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Is this legit? Video Blocks

Started by foxtrotcommando, November 21, 2014, 20:30

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foxtrotcommando

I've heard decent things about Video Blocks in the past...(a friend got paid like 10k up front for a couple hundred clips). Has anyone worked with them? 100% commission is way too good to pass up...even if it doesn't last long, so I might submit.

Note: I'm on Pond5 currently, so I only have experience with that site so far...just looking into going on other sites.

Ranker

LOL

Thats the worst covert post I have read here

elvinstar

While I don't know anyone personally that has submitted to VideoBlocks, one of the independent film-makers that I follow (Neumann Films) has produced content for them. The offer that the OP referenced does exist.

It appears that VideoBlocks is going to expand beyond their current subscription-only model into pay-per-download as well with 100% of the sale price going to the artist. In an email, VideoBlocks said the following:

QuoteMany customers have asked us if they can sell content through VideoBlocks. With the new marketplace, you can. And you get to keep 100% of the commission from sales! We don't need to make money from the marketplace: We will pass all sales directly to contributors and remain focused on our subscription-based business. We believe that by improving the value of our subscription, we will attract and retain more customers like you.

I don't work for VideoBlocks or receive any affiliate bonus from them and I'm not trying to suggest that anyone should or shouldn't participate. In my understanding of this forum, it's purpose is to discuss issues relevant to contributors of stock photos, video, and audio. I just feel that people that may be interested should be aware of the offer so that they can make their own decision.

Anyone interested can find out more at www.videoblocks.com/contribute.
Life is what is and what will be, not what has gone before...

fritz

Two years ago I had a deal with their brother and got 15k$. No complain! Happy to work with inc500!
Did the devil make the world while god was sleeping?
T.Waits

Holmes

looks like they give away 140 free videos to buyers for just signing up  :o

gcrook

Doesn't make any sense whatsoever.



Red On

Where the LEGITimate credit is on the clip?

elvinstar

Quote from: Red On on November 24, 2014, 06:32Where the LEGITimate credit is on the clip?

Could you rephrase your question? I'm not sure what you are asking and I would like to help.
Life is what is and what will be, not what has gone before...

Zach-VideoBlocks

Hi guys,

I'm Zach Bernstein, the head of content acquisition at VideoBlocks. Good discussion in this thread - I just wanted to clarify one comment around our free trial. Yes, we will continue offering the trial, but it will only affect our subscription library. The marketplace content will always be pay-per-download.

Quote from: elvinstar on November 23, 2014, 19:31
It appears that VideoBlocks is going to expand beyond their current subscription-only model into pay-per-download as well with 100% of the sale price going to the artist.

This is exactly right! If you all have more questions, feel free to shoot me a note or keep the thread going. Happy to support you guys and help get you on board - I hope you're as excited as I am!

gcrook

So that means apparently that if i apply and you review and accept my files, these will only be available ONLY for marketplace pay as you go download, with the terms  menioned in the application page?
Will there be a contributor credit?
Some of the files i saw were uncredited and had an absurd amount of downloads.
Are these also available for subscription or not?
Also if  not,where does the majority of the clips in the non-marketplace area of your site come from?

Justanotherphotographer

#10
Here's how you post a link:
http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/video-blocks-reston

Worth doing a web search, there have been a lot of complaints about the company's dealings in the past by the looks of it. Seems like they have had at least two listings with BBB in the past too, one with quite a few complaints and one "cleaner" one with a different AKA but the same url, which also seems odd.

Justanotherphotographer

#11
just got another couple of minutes to take a look at graphicstock, their other site. Seems like a big chunk of their vector content was purchased from the big Eastern European studio that kept getting suspended from Shutterstock for tracing copyright content, including the photos National Geographic. The owner of the studio came on here at the time to say that his employees must have done it when he wasn't looking. Well looks like he was happy to continue selling on the content when he realised what it was.

Also just checked one of the studio's sites and surprise, surprise, they are still selling the same stuff there too. So much for all their protests of innocence.

Zach-VideoBlocks

Quote from: gcrook on November 26, 2014, 03:55
So that means apparently that if i apply and you review and accept my files, these will only be available ONLY for marketplace pay as you go download, with the terms  menioned in the application page?

Correct. All content submissions are for the marketplace only.

Quote from: gcrook on November 26, 2014, 03:55
Will there be a contributor credit?

Of course! (But note that credit doesn't currently exist for our subscription content.)

Quote from: gcrook on November 26, 2014, 03:55
where does the majority of the clips in the non-marketplace area of your site come from?

To grow the subscription section of the library, we reach out to contributors to either have them produce new content, or to acquire existing content if they choose. (And occasionally we shoot internally as well.) Content cannot exist in both the subscription and marketplace libraries. We make one-time, lump sum payments for all subscription content.

FYI, all of this info will be available on the VideoBlocks website in the coming weeks.