Visit the Ask Chris Blog

 

How do I know which price is fair for our video?

Q: Dear Chris, I've gotten quotes from several production companies for a sales training video that we are doing, and they are all over the place in regards to pricing. What's going on? Thanks very much for your help. Marcie

 

A: Hi Marcie, That's a very good question, it can be hard to decide between many different quotes.

 

The first thing I would do is ask lots of questions to make sure you are comparing apples to apples.

 

Ask the companies about the crews that they plan on sending to the shoot. Crews range from one-man-bands, to small 3 or 4 person crews, to film crews. Also, find out what type of equipment the crews are using.

 

Find out how they will edit the piece for you, and if they intend to incorporate motion graphics or animations to add style and polish to your video. Look at their company demo reels to determine how professional and appealing their work is.

 

Make sure the companies fully understand your needs and expectations regarding the scope and production values of your video, particularly if your video will be shown outside your company and will be the "face" of your organization to the public.

 

Above all, don't be afraid to ask lots of questions about what you're getting for your money. Different companies have different strengths, and the more you know, the better you can compare prices and quotes with confidence.

 

Good luck! Chris

 

Q: Chris, my wife and I went apple picking last weekend. Do you have any good apple recipes that are not apple-pie?

 

A: This is a simple, delicious dessert that also makes a warming and special brunch dish or breakfast. I stuff the apples with a mix of brown sugar, dried fruit, and nuts, then bake them in a sauce of apple cider, maple syrup, and plenty of butter, which cooks down to a rich, thick glaze. I like to use MacIntosh apples, but any firm, tart baking apple will do.

 

MAPLE BAKED APPLES WITH DRIED FRUIT AND NUTS

1/3 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons roughly chopped dried cherries
3 tablespoons chopped dried figs
2 tablespoons roughly chopped sliced toasted almonds
2 tablespoons roughly chopped toasted pecans
6 large, firm baking apples, cored but not peeled
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces
1/2 cup apple cider
2 tablespoons maple syrup

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, dried fruit, and nuts.
2. Place the apples in a baking pan or casserole dish and stuff their cavities with the fruit and nut mixture. Place a piece of butter on top of the stuffing.
3. Pour the apple cider and maple syrup into the bottom of the baking pan and bake the apples, basting every 5 to 7 minutes, until they are tender, 25 to 35 minutes.
4. When the apples are tender, transfer them to a serving platter and cover with foil to keep warm. Pour the pan juices into a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Simmer the mixture until it becomes syrupy and reduces to a sauce, about 10 minutes. Serve over the apples.

Serving Suggestions Serve with yogurt, whipped crème fraîche, or ginger ice cream.

 

Makes 6 servings.