Sending Footage to a national network! Need HELP!

[th3b33]

Hello All,

I very fortunately found this board in as result of a very fortunate problem. I did some freelance work for a national festival a few months back. I've been sending footage to clients from the festival and all has been good and well.
Today I received a call from a producer in NYC that is doing some some work for a national television show. I believe it is going to either a national network, or a national cable network. He wants me to send a few minutes of footage and the rights to air thirty seconds on this show.

I really have no clue what to charge for the rights to air it. Thats where i need the big help.

Any additional advice is GREATLY appreciated. I am pretty new to the business game.

Thanks Very Much,
J

[Tv Shooter]

You need to clarify something. Did you get hired to shoot the national festival?Were you hired as a freelancer to shoot it for them and did you get paid?
See-you may not have the right to sell that video, it may belong to the festival or whomever paid you to shoot it.
The net will want a letter that you own the rights to this video and that you have the right to sell it.
If it was a work for hire,you probably don't own that video,and are opening yourself up to serious liability issues.You will be asked to provide a release for using the video and in that release you'll be stating you have the rights to the video...and that you are liable should it arise that you don't own it.
Get a clarification on that before you agree to sell it.
If you don't own it,you should still get paid for making a dub,shipping ect,as well as a commission for selling it for the owners.
Don't want to rain on your parade...just a word of caution.People get really strange when the words "network" and "money" are in the same sentence.

[th3b33]

I have a good relationship with the festival owner and I am meeting with him tomorrow to clarify this issue. For pricing concerns, lets assume that I own the footage as i know what to charge for the dubbing, and shipping. How much should I charge for 30 seconds of video?
I have already been sending out footage with his permission, however to his clients, not to a national network. Thank you for the quick reply and the good initial advice. I will investigate this heavily before proceeding.

[Tv Shooter]

Well my first inclination would be to get as much as you possibly can for it.
For :30 anywhere from $200 on up to 20,000...it depends on what you have and how bad they want it. Most likely they have a figure in mind unless it's something they absolutely must have.
I sell basic stock video to some clients from 200-400 bucks for about five minutes of raw.Again it depends on the video and the client.
Not knowing exactly what you have...that seems like a good range. Ask for 400.Remember they'll never want to negotiate the price upward.
Good luck!

[th3b33]

thank you very much. Your figure is in line with what I have been hearing, I've consulted with a number of others that I thought were qualified to answer the question and nobody really had any idea. The most informed individuals, however suggested that I shoot for around three to five hundred dollars. I was not given an offer, but rather asked... "What'll it cost?" So I think they are trying to get me to throw out a low offer. Should I probe to see if they are looking to pay for this or just throw out an offer that I am happy with?

[Gravity's Heavy]

Normally I won't sell it for less than 350 plus edit or dubbing time. A lot of the producers for network programs (production companies) find that their budget limit is 750. That is when their voice is the most shrill but they finally will agree after a few more calls. Don't for get to add talent fees for anyone that appears on the tape.
Remember that for 750 you better have ay least the last :30 of a police chase ending in a unique crash. And more importantly have them pay before they receive the tape! After they get what they want it will be 90 days and a few calls from you before you might get a check! They will Fedex a check if they are really doing business. Also ask them for their Fedex account number so you won't have to pay for shipping it to them overnight. Last on the letter/invoice state that they have the right to only use the footage in "the Program name here" and that they will have to contact you for any further use. IF THEY BALK ON PAYING UP FRONT, then explain that this is a product and at even Walmart the product has to be paid for before it leave the store.. Don't feel pressured to stay in the game just walk if they don't send a check, otherwise you are in for a hassle and heartache.

[BluesCam]

It depends on how badly they need or want it. Stock footage is usually different from event footage. There is a stock house here that is paying about a $100 a second for stock footage!

That's video not film! You must be sure you have ownership to avoid issues down stream. A guy here is selling stuff that I think is questionable, because he doesn't have client permission.
The law in my state says the production company owns the raw footage unless the contract states it's a "work for hire." Of course, YMMV.

BTW, I was offered $10K for 12 hr. of archaeology footage and I turned it down. You need to figure out what your stuff is worth and what rights you are giving up. Some companies want an exclusivity contract. In that case... don't sell cheap.