Channel web site.
I guess the appropriateness of the audio is left to TWC.
Is a seagull call not allowed in a cityscape nor a dog bark at the beach?
How was the question of copyright handled?

[Chris Gordon]

Our web site http://www.plasmawindow.com sells DVDs and HD-DVDs with a similar concept.

The Plasmavironments DVD features waterfalls and ocean scenes. We're releasing a cityscape DVD later this year.

I like the idea of a submission program for Sony HDV users and that may be something we pursue. Two of our DVD-ROMs are in WMV 720P HD format and our upcoming Cityscape DVD will be in WMV 1080i format.

[Steven Gotz]

Chris,

You need to investigate the AVel Linkplayer2 which plays WM9 files. No PC required.

http://shop.iodata.com/shopping/prod...=AVLP2%2FDVDLA

and a review ...

http://hdsource.highlydef.com/2004/1...-2-part-1.html

[Chris Gordon]

Thanks Steven,

We'll have to test our HD-DVD in this player to see how it performs with our menu system.

-C

[Steven White]

*BUMP*

I was wondering if anyone had followed this up? I have made a few submissions to the Window Channel, and gotten so far as to having one of them accepted. I have sent the raw *.m2t file on a DVD-ROM and expect it to arrive within a week or so. After everything goes through I'll give a report of my experience... I was wondering if anyone has had positive experiences with them so far?

-Steve

[Bjorn Moren]

They also bought one of my submissions, and I sent it on DVD-R on may 2:nd, to arrive a week later. At this point I don't care about the money really, I just want to see if they are for real. As weeks go by with no payment, I start to wonder. I've reminded them once, and they've insisted that I'll get the money soon, but nothing happened. They are always polite and nice, so I'll give them another week or two before I count them off.

I would like this to work because I really like the business idea. If things dont work with TWC, I'm planning to do it myself here in Stockholm, but just with tourist type of material from around the area.

An idea that just popped up in my mind was if we all together could start a HDV material stock and compile different types HD DVDs that we sell, where each photographer gets his share. We create a web site where we submit our material, people can view it in low-res, pick the segments they like, and recieve it on DVD-R. It already works pretty well for still images, there are a lot of those sites. Would it work for us? Or better: is there already such a site?

[Brent Marks]

I would not send any dvd's or tapes without being paid first. (At least 50% now... 50% upon delivery)---Everyone uses Paypal... including big companies.

There really are no copyright issues in this type of content...

So theoretically these people could be compiling a huge library of HI_DEF stuff from us... for free.


But I do hope they are legit and a good company...
But I don't want to wait weeks for a check to come in.

[Steven White]

Bjorn mentioned to me that he did get paid eventually. I'll let him fill in as much detail as interests him, but they still haven't gotten back to me. It's a real shame if I'll have to nag them to get paid... but I might shoot some more stuff for them anyway - it is a fun hobby.

-Steve

[Bjorn Moren]

Yes I got paid eventually.

I get the impression that these are good solid guys, but they lack the attention I require to make future business with them. I had to nag them twice, but on the other hand thats not uncommon when getting paid from a business, at least not here in Sweden. Shooting the segments was fun, although I've never been into the "tourist" type of shots they are after.

If there are enough people who are interested in shooting "Window segments" we could create a web site where we offer our shots. In that way we can reach many more potential buyers, and they'll pay on our terms. I happen to be a web designer/programmer, and if there's any interest I can set things up for us. I don't know if it could be in joint venture with dvinfo.net.

And it's not that hard to do what TWC is doing, really. Just assemble some really good segments on a DVD-R in wmv9, get a Avel Linkplayer and the widescreen TV-set of the customer's choice, and there you have it. Finding customers is another thing though.

[Chris Gordon]

Gentlemen -

In the second week of July, plasmawindow.com will begin accepting submissions of HDV 1080i-30/60 footage for two upcoming HD-DVD projects.

Plasma Window will pay $250 per 5 minute shot. We're looking for up to 20 or 30 shots. (Beautiful beaches, cityscapes etc...)

More details will be released on www.plasmawindow.com in the coming weeks. (And on this DVinfo post/board)

dvd@plasmawindow.com

[Brent Marks]

I'd stay away from the Window Channel

[Steven White]

I got paid this week. They have always been courteous, and responded to my inqueries rapidly. I will continue to do business with them based upon personal experience and success.

Brent - I don't know if you've submitted to them before or not, but if you haven't, your post above strikes me as dangerously close to fear mongering. By all accounts I've received so far they are legit.

-Steve

[Steven Gotz]

I would say if you got paid, that pretty much says that the system works and that the only requirement is a lot of talent getting the right shot.

That's great news.