HD Transmitters as a separate rental from your Steadicam package?

[Ramon Engle]

Hi Gentlemen. With technology changing at lightspeed in the last...........decade, HD transmitters have changed the game a bit. I want to ask if most of you are charging for HD transmitters separately from your steadicam packages? After discussing this with other operators it makes sense that we should separate the rental from our steadicam package.

What say ye?

 

 

 

Ramon

[Matteo Quagliano]

I do. But I separate everything to allow my clients to choose what's needed and what's not. For example in many tv productions they supply me camera and HD tx. Or in some feature they already have FF. Or in some really really low budget they don't have money for any of them but still want to invest in a steadicam (small sensor, wide lens and that's it).

[Tim Moynihan]

Hi Ramon, yes, I separate the TX/RX from my Steadicam package. I don't think it's really an issue either way if you are happy what you are getting for it on a weekly basis. It's a numbers game with the PM and their budget. Often the PMs like to have it separated.

 

BTW, just finished an episode with Tim Andrew. Great director, great guy! I believe he's heading back your way.

 

Tim Moynihan

Rock Steadi Pictures Inc.

[Louis Puli SOC]

Hi everyone

I offer the PM / DP a choices of Bartech or Preston , Modules or Cam-wave or Boxx . On commercials they always go with the Preston and the Boxx .

Many DP ask me what I want to work with and he/she tells the PM this is the gear they want to use and then I don't have to justify the price difference.

Good luck

Louis Puli

[Rob Vuona SOC]

YES !

 

even for the Modulus =)

[JobScholtze]

YES !

 

even for the Modulus =)

You charge everything arn't you rob? Lisagav?

[Rob Vuona SOC]

YES !

 

even for the Modulus =)

You charge everything arn't you rob? Lisagav?

If the production doesn't have it and they need it, then they rent it, weather its from me or from a rental house so it mine as well be from me.

 

I think the difference that I didn't specify is that because of our different genres different tools are needed and different rates apply. For example, 90 percent of my work does not require a Preston or Bartech but 90 percent of it does require me to have a zoom/focus controller I operate myself. I do charge for the bartech or preston but my kit rental is inclusive with the zoom focus controller.

 

The live TV genre in my experience has been lower on the rental rates but higher on the operating rate, where as the commercial genre has been the complete opposite.

 

Bottom line: if your spending thousands on a professional tool, then they need to rent it from you, same with a rickshaw, Segway, prompter monitor, HDRF etc . . . .

 

JMHO

[Robert Starling SOC]

Absolutely!

 

My Canatrans is included in the kit but the HD transmitter is ala-carte.

 

Just the other day a Line Producer tried to reason that if they were not using the Canatrans then I should credit something for the Canatrans toward the HD transmitter rental! I explained it doesn't work like that and then explained how the HD trans will save them time in the day spend cabling and playback while the entire cast and crew sits and waits. Done deal!

 

Frankly, it's a crying shame we're all expected to "include" a follow focus system as part of our kit rental. I'd like to personally thank whoever started that lovely precedent for us way back when! Now we're all kicking out $12k-$30k for gear someone else uses.

 

Why don't we just provide the camera too!

 

At least I'm not bitter! :rolleyes:

 

Robert

[Rob Vuona SOC]

 

Frankly, it's a crying shame we're all expected to "include" a follow focus system as part of our kit rental.

 

We all aren't , are we? I get a rental for it?!?

[Thomas English]

I found myself doing a bundle for ages. Quoting a price and saying that includes all you need to keep things simple for production managers.

 

But now the game is becoming insanely competitive. With free Steadicam Flyers and Archers out there in such numbers I now itemise every item on a quote to really drum it in what they are hiring. It annoys me so much when I do a deal as a package and turn up and they have also hired at list price a Preston because the focus puller requested it even though I specifically said there was one in my kit. It also annoys me when they go with someone cheaper but hire in an LCS at list price as part of the camera package in blissful ignorance.

 

So now I list separately

 

Operator

Steadicam Rig

LCS Preston Radio Follow Focus 3Ch

Digital HD wireless Video

Magliner

Additional battery kit

 

In the UK a 20% to 30% discount off list price is expected by PM and given as standard from Arri, take2 and Panavision (unless they subhire). Steadicam rig doesn't have that issue.

 

I am also now trying to push the quoting stage off the phone and onto email. When your on the phone you are just dealing with an someone that is looking at a number they have to get below. Once your on email they can make more rational and informed decisions

[Brad Grimmett]

I hear a lot of people are including their downconverter as part of their package now too. Makes no sense to me to buy gear and then give it away for free, but once it's a precedent they all expect it.

[Matteo Quagliano]

Since most of my kit was rented at the beginning I started this way, a basic quote for gear and op then up to thousands for everything you want. Now that I own something I still do the same, quoting for everything added.

[JobScholtze]

Oh and i forgot to ad my 2 cents, i was to bussy with Rob's lisagav

 

I also ask extra for HD transmitter. Bartech one channel, 2 channels etc. Segway is extra too. Why nit, we have to invest al those extra $$$$.

[Janice Arthur]

Hi all;

 

I go at it from what are you shooting?

 

"Running in the woods or walking in a house?"

 

Great walking in a house.

 

"What camera?"

 

Alexa, great.

 

"What Transmitter are you using?"

 

"I've got my Preston. You'll need that."

 

"I've got my rig and all the accessories." "the rate is xxxx."

 

JA

[James Davis]

Hey Janice,

 

Thats a great way to approach it and I tend to mirror that approach for the most part, I find once you get them talking about their shot requirements and what they want to actually execute before you get onto kit requirements and price.... then it's easier to justify whats in your kit and either your package rate for those items or your package rate for what you own and then your additional costs for items you have to cross hire in.

I think it's also good practice as you want to know what you are letting yourself for before you agree to the job!

 

I debated in the beginning about getting an SD transmitter and the price was certainly appealing, but I anticipated that HD was probably going to more and more be expected as the standard.

So I decided to go with a camwave, and now that is part of my standard package which I get a rate for, I feel that this was a more future proof route to go, as it also provides a signal that 1st AC's can pull focus off of which is a very useful capability to have and is often requested so I feel the camwave kills two birds with one stone in this area.

Yes it's not as good as a boxx, but it is a fraction of the price and has more than adequate range for the type of work that I do and frankly.....if video village need that kind of range, it doesn't take much to run a bnc drum off of the camwave and into wherever they need it, but I can only recall 2 jobs last year where I had to do that, if they need it wireless then they need to pay for a boxx.