Been working on some of my custom ideas, and I thought I'd ask this question. Specifically I'm wonding if there are things that customers do that are annoying so I can make sure not to do those things, and also if there are wrong assumptions that I might be making.
I have commissioned over 50 customs and I have learned to be VERY specific with what I want and yet not go to hell with the joke either. For example, I will send screenshots of other scenes I have in my head that get the camera angle right. Not too far, not too close. I ask for a tripod to be used because I hate shakey hand-held stuff. I NEVER give them exact dialogue to say. Its too hard for the actors and too canned. I want the dialogue to be natural.
Things to think about:
1. What clothes do you want them to wear? If you are really specific, find the exact thing you want on amazon and send them the link. I do it all the time.
2. How do you want their hair? Down? Up? In a bun?
3. What kind of pie/slime/WAM do you want? Real pies or shaving cream? Green slime or some other color? Etc.
4. What is the mood of the scene? Are they angry at each other? Humiliated? Laughing?
5. Who do you want in it? I am super picky what girls I hire. You don't want your dream video you paid lots of money for to star a girl you don't find attractive. See if it is possible to get your two or three favorites in the same room. You might have to wait longer, but its worth it.
6. Are piercings OK? Cadence loves to wear a nose ring. I always ask she take it out.
BOTTOM LINE Be clear with what you want. Ask the producer if they are OK with your specifications. Like in any relationship, communication is key.
I would never say that customers are annoying or do things that are annoying..it's always a great honour to be tasked with bringing someone's vision to life.
It's also worth noting that having had the great honour of making 2 customs for you, that yours were some of the easiest to bring to life in the way you wanted (and I know I did because of your very kind feedback) due to you being really clear about everything you needed upfront.
Your documentation was fantastic at enabling me to see what you were after..including screengrabs and references to scenes that had the look and feel you wanted. Where something was a must have..you said so, and when it was 'nice to have' but not key, you said so too.
So I think you are probably the last person who needs advice on this..you have it nailed.
My main suggestion to potential customers is not to waste your own time asking 'how much is a custom?' or 'how much is a custom with x?' as you will only get a response requesting the full details of exactly what you are after.
I have done customs for under $100 and customs for over $1000 and both, incidentally, had the same model in them. So you won't be helping yourself by asking 'How much is a custom with Honour May?' as that question is unanswerable without knowing the full details.
Bozo covers a lot of it...who do you want in it? what are they wearing if anything? What do they do?? How long is the scene? what is the mess and how much of it? What is the mood/vibe? These are all good things to think about when submitting your request. That at least will give the producer some building blocks..and they can then get any further details as required.
The only other advice I'd give is to remember that we are not The Monkees. We don't live in a beach house with all of our models*, and have them on standby, ready to film . So if you are happy to be flexible with model choice, you'll probably get your scene sooner. and if you want specific models, that's equally cool..but you will probably have to wait longer.
* I shouldn't speak for other producers..they may well live in a beach house with their models, but I don't
Incidentally..if any producers have a sheet they send to customers with fields for them to fill in, that helps them gather the info they need, and would be willing to share, I think that would be very helpful
I have done customs for under $100 and customs for over $1000 and both, incidentally, had the same model in them. So you won't be helping yourself by asking 'How much is a custom with Honour May?' as that question is unanswerable without knowing the full details.
Now I'm wondering which scene cost $1000. Was it this? seems like the outfits and props could easily get it over $1000.
I have done customs for under $100 and customs for over $1000 and both, incidentally, had the same model in them. So you won't be helping yourself by asking 'How much is a custom with Honour May?' as that question is unanswerable without knowing the full details.
Now I'm wondering which scene cost $1000. Was it this? seems like the outfits and props could easily get it over $1000.
* I shouldn't speak for other producers..they may well live in a beach house with their models, but I don't
Rev.....how many times do I have to tell you....STOP stalking me at the beach. That's what the "Private WAM Property" sign is for. Well that and to keep that weird Jayce woman away.
Advice I'd give anyone enquiring about a custom is:
1. Make sure to specify all the elements that are vital. 2. Do an overall outline of what you want everyone to do / have done to them. 3. Don't get too intense in detail though.
The reason for 3 is it's just too easy to get more and more intense on the detail of a scene when you're writing it, because you're basically in fantasy mode and "living the scene" as you write it - but in reality what happens will always be a bit different to what you've visualised. So it's better to say something like "Model A should tip the trifle into Model-B's running pants, front middle, Model-B should react with pleasure", instead of "Model-A should place two fingers in the waistband of Model-B's running pants, pull them out several inches, heft the trifle, smile into the camera, and then tip it slowly into the open pants, so that the whole mass drops in, and Model-B starts to writhe and squirm in happiness as she feels it sliding down."
The first of those two is a script instructioon, the second one reads more like part of a WAM story, and what will actually happen is the models will do something similar, but different, to the precisely detailed description. From shooting my own scenes and doing customs for people, I've come to realise that the best and most natural results are when you give the models the overall outline but then let them do the details for themselves. You can specify things like "all into-trousers pours should be dead centre" or "all pies should be to the face, straight on", but basically write an outline structure that the models can then interpret their own way and have fun with. The result will be less stilted and a lot more natural.
Incidentally..if any producers have a sheet they send to customers with fields for them to fill in, that helps them gather the info they need, and would be willing to share, I think that would be very helpful
Not a producer, but if I got something like this from a producer it would strongly boost my confidence that they are going to get my idea right.