In case you were wondering...

Getting started

We know we need a video, but where do we start?
We love that question. Your first consultation with us is free. Plan for one to two hours to give us time to assess your specific need, and whether or not digital film production is the best solution for you. If it is, we can take it from there.

We don't have any writers on our staff. Can you still make a video for us?
We have some excellent writers, who would be more than happy to write everything from the original concept, to the final draft of your script. Scriptwriting is actually one of our greatest strengths, and is critical to a successful film. A film is only as good as its script.

What if we already work with an Ad Agency?
That's great. We also work with Ad Agencies. Most advertising and marketing firms do not offer in-house production services so they rely on production companies like Waterman Digital Media to provide those services for them. In these cases, the Agency develops the concept and writes the copy (script), and we handle the filming and editing.

Expectations and Locations

We've never done this before, what should we expect?
In order to make the best film possible, we need as much information as we can get from you about your organization, your audience, and what you want to tell them. The only reason to hire us is because you want us to use film or audio to change someones mind about something. (Whether it to persuade them to work safer, buy your product, give to your organization, eat healthier etc.) The more we understand your goals and your audience, the more effectively we can do that for you.

Do you work outside of Grand Forks?
​Our clients have called us to shoot in Minnesota, Missouri, New York, New Mexico, California, Vermont, Maryland, Russia and Poland. Our motto is, "Have camera will travel."

Our company just has offices that don't look very good. Do you have a studio where we can shoot our commercial or film?
We are currently in the process of planning and building a small studio, which should be ready by winter of 2016. In the meantime, we have many other options available to us depending on the needs of your particular project.

The Process

Production Options

What if I just need someone to shoot some footage for us, but we want to edit it ourselves.
You may hire us to do as much or as little of your project as you like. Ala carte pricing is available for every aspect of production.

Can we rent your truck with the equipment on it?
You may certainly rent our grip truck with a driver. The truck comes fully loaded with grip gear, lights, track dolly, track, expendables and a driver. You just provide the cameras and the talent. The fully loaded 1 ton truck rents for $1200 per day, plus expendables. (We do not rent our cameras or lenses)
How long does it take to finish a film?
Production times vary greatly depending on the complexity of the project and many other factors.. The script will ultimately determine what is needed in production and post production. Once the shooting script is complete, we will be able to give you a pretty good idea of how long your project should take to finish.

Pricing

Your Budget

How much is it going to cost?
That's an important question that is not easily answered until we have a better idea of what your project will entail. We have shot TV commercials that range in price from $2,000 to $25,000. It all depends on what is called for in the script, which is generally based on your budget. Non-broadcast long-form programs generally cost between $2,000 to $3,000 per finished minute.

How soon will we know what the final cost will be?
Once the script is written, (and sometimes just the outline) we will have enough information to give you a quote with a margin of error that is less than ten percent. In our history of more than twenty years, there may have been one project that exceeded the original estimate, but it still fell within the ten percent range.

Do you do trade?
It's not common but we have in some instances. One Chinese restaurant hired us to do a TV commercial, and paid almost half of the commercial with trade. We where happy to do it though because it was my family's favorite Chinese restaurant.