skazabee
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Freelance question
I got a job match up from the Talent Registry to do some motion titles for a video that was apparently already edited.
The job is very small and they have said they only want to spend $250 on it. (5 Hours @ $50)
They originally wanted 24 different titles done after they got my quote back they said they were not prepared to pay that much and they would just want 5 Titles done up, which would be $250.
They have said they also want me to send my motion project files to them upon completion.
I am reluctant to do this, because I feel my work will more then likely be exploited. As I have to hand over the project files that I worked hard to create, and risk having them use them till the end of time and run off lots of different variations of them, and the most I'll ever see is a measly $250 for my effort.
What do other people think ?
Can anyone give me some advice ?
What would you do or say to the client ?
Thanks in Advance
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7/Feb/2008, 4:54 pm
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cheesenightmare
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Re: Freelance question
If you want a good reason why you're not happy to hand over the project files, explain to the employer that if you were a photographer being employed to take photographs the prints are the finished product - thats what is sold. The negatives are either not for sale or will cost an arm and a leg because they represent any future earnings from his work. But you must be clear about this upfront. You would have to explain that your business is no different to the photographer and you are selling your labour and not your trade secrets of how you achieved it.
You are totally within your rights to do this, but then the employer is totally within their rights to take their business elsewhere.
You could also point out that when you buy a meal at a resteraunt, the chef is not selling you his recipe - although he might at an agreed price.
If I were you and had a problem with giving your project files simply offer one rate for the finished product and premium rate for creating a template.
The second option comes with Project files - well presented and easily "templatable", the first option does not.
You simply have to be firm, confident (as if hes the thousandth client to have asked) and willing to pass on the gig.
That last bit is crucial.
Remember, you are you are never being exploited in a free commercial agreement. If your not willing to walk away from the deal then the truth is that $250 is exactly what your intellectual property is worth.
Thats the beauty of free market forces - they don't lie 
Last edited by cheesenightmare, 7/Feb/2008, 10:10 pm
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Doug Suiter.
Freelance Director, Promos, Post & Creative.
LondonFCP/SydneyFCP Administrator.
Find Local FCP Operators (Sydney & London) at the FCP Talent Registry: www.FCPTalent.com
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7/Feb/2008, 10:06 pm
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Brent258
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Re: Freelance question
This is fairly open to interpretation isn't it so I'll offer one point contrary to what Doug has suggested. In the area of web design it is widely acceptable that a client should be able to make further updates and changes to a site once it has been passed on. They shouldn't need to fork out $200 every time they wanted to update their blog for example (wouldn't we all want to be web designers if this was the case).
The fact here though is that with the site comes it's code, it's "recipe" if you like. Once the site is live the client would be free to download it and tweak it in any which way they wanted provided they understood it. The more likely case scenario is that they don't, therefore why they hire you, and if they foresee the site will be updated in future they request that it be designed to facilitate such needs. Which is where the favor of this argument begins to turn.
Websites are assumably updatable in most cases, whereas it's more open to interpretation in the example of a title in a video. If it's to be made easily updatable then that should probably have been made clear at the start. The sad fact is though that people will exploit you and your work in any way they can and quite often there is not alot you can do but cover all your bases before entering into a relationship with a client. In future it would be safe practice to insert a small disclaimer on the bottom (or top) of your card: "Any request for project files that are not agreed upon as templatable items at the commencement of a business relationship will incur a cost of (six-figure sum here)". That oughta stop it happening.
For now it's just one client and it's only $250. If your financial situation is so dire that you need that money to eat this week I would suggest you comply to their demands and take it. On the other hand, if you let the client go it doesn't seem as if you'll be losing too many profitable opportunities in future anyway.
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8/Feb/2008, 7:41 pm
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