My last post dealt with yellowbook shoots, and I briefly touched on how I am contractually not allowed to utilize the videos I shoot for my own promotional purposes. That is to say I can’t put them up on my website, or my blog. I wouldn’t be able to put them on a sample DVD or a demo reel that I sent out to prospective clients.
It’s a little frustrating, but there are ways around it. Like this blog. I write on this blog, and I include a link to a video I saw online. It just so happens that I shot the video I’m linking to.
Which brings me to my focus. A video shot in October for the company I’ve been doing the yellowbook shoots for. Apparently they like what I’m doing enough to have me do a shoot for one of their own clients in Seattle. They called me up and asked if I would be willing to do this shoot, and I’ll have to admit there was a bit of pressure. Well, that’s an understatement. It was a lot of pressure. I felt like this was a make or break gig.
My reason for mentioning the legality of showing videos is because I feel some small degree of angsty annoyance. I consider the video that I shot for them to be among the finest I’ve ever shot. No. It is the best thing I’ve ever shot. I’m very proud of it. I want it to be the core of my demo reel. It should be my flagship sample.
But I’m not allowed to use it.
Well, maybe in a couple years, I might be able to get rights to use it. By then, I should think, it will no longer be the crown jewel of my accomplishments…
I may have talked it up to the point wherein now, viewing it, you will be thinking “What’s the big deal?” I have no apology. I think it’s awesome.
That’s just one of the things I need to learn to live with attempting to transform my passion into a successful business. There will be concerns that will not always allow me to keep every piece that I create. I need to think of this more as a business than an art.
