another day, another messup

Anders Risvold · January 11th, 2009, 03:34 AM

Mark: yes, as it looks now, it is in current state somwhat better than 'raw' posted. I did somethink like Ger described, tried to make it something 'in between'. But I know it can be done better :)

Ivan: it is 16:9. B roll is even in downconverted HD :) It is pixel aspectratio from screendump making it look 4:3

Ken: ohyes. I think I planned on charging around 2000$ for the night, but I got a question of totals from the wedding planner just after I had reviewed the footage :D so I messed up more for myself than the couple this time ;) live and learn. So when I think of it, it is more a 1k reduction. lol. talk ablout ripping off myself :D

Jonathan: no contract. all communication trough the planners. Couple came in by airplane some hours before wedding, and the next day they left. They live in some other country, I have no contact but an address to send the DVD's. I have not spoken one word to the bride, and briefly to the groom as I miced him up.

Steve Shovlar · January 11th, 2009, 03:10 PM

Anders, that is easily fixable! realy though, and please don't take this wrong way, you need to learn about how to colour correct.

NEVER give a discount after the event. The couple WILL NEVER know if there has been a cockup if you don't tell them.

You know what? Once I forgot to turn on the external mic plugged into my camera, and had the bride walking up the isle to SILENCE!!!. There are always ways of sorting out things. What did I do? Spoke to the organist a few days later, slipped £20 into the donations box at the church, and she happily played the organ for me again. the couple didn't have a clue.

You two cams look non matched, but the colours are simple to fix. You have no experience on how to do it? Get learning. If you use a Mac, its extremely easy to fix this in minutes. How do you do it? get your credit card out and join Lynda.com for a month. They have tutorials by Larry Jordan, which are extremely easy to follow, which will have your worries gone in a couple of hours.

Final Cut Pro 5 Color Correction - lynda.com Online Training Library®

Go get a beer and chill.

Steve Shovlar · January 11th, 2009, 03:14 PM

OK I see you use Premier.

Premiere Pro 2 Essential Training - lynda.com Online Training Library®

It has a section on colour correction.

Jonathan Levin · January 11th, 2009, 04:17 PM

Anders,

Before sending out final DVD product, I'd be inclined to ask for balance of what they owe you on this project. Just curious if you got an advance for the project. Hopefully you did.

The more I read of your situation, make the best quality video for this client and get paid BEFORE they get the final DVD. Maybe show them a low-res version on-line, since they are (yikes!) in another country. This has all the makings of someone who might be about to get screwed.

After the dust settles, think about all the things mentioned by me and the others, giving consideration to each point, especially the business side of things. I'm just tired of hearing about creative people doing the best they can with unreasonable or unrealistic demands, and then being blamed the world has come to end.

Jonathan

Dave Blackhurst · January 11th, 2009, 05:39 PM

A couple observations... since everything was done through "the planners", maybe you're worrying about nothing, and you probably just gave them a "free" bonus with that discount. I doubt the B&G will ever know about the goof up, and they probably are getting a "super bonus video package" from the planners at your expense. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's what it sounds like to me.

CC takes trial and error, I'm still "getting it" myself - I wish there were some sort of thing like the photo edit program I use that simply allows you to "shift" white balance - I've sort of figured out that's what those color wheels do, but as I say, it's still sort of trial and error.

When first reviewing your raw footage, don't panic. 9 times out of 10, you'll find a "save" if you take some time and think creatively. Anything short of simply not hitting the record button in a one cam shoot SHOULD be salvageable, albeit maybe not what you WISH (and should note to yourself for NEXT time) you got.

This is "life" in a live event, you get it or you don't and you make the best of what you DID get. No retakes, no net, no excuses. Not easy, and not for everyone. If your self esteem, ability to learn and grow in the fly, or adapt to new technologies is low, skip this business, otherwise it's quite a lot of fun! Making a living, well that's another topic...

Don Bazley · January 11th, 2009, 07:09 PM

I think you've gotten lots of good advice here. I just wanted to point out one more issue to consider:

If you're sending the DVD to another country I would make sure you know if you need to create NTSC or PAL DVDs. I realize this isn't related to your original question but I do think you'd want to consider this. :)

My .02...

Anders Risvold · January 12th, 2009, 01:59 AM

Don: I agree. People are kind around here :) NTSC/PAL.. I don't think thats my problem. the couple themselves, as well as friends and family come from all over.
USA, Norway, Polend, Nigeria, Tchekia etc.

Dave: I don't think the planners take the discount themselves. Bleeding edge buisniss in my country doing anything wedding relatet that does not include photography, flowerist or hairstyler.
Funny you should mention the record button, about 6 month ago I did company interview and hit the record button on my variezoom. Guess what, it ceased to work that day, without me noticing. Had to call em back and schedule a retake.

Jonathan: the planners have the cash, I told them to hold off til I made the DVD, and I send the bill when completed. I like to get payed when I deliver, never had a problem so far (then again, I mostly do video for companies. And besides the fact they tend to pay last day possible, I have enver had any real hassle so far)

Steve: thanks for the link. I Think this situation is the time to both try uut lydia as well as learning some CC. As you said, something I need to focus on anyways. Live and learn. But you are right about the discount thing, I'm too fast to just drop in a discount if things are not 100% perfect.

