Just got an email from Scifi.com, asking to use one of my postings [What a long, strange trip it's been] (me? they must not look hard enough..there's lots better than me..but what the hey..;)on a magazine, or site, or something.

I told them I had no problem (are you kidding?..giggle..;), but Studio Maya and Maveris need accreditation, since they provided the props, model, and clothes for the pic. I know I see the 'not for commercial use' on a lot of items..and I don't expect anything for the pic..just not sure if I need to contact them directly, or not. I directed them (Scifi) to the respective sites (I'll go there myself, but I'm a bit of a stranger to all this..heck, I'm a hobbyist..and it shows..;)

Does it sound like I've dotted all the t's, and crossed the i's?..let me know..in our current 'fear, uncertainty, and doubt' climate around here..thanks..

Postscript- I did send an email to Studio Maya (most of the buttons are Japanese, hope it went through..;), Runtime DNA, and Maveris through here..now just to see what happens..

Message edited on: 12/02/2004 19:57

Message edited on: 12/02/2004 19:59

I'm impressed, too. Let us know when they publish it. But I have no uncertainty - you need to contact Studio Maya and Maveris directly and tell them the good news. I have little doubt they'll approve.

Hey cool! What was the criteria that made them choose that pic? Did it somehow fit into some story at their website/'zine? Usually in cases like this somebody submits their stuff rather than having it found. (That's what makes it more interesting.)

Which of your many fine gallery postings attracted Sci-Fi's attention? One of the Trek or Stargate pics? 790?

Never give your work away for free to anybody, ESPECIALLY a cable network that sloshes around millions for advertising. NBC owns them now. Milk that cash cow.

I totally agree with tedbragg. They wouldn't be contacting YOU unless they thought it had potential to increase their income somehow. If you must, get a contract for the transferal/use-rights for the image with compensation amount specifically specified. Otherwise, their highly-payed army of lawyers will see your public defender in court...

Which image is it?

If they're wanting one of your SG-1 fan art pictures, you may be better off not rocking the boat by asking for compensation... it is their show, after all. They might get nasty about using representations of items from one of their properties.

Something to think about.

I'd ask if it was for the website, or the print magazine/channel guide they put out. Or it could be both, if they reprint articles from the magazine on the website. Just be sure that everyone gets proper credits, including yourself... I just have this "vision" of an over-worked illustrator panicking over a deadline and trying to take the credit for your image.

Message edited on: 12/03/2004 03:31

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=821036&Start=1&Artist=pakled&ByArtist=Yes

He said it was "What a Long Strange Trip This Has Been," so I assume it's this one:

http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=821036&Start=1&Artist=pakled&ByArtist=Yes

Oh... lol. When you said "What a long strange trip it's been" in your first post, I assumed that was what you were feeling at the moment, not the title of the piece. Heh heh.

Me, too. But when I looked at his gallery, I saw that title and the penny dropped! :-D

I've had several images posted at their magazine site, they arent getting rich off them. But if you have a website, they will send you a little traffic. Doug

"Never give your work away for free to anybody, ESPECIALLY a cable network that sloshes around millions for advertising. NBC owns them now. Milk that cash cow."

I disagree with this completely. If you decline, or if you hold out... they'll just find someone else, and never ask you again. Happened to me before. Wouldn't you much rather get your name out there than to be greedy when you aren't in a position to be greedy? No offense, but people who aren't in a position of power can't really demand much. It's just the way it is. You can get to that point, but you have to prove yourself first. This might be a good first step toward that.

I say let them use it, so long as you get the credit publicly. Message edited on: 12/03/2004 09:39

There's the snag. Compensation or not, get a signed contract. Without a contract, there is no legal recourse if they don't provide proper credit. 'Spit and a handshake' doesn't work in court. And, sorry, I'd rather pass on the 'fame and glory' if it means remaining a poor slob and giving away all of my hard work. Been there, did that. Everyone admires your work and charity while expecting more and more for the same amount: nothing. This from experience in the real world.

"And, sorry, I'd rather pass on the 'fame and glory' if it means remaining a poor slob and giving away all of my hard work." I agree, but if you're smart you can get both. First, you have to get your foot in the door. That's why there's such things as internships. When a financially successful company asks you to do work "pro bono", that's your chance to be clever, not pretend you're already an established artist who is in a position to make your own monetary demands. At least 9 out of 10 times you'll lose that bluff. You can request compensation, but you have to play the cards right. It's up to you, but it's not like this is a picture being done special for them. They're asking to use one that already exists, and isn't making a profit for you anyway. ;-)

Attached Link: Sci Fi Weekly's online magazine

This is probably the site that this topic is about... really folks, it's an honor, but not something to worry about contracts over. The image after all is very small in the gallery, and they give full credit. Now if they want a hi rez image, then be sure to protect yourself, but anybody can swipe your low res images from sites like Renderosity and post them on their site, until you ask them to stop of course. At least SciFi has asked.

I'm not worried..actually, it is the weekly magazine (I was so flustered I forgot to throw that bit of info in..;) actually the title was a combination of the number of steps made to get the thing together (Blender to Wings to Bryce to Poser)..and it's also part of a Grateful Dead song somewhere..;)
I honestly do this all for fun..which is what surprised me the most..there are a lot of folks here who are serious artists who make serious bucks off of it, who I thought would have been considered first. If someone starts swiping my pictures..well, they got what they pay for..;) I have a reasonably well-paying job, so I'm not hurting for bucks (well, until the Missus gets ahold of it, but that's another story..;). If I get a tiny check, it's gravy, if I just get a copy of the magazine, that's all I'd really want.
I've already got the go-ahead from Maveris, still waiting to hear from Mr. Maya..but we'll see. It may happen, may not..I just took it as an undeserved compliment..;) thanks to all..

You mean they picked your image out of your Rosity gallery?

The interesting thing is that there does need to be a little bit more than just the contract for it to hold. And a copy of the magazine is enough. It's a "consideration". They'll want to do enough to keep their side of the deal legally clean.

I truly doubt this is a WEEKLY magazine in the "hard copy" sense. I mean how many publishers do you know that actually print a weekly magazine these days? Time, Newsweek (yep News magazine)... but a sci fi channel magazine. This is no doubt a reference to their online magazine as stated and linked to above in my other post. Doug

s'ok..I'm just impressed that they asked..;)

well i would not tell you to do the same but i would have a very strict position: NO :) i mean, i rather keep some control over the few lame junk i render and put on my website's gallery rather than letting it to spread away on some other medias/sites i do not have any control on. in case of problem (uh oh mister NOW yourpic became illegal because of this or that copyright, patent or whatever or new law that forbid to display obscene strawberries on swimsuits :)) i always can crash my website, delete all the stuff, remove it of whatever. If my work would go away on other shores, the troubles would still come back to me :) i had to react abruptly (though it was not intended or with anger, i swear) to people asking me authorisation to put my lame picture on their good website (while there were better artists around, which i advised them to cotnact instead of me...), and sorry if i sounded harsh. But when you say NO and don't want to debate over anymore, people tend to take it personnally (though it is not the way it was meant)