Ihsa 2009 state dvd thread

[James_Oliva]

Hey Everyone,

J.D. Oliva here, ready to talk about the 2009 IHSA State Championship finals DVD.

Due to the changes made to state tournament this year, the production of our video will be different as well. Here is the layout for this year's DVD.
Disc 1: A Finals
Disc 2: AA Finals
Disc 3: AAA Finals
Disc 4: Will be a compilation best of the preliminary round matches. We will try and get the best and most eagerly anticipated match ups of the tournament. This will be tricky due to the new format of the event.

Two other pieces of good news: one is that the price of the video, if ordered before the state tournament is only $30. That's a savings of $10 from last season. Videos ordered after the tournament will return to the original price of $40 per set. The other piece of good news is we are guaranteeing a two week turn around. That means the videos will be shipped the week of March 12th or your money back!

However, due to the changes in the tournament and with the way the project played out last year, we are making significant changes to our sponsorship process. Instead of buying 1 weight class in 1 video like we've done in previous years; this year, each sponsorship will be for the entire video and your logo and message will be included in a ticking scroll that will appear throughout the duration of the video. This insures that each video will be identical in production, which means that there will be no short cuts taken like we were forced to make last year (IE one camera and no interviews on the A video)

Due to the changes within the IHSA state tournament, we have to hire more help. I need to hire 2 additional camera operators, two additional Commentators and need to rent two more ENG camera packages on top of a few other expenditures. The total cost will be around $12,000 for the entire production. In order to cover these costs, I have to increase the amount of sponsorships and sponsorship dollars. I need 30 sponsors to invest $400 a piece to get this project off the ground.

I realize that the figure may seem a bit steep and with economic climate being what it is, I understand that people may not be able to help as they have in years past. A big part of my job on this project is generating these funds, which DO NOT cover the Jumbotron video (a pro bono service we do for the fans).

I do not like laying out ultimatums but, if we can not come up with the budget that we need to produce this video by February 1st, 2009, I will pull the plug on the project and all funds will be returned. I really hope it doesn't come to that, as this my personal favorite project every year.

For the past three years, we have given the Illinois wrestling community a video that they can be proud to call their own. It's my dream to bring this project back to television, only time will tell if that is a possibility or not. But for this year, I am asking the Illinois wrestling community to band together again and help us bring this vision to life.

Thank you for your time.


James Oliva
Video Infinity

[Hanging out in Cali]

I will be back in Illinois before the holidays and look forward to being part of the project. Let me know what you need and when.

[Blonjuan44]

I like the best of the prelims idea. I kinda wanted to see the Chase VS Munster semi/prelim match from 2 years ago, where Chase got thrown at the end, but it was not on the DVD's. Might have been the best match of the tournament?...

[James_Oliva]

I will be back in Illinois before the holidays and look forward to being part of the project. Let me know what you need and when.

Thank you for the support.

PM me and lets talk.

[MR TWISTER]

I like the best of the prelims idea. I kinda wanted to see the Chase VS Munster semi/prelim match from 2 years ago, where Chase got thrown at the end, but it was not on the DVD's. Might have been the best match of the tournament?...
That was a good match but not better that Blanton - Spangler. That match may of been the best match since House - Williams.

[James_Oliva]

Just for an update:

We've had three sponsors jump on board so far. That makes us 1/10 of the way to our target goal after only one day!

Please help us bring the 2009 State Tournament DVD to the masses.

$400 is the overall cost and unlike previous years this cost isn't just for one weight class but is for a sponsorship for the overall video. Your name, logo and message will appear as part of a scrolling ticker that will run for the duration of the video.

PM me for more info or email me at James@video-infinity.com


Thanks,

J.D. Oliva

[Neuquafan]

two additional Commentators

Hey... how about Randy Brill on play-by-play and Neuquafan on color commentary? We'd work cheap (cheap means free) and you'd probably get to hear Randy say "Swier, you're an idiot!" in more than one spot...

For the purists you might need to include an option to limit the extracurricular banter you'd get but it would be solid entertainment I promise :D

We're here for you big guy!

