Digital Video - July 2008 - (Page 38) revis different way than with traditional stock video on tape? There are still people out there that like time-coded preview tape. They enjoy going through it and creating a log and sending in the log and getting back the DigiBeta or HD Cam production tapes. But contrast that process with, for example, working on big video screens at award shows in real time. Even in that world you have a limited amount of money to spend, which is where online stock comes in very handy. Last year, I was in a trailer at the Academy of Country Music Awards with 11 performances that needed background video. First I would make a light box for George Strait, or another that would say Josh Turner. Then I’d cruise through iStock online for ten minutes. I’d put 20 or 30 images into a light box. Then I‘d iChat the link to the various light boxes over to the producer in the next truck. He’d look at them and reply, “I like where you’re going with this theme,” or “looks good — finish it,” or “you’ve got a couple of images of a graveyard in there. Let’s take those out. But all the rest of the images of like the small town type stuff is good.” Its just one example, but you end up not only with an efficient workflow, but also with better work overall. Not everybody can afford such a setup, or has the skill set to pull it together and work under pressure, but it’s possible. And one day it’ll be pretty common thanks to all these online, indexed and pre-sorted assets. What sort of auditing — objective or subjective — does iStock use for uploaded video clips? They have more than 110 inspectors around the world. The inspectors work when they want to as contractors. They’re all people judged and hand-picked by iStock as good shooters themselves. They check for technical integrity and adherence to specs but also for legal and trademark issues. Every photo and video clip with a face in it has a model release attached. Do you carry multiple cameras with you at all times? I’ve got a little point-and-shoot Canon SD630 that I take with me most often. I also have a 12- megapixel Canon G9 and a Canon 38 dv july 2008 VIDEO ited 35mm that I shoot with for fun. On the video side I’ve got probably five cameras, but the two main ones are a little Canon HV10 that shoots HD 1080 and a Canon XH A1for when I’m shooting for real. Even though I keep upgrading I’ve got to shoot least $12,000 worth of footage to justify a new $12,000 camera. Of course what I really want is one that puts QuickTime movies on a flash card. How much attention do you pay to audio in your regular work acquiring stock video? Most of what I shoot, outdoor scenes, natural panoramas, city shots, has no specific audio requirements. Many customers don’t even want sound, so sometimes I don’t include it with the published video, but it will always be on my master tapes. So here’s the big non-technical question. Let’s say somebody is inspired by your story and decides to quit his or her day job to do this full time right away. If they learn how to utilize all the powerful technology that iStock has to offer and they truly know what they’re doing with the proper guidance, could they get into this business and support themselves in a few months? Is the system set up to enable them to do so? I was wearing my iStock shirt the other day, and a guy I met said, “Hey, do you upload stuff to them? I have always wanted to do that. How much money can you make?” I basically replied that, aside from encouraging him to try it, I couldn’t give him a meaningful answer. I’ve been doing what I do since I was a kid, drawing and doing graphics and logos and all that stuff since I was 9 years old. That being said, iStock itself is very welcoming. You have to get three images or videos approved before you get certified as a contributor, but after that you are part of their community (even though each new picture or clip needs separate approval). So don’t quit your day job first. People who are most successful at selling stock images or videos have been doing it for years, but I believe that iStock really does earn the percentage that they take off a sale. DV www.dv.com STOCK http://www.dv.com
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