How I work
Most of the work happens before the camera comes out.
Four steps
-
Find the story
We talk. I meet your people and see your place. I'm looking for what's already true and worth showing.
What you get: the story on one page, in plain words, before anything gets filmed.
-
Plan it
Who's on camera, where, what we're after and when. Nothing gets filmed until you've signed off.
What you get: a plan you can show your board.
-
Film it
Usually one or two days on location. One cinema camera. Exceptional microphones. One light when the scene needs it. People at ease, not performing.
What you get: footage that looks like your world, because it is.
-
Finish it
The main film plus the shorter cuts we agreed on, with stills and captions. You approve the cut before it's final.
What you get: finished cuts for every channel.
What you can count on
- Reply within 1 business day.
- Fixed quote, no surprise charges.
- Finished cuts for every channel.
- A plan you can show your board.
If something changes the scope, you'll hear about it in writing before it changes the price.
The people on camera
They're trusting me with their story, so I treat it that way.
- They always know what's being filmed and why
- They see their part before it goes public
- Captions and transcripts on every film
- On a job site, your safety rules are my safety rules
Smaller jobs
Just need footage from your event? A drone shot? Another camera angle?… Day rates start at $1,000/day.
What I make
Films for a launch, a campaign, a program or a season. Usually one main film plus shorter cuts and stills, so you have something for every channel.
Films from $5,000. Run the estimator to see where your project lands.
Photography
Most projects come with stills from the shoot. If you need photography on its own, I do that too.
Same approach as the films. I find the story first, then make the pictures that tell it: your people, your place and the work itself.
From the air
Aerials for construction progress, property, and the big establishing shot inside a film. See drone filming.
Questions people ask
What does a film cost?
Films from $5,000. The final number depends on shoot days, how many cuts you need, and travel. Run the estimator for a range… then I send you a fixed quote.
How long does it take?
It depends on the project, and the dates go in the plan before anything gets filmed. Event coverage usually comes back within two weeks of the shoot. Rush is possible and adds 25%.
How many shoot days?
One or two for most films. A launch set with a lot of cuts can take two or three.
Do you travel?
Yes. Projects in Cincinnati have no travel cost. Anywhere I can drive adds a flat travel fee, and fly-in travel is quoted separately.
Who owns the footage?
You choose. The standard is a license: unlimited, permanent use of everything I deliver, anywhere, and I keep the copyright. If you need to own the films outright, I can do it as work for hire. That costs more, and the estimator shows how much.
Are captions included?
Yes. Every film gets captions and a transcript.
How do revisions work?
You approve the plan before we film and the cut before it's final. One round of revisions is included on each piece. If you want more, it's billed as edit time, and I'll tell you before that happens.
What do you need from me?
An hour or two at the start to talk, access to your people and places, and one person on your side who can say yes.
Do you work with agencies?
Yes. I've been the production partner for other video teams and agencies, including under their name. NDAs are fine.
Is this a marketing company?
No. I make films. I don't run ads or manage social accounts… but everything I make is cut to work in those places.
For procurement
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| W-9 | Available on request |
| Usage rights | Your choice. An unlimited, permanent license, or full ownership as work for hire |
| References | Available on request |
Who this is for
Best fit: you know there's a story in your people, and you want someone to find it before the camera comes out.
Not a fit: you want the cheapest option, or a film made without spending time with the people in it.