Rock Videos by Greg

[Greg]

I'm sure I posted the story of me making Rock Videos for the neighbor somewhere on this site, but I can't find them.

To recap, I made two videos for a neighbor to promote his new album. I did them for free, because, yes, I am dumb. But I also did it to hopefully get some exposure and it seemed like a good challenge. On the plus side, the neighbor had been in some locally famous rock bands and had some good industry contacts. I'd make the videos. He would show them to his industry contacts. Next stop fame and fortune.

Yeah, about that.

My neighbor got cold feet or something. He also had other material he wanted to promote first. The video releases were put on indefinite hold. It was a tremendous WTF moment for me. It got very awkward around the neighborhood when I would bump into him on dog walks. My death stare was getting a big workout. Occasionally, he would try to talk to me about why I was so angry with him. More death stare. My feeling was that I had put a lot of work into those videos and he had basically lied to me about his intentions.

Flash forward however many years it has been, maybe five, to yesterday. I bump into the neighbor. He tells me he wants to talk to me about doing something with the videos because he thinks they are really good. Yeah, sure. What you do with videos is you release them. Not that much to talk about.

Bitter, table for one.

[cranefly]

I remember the thread well, but not finding it using searches either.

I'm thinking that, after many years, your neighbor has finally matured and is now ready to do business in a more even-handed way.  I don't see how you could go wrong working with him going forward.

As long as he pays you up front.  Say, $75 an hour.  In back pay, mind you.  For all the hours you've already put in.

With, say, 15% interest.

And don't accept raw chicken guts in barter -- no matter how appealing.  (Though that's likely another neighbor?)

Good luck.  I hope the videos see the light of day.

[Drunk Monk]

Was that this one? http://www.brotherhoodofdoom.com/doomFor...p?tid=3573

Wait, wait, wait...just hold the phone... you do videos for free?  WTH?  Why has TC been paying you all these years?

[Greg]

I should have retired on the riches from my TC DVD residuals long ago.

[Greg]

No. That was a different group I made the video for. They had the audacity to show people the video.

[Greg]

The neighbor angers me. The mere sight of him causes my blood to boil, just a tad.

He keeps bugging me about coming over to talk about the videos. He even sent me an email about getting together. When I didn't answer the email and he saw me on the street, he asked me about it.

Rather than have him come to the house, I sent him an email back asking three questions: What do you want to do with the videos, what do you want me to do with the videos, and what do I get out of this.

He responded by telling about all the things he would do differently with the videos. He told me about he has learned to edit with Premier Pro and After Effects. He knows some changes he would like to do to the videos. He wants to add another drum track into one of the songs. He thinks I should just give all the raw footage. Basically, it was all the work he wanted to do on the videos without any clear indication of what I would get out of doing this work.

I told him he should just start over from scratch and shoot his own videos.

He ambushed me on the dog walk trail yesterday. He said they were great videos and it was unfortunate no one would get to see them. I asked him how that was any different from five years ago? He told me my problem was I couldn't collaborate.

Even on hot summer days, my anger keeps me extra warm.

[cranefly]

He told me my problem was I couldn't collaborate.

But can you clobberate?

He's clearly moving in the right direction -- at the speed of a turtle.
Maybe you should have kept the turtle and jammed it down in his pants to send a clearer message.

But no turtle deserves that indignity.

[Drunk Monk]

um yeah.  what cf said.

When people ask me for free work (and they often do) 
I tell them I might think about it after I finish my paid gigs (which is partially true)