royalty rates? at DVinfo.net

James Metz · January 17th, 2007, 01:57 PM

Hi -
I shot an "in studio" (not live) play to DVD for a non-profit client. Original copyrights I specified for the client, in the contract, were for the DVD.
what would be a good ball park, and in what form if they have broadcast media (probably faith-based public tv groups) interested in airing the piece?
Thanks for any pointers,
James

James Metz · February 8th, 2007, 05:22 PM

interesting observation:

I very often hear the old hands in the biz complain about newbies undercutting their rates and values...but when you ask a direct question about business norms like a royalty rates they get all quiet.

Now does anyone want to shed some light?

thanks!

Bill Davis · February 8th, 2007, 05:58 PM

James,

First off, I didn't understand a lot of your orignal post. It was, to my eye, confusingly written.

Particularly the sentence: ( I assume it was meant as a sentence even without the Initial cap at the start...)
"what would be good ball park," THRU "airing the piece"

That sentence lost me and I never got back to considering trying to help.

Perhaps I'm just dumb, but it didn't make much sense to me.

You want a "rate?" What kind of rate? Hourly?, Buyout? Exclusive? For what? For something with no known duration (commercial?, hour lengh program? 90minute documentary?) and not knowing if it's LOCAL, or REGIONAL, or NATIONAL, or GLOBAL?

In short, how can someone shed light if they don't understand even the basics of what you want to know?

I'm truely not trying to be harsh here, I'm just trying to help you get what you say you want.

Essentially, if you want answers, it starts with framing questions that are both clear and specific enough so that people with the experience you're seeking can easily pop up and say (yeah, I did something JUST like that and here's my experience...)

A big lesson that I learned years ago is that if I'm not getting the results I want, casting fault on others' is a huge waste of time. If I want the results, it's on ME to get them.

So nowadays, I never ask "why aren't they helping me" cuz there are a million possible answers. Instead I ask "What can I do differently (better) so I CAN get the help I want?" It's a shift that's made my life MUCH easier me over the years.

(BTW, I don't do the kind of work you're talking about so I don't have a clue about those kinds of rates, but just wanted to offer the idea that a better set of questions might honestly help get you the results you want.)

Good luck.

Richard Alvarez · February 9th, 2007, 12:16 AM

I didn't answer because it's a potential morass... too many variables to begin to answer.

First off, you say you shot a "Play".

WHO owns the copyright to the play?

Answer that. And I'll ask the next question.

Chris Luker · February 9th, 2007, 01:30 PM

$369.89 give or take.

January 17th, 2007, 01:57 PM	#1
James Metz New Boot Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: san diego, ca Posts: 8	royalty rates? Hi - I shot an "in studio" (not live) play to DVD for a non-profit client. Original copyrights I specified for the client, in the contract, were for the DVD. what would be a good ball park, and in what form if they have broadcast media (probably faith-based public tv groups) interested in airing the piece? Thanks for any pointers, James __________________ James Metz http://www.videodiamonds.com

February 8th, 2007, 05:22 PM	#2
James Metz New Boot Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: san diego, ca Posts: 8	C'mon Ol' Timers interesting observation: I very often hear the old hands in the biz complain about newbies undercutting their rates and values...but when you ask a direct question about business norms like a royalty rates they get all quiet. Now does anyone want to shed some light? thanks! __________________ James Metz http://www.videodiamonds.com

February 8th, 2007, 05:58 PM	#3
Bill Davis Trustee Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Posts: 1,538	James, First off, I didn't understand a lot of your orignal post. It was, to my eye, confusingly written. Particularly the sentence: ( I assume it was meant as a sentence even without the Initial cap at the start...) "what would be good ball park," THRU "airing the piece" That sentence lost me and I never got back to considering trying to help. Perhaps I'm just dumb, but it didn't make much sense to me. You want a "rate?" What kind of rate? Hourly?, Buyout? Exclusive? For what? For something with no known duration (commercial?, hour lengh program? 90minute documentary?) and not knowing if it's LOCAL, or REGIONAL, or NATIONAL, or GLOBAL? In short, how can someone shed light if they don't understand even the basics of what you want to know? I'm truely not trying to be harsh here, I'm just trying to help you get what you say you want. Essentially, if you want answers, it starts with framing questions that are both clear and specific enough so that people with the experience you're seeking can easily pop up and say (yeah, I did something JUST like that and here's my experience...) A big lesson that I learned years ago is that if I'm not getting the results I want, casting fault on others' is a huge waste of time. If I want the results, it's on ME to get them. So nowadays, I never ask "why aren't they helping me" cuz there are a million possible answers. Instead I ask "What can I do differently (better) so I CAN get the help I want?" It's a shift that's made my life MUCH easier me over the years. (BTW, I don't do the kind of work you're talking about so I don't have a clue about those kinds of rates, but just wanted to offer the idea that a better set of questions might honestly help get you the results you want.) Good luck.

February 9th, 2007, 12:16 AM	#4
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	I didn't answer because it's a potential morass... too many variables to begin to answer. First off, you say you shot a "Play". WHO owns the copyright to the play? Answer that. And I'll ask the next question.

February 9th, 2007, 01:30 PM	#5
Chris Luker Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Woods Cross, Utah Posts: 310	$369.89 give or take.