Videos and stuff

[cowpaste]

I want to watch a good fencer. I practice at a university club right now. Honestly, nobody is any good (the highest ranking one of them could earn is probably 1/4 of an E). So what is my remaining option? Fencing videos/CDs. However, there is a problem. If I want to get them, I have to be ripped off. I'm not some rich guy with all FIE gear who can toss cash around.

Maybe there is someone willing to sell them second hand? Maybe someone knows of some obsure European site or something that sells them cheap?

I'm sorry if this post is not appropriate for this forum section. I didn't know where to place it really. The trading post is full of equipment offers and this isn't exactly equipment. Also, this post is more of a rant than anything else. :P

[noodle]

well
there are a few videos being thrown around here of some big bouts, if you look around.

also, i've been tossing around the idea of setting up a website thats a big online archive of video files of fencing. free downloads, but ask for a buck or whatever as a donation to my university's club for a fundraiser (and probably to help pay for the bandwidth). thoughts?

[Craig]

I've said in another thread that I'm willing to host video footage for free if anyone wants to provide it.

As to getting "ripped off" I don't think that any of the videos for sale (here or fencingfootage) are ripping anyone off.

I don't know all of FencingFootage's margins, but I do know that it's not making him tons of money - he runs the business because he has a vision of creating an extensive library of video history for fencing. That's a noble goal and something that doesn't exist and won't without people like Michael out there to do it.

Now, knowing what I pay to get product and the size of the market (it's a small niche market), there is no way to justify the cost of doing business selling the product for less.

I priced the Men's Epee World Champs DVD at a low price ($20) and I'm pretty sure that I'm going to lose a significant amount of money on it based on the costs to get the footage produced and make/ship the DVDs.

I understand that you want to get quality footage at a very low price, but we don't have the mass market of Harry Potter that would allow the prices to be driven down to the music CD or best seller DVD price points.

Cheers,
Craig

[cowpaste]

Actually Craig, I think that DVD you are offering is a very good deal compared to the other stuff out there. I would honestly get it if I cared for épée.

My complaint really lies with paying $40 for 3 bouts or something like that. That's just rediculous. Or how about $20 for two handcam quality bouts?

Honestly, how much does it cost to make a copy of a handcam video?

[JEC]

I put over 100 hours editing the footage for this DVD. I also have some footage of the women's foil WC, let me see if the can put it on.

Craig, how fast is your maximum amount for streaming? 256, 384, 512 Kbits/sec?