CompuServe Thread

Denise, I don't mean to be flip, but at $35/sec for stock footage, have you thought of taking a government financed vacation (read as tax deductable) and make your own stock footage of the events you need. Whenever I travel, I always take along a Hi-8 camcorder and take in the scenery so that I don't end up in the same boat as you. And, I've even been know to take a few days off to do nothing but build up my own library. If you have a legitimate business, check with your accountants and see what they say. Since you're selling a final product it probably isn't a good idea to appropriate scenes from laser discs and the like. You may just be stuck doing it yourself. Elliot

Denise, My suggestions about a romantic opening, would be to look at animation by a company called Rab-Byte Computer Graphics. Their phone number is (609) 627-1010. Talk to Marcia Murphy. When I first say companies selling aniamtion, I didn't even bother to look at their products. I didn't think that stock animation would be any good. Then one day I was reviewing a training video and was caught by the opening. It was a graphic of the world turning with titles on top and a video insert. All on the screen at the same time. When I asked the producer how he did it, he told me that the globe was stock animation that he had purchased from Rab-Byte. They have just released volume 8 and have some very good scenes that are done with either black background or black cut outs. This allows you to key in your own video with the animation. I mainly use their book openings. A good looking photo album flots into the scene with a title that reads "Our Wedding Day". The book opens to a black cut out page, where I key in my first scene. I get a lot of good feedback about these opening. They also have all kinds of general background. Give Marcia a call. Please mention my name. The problem you are having with clergy is not just you. Although I don't run into it too often, I have been told several times that I can not put a camera up front. When that happens, I find out just how close I would be allowed and then place a camera at that position. I let the brides family know of the restriction. Trying to go where you were told not to go, can only get you in trouble and make it worse for the next videographer. You've got to remember, it's their church. You are a guest. Sometimes I try and let the family work it out with the clergy, but you can't argue with them. I've met some videographers who won't shoot a wedding if they can't place cameras where they want them. I don't go that way, but I can understand their feelings. They want their product to look good. I feel that I do the best I can under restrictions that my be inposed on me. You can always make up for limited camera work, but doing a great reception. Fred