January 11th, 2009, 03:34 AM	#16
Anders Risvold Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Norway Posts: 72	Mark: yes, as it looks now, it is in current state somwhat better than 'raw' posted. I did somethink like Ger described, tried to make it something 'in between'. But I know it can be done better :) Ivan: it is 16:9. B roll is even in downconverted HD :) It is pixel aspectratio from screendump making it look 4:3 Ken: ohyes. I think I planned on charging around 2000$ for the night, but I got a question of totals from the wedding planner just after I had reviewed the footage :D so I messed up more for myself than the couple this time ;) live and learn. So when I think of it, it is more a 1k reduction. lol. talk ablout ripping off myself :D Jonathan: no contract. all communication trough the planners. Couple came in by airplane some hours before wedding, and the next day they left. They live in some other country, I have no contact but an address to send the DVD's. I have not spoken one word to the bride, and briefly to the groom as I miced him up. __________________ ------------------- www.r-video.no/dvd

January 11th, 2009, 07:09 PM	#21
Don Bazley Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 149	I think you've gotten lots of good advice here. I just wanted to point out one more issue to consider: If you're sending the DVD to another country I would make sure you know if you need to create NTSC or PAL DVDs. I realize this isn't related to your original question but I do think you'd want to consider this. :) My .02... __________________ "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro" - Hunter S. Thompson

January 12th, 2009, 01:59 AM	#22
Anders Risvold Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Norway Posts: 72	Don: I agree. People are kind around here :) NTSC/PAL.. I don't think thats my problem. the couple themselves, as well as friends and family come from all over. USA, Norway, Polend, Nigeria, Tchekia etc. Dave: I don't think the planners take the discount themselves. Bleeding edge buisniss in my country doing anything wedding relatet that does not include photography, flowerist or hairstyler. Funny you should mention the record button, about 6 month ago I did company interview and hit the record button on my variezoom. Guess what, it ceased to work that day, without me noticing. Had to call em back and schedule a retake. Jonathan: the planners have the cash, I told them to hold off til I made the DVD, and I send the bill when completed. I like to get payed when I deliver, never had a problem so far (then again, I mostly do video for companies. And besides the fact they tend to pay last day possible, I have enver had any real hassle so far) Steve: thanks for the link. I Think this situation is the time to both try uut lydia as well as learning some CC. As you said, something I need to focus on anyways. Live and learn. But you are right about the discount thing, I'm too fast to just drop in a discount if things are not 100% perfect. __________________ ------------------- www.r-video.no/dvd

January 11th, 2009, 03:10 PM	#17
Steve Shovlar Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dorset UK Posts: 697	Anders, that is easily fixable! realy though, and please don't take this wrong way, you need to learn about how to colour correct. NEVER give a discount after the event. The couple WILL NEVER know if there has been a cockup if you don't tell them. You know what? Once I forgot to turn on the external mic plugged into my camera, and had the bride walking up the isle to SILENCE!!!. There are always ways of sorting out things. What did I do? Spoke to the organist a few days later, slipped £20 into the donations box at the church, and she happily played the organ for me again. the couple didn't have a clue. You two cams look non matched, but the colours are simple to fix. You have no experience on how to do it? Get learning. If you use a Mac, its extremely easy to fix this in minutes. How do you do it? get your credit card out and join Lynda.com for a month. They have tutorials by Larry Jordan, which are extremely easy to follow, which will have your worries gone in a couple of hours. Final Cut Pro 5 Color Correction - lynda.com Online Training Library® Go get a beer and chill.

January 11th, 2009, 03:14 PM	#18
Steve Shovlar Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dorset UK Posts: 697	OK I see you use Premier. Premiere Pro 2 Essential Training - lynda.com Online Training Library® It has a section on colour correction.

January 11th, 2009, 04:17 PM	#19
Jonathan Levin Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chicago, Illinois USA Posts: 692	Anders, Before sending out final DVD product, I'd be inclined to ask for balance of what they owe you on this project. Just curious if you got an advance for the project. Hopefully you did. The more I read of your situation, make the best quality video for this client and get paid BEFORE they get the final DVD. Maybe show them a low-res version on-line, since they are (yikes!) in another country. This has all the makings of someone who might be about to get screwed. After the dust settles, think about all the things mentioned by me and the others, giving consideration to each point, especially the business side of things. I'm just tired of hearing about creative people doing the best they can with unreasonable or unrealistic demands, and then being blamed the world has come to end. Jonathan

January 11th, 2009, 05:39 PM	#20
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	A couple observations... since everything was done through "the planners", maybe you're worrying about nothing, and you probably just gave them a "free" bonus with that discount. I doubt the B&G will ever know about the goof up, and they probably are getting a "super bonus video package" from the planners at your expense. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's what it sounds like to me. CC takes trial and error, I'm still "getting it" myself - I wish there were some sort of thing like the photo edit program I use that simply allows you to "shift" white balance - I've sort of figured out that's what those color wheels do, but as I say, it's still sort of trial and error. When first reviewing your raw footage, don't panic. 9 times out of 10, you'll find a "save" if you take some time and think creatively. Anything short of simply not hitting the record button in a one cam shoot SHOULD be salvageable, albeit maybe not what you WISH (and should note to yourself for NEXT time) you got. This is "life" in a live event, you get it or you don't and you make the best of what you DID get. No retakes, no net, no excuses. Not easy, and not for everyone. If your self esteem, ability to learn and grow in the fly, or adapt to new technologies is low, skip this business, otherwise it's quite a lot of fun! Making a living, well that's another topic...