[James_Oliva]

Just an update on where we stand for sponsor on this year's DVD.

We are are 1/6 of the way toward our goal of the 30 sponsors. Five people have committed to us and to bringing the State Finals DVD back this year.

Thanks to:
Overtime School of Wrestling
Ken Chertow Wrestling
The Milks Family
The Wiseman Family
and our own Hanging out in Cali.

This is great start but we need more support. So please, either PM me or email me at James@Video-Infinity.com to find out how you can help.

[James_Oliva]

UPDATE

We have added more sponsors to the list which now includes:

Overtime School of Wrestling
Ken Chertow Wrestling
The Milks Family
The Wiseman Family
our own Hanging out in Cali
Triumph Wrestling
Defense Soap
The Curtis Family
Hermann Funeral Homes and Limo Services


We're just about 1/3 of the way toward our total sponsors. But still need help. So please, either PM me or email me at James@Video-Infinity.com to find out how you can help.

[titan442]

On the Dvorak video feed, the Infinity employee said that you would get a bonus disc with extra matches if you buy the DVD at the tournament.

I was planning on reserving the DVD asap, but it sounds like it's better to wait until the tourney to buy it.

Any thoughts?

[James_Oliva]

On the Dvorak video feed, the Infinity employee said that you would get a bonus disc with extra matches if you buy the DVD at the tournament.

I was planning on reserving the DVD asap, but it sounds like it's better to wait until the tourney to buy it.

Any thoughts?

He's not an employee...he's the boss!:D

Seriously though, here's the deal.

Just like last season, if you buy the DVD online before the tournament there will be a price break (the link goes up after the new year). The four videos will be available for $30. After the tournament the price will increase to $40 per set. Now we've decided that if you buy the video from our booth at the state tournament, you will receive a 5TH disc of some of the best matches from the earlier rounds. The reason we're doing this is that I want to show everyone how committed we are to getting the thing done in a quick fashion, so that 5th disc will be available at the tournament the night of the finals.
That means that if you buy from us during the finals, you will go home with the 5th disc that night. But remember, this extra disc will only be available to those who buy at the tournament.

Think of it as something to tide you over till the big package arrives a short time later. However, the cost of the package will now be $40, the same price we've had the past three years.

So, if you buy online before the event the cost is $30. If you buy from our booth at the event, the cost is $40, plus a 5th disc that is available that night. If you buy from us online after the event, the cost is $40 with no 5th disc.

Like I said, this disc is my promise of a much quicker delivery this year.

We still need help with sponsorships and if we do not reach our target goal of 30 sponsors at $400 a sponsorship by February 1st then I will have no choice but to pull the plug on the project. In order to do this with three classes and in a timely efficient manner, I have to hire more help. That's the only way it can be done.

Please feel free to PM me or email me at James@video-infinity.com for more information.


Thanks

J.D. Oliva

[titan442]

J.D.,

In this thread, you said the cost of the DVD would be $30 before, $40 at the tourney (bonus disc). In the newer thread, you said it would be $40 before, $50 at the tourney (bonus disc). Which is it?

[James_Oliva]

J.D.,

In this thread, you said the cost of the DVD would be $30 before, $40 at the tourney (bonus disc). In the newer thread, you said it would be $40 before, $50 at the tourney (bonus disc). Which is it?

I had to change it because 1) We need the funding. 2) All the people who responded said "charge us extra." So that's what I am doing.

[wrestlersdad]

I had to change it because 1) We need the funding. 2) All the people who responded said "charge us extra." So that's what I am doing.
Here's an idea to try to save some money. Offer the option of being able to download the video's from a web site. For $30, you get a password and the ability to down load the video's instead of getting a DVD. Faster delivery, better quality (don't have to worry about scratches on the DVD, which I have), pick the matches you want and lower cost for DVD or DVD production. If someone wants the DVD version, $50 - $75. You could also have the password expire in 30 days, less chance of people passing the password around to friends. Just a thought.

