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TurnHere Projects Huge Increase In Video Production Demand

Mark R Robertson | 4 years ago |

Good news today for filmmaker's that are part of the TurnHere filmmaker network as well as for customers which utilize Turnhere for professional video production services. Despite the economic recession, TurnHere is expanding its creative online video production network and has announced significant growth numbers today. The company states that they are on target to double video orders in 2009.

In addition to expanding their video production network, they are also expanding their direct division and sales team to support the growth in demand for creative videos for big brands. As part of this effort, they have also just brought on new a VP of sales, Stan Taigen, to help manage and drive this growth.

"In this economy, brands are focusing on the programs that deliver reach, cost efficiencies, engagement and ROI. At the same time, customers are looking for compelling content that speaks to them, not markets at them," said Bud Rosenthal, CEO for TurnHere. "The Social Web is redefining how a company or brand can connect with customers at deeper levels than previously possible through expensive broadcast productions or traditional Web marketing.”

The company posseses a large and growing network of more than 8,000 professional filmmakers across 70 countries. This network is responsible for creating more than 11,000 custom videos in the past year alone for customers and brands which include NBC, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, InterContinental Hotels, and many others across the media, publishing, retail, travel, legal, local and real estate industries.

About the Author - Mark R Robertson

Mark Robertson is the Founder and Publisher of ReelSEO, an online information resource dedicated to the fusion of video, technology, social media, search, and internet marketing. He is a professional online video marketing consultant and video marketing expert, popular speaker, and considered to be a passionate leader within the online video and search marketing industries. View All Posts By - Mark R Robertson

