Need advice on legal videography

[Nancy Steele]

Hello
I have a GL-2 camera, equipment and editing software. I am wanting to get certified as a legal videographer which takes time and money. Before I invest I was wanting any advice about getting in to this industry… good idea or not? Also there are 2 different designations a CLVS or a CCVS. The cost will be comparable but it will take over 6 months longer to get the CLVS do to scheduling of classes and additional requirements.

Does anyone know if a CLVS is a better designation than a CCVS?
Thanks!
Nancy

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Hi Nancy,
I know videographers that been around longer than the CLVS and CCVS, they should be the ones certifying them and not the other way around. UNLESS it becomes a legal requirement I am passing on it.

In my 9 years I have never had an agency ask me "are you CLVS or CCVS certified?"

I dont want to get into the politics of the NCRA because I do not want to make enemies, but if you like, send me your money and I will be happy to create a new certification... lets call it CVRN.
Simply provide it to anyone that asks if you have any certifications, it will have the exact same effect. (I am kidding about sending me money of course)

Where does the NCRA come off with making a certification for videographers is beyond me, not once have they fought for us or ever did anything for that matter. (I am surprised they havent made a certification for scopists yet, I bet you because its a huge effort to test them)
They will take your money and give you a piece of paper that says you are certified, that's it.

If I was you, call all the big agencies in your city and ask them if they are looking for in-house videographers, if so, tell them that you know your video but you need training in other areas.
Thats how I learned, a big video firm hired me and trained me for less than a week and the rest is history.

Good luck

[Nancy Steele]

Hi Monti,
Thank you so much for the great response! With all of the recent graduates from film school there seems to be a serious amount of competition for video jobs. I can't even get a gig working for free to build my portfolio, apparently every one in their brother is also willing to do free work to build their portfolio. I feel getting the certification will help getting started. I was wondering what the demand for legal videography is like. Do you have any idea?
Thanks again,
Nancy

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Hi Nancy,
I have no idea how it is in denver.. here in the Bay Area it has been pretty slow.
maybe someone else will give us information about Colorado.

[Steve Godsey]

I'm a CLVS. I've never had anyone ask me if I'm certified either, but I've gotten several jobs from out-of-town lawyers/CRs looking at the NCRA CLVS listings for videographers in my area.

I also network on another site on the Yahoo! groups where the majority of videogs are certified by one group or another. Most wouldn't even consider referring a job to another videog without some sort of certification. They know that at the minimum the certified videog has at least had SOME training in legal videography and proper procedures.

Just my 2 cents.

Steve

[Nancy Steele]

Steve,
Thanks for the reply. Any thoughts on the industry in general?
Best,
Nancy

[Steve Godsey]

Like any industry, legal video has its ups & downs. The early part of last year was slow (for me) but I was much busier from July thru December. I'm thinking (with the few brain cells I have left) that the current economy may bring more lawsuits, since people will try anything to recoup some of their losses.

Like many videographers, I'm more of a generalist than a specialist. I don't rely just on legal work to pay the bills. I do depo videos and forensic video analysis (security tape analysis), shoot commercials, do consumer work (VHS/8mm tape/8mm film to DVD, etc) and some corporate work such as seminars. All in all, legal video was about 20% of my income last year. Then again, I live in a smaller urban area. A quick check of the NCRA CLVS listing for my area shows 11 CLVS in myarea. Big cities such as Denver may have lots more work. Denver show 5 CLVS videogs. There may be more that are certified by the other organization.

As Monti said, look in your Yellow Pages & see if a legal video firm would be willing to train you while you work toward certification.

Good Luck,

Steve

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

I agree with you Steve,
CLVS is good when attorneys are looking for a videographer through the NCRA listings, it also cant hurt... in fact, if anything it should help you get work and look more professional.