[James_Oliva]

Here's an idea to try to save some money. Offer the option of being able to download the video's from a web site. For $30, you get a password and the ability to down load the video's instead of getting a DVD. Faster delivery, better quality (don't have to worry about scratches on the DVD, which I have), pick the matches you want and lower cost for DVD or DVD production. If someone wants the DVD version, $50 - $75. You could also have the password expire in 30 days, less chance of people passing the password around to friends. Just a thought.

The quality would be lower by necessity since we do all our production in 1080i high definition. It's an idea, something that I'd have to discuss with admin. It would eat up a ton of bandwith in order to hold all of those matches.

It's definitely an interesting idea. I've already committed to a DVD, but this could work in the plans for next season.

That's some nice outside the box thinking.

[titan442]

I had to change it because 1) We need the funding. 2) All the people who responded said "charge us extra." So that's what I am doing.
I see, thank you. But people don't want to pay more just for the sake of paying more. What does the extra $10 do? Does it lower the $12,000 number -- to say, $11,000 or something? Does it make the number of orders needed to sell less than 200?

If 200 orders are still needed, simple math tells us that 200 orders X an increase in $10 = $2,000. Where does this $2,000 go?

What happens if there is more than $12,000 raised/sponsored? Does the overflow go towards a DVD for next year?

[Hanging out in Cali]

I see, thank you. But people don't want to pay more just for the sake of paying more. What does the extra $10 do? Does it lower the $12,000 number -- to say, $11,000 or something? Does it make the number of orders needed to sell less than 200?

If 200 orders are still needed, simple math tells us that 200 orders X an increase in $10 = $2,000. Where does this $2,000 go?

What happens if there is more than $12,000 raised/sponsored? Does the overflow go towards a DVD for next year?

My friend, Mr Oliva is in business to make money. This money goes to paying the expenses of his business and what is left goes home to be spent by the wife. The donations that we are making are to try to make the project possible. Although the dvds are a great benefit to some in this community, this project has to result in some profit for those involved. My wife never likes when I dedicate myself to work and do not get paid. Gotta pay the bills.

[titan442]

My friend, Mr Oliva is in business to make money. This money goes to paying the expenses of his business and what is left goes home to be spent by the wife. The donations that we are making are to try to make the project possible. Although the dvds are a great benefit to some in this community, this project has to result in some profit for those involved. My wife never likes when I dedicate myself to work and do not get paid. Gotta pay the bills.
I appreciate the response, Cali.

I understand that nobody is going to just hand out DVDs. My point of view is that if we can save a little money for next year so that it will be that much easier to make DVDs, then we should. It's no guarantee that we will always get a DVD made, is it?

Also, forgive me if I seem a little ignorant about these matters. I've never bought a wrestling DVD before, so this is very new to me. As a consumer, I just don't like the fact that I hear a price advertised, saying "This will be the price." Next, I hear, "This is the new higher price." If this is a wrestling community on here, I would expect some explanation/rationale about it other than "because we want more money." I'm not saying Mr. Oliva is sending that message, but I just like to be informed.

Once again, forgive me if I sound naive. I'm only trying to think of questions to ask and ways to find solutions to problems. I know there are many people working very hard on the IHSA DVDs, and I want to commend them. Thanks a bunch.

[James_Oliva]

I appreciate the response, Cali.

I understand that nobody is going to just hand out DVDs. My point of view is that if we can save a little money for next year so that it will be that much easier to make DVDs, then we should. It's no guarantee that we will always get a DVD made, is it?

Also, forgive me if I seem a little ignorant about these matters. I've never bought a wrestling DVD before, so this is very new to me. As a consumer, I just don't like the fact that I hear a price advertised, saying "This will be the price." Next, I hear, "This is the new higher price." If this is a wrestling community on here, I would expect some explanation/rationale about it other than "because we want more money." I'm not saying Mr. Oliva is sending that message, but I just like to be informed.

Once again, forgive me if I sound naive. I'm only trying to think of questions to ask and ways to find solutions to problems. I know there are many people working very hard on the IHSA DVDs, and I want to commend them. Thanks a bunch.

I just caught this so I'll explain what goes into producing this video.

