Hello Friends,
This is my first time posting. I have a broker who is supposedly in negotiations with a big name streamer. They are interested in several of my scripts. I thought I had all the documentation to support a successful pitch (loglines, pitch decks, treatments, and trailers) However even though my trailers are only 2-3 minutes long, this company is asking for 5-6 minute trailers to present to their board of directors! Is this normal? The broker can get the extended trailer but said he must use custom still and video clips not from the internet and buy licenses for the trailers to be used. Does this sound right? Any feedback would be appreciated.
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Hey Geoff, this does sound somewhat strange. If not using self generated clips, the standard is to use similar clips from existing projects in a "rip-o-matic". Or to utilize free to license videos from a site like Pexels. Sure, you can pay for videos to license from sites like a Shutterstock, but it's hardly worth your while in still the pitching stage. There's a lot of free video out there that can be utilized. Search for Pexels and sites like it. Don't see why this can't be done with the myriad free resources available, as you're not utilizing the video you have for explicitly commercial purposes.
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Thanks Pat. So you don't think this is an unusual request?
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I mean a 6 minute trailer instead of a 3 minute one?
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What does a trailer for a screenplay look like? Is this a sizzle reel, made up of clips from other movies? I say keep it short. Let them deal with what you already have.
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Geoff McCue Sorry but this person or company sounds iffy if he/she/they want a 6 minute reel when it's a 2 minute showreel pros want.. Well what do you think @Maurice Vaughan
I don't have a lot of experience with trailers/reels, Pat Savage, but a 5-6 minute trailer is really long to watch.
It sounds they are trying to extract money out of you. Hot potato in your hand...
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Run
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Thank you all for your comments!
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I'd be more concerned about who I hired and what the terms were. Only you know that. Who is the company?
You're welcome, Geoff McCue.
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If money is involved. who is getting your money? Cui bono?
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The broker said that he must buy licenses. In that case it sounds as if he will ask you to pay for the licenses. In that case it looks like a scam. And taking into account how long time it takes to create a decent 6 minutes long video, it sounds as if he is in no hurry. So perhaps he wants to say "you must be patient even though you paid me thousands of dollars".
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I think it's odd. I was advised to trim a 2-min trailer down to 1-min not the other way around. And that more weight would be given to the Pitch Deck and script anyway.