How do we price the range for calls for pitches? Do we pay extra from the idea?
The price for the production is a pretty easy calculation. Think of the person’s day rate for the shoot, any extras you may need (drone, lighting, etc.), and how many days you’d want them to shoot or edit. The price of a pitch probably has to do with the marketplace and how you will attract the best video creators to give you their best idea. If you pay lower or the same as your competitors, you won’t be their first place to give their best idea. It probably makes sense to talk to your account manager about this. Another good way of looking at it is to include in the flat rate the amount of days the creator may have spent on research and pre-production for the story.
What if the creator has a great idea, but we don’t know if they can execute on it?
Bring up this concern immediately before asking for more information on the pitch. You don’t want a creator to feel like they’ve invested more time and effort in pre-production if they never had a chance to begin with. You can politely bring up the concern and ask the creator to include any clips of previous work that could show you they can execute on the type of production you are looking for. If you still have a concern, you can try to ask them if they’d be open to playing another role on the project.
How do we assess the intangible ability to create a story with a creator we’ve never worked with?
This is a tough question. It’s much easier assessing someone’s shooting skills by watching their work, or having confidence in hiring a PA from a great Glimmer review rather than rating someone on their storytelling ability. It may be helpful to ask your account manager about other Glimmer clients who have created similar content in a similar workflow. Make sure you do your best in researching the creator’s previous work (if applicable) and keep an open line of communication with the creator before they pick up the camera and build out a shot list and/or story treatment.
Do we have to pay a fee if we need more revisions?
Yes, typically clients offer an extra payment for additional edits beyond the original scope of work. In the original offer, it’s important to specify the day rate you pay for any additional editing days. Make sure if you do request revisions that you specify the number of revisions to the creator as well as any kill fee policy.
What if the creator’s editing is not up to our standards and we want to finish the edit after the first draft?
That's fine, just ask the creator for the footage and close out the project. You can negotiate any adjustment in pay, but the creator has the right to get paid the full amount if this was not specified previously.
What if the creator sends unusable footage?
This should be handled how you normally handle this at your company. Get in touch with us if you have any questions regarding kill fees.
At what point do I need to decide to “kill” a project?
It’s best practice to have your management team make a decision on killing a story after receiving the first edit. You should decide either to ask for the footage so you can try to rework the story yourself, or kill the project before asking the creator to do any more revisions. After a few revisions, you may decide not to publish the project and can kill the story so the creator maintains the rights to the footage. If you do go that route though, you should still pay the creator the amount originally promised.
Should I post a call for pitches for a pilot?
No, for a pilot it’s best to talk with your account manager about the series you’re planning on doing so they can connect you with a few of our top creators. Calls for pitches are a tool made to produce multiple videos on a more consistent basis, or for one video at a very specific location (for example, stories on Climate Change in New Orleans).