Contacts/FAQs
chris@junetwentyfilms.com
773.275.0797 (o)
773.275.1348 (f)
312.420.5687 (c)
Or write to:
junetwenty films, inc.
1752 West Carmen Avenue
Chicago, IL 60640
Company Data:
In business as S-corporation since 1999.
FEIN: 36-4336489
Liability Insurance: Yes - $1,000,000 Policy
Production FAQs
How much will it cost?
What should I look for in a production company?
What’s the most important part of production?
DVD vs. VHS
BetaSP vs.
DVCam/DVC Pro
How do I
protect an idea?
Who should I contact?
“How much will it cost?”
The first question people have is also the most difficult to answer.
Sticker shock is the number one complaint for clients unfamiliar with our
industry. Production costs more than you think. A client of mine uses an
analogy of buying cars. Do you want the Lexus: high performance, knock-out
looks, built to impress? Do you want the Honda Accord: well-engineered,
reliable, economical mid-range pricing? Do you want the Ford Escort: no
frills, but it gets you from point A to point B effectively? Our budgets
run from $1000 to $100,000, and everything in between. We’ve done
hour-long videos that cost only $6000, and we’ve done 30-second graphics
intensive spots that cost $50,000. The point is, we work with your budget,
and give you a real bang for your buck.
“What should I look for in a production company?”
You should protect yourself first, and make sure your vendor carries at
least a $1,000,000 liability policy. Next they should give you their FEIN,
so you’ll have the option of a background check to make sure a company is
financially sound, and will have the assets to complete the project. In
terms of their creative and technical capabilities, listen to their
customers, look at their work, and then decide how well you think they
will work with your needs – that last one is entirely your judgment.
"What’s the most important part of production?"
Pre-production. Without a doubt. That means, every thing that goes into
planning, writing, storyboarding, scheduling, getting everybody on the
same page – crafting the message, carefully and completely, before the
camera ever rolls. This was Alfred Hitchcock’s favorite part of making
movies – in fact, he considered the movie finished before he walked on
set. He was a bit of a control freak, among other things, but his
productions always ran like clockwork – maybe like Clockwork Orange, but
clockwork nonetheless.
“DVD vs. VHS”
Every year, DVDs advantages get stronger and stronger: better picture and
sound quality; programmable interface; more storage capacity; smaller,
less picture degradation over time. Previously, you had to worry about how
many in your audience had DVD players, but that limitation is fast
becoming a thing of the past. And DVD authoring and replication is finally
starting to come down in price, without any loss of quality. VHS will be
around for a while, no doubt, and for many audiences – and budgets -- it
is still the format of choice: it’s cheaper, people “get it”, everyone’s
got a VCR, etc. But if making a strong impression is worth it, DVD is the
way to go.
“BetaSP vs. DVCam/DVC Pro”
To my eye, BetaSP still reproduces a better and more dynamic range of
colors and exposures, and the quality of the lenses can’t be beat.. But
not for long. The gap between the $70,000 BetaSP Camcorder (you’re pretty
much stuck with Sony) and the tremendous range of DVCameras made by several
top-shelf manufacturers is lessening every day. BetaSP will be around for a
while, mainly because production companies have so much BetaSP editing
equipment; but DV makes great pictures, too, and has made phenomenal
inroads across the production spectrum (from features to docs to news
gathering). In today’s tight budgets, DV gives you more bang for your
buck. Plus, it’s sooooooo much lighter. So please, for my sake, go DV.
“How do I protect an idea?”
We’re not lawyers or copyright experts, but there are something's that may
– may! – help to protect your ideas – though the entertainment industry is
sometimes a thieves’ market, so we guarantee nothing.. One way is to
register your written script or written idea with the Writers Guild of
America for $25. You can also go to the US Copyright Office (www.uscopyright.gov),
and find out more there about whether your idea qualifies for copyright.
There are no guarantees, especially when it comes to pitching your ideas
to networks or cable outlets. Many will ask you to sign waivers that
basically empower them to steal your idea. So make sure you document
everything – keep e-mails, notes from meetings, time and place, etc. – it
may deter the idea thieves. |