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What do you think? ▼

Skip B
Turn here is bad news for independent video producers. They pay very little to the "film makers" as they outsource work from major clients and pocket the profit to cover their expensive offices in NY, SF and elsewhere. They are brokers or a clearing house and nothing else.
Tom Sawyer once got huckleberry finn to paint a fence. Turnhere will never get me to undercut the market and produce video at what they pay. Its usually about 300.00 to produce edit and deliver a HD 16:9 1 minute movie. You are talking a minimum of 12 hours in the shoot and edit process. In Turnhere scale that's about 25.00 per hour.
Granted if you are just out of college and or still in college then this is a great entry level situation and resume builder. They do have a "film makers" area on their website with information, music, and release forms for your shoot. It also has directions and PDF's for everything they expect for minimal pay.
They are now extending their reach into Wedding Videography by pairing with Bella Pictures. I wonder how long that relationship will last?
They may be busy, but they may be busy looking for people who will actually shoot their videos for them at what they pay. I cannot see turnhere lasting unless they adjust their
pay rates.
http://www.turnhere.com Marc Prager
Skip,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. While you haven’t worked with us directly, we’re disappointed that you feel that way about TurnHere. As a company TurnHere is all about creating online video demand for filmmakers to capitalize on. Over the last year and a half we’ve created more than 15,000 new shoots that otherwise may not have been available to independent filmmakers. We feel that creating this market is a good thing.
We also want to clarify some of your statements about how filmmakers complete projects. The 1-minute videos you’re referring to typically take filmmakers approximately 4-6 hours to complete at a maximum (and are normally shot in SD, not HD). Many produce them in their entirety in shorter time frames. Many filmmakers who haven’t shot projects for TurnHere overestimate the time required to complete these shoots; but according to filmmakers who produce videos for our clients this time frame is very manageable and the implied hourly rate makes it attractive for them. Additionally, TurnHere has larger projects above and beyond the 1-minute videos that many of the filmmakers in our network participate in and make significantly more per project.
We know that our offering is not for every filmmaker. If it doesn’t work for you we wish you nothing but success for your venture. We believe the market we’re helping to create for online video is a positive development for independent professionals.
Marc Prager
VP, Filmmaker Network
TurnHere, Inc.
Skip B
Well Marc, we will continue to disagree then. If you think it takes 4-6 hours to shoot a one minute 16:9 format commercial for the web with travel to and from location, importing footage, selecting footage, rendering footage, rendering your provided graphics and music library then that's fine by me.
In the real world it takes a little longer. But given your model if you don't pay for gas or parking, or tolls and walk to the shoot or ride your bike you could make about 50.00 an hour.
Now if the Deals with Your clients are spec'd out at lets say at 2000.00 minimum who benefits most? the "filmmaker" I don't think so. The web video community, perhaps because the filmmaker is courageous in making a great video product at way below cost.
Who else benefits?
Creating a new Market is a good thing Marc I can agree with that. I am also glad you have been able to provide 15,000 plus "filmmakers" with that opportunity that they may not of had otherwise. I wish you nothing but success with your venture as well.
Skip B.
J Maxwell
I highly disagree. I am a younger filmmaker and have been shooting for the business for quite some time. This business enables young filmmakers and older to make a name for themselves and also experience a great deal of memorable moments.
I am able to go to school as well as fit shoots in my schedule at my convenience and the team at Turnhere has given me some very constructive criticism which has made my materials a great deal better. The pay rates are fine for me at this time because I am getting paid. We are in a recession and any job at this time is better than no job at all.
http://www.floridavideosolutions.com VideoProductionTampa
I just went ahead and signed up with it turnhere. I have been shooting videos for about seven years and the only challenge I have had is being solo solo. I hope I will begin getting some work with this turnhere. Regardless thanks for this post.
Best to you all.
http://intensedebate.com/people/ChristophorRick ChristophorRick
@VPTampa - Let us know how it goes. It would be great to get some feedback from the 'trenches' to see if you find some success there.
Tim R
I hope another company steps into this market and competes with TurnHere and make rates more competitive and worth-while.
Hunter
I worked for Turn Here for a while, but will not anymore. The last time they called they offered $100 to shoot and edit a video. Their contract is also a non-compete so I refused to sign it. I found its easier to call the businesses directly and make the profit on my own. If you are running your own business you will not make any decent money working with Turn Here. Rest assured though, their founder is making millions.
http://intensedebate.com/people/reelseo Mark Robertson
Hunter and Tim R., I cant validate your claims but I can say this, If it weren't for in part, companies like Turnhere, the businesses that you are talking about would either do the videos on their own, or wouldnt do them at all.
Additionally, what would you have done Hunter that day if it weren't for the work? I realize that filmmakers feel they should make the kind of money that cinematographers on movies make, but isnt $100 for a couple hours worth of work, better than none, especially in this economy?
Honestly, Turnhere has done many great things for filmmakers accross the US and if it were so awful, how would they continue to produce 1000 and 1000 of videos if the filmmakers were not getting something out of it? Getting kind-of tired of this feedback, there are plenty of filmmakers out there without any work.
- cinhead
  "I realize that filmmakers feel they should make the kind of money that cinematographers on movies make, but isnt $100 for a couple hours worth of work, better than none, especially in this economy? "
  This has to be one of the more condescending and arrogant remarks I've read in some time. No, most filmmakers, don't expect to be paid the money that cinematographers on movies make. Rather, we just want to make a fair, living wage. As to the second part of your statement; that sentiment is very similar to the justification that sweat shops use when employing and underpaying illegal aliens. "We'll they're getting more money and have better conditions here than they do where they came from."
  But what the remark actually reveals is your inability to handle a healthy debate on the subject without resorting to ad hominem attacks.
  - http://www.reelseo.com/ Mark Robertson
    Yeah right, $100/HR = sweatshops. Give me a break.
    - cinhead
      Not what I said, but your response does not surprise me.
