FREQUENTLY ASKED CUSTOM PROJECT QUESTIONS:
1. CAN I APPEAR IN MY CUSTOM PROJECT?
A: IN ALMOST ALL CASES, YOU CAN, BUT IT IS NORMALLY ON A “CAMEO” BASIS AND HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT YOU WILL HAVE DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE TALENT. IF THE SUBJECT MATTER SO DICTATES, YOU MAY BE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO APPROPRIATE MEDICAL TESTING BEFORE THE TALENT WILL CONSENT. THIS WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY DOUBLE OR EVEN (IN VARYING CASES) TRIPLE THE COST OF YOUR TALENT FEES. AS YOU MAY EXPECT, THE DECISION TO ALLOW THIS RESTS WITH THE TALENT.
2. I WAS CHARGED A “CONTACT DEPOSIT”. WHAT IS THIS?
A: SOME MODELS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO FLAKE OR SIMPLY NOT SHOW UP FOR PROJECTS. OR, THERE ARE ISSUES SURROUNDING USING THEM AND THEIR WORK. THEREFORE, THEY ARE NOT ENDORSED FOR THE CUSTOM PROGRAM AND WORKING WITH THEM IS DISCOURAGED. YES, MOST IN THIS CATEGORY CAN DELIVER AN EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE IF YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET THEM IN THE DOOR. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES AND THE COMPLICATIONS, THERE MAY BE A DEPOSIT REQUIRED JUST TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THEM.
ALL CONTACT DEPOSITS ARE NOT REFUNDABLE. PLEASE MAKE THESE CHOICES CAREFULLY.
3. WILL I HAVE TO PAY PRODUCTION COSTS?
A: YES. TO WHAT EXTENT THOSE COSTS WILL BE IS LARGELY DETERMINED BY WHAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR AND OUR ABILITY TO RECOVER COSTS OF THE PROJECT IF IT CAN BE SOLD AT THE STORES. IF THE CONTENT OF A PROJECT EXCEEDS THE LEVEL OF WHAT THE TALENT NORMALLY PERFORM AT, A TITLE CAN NOT BE SOLD THROUGH THE STANDARD DISTRIBUTION OUTLETS. HOWEVER, IF THE VIDEO IS ABLE TO BE SOLD AT THE STORES, YOU ARE NOT ASSESSED FEES FOR PRE-PRODUCTION. YOU WILL, IN ALL CASES BE ASSESSED FEES FOR INSURANCE, LOCATIONS, FILMING, POST -PRODUCTION AND SUPPLIES.
4. I WAS TOLD MY CONCEPT WAS AN “E-C” SHOOT. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
A.: E-C STANDS FOR EXCEEDED CONTENT. THIS MEANS THAT THE MATERIAL YOU ARE ASKING FOR FROM THE TALENT IS ABOVE AND OR BEYOND THE LEVEL OF CONTENT THAT THEY NORMALLY PERFORM UNDER. AND CAN NOT BE MARKETED THROUGH THE REGULAR CHAINS OF DISTRIBUTION. THUS, FULL PRODUCTION COSTS WILL HAVE TO BE ASSESED AS MMP HAS NO MEANS BY WHICH TO RECOVER THE COSTS OF THE PROJECT. ALL E-C PROJECTS ARE PRIVATE RELEASE PROJECTS.
5. PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE
A: THE CUSTOM PROJECT COST CAN ADD UP FAST. IN SOME CASES THERE ARE THOSE WHO OPTION FOR A PUBLIC RELEASE TO LESSEN THE COSTS. WE WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPLAIN THE VARIOUS TYPES OF COSTS AND RELEASE MODULES AS THEY PERTAIN TO THE RIGHTS YOU POSSESS FOR THE PROJECT.
PUBLIC RELEASE: THIS PROJECT CARRIES MUCH LOWER PRODUCTION COSTS BECAUSE THE COMPANY WILL RELEASE AN EDITED VERSION OF YOUR PRODUCT AT THE STORES IN AN ATTEMPT TO RECOVER COSTS. YOU AS THE CLIENT WILL RECEIVE THE FULL VERSION OF YOUR PRODUCT AND IT WILL BE EXPRESSLY MARKED AS THE “FULL LENGTH CLIENT EDITION”. THE COMPANY RETAINS THE FULL RIGHTS TO THIS PROJECT.
PRIVATE RELEASE: YOU PAY FOR THE FULL PRODUCTION COSTS (GENERALLY A HIGHER FEE) TO PROHIBIT THE COMPANY FROM SENDING YOUR PROJECT TO THE RETAIL OUTLETS FOR COST RECOVERY. IN TURN, ONE YEAR AFTER YOUR PROJECT IS DELIVERED, THE SOURCE FOOTAGE IS ERASED. GIVING YOU THE ONLY COPY OF THE MATERIAL. HOWEVER, YOU AS THE PRIVATE CLIENT DO NOT OWN DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS TO THIS PROJECT AND DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO SELL OR OTHERWISE CIRCULATE THIS PROJECT AS THE RIGHTS ARE RETAINED BY THE COMPANY.
6. DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS:
A: IF YOU WISH TO DISTRIBUTE A PROJECT UNDER YOUR OWN NAME AND LABEL, OR, IF YOU SIMPLY WANT TO SELL COPIES OF YOUR CUSTOM PROJECT TO EASE THE BURDEN OF COSTS. YOU SHOULD MAKE THAT KNOWN FROM THE ONSET TO ALLOW THE COMPANY TIME TO PREPARE A PLAN FOR YOU. IT CAN AND HAS BEEN DONE, BUT WE NEED TO KNOW FROM THE PROJECT INCEPTION. DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS CARRY A SEPARATE FEE OTHER THAN THE PROJECT’S COSTS. THE COMPANY RETAINS FULL RIGHTS TO ANY AND ALL PRODUCTS UNLESS THESE DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS HAVE BEEN EXPRESSLY NOTED IN WRITING AND PAID FOR.
7. A FEW FRIENDS AND I WANT TO “GO IN” ON A PROJECT TOGETHER TO MINIMIZE COSTS. IS THIS ALLOWED?
A: YES. THIS IS ALLOWED BUT IT IS HEAVILY DISCOURAGED. SIMPLY PUT ALMOST EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENCES IN THE MATERIAL THEY WANT TO SEE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT THEY WILL PAY FOR. WHEN MULTIPLE PERSONS COMBINE TO TRY TO DRAFT SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN ENJOY EQUALLY, IT HAS OFTEN PROVEN TO BE DISASTEROUS FOR THEM. THINK OF IT AS THOUGH YOU WERE BUYING A CAR WITH MULTIPLE FRIENDS. YOU EACH WILL HAVE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT OTHERS MAY NOT WANT TO HAVE AND PAY FOR. BUT THAT YOU ALL REQUIRE TO FIT AND JUSTIFY YOUR PORTION OF THE PURCHASE. THE POINT OF MAKING A PURCHASE OF THIS TYPE IS TO GIVE YOU THE INTENDED VIEWER WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE. BE SURE TO THINK ABOUT THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE COSTS TO EQUAL WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE.
