Frequently Asked Questions

What is Elastic Lab?
Elastic Lab is a newly formed company experimenting in crowd-sourced video for the long tail content environment.
What is long tail content?
The Internet and other digital platforms allow consumers an infinite choice of highly relevant content and access channels—the “long tail” of content. It’s why video is the fastest growing form of Internet content, and why digital cable TV has streamed over 1 billion video programs on demand.
Who is behind Elastic Lab?
A group of private investors and strategic partners, including production veterans, high level executives and directors from cable television, entertainment, Internet and technology companies.
What experiments are you conducting?
We’re developing new business and production models for digital content creation, distribution and monetization. In the future, we’ll also be developing concepts for entertainment and art-based projects that allow our filmmaker network to participate in original works and share in profits from distribution.
Who’s in your filmmaker network?
In just 5 months, more than 230 people across the United States and Canada have signed up to film for Elastic Lab. Filmmakers include veteran directors and DPs and crew, commercial producers, award-winning indie filmmakers, teachers, technologists, music video producers, bloggers, podcasters, artists, editors, and people who simply enjoy picking up a video camera in their spare time.
What are the requirements for joining?
You must be 18 years of age, able to work legally in the United States, and must own and be able to use an appropriate digital video camera. Professionals: 3CCD or equivalent. Students and amateurs: high-quality prosumer or consumer cameras. We are not able to accept alternative video cameras such as Flips, iSights, cell phones or digital still cameras.
How do I get started?
Begin by filling out our secure online application. Besides what’s required to do business together, we’ll learn about your experience, equipment and interests so we can provide the best possible assignments. After a brief review, we’ll send a confirmation email with login instructions and an invitation to participate in an introductory assignment.
What kind of assignments do you offer?
Assignments are written either for professional or amateur filmmakers in order to match skills sets and equipment with the needs of the job. Filmmakers work independently to complete the work and return raw footage to us. Our assignments are focused and respectful of your time, but also provide creative latitude. Assignments often involve finding interview subjects to talk openly about their real-life experiences and express their views on the world. Most projects are built for crowd-sourcing, with multiple filmmakers participating in a single film. Occasionally, we offer more complex productions to a single filmmaker and, as they become available, jobs requiring full production capability will be offered to commercial producers in the network.
How often do you send assignments?
As a start up, we’re growing carefully while we hone processes and add personnel. As a result, shooting opportunities will become more consistent in the future. Invitations to participate in assignments are sent by email and accepted online. You may accept a job when it interests you and suits your schedule. The frequency of jobs offered to individual filmmakers may vary by geography, experience level and equipment.
How does compensation work?
Filmmakers are compensated for work that meets job requirements and the terms of the Independent Contractor Agreement, regardless of whether that work is included in a final edit. You’ll be set up as an Elastic Lab vendor upon receipt of your W9 or W8BEN (provided upon signup). Payment is sent when footage is digitized, reviewed and approved. It’s our goal to mail payment within 10 working days of receiving your footage.
Why don’t you compensate consumer talent?
Consumer influencers play a big role in making Elastic Lab’s work authentic. We distinguish between consumer opinions and paid endorsements. When our assignments specify real people, or "consumer talent," we're looking for honest opinions and real-life experiences. Consumer talent will not be asked to make a specific statement or endorse a particular product or service.
Why do you ask for raw footage?
Two reasons, one creative and one technical.
1) Because of the collaborative nature of our projects, Elastic Lab handles all post-production—color, editing, graphics and music—in order to bring elements together into a cohesive piece of work.
2) A typical project yields 30 minutes of raw video per filmmaker—a lot of information to transfer electronically. Until consistent broadband technology is in place, footage is returned to us by FedEx and we pay for shipping.
Where are your videos shown?
Distribution depends on the nature of the project and is stated in the assignment. Most of our videos will eventually be available for viewing on client websites, video channels like YouTube or Vimeo, or cable VOD channels. We will rotate samples on our own website. Videos will not be available for download but may be linked whenever possible.
Do you have opportunities for other film-related talents?
While we’re currently focused on developing our production capabilities, we want to utilize the full talents of our filmmaker network and perhaps build other resource networks for related skills like editing, motion graphics, special effects and music. If you’re interested in being part of our productions in any capacity, we’d like to hear from you.