http://www.crookedpathfilms.com Richard Allen Crook
Turnhere does nothing but hurt the video production industry.
This company hires videographers local to their clients business and pays them $250 for shoot and edit these videos. It’s a ripoff. The client gets a $250 quality video for $1000. Feel free to look into it. I inquired into Turnhere to find some work (I run a production company) and the most they are willing to pay is $200 to $250 per video. Trust me, if you order a Turnhere video you won’t get a pro making it. People shouldn't be so quick to turn over their money to these guys, and CNN certainly shouldn't be promoting them.
Instead, educate people on the alternative to the Turnhere hustle: hire a local video production company and get their money’s worth. $1000 to a local production company ensures the client won't have the middleman to go through as you deal directly with the producers. Plus the quality will be much better (in theory by 75%) because instead of the video producers handing over $750 to turnhere for doing nothing they can spend it on a professional voiceover or better graphics, etc,
Here's an article on how these companies are hurting the video production business:
http://crookedpathfilms.com/blog/2010/02/03/my-opinion-about-internet-video-networks/
- http://www.turnhere.com Marc Prager
  I wanted to respond to Richard’s post and clarify a few facts. TurnHere currently charges much less than the $1,000 that Richard refers to. While we have experimented with our price point in the past, you can find our current price on our website.
  This price includes a professionally-produced video shot at the customer’s place of business, syndication of the video to top websites, matching the video to the company’s Google Places and Facebook pages, as well as providing hosting, streaming and a player that they can put on their own website. We believe our customers receive incredible value for the cost of the product. TurnHere is constantly looking for ways to bring videos to businesses that wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it – creating a larger market with a wide range of video types and price points.
  We work very hard to make our production process as straightforward as possible to limit the amount of time filmmakers need to spend on a project. Filmmakers that do work for TurnHere report that after the first project or two they can complete the work quickly and efficiently, maximizing their hourly rate on our projects. Many of our filmmakers tell us they rely on TurnHere to earn money and stay busy with production when they have no other video work.
  It is also important to note that TurnHere uses qualified and experienced filmmakers only. Each filmmaker must go through a vetting process before they are allowed to shoot for TurnHere.
  We’re very proud of the opportunities we’ve created for independent filmmakers that wouldn’t otherwise exist, all the while providing guidance, support and feedback on their work. And we think we’re headed in the right direction. In our latest filmmaker survey (in March ’10) 95% of our active filmmakers were either very satisfied or satisfied with TurnHere. In just the past 2 years we have sent more than 25,000 paid work opportunities to filmmakers, and we have plans to grow the amount of opportunities for them in the future.
  We know that TurnHere may not work for everyone, but for filmmakers looking for additional paid work and the ability to work on and improve their craft we think we’re an option worth seriously considering.
Noneya
In response to both Mark and Marc,
It is VERY arrogant, easy, and convenient to claim that Turn Here / Demand Studios et al are "creating opportunities" and "creating shoots" that otherwise would not exist. The need for production services at all levels would exist with or without your fairly greedy business models. No amount of BS corporate spin can change that FACT. Small business owners and similar small-budget potential clients simply would reach out to a local production company and contract a product that fits their budget. What is the minimum price that Turn Here would charge a client for a one minute HD spot? $600/year then $400 for continued hosting/service? So of that initial $600, you pay the shooter/director/audio op/editor/driver/scriptwriter/prodcuer $250. Not to mention providing minimum $5000 worth of gear and at least 2 or so years of skills to create the actual product? How do you guys earn your 60%+ ?? If you want to get real and show that you respect the professionals that YOU RELY ON TO EARN EVERY CENT YOU HAVE, then I suggest you raise your payour rates to ~$400-$500.
Since you guys obvisouly monitor comments/forums/etc to give your spin on things, I welcome your reasoning explaining how you deserve 60%+++ off of other peoples sweat/skills/gear. You arent creating clients you are stealing them.
- cinhead
  9 months and no decent reply. That speaks volumes.
Josh-PMG
I am a small business owner that does videos of all kinds, weddings, commercials, music videos, you name it I offer it. TurnHere approached me and while I understand the concept and "wished I had thought of that" I think that for what most people are after and telling from the last post this was a year ago, the recession is over and cost will always go up and so do my videos I offer. As my overhead goes up I have to adjust somewhere, TurnHere will eventually have to come online with that fact and pay their filmakers accordinly. Nothing last forever, and to add to the comment about editing times, every project is different and experience level, to lay a flat rate on a video that may be more detailed is asking for trouble. I am a firm believer you get what you pay for and the quality will suffer as a result.
Luckily for me, I grabbed the bull by the horns and marketed myself wisely and effectively to where I have way to much work to even be bothered with 200 dollar videos but to younger filmakers such as the college student, I would highly recommend something like TurnHere.
cinhead
I'm with Skip, TurnHere filmmakers are grossly underpaid and it's driving down the price of video production so drastically, that it's making it really tough for a video professional to make a decent living.
$200, really? For 4-6 hours worth of work. Let's look at that. At the end of the year, TurnHere will send you a 1099, which will take a huge chunk of the check out of the filmmakers pocket. Let's say it's $50, it likely much more. But let's go with $50.
Subtract, the price of gasoline and tape stock, which TurnHere does not compensate you for, that will now another $10 off the profit, at least. The shoot will take 1-2 hours and then the edit realistically takes another 3-4 hours. TurnHere requires 4 versions of the product. A Master, a Clean, about 4 minutes of B-Roll, with about 4 minutes of SOTs from the interview. All must be exported to TurnHere's specs. All this takes time. Don't forget to add in the time it takes to capture the video, go through the music library and select a track, pus the time it takes to create graphics through TurnHere's title tool. Now, TurnHere requires all releases and production outlines to be scanned and uploaded. Again, more time out of the filmmakers day.
If you're a filmmaker not living with mom and trying to cover the expenses of your gear, can you really expect to make a decent living doing this?