Frequently Asked Questions

What is a typical shooting session like?

Prepare to have a lot of fun with your best friend! Our production crew/producer is with you from anywhere from one to four hours, depending on the package you choose. You'll be treated like stars, only without the paparazzi! (Or the makeup artist.)

We'll be filming you at your dog's favorite places, where, if you choose, we'll interview you (for the Top Dog and Day in the Life packages) about life with your dog as you enjoy your time together. We'll set you up with a wireless microphone so we won't miss a word. For your dog and the natural sounds around you, we'll use a “shotgun mic” attached to the camera. For the packages mentioned above, you can even talk directly to the camera if you like. The Basic Bow-Wow Music Video doesn't include interviews, but you're welcome to appear on camera with your dog.

Before the shoot you'll have filled out a form and talked with one of our producers about where you'd like to go, what you'd like to show your dog doing, and any special ideas or requests you may have. We'll have created a shoot schedule prior to the shoot, so we can have time to film everything on the schedule.

What kinds of places can we go on our shoot?

Your favorite places, of course! These can include anything from parks and beaches to your house to your favorite restaurant to a cable car! We've even filmed on a boat in the Bay and a dog-friendly art festival.

Just keep in mind when thinking about places you'd like to go that your shoot is only for a certain amount of time and you probably don't want to spend too much time traveling. We recommend trying to keep locations fairly close so we can focus on your dog and you, and not on the road.

We come to every shoot with a full light setup so we can light interior shots if lighting isn't adequate.

I have more than one dog. How many dogs are included in my video?

As long as we stay within the time limit for the video you select, you are welcome to bring the whole pack along.

I only have cats and I want a DVD of them. Wahh!!!

Don't cry! We are happy to do a film of your cat or any other beloved pet. (Horses are a decent part of our business, with cats coming in a close third.) While you may not be taking your cats to parks or restaurants (unless you have a cat who thrives on excitement), we find cats and other critters eminently filmable in their own special ways and will work with you to tailor a DVD package just right for your situation.

Can I give you photos to use in my DVD?

If you purchase the Top Dog or Day in the Life packages, you are welcome to submit a few photos to be incorporated into your film at the editor's discretion. (And for the Photo Montage package, photos are obviously a necessity. Please see below for more details on Photo Montage submissions.)

If you submit digital photos, please use .jpg or .tiff formats. Although it's for video, we find that a resolution of 300 dpi works best and gives us more options for working with the photo during the editing process. We can also accept printed photos, which we will scan and crop as needed for the film. For the video packages the scanning is free, but there is a nominal cost of $1 per photo that we scan and use for the Photo Montage packages.

When looking for photos, keep in mind that horizontal photos fit the aspect of most TV monitors better than verticals. You might end up seeing some black on the sides of your vertical photos, although we can often minimalize this.

We can obtain the photo CD or printed photos from you on the day of your shoot, or you can mail them to us.

Even if you won't have photos in your video, you will need to submit a few photos in the formats mentioned above (or printed photos) so we can select one or two for the DVD cover.

What about music for the DVD?

We'll be happy to use your music if you provide it to us on a purchased CD. Otherwise we can buy music on your behalf, or you can make a selection from our library. (The cost of either of these options is included in your package.) We can edit music down to fit within the parameters of the video.

What do I need to give you for a Photo Montage package?

Lots of photos! As a general rule of thumb, we need about one photo for every five seconds of a Photo Montage. That means a minimum of 36 photos for your three-minute montage. We prefer to have more to choose from, so feel free to submit as many as you like. We will go through them and select the best ones for your montage. Of course, if you have photos you definitely want to have included in your final piece, you can indicate which ones and we'll make sure they're part of your montage.

If you are providing music (see above), you can go a step further if you feel like being creative: You can try to select photos that match the music, and submit them to us in that order. Please let us know at what point in the music you'd like to show whichever photos match the music. We'll work with you on the best way to do this.

Our post-production team will work magic with transitions and movement to bring your photos to life. It's kind of like having Ken Burns work on your dog's very own life story!

Please see above for photo submission guidelines. Keep in mind that for Photo Montages there's a nominal cost of $1 per printed photograph we scan for you. We will only charge for those used in the final DVD.

Can you incorporate some home video of my dog?

Two of our packages include the use of home video if you choose to submit it. Please keep in mind that our editors will try to incorporate some of your home footage, but if it doesn't fit the themes in your DVD, they might not be able to use it. We can accept most video formats, including High 8 (from your camera), VHS, and DVD. (Sorry, we can't accept film, but we can refer you to facilities that will transfer it to a digital medium.) We can obtain your home video at your shoot.

What will be on the cover of my finished DVD?

Your final DVD will come in a durable DVD jacket (the same size as those you would buy with most DVDs – not a jewel case for CDs).

The cover of your DVD is custom-made for you by our talented graphic artist using a photo of your dog and any text you would like to submit for the back of the DVD cover.

If you'd rather leave the writing in the hands of a pro, writer and Smiling Dog Films producer Maria Goodavage (author of The Dog Lover's Companion to California, and The Dog Lover's Companion to the Bay Area) will supply the copy for the DVD jacket at no extra charge!

Do I have any say in the DVD title or screen titles on the film itself?

Yes. We will work with you to get the wording you want on the video intro/final. Some people just want their dog's name, others prefer a dedication or a birthday message. If you don't have strong preferences, our producers will come up with something fitting.

How long will it take to get my DVD?

With all the post-production we do for your film, we generally have a two-week turnaround period after the shoot. But during busy times the turnaround time can be three weeks. We'll let you know when you call to book your shoot. If you really need it in a rush, we will try to work with you, although a special rush fee may apply.

I live in San Anselmo. Can you come out this way to film my dog?

Our rates cover locales within 30 miles of San Francisco, so you are well within that range. If we need to travel beyond 30 miles, an extra fee may apply. Please phone for rates.

How do I pay for my DVD?

We accept Visa, MasterCard, and checks. When we book your shoot, we require a deposit of $100. On the day of the shoot, 50 percent of the remaining package rate is due. The remainder of your package price is due upon completion of DVD. (We will call or email you to let you know your doggy DVD is ready!)

What is your cancellation policy?

We know that sometimes people – or their pooches – can get sick as a dog, and we want you to be in top form for your shoot, so we have a generous cancellation policy. If you cancel more than 24 hours ahead of your shoot, we will fully refund your deposit or apply it to a rescheduled shoot. If you cancel within 24 hours of your shoot, we can't refund your deposit but we will apply the deposit to a shoot if you reschedule within 30 days. (We have a limit of two cancellations before you lose your deposit.)

How will I get my CDs, home video, and printed photos back from you?

We will mail them back to you free of charge, or you and your dog can arrange to pick them up after production if you prefer not to entrust them to the post.

Do you have gift certificates?

Yes, we offer attractive gift certificates for any of our packages. A Smiling Dog Films gift certificate is a gift your dog-loving friends will never forget.

We love our DVD! How can we get extra copies?

Your package price comes with two DVDs, but if you would like extra copies, we can provide them for the doggone low price of $10 each.

 

Smiling Dog Films : Put Your Pooch in the Spotlight (logo here)

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