Hosting Corporate Videos

[perryjaws]

Who's done this? How does it come about? How lucrative is it? Just curious -- not sure if production houses suggest people or it's contacts or what.

[Newzie52]

I've a good friend (anchor) who has done several of these. He's done them for both industry and the Army, and was contacted out of the blue both times by reps from each organization who were familiar with his on-air work and voice.

The industrial client called repeatedly over a number of years to update safety and training videos; I think he did a couple of Army training videos. None of them was shown in this market, and he got clearance from station mgmt. The pay was, he told me, pretty darn good for easy work (several hundred dollars for very brief narration...)

You could try contacting the PR folks in local companies who might have need of these services and just get the word out that you're interested. You could also contact a local talent/modeling agency, as my daughter was contacted in that way for some similar work. There's probably some formal way these days of going about this (agent, etc...) but that's beyond my scope.

Good luck.

[Signature on File]

You can always host "cheezy infomercials". A recent financial infomercial ran in out market featuring three out of work local journalist..(news room layoffs). They all had assumed names and were "experts" on credit repair and equity loans. I don't think they realized it would be shown in a tv market where they had worked.

[MichaelPS]

My standard pay rate for talent for corporate work is $500 - $750 per day, but I'm on the low end, and in a part of the country where I can get away with paying this.

Whenever I use people in television, they don't argue about the rate at all. Whenever I use people who do corporate work for a living, they always negotiate up. I think this says something about how easy it is for television people to start thinking the scandalously low rates they are paid for their work is normal.

[Pregnant Reporter]

I've done some private sector hosting, including education videos that were put on CD-Rom and distributed to school districts. Generally, you host the video but have NO say in the content or writing of the script, so make sure you check it out beforehand.

And, make sure you know exactly where it will be distributed, previewed or used as a demo.

I got busted once when one was aired before a Legislative committee- and a co-worker was covering the hearing. I got a not-very-enjoyable talking to about how it was a violation of my contract, which I knew going in, but just didn't think those two worlds would ever collide.

My co-worker didn't out me, but was kind enough to let me know and I had to turn myself in. All the stations shot video of the "video" and I didn't know if it would end up on the air or not.

I keep doing that kind of work when it comes up though, because the pay is great and I doubt I would actually get fired for it if it ever comes up again.

Scale here is around $1500 for a day-shoot. Hey Michael, am I being low-balled at that rate? Thanks for any insight.

[MichaelPS]

Depends where you are, PR. $1500 on the coasts seems about scale for a day rate, but I'd check with the unions.

But you're rolling the dice. You're right on the money when it comes to the fact that you have no control over the script or the distribution. When I produce these kinds of videos it's very clear in the contract that I have the right to distribute proof of performance copies in any medium I choose. And I'm just the producer. The client owns the general copyright, and they have generally unlimited license to use what they've paid for in any way they want.

Frankly, it's the main reason I rarely use news talent for anything but voice over work, and even that's not a great idea. It's not for my protection, but because I've been in the business myself. I just don't need the hassle of dealing with the aftermath of talent coming back years later and wondering where they've ended up from their appearances.

Bottom line, as you've discovered, is to ask how much money your credibility and objectivity is worth.

[Lazlo Toth]

If you're still working in news, I would have serious questions about the ethics of fronting someone's corporate video.