For the past 3 years I've been tasked to create a yearly promotional montage video for a company.
The first year it was done in studio at their premises, and they'd give me feedback as I worked, it was all quite informal. I was given or had to source movie clips of the franchises they worked with, and input the musical piece they had chosen to use for the video. Once done and everyone was happy with it, I got paid (£300, not sure if that's good or not).
The second year I was tasked with the same job but I'd moved away and couldn't possibly do it at their premises. So I had to use my own facilities, my own software etc and using the details they'd provided me (along with questions and clarifications I sent them) I completed the video. Along with the final video I sent them all the clips along with the Premiere project file as I had completed the video to their specification, but I figured if they wanted to do any final tweaking they'd have the facility to do so. However they wanted changes, by changes I mean removing things that originally were supposed to be in and adding things that weren't, so in effect changing their minds. Among others, my question is, is this standard practice? I get the feeling these kinds of changes would ordinarily have to come with an additional fee, as the changes are not part of my negligence or because they're unhappy with the work, but because they want certain things adding or removing that I wasn't informed of until then.
I did this extra work, not really thinking about it because the previous year I had made on the spot changes as people were walking by and looking at previews as I progressed. I'm not exactly a professional freelancer, just a student. I was also being paid an extra £100 more (which I requested) as I was more able than the previous year and was using better software.
This year after finally completing the video after many many alterations (of which a lot were back and forth, can't make their mind up what they want affairs) they now want all my clips (many which I had to source and convert myself) as well as my project file. They already have the final movie digitally, but they now want that as well as the aforementioned burned to DVD.
When I questioned why they wanted the project file, I was told it was "normal practice" to be handed all editable files. To me though this seems most odd. I'm paid for the movie file surely, not all my files which enabled me to get there unless specifically requested at the beginning. Is that not the case?
As I say I'm not up to speed on what exactly is right and wrong, and the norm. So I'm typing this to hopefully get some perspective and learn from your experiences.
Is it normal to hand over editable files, or do they belong to me unless it's part of the initial agreement? Also is £400 a decent amount for a 4-5 minute montage promotional video? I do put more work into it than simply slapping some videos together with music, which I assume is why I've been asked back continually. At the same time I don't want to be taken advantage of.
If they ask me back next year to do it again am I within my "rights" to require that I be given specific instructions on what they want, so I don't end up going back and forth with alterations constantly in the hope they approve of it?
I appreciate any feedback you have thank you, and Merry Christmas!
The first year it was done in studio at their premises, and they'd give me feedback as I worked, it was all quite informal. I was given or had to source movie clips of the franchises they worked with, and input the musical piece they had chosen to use for the video. Once done and everyone was happy with it, I got paid (£300, not sure if that's good or not).
The second year I was tasked with the same job but I'd moved away and couldn't possibly do it at their premises. So I had to use my own facilities, my own software etc and using the details they'd provided me (along with questions and clarifications I sent them) I completed the video. Along with the final video I sent them all the clips along with the Premiere project file as I had completed the video to their specification, but I figured if they wanted to do any final tweaking they'd have the facility to do so. However they wanted changes, by changes I mean removing things that originally were supposed to be in and adding things that weren't, so in effect changing their minds. Among others, my question is, is this standard practice? I get the feeling these kinds of changes would ordinarily have to come with an additional fee, as the changes are not part of my negligence or because they're unhappy with the work, but because they want certain things adding or removing that I wasn't informed of until then.
I did this extra work, not really thinking about it because the previous year I had made on the spot changes as people were walking by and looking at previews as I progressed. I'm not exactly a professional freelancer, just a student. I was also being paid an extra £100 more (which I requested) as I was more able than the previous year and was using better software.
This year after finally completing the video after many many alterations (of which a lot were back and forth, can't make their mind up what they want affairs) they now want all my clips (many which I had to source and convert myself) as well as my project file. They already have the final movie digitally, but they now want that as well as the aforementioned burned to DVD.
When I questioned why they wanted the project file, I was told it was "normal practice" to be handed all editable files. To me though this seems most odd. I'm paid for the movie file surely, not all my files which enabled me to get there unless specifically requested at the beginning. Is that not the case?
As I say I'm not up to speed on what exactly is right and wrong, and the norm. So I'm typing this to hopefully get some perspective and learn from your experiences.
Is it normal to hand over editable files, or do they belong to me unless it's part of the initial agreement? Also is £400 a decent amount for a 4-5 minute montage promotional video? I do put more work into it than simply slapping some videos together with music, which I assume is why I've been asked back continually. At the same time I don't want to be taken advantage of.
If they ask me back next year to do it again am I within my "rights" to require that I be given specific instructions on what they want, so I don't end up going back and forth with alterations constantly in the hope they approve of it?
I appreciate any feedback you have thank you, and Merry Christmas!