There has actually been quite a bit of explanation on here, specifically on my "Do We Really Want a DVD?" thread. But I'll break it down so you can see where I'm coming from and understand the job of a video producer.

The $12,000 we're trying to raise is cover the costs of production and post production. $12,000 seems like a lot of money but it gets divided pretty quickly. I have to pay 6 camera operators, 3 sound mixers, 6 commentators, 3 on set interviewers and 2 editors. I have to rent all the gear the shooters and the mixers come with (a standard practice in the business; you rent the man and his gear). I have to buy hotel rooms, I have to pay for food for the crew (another standard practice), I also have to pay for their transportation down there (I really hate that one). I also have to pay for expenditures like tape stock, gaffer tape, little things like that. All this before I go into post production where I have to pay 2 editors (unless we want till wait till May again to receive the videos), a graphic artist, I have to pay for blank discs, and printing methods (either ink if I choose to doing the printing myself, or the cost of farming it out to a printer; final funds will determine that decision), printing of DVD cover inserts, cases, envelopes and of course one of the most expensive cost is the damn postage!

However, if I don't get the total $12,000, I have to make cuts and pull form the sales funds, which I really don't like to do, as that's is supposed to be my profit (of which I see little more than half). Getting that $12,000 makes me sleep easier because I know that there's cash to cover those checks I write. That being said, I have NEVER been able to cover the cost of production without going into my sales funds and it always bites me where it hurts. Two years ago I lost several thousand dollars and I'm not willing to do that again.

This year, I would like to be able to turn a profit and put money back into my business and actually pay myself for the hundreds of man hours I put into this project (which does not include the jumbotron video that I do pro bono, which should cost several thousand dollars).

If we reach $12,000, I stop asking for sponsor money. Period.

I raised the price to $40/$50 because, I asked the forum if the video was still something we wanted, because we were really hurting on funds. We're really close right now, but I still need to prepare like we're not going to make it all the way.

Does $10 make a big difference? On one video, no. On ten videos, yes. That covers the cost of tape stock. On forty videos, it cover the price one camera operator. A little can add up very quickly.

I rose the price $10, because the community told me they were willing to do what had to be done to get the production back on track. We had a very good couple of days but we're not out of the woods yet and since I haven't seen any money from pre-sales, I still have to plan for the worst.

That being said, I hope you like and enjoy our DVD this year.

Thanks.

[Hanging out in Cali]

I appreciate the response, Cali.

I understand that nobody is going to just hand out DVDs. My point of view is that if we can save a little money for next year so that it will be that much easier to make DVDs, then we should. It's no guarantee that we will always get a DVD made, is it?

Also, forgive me if I seem a little ignorant about these matters. I've never bought a wrestling DVD before, so this is very new to me. As a consumer, I just don't like the fact that I hear a price advertised, saying "This will be the price." Next, I hear, "This is the new higher price." If this is a wrestling community on here, I would expect some explanation/rationale about it other than "because we want more money." I'm not saying Mr. Oliva is sending that message, but I just like to be informed.

Once again, forgive me if I sound naive. I'm only trying to think of questions to ask and ways to find solutions to problems. I know there are many people working very hard on the IHSA DVDs, and I want to commend them. Thanks a bunch.

I told Coach Powell that we would come by this week. We are going to either Friday's dual or Saturday's quad, so come by and say hi.

[MR TWISTER]

I see, thank you. But people don't want to pay more just for the sake of paying more. What does the extra $10 do? Does it lower the $12,000 number -- to say, $11,000 or something? Does it make the number of orders needed to sell less than 200?

If 200 orders are still needed, simple math tells us that 200 orders X an increase in $10 = $2,000. Where does this $2,000 go?

What happens if there is more than $12,000 raised/sponsored? Does the overflow go towards a DVD for next year?Are you serious? You really are picking JD and his business apart. This is exactley why I told JD to NOT solicit for ideas.

Oh well...just remember he is a business man and is entitled to make a profit if that happens. I don't know how since the IHSA takes 40 percent.

We need more people like Hangin' in Cali who don't care and just want to give back to the sport....