What are your views on submitting to Blackbox? I am in debate whether to go this avenue or just keep doing it on my own of which I currently upload to many of the same agencies that Blackbox does. I'd like to hear from any contributor who has a working knowledge and experience with this portal, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Thanks.

Do they accept AI videos?

I tried to register in BB, but is a little difficult for me, they ask you for severals things such as Demo Reel Link!

That is what I meant, it is no longer a simple signup.

A demoreel is just a short video with examples of your work pasted together. You can host it on youtube, vimeo or probably also on your website.

If you have video experience, just make a little clip with examples of what kind of clips you want to provide to them.

I think this is a good idea, it means there is a team really looking at what you do.

You have similar sign up requirements when you apply for stocksy or cavan or a house contract with gettyimages, not istock.

It is a professional work environment.

You apply, they select.

And a process like this keeps spammers away.

In order to work with BB. Do you have to be exclusive with them? Could i have the same videos in POND5 and Adobe Stock?

No, you obviously CANNOT have the same video on blackbox and on pond5 and adobe.

That is the whole point, you give them exclusive content and they distribute it.

Always the complete shoot. But all your other shootings can go to anywhere else.

But you cannot break up a shoot and give 2 files to bb, two to pond5 or adobe.

It is not complicated and the way high end agencies usually work.

But again, you don't have to work with them. If you feel unsure, just keep uploading directly.

Thanks!

They curate for content.

They take editorial.

Does this literally mean that to be considered for Blackbox one must have an Instagram account??

Blackbox, as well as some other agencies, are very hard to get accepted into these days.

Quote from: PCDMedia on December 11, 2024, 16:40

Does this literally mean that to be considered for Blackbox one must have an Instagram account??

Blackbox, as well as some other agencies, are very hard to get accepted into these days.

The smart video producers spent the last three years getting into additional boutique agencies, perhaps got approved for a house contract with gettyimages, applied and got into places like BB, perhaps also worked on their direct sales store.

They spent the last 3 years diversifying because they knew that the old p5 died when it was sold.

Maybe the former owners also included a clause to keep things as they are for 3 years to give people a chance to prepare.

Now that the inevitable happened, the smaller places will be swamped with applications and getting in is maybe 10 times harder than just one week ago.

Blackbox is a distributor. Your files will also go to adobe, if adobe takes them. So the adobe sales are similar to your own sales.

Unlike wirestock you cannot select the agencies to distribute to.

This system is not for everyone, I send around 50% to BB. Next year probably more.

wirestock

I don't see this site being discussed on this forum. Maybe I'm not finding the topics. But as I understand it, wirestock is essentially the same as Blackbox. Maybe there are nuances regarding commissions, etc.

Quote from: cobalt on December 12, 2024, 10:18

I send around 50% to BB.

Let me ask you differently. Do these 50% of videos on BB give you more income than your videos that you uploaded outside of BB?

I send them different content, a lot of editorial that adobe does not take.

For content that also could have gone to adobe commercial I would say that sales are slightly better. I also sometimes find bb files with a higher rank than my own, if the content is the same genre, for instance food.

But I try to keep what goes to bb visually different.

I certainly don�t feel that I am earning less, otherwise I would not send my content there.

But my strategy for my adobe port depends on my overall strategy. If the subject sells very well on Adobe already, then I try to add it to my own port to expand what I offer.

If it is a genre I usually don�t offer, or I am trying something very new, I will maybe send it to bb.

Next year I can tell you more, this year I did very little video.

My hard drive is full of files, maybe I should find myself a processing partner from the community.

But the main distinction for me is usually real editorial goes to bb, commercial usually I distribute myself.

at the moment the biggest challenge seems to be to get in.

But it is not for everyone, I see a big value in the bb content as insurance in case any other port gets close agains my will.

Quote from: odesigns on December 11, 2024, 18:59

Quote from: PCDMedia on December 11, 2024, 16:40

Does this literally mean that to be considered for Blackbox one must have an Instagram account??

Blackbox, as well as some other agencies, are very hard to get accepted into these days.

No doubt - but for what practical reason would they require an Instagram account - what purpose does that serve?

I closed my IG account some years ago - it became a terrible waste of time.

In trying to find out more about BlackBox's membership Registration and it's Instagram requirement I've emailed them twice.

I specifically asked them if not having an Instagram account would prevent Registration approval to which they did not directly reply.   Both times they replied only that an Instagram account "is required to cross check applicant's presence on social media".   

I find their lack of transparency why BB requires an Instagram social media presence somewhat concerning.

Anyone who is a BB member able to enlighten us?

I have no idea why they need one. But if this is now so important, perhaps register and upload a few clips or images.

I had an IG account until a few years when I closed it.  IG was/is a horrible time-suck.   

I'm hesitate to open another IG account just for BB Registration but may anyway just to see if my Registration and demo reel will get approved.