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"Tom Clifford is by trade a filmmaker. For most of his life, he rarely wrote anything longer than a brief comment in the margin of a script. 

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Saturday
Dec092006

Apples to Apples: RFP's Are Like Mixed Fruit Salads

DateSaturday, December 9, 2006 at 02:18PM

Apples.  And more apples.

That's what I think about when filling out RFP's for a film.

So do other filmmakers. 

58642708_8f6fa1a233_m.jpg(photo)

RFP's take a lot of time out of a producer's schedule. 

Be as specific as possible when writing an RFP.  Set parameters.  Be specific.  Tell us everything we need to know. 

Having a mixed fruit salad wind up on your desk makes it hard for you to compare apples-to-apples.

It also makes it hard for us to propose our best ideas for you.

So, when creating an RFP for a filmmaker, remember this:

If I have to second-guess what you want, nobody wins.

If you're not sure what to propose, then ask us.  Pick up the phone and call us.

After all, we both just want an apple to be an apple.

Tom

AuthorThomas Clifford | Comment3 Comments |
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Reader Comments (3)

Hi Tom,

Maybe you want to provide a suggested RFP format? I have been developing websites and web applications for years and find that one of the reasons for bad RFPs is that most people don't KNOW what criteria affect pricing (for web applications it is actually extremely tough to put together a good RFP without a discovery phase - but it isn't impossible). I'm sure there are resources out there and I have found that helping people to find the resources they need to develop a good RFP is good Karma and good business all round!
December 11, 2006 | Unregistered CommenterPeter Bell
Tom, I totally get the challenge of responding to RFPs.

When I worked for an Internet development company we had the same issues with well meaning clients.

I solved some of that by selling clients our RFP writing services (which didn't exist at the time). That way a good RFP was written even if we didn't do the development. Worked for us in a big way. Not sure it translates to your work as a filmmaker. But maybe?

Found your site via Roger von Oech's blog.

Glad to be part of what is happening here; thanks for extending the conversation!
December 11, 2006 | Unregistered CommenterMichael Wagner
Hi Peter and Michael :)

Great thoughts! If I can just carve out some more time to write an RFP for filmmakers, I'd hit a homerun!

Thanks for stopping by...appreciate it deeply.

Thomas Clifford
December 11, 2006 | Registered CommenterThomas Clifford

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