Hey,
I've been a freelance videographer for about a year. Finally getting to the stage where I'm charging realistic prices for my services. I consult, brand, write, direct, shoot and edit and print.
However...
I've recently started shooting with a sound recordist who also sound designs and mixes.
It takes great pressure off of me during the shoot, and once my edit is complete, he basically replaces the sound on the video, and takes small liberty in additional SFX here and there.
However, now I'm starting to charge fairly for our services, he believes he's entitled to a 50/50 split of the money. Whenever I'm trying to plan, budget, and pitch a project, his argument is, "I'll make sure I do just as many hours as you, so make it fifty-fifty."
The way I see it is...
I'm conceiving the video, consulting with the client, planning, budgeting, pitching, screenwriting, storyboarding, scheduling, shooting, directing, and editing the video. Once I've handed the video over to my friend, he simply replaces the sound with his professional sound files, and I sit with him every hour and we mix and master it together.
It seems to me as though I'm doing a hell of a lot more work than he is.
NOW...
I don't want to sound like a control freak. I want him to get paid a fair price for the work he is doing. I like him a lot and he's very talented at what he does. The trouble is, there isn't a great video industry in our area, and I'm sort of learning the "business" as I go along. I'm not so sure how to handle it.
Does this guy have a point? Or is it ridiculous to expect 50%? Or am I being naive about the audio side of filmmaking?
I've been a freelance videographer for about a year. Finally getting to the stage where I'm charging realistic prices for my services. I consult, brand, write, direct, shoot and edit and print.
However...
I've recently started shooting with a sound recordist who also sound designs and mixes.
It takes great pressure off of me during the shoot, and once my edit is complete, he basically replaces the sound on the video, and takes small liberty in additional SFX here and there.
However, now I'm starting to charge fairly for our services, he believes he's entitled to a 50/50 split of the money. Whenever I'm trying to plan, budget, and pitch a project, his argument is, "I'll make sure I do just as many hours as you, so make it fifty-fifty."
The way I see it is...
I'm conceiving the video, consulting with the client, planning, budgeting, pitching, screenwriting, storyboarding, scheduling, shooting, directing, and editing the video. Once I've handed the video over to my friend, he simply replaces the sound with his professional sound files, and I sit with him every hour and we mix and master it together.
It seems to me as though I'm doing a hell of a lot more work than he is.
NOW...
I don't want to sound like a control freak. I want him to get paid a fair price for the work he is doing. I like him a lot and he's very talented at what he does. The trouble is, there isn't a great video industry in our area, and I'm sort of learning the "business" as I go along. I'm not so sure how to handle it.
Does this guy have a point? Or is it ridiculous to expect 50%? Or am I being naive about the audio side of filmmaking?