Re: Never Gets Old: Value for the Price

We have been able to very accurately estimate (both with hours and cost per finished minute, with and without production) for some time. For clients we know well, we use the simpler cost per finished minute and we base it on the description of the project's task.

For new clients we do a full line by line estimate and use hourly or daily rates.

Hey Grinner, at the end of a few of your projects calculate the cost per finished minute based on the final invoice and the minutes delivered. Include all deliverables. I'll bet you'll come to some accurate conclusions. We have been able to.

So to answer the post, 1k per finished minute is a bit low for Madison WI for HD including shoot and post. You didn't say how long it was....typically you are more efficient on longer pieces. On shorter videos with more animation muscle it will go up a bit.

I also think Grinners example of a 24 minute show pilot with only a one day shoot seems lean. Can you get enough to fill 245 minutes in a day? Depends on what it is. But 5K complete seems like a lowball bid from a one man band....no offense Grinner!


Rich Rubasch
Tilt Media Inc.
Video Production and Post
Owner/President/Editor/Designer/Animator