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daveynate · Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 11:24 pm Post subject: How many takes does it take?

First off, I apologize for that subject line.

Secondly, having just done my first big-boy commercial session, I was curious about something: for 13 spots (:60 and :30, TV and Radio), I averaged about 7 takes per spot. Not sure if this is something that can be easily quantified (so many factors involved), but I thought I'd throw this out to you fine folks...what is a normal number of takes for a typical spot? Thanks in advance.
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Lee Gordon · Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 1:14 am Post subject:

How long is a piece of string?

The number of takes required to produce a read the client is happy with depends on a number of factors. Have you pre-read the copy? How well written is the copy? How well presented is the copy (is it single space or double spaced? ALL CAPS or upper and lower case? properly punctuated or a like a Tweet?) Does the client/director know what he or she wants or how to express that to you? And of course, how long does it take you to lay down a decent track? It can be as few as one or two, or dozens.
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WillMWatt · Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 1:37 am Post subject:

Agreed. This is really variable.

My first ever national broadcast spot I managed to do in, I think, three takes? It was done over Source Connect, and there was a lot of radio silence whilst I waited for the director and engineer to sync up my read to the scratch video. When they came back on the line to tell me "Ok, you can go now", I was actually worried that I'd fecked up and that they were no longer going to use me.

It was a stark contrast to some smaller projects where I've had to do take after take after take for a fussy director. I remember one went up to c.40 takes (this was for an internal, non-broadcast pitch, I might add) because (and I quote) "I'm really not feeling the...the flavour. You know? Needs more flavour!"

FinMac · Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 3:02 am Post subject:

+1 for Will's "Flavour" story.

Depends on the client, the time of day, the wind, etc.

This session is a good example...

https://youtu.be/jv8OVnQ6Az4
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Philip Banks · Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 3:55 am Post subject:

The ICTR* is 8.64

*International Commercial Takes Requirement

WillMWatt · Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 4:10 am Post subject:

todd ellis · Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 5:35 am Post subject:

i always do just one take the way I think it should sound and storm out of the booth. i have worked with dozens producers as many as one time each.
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Philip Banks · Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 6:25 am Post subject:

So you're Union? I did not know that.

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Lee Gordon · Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 9:43 am Post subject:

Bruce · Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 10:06 am Post subject:

I'll move my comments to Entre Nous on the way off chance the client gets wind of this.

B
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Mike Harrison · Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 10:59 am Post subject:

"The right reading is the one I'm giving it." "I spent... twenty times more for you people than any other commercial I've ever made. You're such PESTS! Now, what is it you want... in your depths of your ignorance... what is it you want? Whatever it is you want, I can't deliver because I just don't see it. It isn't worth it... no money is worth..."
—The late and seriously great Orson Welles

(audio on request for those who don't already have it)
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bobsouer · Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 12:02 pm Post subject:

I would suggest there's one more element that is relevant: the number of takes is inversely proportional to the number of people in the control room representing the client.
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Foog · Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 9:52 am Post subject:

It depends on the copy...