Wedding Music, Wedding Videos, and Copyright Infringement Laws
Every industry is affected by the restraints of music copyright laws and the wedding industry is no exception. With the increase in enforcement of those that commit copyright infringement, wedding professionals including wedding videographers, wedding planners and anyone else choosing or using wedding music in their projects are not exempt from paying large fees for all wedding video music, music for wedding videos and any other music they need.
The ease of downloading all types of music, and particularly wedding music via the internet and through both illegal and legal file sharing programs has gone up exponentially as the availability of such programs has increased. Because of the increased availability of copyright protected music, large music providers such as BMI and ASCAP have begun to prosecute in cases where people have not paid appropriately for use of the wedding video music, background music and production music that professionals and other individuals use in their projects.
While it is impossible for large companies to prosecute all violators of copyright laws, many wedding video companies, both large and small have already found themselves paying exorbitant fees that total well over the amount they would have paid had they legally purchased the wedding music in the first place just to settle copyright infringement issues. Just because a video is not intended for public viewing does not make it non-infringing to use popular music as a background music or production music, and public performance is one of the reserved rights of the copyright owners.
Wedding professionals and videographers have a tall order to fill. Not only are they responsible for filming the ceremony, reception and all other aspects of the wedding day, but also they are responsible either for choosing music that compliments the spirit of the day, the couple’s personalities and the high quality of the video through an appropriate and rich soundtrack of background music and production music. Weddings today vary much more than they used to; more couples are seeking wedding music and wedding video music that strays from the traditional and ranges from contemporary to cutting edge and progressive.
Regardless of the couple’s preferences, wedding professionals must either choose fully representative wedding video music themselves from the huge amount available, or buy the rights to the music the couple asks for from a music provider. Unfortunately, the cost of paying royalties to large companies in order to use both traditional and contemporary original wedding music in videos, ceremonies and at receptions is extremely expensive. Wedding videographers and other individuals that handle many ceremonies, receptions and projects per month might expect to pay thousands of dollars per month in order to legally use popular wedding video music, music for wedding ceremonies and all other types of wedding music.
And because every client is different and has different musical tastes, these professionals must make sure they have a very large and comprehensive library of wedding music to choose from to make every project unique and make sure it accurately captures the spirit of the big day and the personality of the married couple. Not every wedding videographer and professional, and particularly those for whom weddings are only a small part of their total business plan, can afford to exorbitant royalty fees associated with wedding music and satisfying copyright laws.
So what is the answer for wedding videographers that wish to both avoid copyright infringement and provide high quality and original wedding video music that does not take a huge chunk out of their limited budget? Many wedding professionals avoid the use of buyout music and royalty free music because they find often it does not offer the best quality background music and production music to fulfill their complex needs and satisfy their discriminating tastes. Although it is very inexpensive, buying the wrong royalty free music for wedding videos can destroy a wedding video, ceremony or reception for the couple and family, and the memories can be lost forever. However, comprehensive and rich pieces of royalty free wedding music do exist.
Wedding videographers will find selections of royalty free music and wedding video music that can be seamlessly integrated as background music and production music, and represents every musical genre, from traditional styles such as classical to more progressive and contemporary styles like light rock, jazz and even Hip Hop, techno and dance music. The royalty free wedding music and music for wedding videos in this large library will express the unique personalities of every couple and preserve the memory of their special day for years to come. And because all tracks are royalty free music, clients will pay a one-time very low fee for unlimited use of the wedding music, allowing them to increase their library regularly and offer a larger selection to their clients.
The Corporate Video and Screen Media Production Process
THE PRODUCTION PROCESS
If this is the first production that you have commissioned, or if you haven’t been involved with a production for a while and want to know more about the process, this overview should help you understand some of the things we do as a production company.
As a client, your production company will need your input at key stages but you will not necessarily see each step of the process. With a professional video production company involved you can have as much or as little involvement in your project as you wish to – or have time for!
The Brief
The first part of the production will be the initial briefing meeting. Your production company needs to know what you need to say, who you want to say it to and why. It’s really important that they fully understand your situation and your audience so that they can create the very best communication solution for you.
For help and more information about briefing a production company, have a look at my ‘how to commission a corporate video’ document on this resource site.
Proposal and Quotation
Once your production company has understood your requirements, they will write a proposal. This will include the aims and objectives of the project, the style they are proposing, the content or information to be communicated and an outline production quotation.
If appropriate they will also include ideas and a quotation for other communication services they can help with. It may be that the project needs to be delivered on the web, or on DVD/CD-ROM with some eye-catching packaging designed for it. You may wish to consider a video-email launch for a new sales incentive as well as a business TV campaign.
If you like the proposal and you decide to go ahead with the project, this is the time to discuss the production company’s recommendations and fine-tune your brief, after which they will provide a final itemised quotation. Once they have agreed a cost this should not change unless the brief itself changes – so, no surprises later on!
Scriptwriting
If a script is required, now is the time to write it based on the proposal. Again, the more information you give your production company, the better. Obviously, they can never read enough to match your experience and understanding of your company culture and brand values, so you should ask for a first draft to read through and make any necessary amends before they complete the final script.
