Being Changed?????

[Workhorse]

This is a question for all!!!!

I know when ones own work is changed is a gut check?...right?

But If you work for a broadcast group and one is change due to legal...or otherwise video inconcurensses (s.P.?) should a Photog take offense to it?

I ask this because sometimes the powers that be change things that we slave to make perfect, but there are things we as a slave to the perfect image need to take into account?....correct?

I just want imput to see what if any of us have had to go through the dreded tweek?.....

Tell me about your experiences...did it make it more concise or did you feel that it changed the guidence of the story?.....

I am looking for real feedback to the things we all deal with in the "CHANGE" of our story?


thanks

Horse!
p.s.

LoVe...to all the slingers in the biz that deals with unreal pressures!!!!! :eek:

[vdoguy]

(I'm not entirely sure I understand your question, but I'll answer what I think you're asking)

I wouldn't be offended. Sure, it can be a little discouraging at times, but there's usually nothing we can do about it and it doesn't do you any good to get frustrated. Each of our stories is viewed by a committee and changes must be made to get approval from each member before it can air. I've heard of stories being reedited 6 or 7 times before passing the committee.

I think a change for legal reasons is easier to accept since it has nothing to do with the quality of how a story is put together.

[JTFCM]

I wouldn't say I'm offended, since i know I usually have an enourmous amount of freedom. But I would say I get upset at the waste of time the change can create. I generally don't over shoot, so I never have a ton of cover shots to modify the story once I'm finished. Changes for me usually mean re-editing half the story to avoid jump cuts and continuity errors.

[Todio]

You know, it amazes me that people in our industry get upset when someone higher up changes something we submit. In newspapers the editor does that all the time. A book editor does too. Why do we feel that what we do is untouchable?

My philosophy is: if the check cashed and I did my best then what they do with it afterwards is not my concern. It's theirs, they bought it. I've worked on projects that were absolutely butchered in post.

I once produced a tourism video and it went through 8 edits (not tweaks and polishes, full re-cuts). Once it was shot they didn't like their original concept (once seen on screen) so I changed it. Then they didn't like other stuff, I changed it, they changed their mind, I changed it. Eventually, they were satisfied but afraid to release it unless they sent it to a focus group (!) this was, as I recall, after the fourth cut. Of course the focus group, with no stake in the finished product, tore it to shreds and necessitated recut # 5. The city wasn't satisfied with the results of the focus group's suggestions so we had to recut again. Then another (!) focus group and a final cut, then on-line.

Sure, I was upset but it wasn't MY product, it was theirs. Just like the news isn't really yours...

[Birdy]

In any creative business you must be able to take criticism. It's just part of the job. Try not to take it too personally. You did your best, but they wanted something different. Maybe it was lost in translation, maybe they were looking at it from a different angle... doesn't matter. The client, or boss is always right, at least for the purposes of getting to air, even if you think it looks like crap. Let your opinion be known for their consideration, but then shut up and let them make the final decision. In the end, it's their head, or their business that takes the public's criticism.

Sure, I've had projects that have been changed so that I wouldn't want to put my name on them. We probably all have at one time or another. We've also done projects that we can be very proud of, because someone else's suggestion or change made it better than our original concept. The thing is that we must be humble enough to realize and accept that not everyone will always think or believe as we do.

[Terry E. Toller]

Ok, it's news but it is still an art form... When we put our hearts and souls into a peice, it hurts when it gets changed, usually not in a good way... that's life...

[Photographer]

Who cares. Your paycheck is the same either way.

[queen of blue]

What gets me is when the changes come that somebody BESIDES me should have seen coming.

I just finished a project that we shot, I edited, and they didn't like the hosts, so we reshot .... and I edited and they sent it back with just a few little changes. So I made them - THEN they took it higher up the totem pole, and that guy scrapped the whole thing - and we had to rewrite.... and reshoot.... and reedit. OK now just a few more little minor changes, then we'll send it to committee. THEY make some more minor changes, including an introduction by somebody that would have to be shot next week and dropped in ..... and I'm told that THEN they are going to show it to all 45 principals and ask for feedback. I was dreading that day UNTIL.....

They decided to scrap the whole thing. Not just the tape, mind you, but the thing that we were making the tape FOR.

Yeah, I live in hell.....

[Anton Saur]

Originally posted by queen of blue:
Yeah, I live in hell..... But is it a decent paying hell?

I only wish our school systems in the area would use an in-house video group. Most in this area are great to deal with...my wife's...that's another story all together. 10 more school days until we can take the lawyer off retainer.

[queen of blue]

Originally posted by Anton Saur:
quote: Originally posted by queen of blue:
Yeah, I live in hell..... But is it a decent paying hell?

I only wish our school systems in the area would use an in-house video group. Most in this area are great to deal with...my wife's...that's another story all together. 10 more school days until we can take the lawyer off retainer. No .... no not really. Better than news, but still not great. I wouldn't say we have an in-house video group...more like an in-house video gal.

[Anton Saur]

lol.

Is it Horry County Schools? Myrtle Beach area? If so, are you having fun with all the bikers these past coupla' weeks?

PS:
How was vacation?

[ May 12, 2005, 08:46 PM: Message edited by: Anton Saur ]

[vdoguy]

Originally posted by Photographer:
Who cares. Your paycheck is the same either way. Actually, that's not necessarily true. Reedits often put you into overtime, making your paycheck a little fatter! :D

[queen of blue]

Originally posted by Anton Saur:
lol.

Is it Horry County Schools? Myrtle Beach area? If so, are you having fun with all the bikers these past coupla' weeks?

PS:
How was vacation? Yeppers, that's me. Bikers haven't really arrived yet. They should start getting annoying this evening.

Vacation was great, very relaxing, even if I did spend half of it job hunting with STILL no luck. Thanks for asking.

Now back to your regularly scheduled thread ..... (Sorry I hijacked it. I needed a vent.)