Quote:
Originally Posted by subbasshead  Helping directors to own their opinions is a valuable skill
& sometimes the only way is to have a lot of options up your sleeve....
if its abstract, then sometimes directors dont actually know what they
want until they hear it (or something vaguely like it) so rather than present
only your best version, present it & then also play through five other versions
so that it becomes a comparative opinion, rather than "hmmm no thats not it..." |
I agree that you need to have options ready to present, but generally speaking I think it is best to start with your best shot at a cohesive concept (the one you believe is best based on your understanding of the goal) and not present the alts unless and until they are requested.
Of course there are always those clients who you know are going to insist on 8 choices and have to personally select every element. You know the type - the ones who think that nothing is any good unless it is their idea. With them you might as well just play them all one by one right from the start and let them micromanage everything, but I wouldn't automatically assume that is the case. With some clients too many choices can muddy the waters, when a well constructed single presentation can be very convincing.
I mixed a couple of films for Bob Altman and the way we approached each reel was to put it together on our own in the morning and then have him come in and watch it as a piece. Generally speaking he would have one or two very minor notes - that's it. It wasn't so much that we were so brilliant, he was a believer in collaboration and appreciated that we had a cohesive concept to contribute. You may just be working with someone like that, you never know unless you try. If you can't sell it, then go for plan B.