Production Schedule
Once the script has been approved, it is time to agree a production schedule including shoot and edit dates. It is helpful if you are able to attend on some shoot days and at key stages of the edit to answer any specific queries that may arise, so your production company should arrange the schedule around you and your deadline.
Planning the Shoot
It is now time to start doing what producers do best – planning and organising the production! The more time you can allow for planning, the better the video will be, so a production company usually works backwards from your deadline leaving as much planning time as possible.
If your project requires actors or a presenter, the production company may hold a casting session and will negotiate rates with agents. They may need to choose outfits and organise makeup artists and hair stylists if required. They may also organise rehearsal sessions so everyone is word perfect for the filming days.
If your programme is in the style of a documentary, a producer or researcher will introduce themselves to the people to be featured, explain what they are intending to do and ask them about their experiences. The script for this style of programme will be based on these conversations with your staff, customers or industry experts.
Other things we sort out for you at this stage are:
o booking crew, talent and equipment
o sourcing locations
o booking a studio and designing the studio set
o finding props
o organising travel and hotels
o commissioning music composition
o briefing graphic artists for title sequences, 3D cross sections, CD/DVD menus and web components of the project
o Producing shooting schedules listing all required shots and shoot timings
o Obtaining film permits
o Producing Call Sheets – documents detailing each location and the contact names and numbers everyone involved
o Arranging specialist insurance and risk assessments
The Shoot
Your crew, usually consisting of a Director, a Cameraman, a Sound Recordist, a Producer and/or Production Assistant and any presenters or actors will arrive on location and, after checking with you that there are no amendments to the schedule or script – will get on with it!
An established corporate video production company should be well-accustomed to filming in schools, offices, airports, helicopters, boats, trains and planes. In any place of work they should do their utmost to cause as little disruption as possible. They may need to re-arrange a few things to make the shots as attractive as possible, but should always make sure they put everything back as they found it – unless you prefer it their way of course!
The Director will have a TV monitor which shows what the camera is recording, so you will be able to check any shots yourself if you need to make sure that something or someone is or isn’t seen.
I am often asked what the Production Assistant does on a shoot. In brief, s/he ensures that the shoot goes smoothly: preparing for the next shot whilst the Director is focused on the current one; finding replacement interviewees should someone be absent or change their mind about appearing in the programme; chasing airport baggage handlers when bags go missing; making sure that you know what is happening at every stage of the process. This basically means that the Director can focus on making your programme look great. The PA will note which takes are the best, which ones to avoid and will also ensure that everyone featured in the programme signs a release form giving permissions to use the footage as required.
Post Production
Once the production company has all of the shots they need, it’s back to the studio to start making your programme.
Logging and Digitising
This involves watching through all of the footage and identifying the best takes. Each shot will be marked and labeled by the production team so that time isn’t wasted in the edit watching through bloopers, or trying to find a specific angle. All the best shots are then digitised on to the non-linear edit suite ready for the edit.
Offline edit
The Offline edit is the ‘first cut’ of the programme. The production team works with the Editor to produce the main structure and content of the programme, which they will then need you to watch and approve. This is the point when you need to involve your colleagues to watch the programme and make one list of amends to make in the online edit.
Online edit
This is the final edit when the production team make your amendments and ‘finish’ the programme. The shots that make up the final programme are now re-digitised at full broadcast quality. The programme is audio mixed and any graphics such as people’s names and job titles, and credits are added.
The online may include a colour grading process depending on your project. A Colourist gives your programme a ‘look’.
Delivery
You now have a programme, but how will it get in front of your audience? It will need to be prepared for CD, DVD, mobile phone, PDA, big screen or little screen. Depending on your communication strategy and the production company’s capabilities this is the time to encode and prepare the programme to make sure that all the right people can access it.
If the programme is going to be delivered on an optical disc (CD or DVD) the production company will have sent designs and concepts to you throughout the production process. The approved design now becomes the bespoke menu system to complement your programme.
If you communicate with a foreign audience, the production company will translate and create subtitles, produce international voiceover versions, and ensure that the delivery format is accurate and appropriate. To access the widest possible audience you should consider British Sign Language and hard of hearing subtitles for your project, or even producing an audio-description of the project for a visually impaired audience.
A good production company can guarantee the quality of your project, but this is worthless if your audience don’t notice it! Get your produciton company to demonstrate how you can print and package your programme for maximum impact. Replication companies can deliver thousands of discs a day, and a fulfilment service ensures that your programme gets to your audience.
Webstreaming
A production company shouldn’t just talk about webstreaming – they should be using it to deliver your project straight to your audience. Look around the production company’s website, and if you don’t see video, dont call them. It is a producer’s job to be at the forefront of digital screen media development, they should offer advice on delivery and design and if the project can be delivered on the web they should come up with a successful solution.
You should expect your video to look like TV. Quality production companies will have exacting standards for every project they deliver. They should encode your programme at exceptional quality for streaming. You can include the project on your own website or have the production company design a microsite using Flash and Windows© Streaming Servers. Create a buzz about a launch – show your audience a trailer, allow them to interact, or send them an email with colourful video and images in it.
