A Human Life= $2,633.64 & We're To Blame

In 1997, Brent Hershman fell asleep at the wheel and drove into a telephone pole, killing himself after working a 19 hour day that was preceded by four 15 hour workdays as a second assistant camera on the film Pleasantville. Assuming he was getting the standard rate for that position ($38.73/hour*), that equates into $2,633.64 in overtime pay.

Alternatively, to put it a bit more bluntly, $2633.34 is the monetary value that the production felt that it was worth to push Brent to the point of breaking, in order to make their film. Is this what it has really come to? Do we Americans value the dollar so much that we knowingly abuse each other, and allow ourselves to be abused, in order to make an extra dollar?

After watching the documentary Who Needs Sleep, by Haskell Wexler, ASC, I'm convinced that there is a HUGE problem out there, and that problem is us.

How To Maximize Your Post Workflow For Stock Footage

Now that you actually have gone out and shot content to begin building your stock footage library, it is time to start processing it. But what is the best approach? In the end, this is a business- so it is important to keep things as efficient as possible. So here are 4 tips that you can use to maximize your post workflow ...

How To Shoot A Talking Head In Two Sizes At The Same Time

When I first began shooting corporate videos, it was standard practice to have the talent deliver to the interviewer off screen. And this is still the standard practice today. However, with the increasing volume of YouTube videos out there (where people are delivering straight to camera), it is becoming more and more the norm to deliver straight to camera.

All of this is great and easy to do if you are shooting with one camera. But what do you do if you have to shoot a talking head that delivers straight to camera and you need it in two shot sizes? Well, I recently spent the day experimenting with setups and came up with a solution that is easy and affordable to implement.

Five Crucial Steps For A Successful Stock Video Shoot (Part 6)

If you've followed steps 1 - 5 of this how to guide for stock footage, you will now be well on your way towards your first shoot. Before diving in and shooting content, however, I recommend starting with a clear plan. By following these five steps, you will not only set yourself up to shoot better content, but you will also be able to spend less time creating it. And the more efficient you are, the more profitable your stock footage will be.

Three Places To Find Actors For Your Stock Footage Shoot

Last week, after I posted the Three Principles to Successful Stock Footage Content, Brynn Sankey sent me a tweet asking if I had any tips on how to find and pay actors for stock footage shoots. And since I do not directly address it in the Zacuto articles, I thought I'd share with you the three places you can find actors for your stock shoots, regardless of the size of your budget.