Easy Woodworking Plans and Projects With the Beginner in Mind
One hobby that has always been a favorite among many is woodworking. There are so many projects you can create while working with wood and it can be both an outlet for relaxing, as well as help you build your self esteem. Whether you choose to just create projects for around the house or take a more serious approach and sell them at fleamarkets and craft fairs, you will need to find some woodworking plans and projects that you can have fun with.
If you are a new beginner to woodworking then you must keep in mind a few rules before starting out. These rules will keep you safe from harm and help you learn more quick and efficient ways to complete your jobs. You must use the proper equipment when woodworking. If you are unsure of the right tools to use, you can either go talk to your friendly neighborhood professional found in the home depot store or you can go online and watch some YouTube videos. Being properly prepared can save you a ton of unnecessary stress, money and time.
Learn how to read your woodworking plans and you will be well on your way to a beautiful completed work of art in no time.
While some projects may look relatively easy to complete to some beginners, in truth, not all of them are. If you are looking for some easy woodworking plans and projects to complete, here are a few you could look into.
A Birdhouse – This is a favorite among many beginners because not only can you add some flair to it but it is a relatively affordable project with the amount of wood involved. So, if you do not get it right the first time, you can still afford to try again. This was one of the woodworking plans and projects used on the reality tv show “America’s Worst Handyman” series. While some of the contestants really do not know what they are doing, you can take the plunge and design a birdhouse your little feathered friends can enjoy for years to come.
A Garden Chair – Since most garden chairs need to be easily moved, these woodworking plans are usually pretty simple. No matter the size of your garden, you will want somewhere to sit and enjoy the flowers in bloom. Wouldn’t it feel good to be able to brag to your mother in law the next time she visits and see her face light up at your excellent craftmanship? You could even go so far as to make her one for her birthday or Mother’s Day and add a special engraving into the back of the chair. The only limitation you have is your own imagination.
A Picnic Table – Hey, why not try out a picnic table? That way, as your mother in law is enjoying sitting in the garden chair you made, your family can be out beside her sharing a lunch on the table you built. Picnic tables do not have to be made from complicated woodworking plans and projects, you could visit your local library or pick up a magazine from the grocery store rack that should have easy steps you could follow.
There are many other easy woodworking plans and projects for beginners you can find by browsing sites online, visiting forums, or chatting with other neighbors you may see who are working on a woodworking project of their own. Use your imagination and there is no telling what you can accomplish!
How to Outsource Audio, Video and Multimedia Work
It seems that everybody wants an interactive web experience these days. Would you like to know how to outsource your own multimedia projects so they can be posted to sites such as YouTube.com where thousands of new videos are posted daily? Multimedia presentations are definitely an effective way to present your companies products and services.
Unless you are a multimedia expert yourself, you will probably want to consider learning how to outsource audio, video and multimedia work to experts in this field. The state of the art technology used by an outsource service will set you apart from your competitors and give the finished product a polished look. After all, you want a professional looking product if you are hoping to increase your share of the market.
How to Outsource Audio, Video and Multimedia
In order for the project to be successful you need to be skilled in 3 very important arts:
- Project Planning
- Project Management
- Communication
Project PlanningYou would not set off on a car journey without a clear idea of how to reach your destination. The same adage is true when you are learning how to outsource and wishing to get the most from outsources services.
Your project planning road map will detail your goals and objectives, time-lines, costing and what to do in the case of unforeseen problems in the project.
It is vital that you do this comprehensive project planning exercise prior to project commencement otherwise you are leaving yourself open to potential disasters. This is one of the most common pitfalls when learning how to outsource.
Once you have established the scope and direction that the project is going to take, you can then hire a freelancer to put your ideas into practice. But do not just hire the first name you come across. Search the web for somebody with a portfolio of similar, successfully completed projects.
Now you have taken your first few steps in your “learning how to outsource” journey, and you have selected the perfect provider, how can you be sure that the project stays on track? That is where the art of project management comes into play.
Project Management
Successful project management is all about communication. The ability to give clear and precise instructions to the freelancer is of paramount importance. After all they do not have a crystal ball! Unless you can explain your requirements, how can you possibly expect somebody to execute them?
An important factor to take into consideration when discovering how to outsource audio / video and multimedia, is that it is an art form. And as such the “artist” who is doing the work will have their own individual ideas. Try not to dismiss these ideas out of hand and, if for some reason you really disagree with a suggestion, explain the reason why. You need to build up a good reputation with your freelancer otherwise your project is not going to run successfully, you will discover this more and more in your journey of learning how to outsource effectively.
You will obviously want regular progress updates so it is a good idea to set up a regular communication schedule. You might decide that once a week is sufficient but once you have set the schedule, stick to it.
Taking the time to communicate with your freelancer can make the difference between success and failure of any project.
Remember, the 3 key elements of learning how to outsource, that go into any successful project is Project Planning, Project Management and excellent communication skills.