_20260612 BUDGETS, SAMPLE CONTENT, & CONVERSATION STARTERS
SIMPLE COST PROPOSAL:
$60k for 10 WEEKS (6/22-8/28) BEN SPIVAK to develop/write/oversee/prep and direct/produce two Saturday shoots and all post production.
$15k for FIRST MULTI-CAMERA NYC PREP & PRODUCTION DAY OUT OF POCKET (OOP) COSTS with 3x key crew 12-hour day covering all labor and equipment.
$25k for FIRST EPISODE IN OOP GRAPHICS DEVELOPMENT/DELIVERY, AND AUDIO/VIDEO FINISHING OF EP1 SHOW & 10x CLIPS, extended schedule.
$10k for EACH SUBSEQUENT MULTI-CAMERA PRODUCTION DAY OUT OF POCKET COSTS with 3x key crew 12-hour day includes all labor and equipment.
$7k for EACH SUBSEQUENT EPISODE IN OOP POST PRODUCTION, GRAPHICS, AND AUDIO/VIDEO FINISHING (color correct and mix) OF EP & 5x CLIPS.
AS SUCH, the first set of four will deliver at end of August for a total of $131k. Each subsequent set of four episodes will be produced and delivered over six weeks… we will deliver eight additional episodes for an additional $148k. FIRST SEASON TOTAL SPEND $279k FIRM AND FLAT for ~$23k per episode.
Google - ~$1.5M ANNUAL RETAINER FOR DEVELOPMENT/MANAGEMENT + ~$500k PRODUCTION/POST FOR VIDEO SERIES (TARGET ~$30k per monthly interview subject production/post). Here we have the triple bids for two-day live action productions (high to low): $35,300 Omnicom Studios / $35,340 Train Media / $20,500 Blackout Films). Also included is the post-production bid as awarded to Jason Banker and Blackout Films. CONTRACTED AND DELIVERED ~$35k ALL-IN OUT OF HOUSE PRODUCTION $20k AND POST $15k. Please note these approved out of house costs do not cover agency and client staffing to develop, write, design and animate graphics package, agency strategy/production, and legal clearances.
QUESTIONS/THOUGHTS:
Possible to get the three founders together for day one record (proposed for July 18th, first record) and have them all record with first guest? If so, I propose… Initial recording day in office to capture founders individually, together, and then talking with guest(s) for EP1. The second production day is planned about two weeks later so that we can all evaluate edits and have had a couple weeks to discuss/revise what we have created in EP1 rough cuts from the first day and allow us to plan audio pickups for EP1 then full day of interviews with unique guests for EP2, EP3, and EP4 with one or more of the founders.
Ultimately, these are teaching moments and examples of accessible success on your platform. Authenticity is key but that doesn’t mean this is not polished, edited and, well produced. Pre-recorded high-minded (almost thesis statements) will be written by founders (with assistance from others/Ben Spivak) and vetted throughout the organization to ensure they do the heavy lifting around true business advantages. The discussion that follows will be more informal examination of said theme.
Talent availability will determine the final schedule but ideally work starts in earnest on June 22nd, in NYC July 16-18th with founders, first client edit review July 23rd, second review July 28th, back to NYC office July 30-31, second with whoever is available August 1st, lots of meetings/reviews, and final delivery of EP1-4 on or before August 28th. Can release clips and some sort of promotional campaign (maybe) going live the week of September 7th… or, really up to you! Imagine rolling right into the second set of four episodes to deliver on or before October 9th and the final set delivery planned to wrap before November 20th.
Not (entirely) included but worth discussing: adding in original music/theme composition/audio pneumonic for open/close/transitions between sections or we find some ”perfect” licensed music as a theme or more uniquely a specific music track to license/clear for use on individual episodes (ie, Bulwark closes each episode with a song). Also good to consider some strategy for audience building off platform and on (possible media buys/collaboration with other media companies to launch like co-branded work with Variety or The Atlantic - this comes with great cost but could be good down the line.
IF INTERESTED IN MORE PRODUCTION - here are some MARQUEE EVENTS TO POTENTIALLY PRODUCE CONTENT AT IN Q1 & Q2 2027:
JAN 6-9th… CES LAS VEGAS, JAN 21-31st… SUNDANCE IN BOULDER, FEB 7th… GRAMMY AWARDS IN LA, FEB 14th… SUPERBOWL IN LA, MARCH 12-18… SXSW, MARCH 14th… ACADEMY AWARDS IN LA, APRIL 9th-18th… COACHELLA, APRIL 13-18th… MILAN DESIGN WEEK, MAY 3rd… MET GALA IN NYC.
STAGING/LOCATION - REFERENCE ONLY.
The A24 podcast is set in multiple locations with most all of these locations framing the conversation a bit more cinematically. There’s an investment made to maintain high quality in cameras, lenses, lighting, and editorial quality - they’re hiring filmmakers and honoring art. We will use the Shop My office as a stage and bring in all the necessary lighting, custom mics, and high-end camera lenses. Even the “bad” ones teach us something about what to not do (I’m looking at you D-Wave/Davidson)!
Below is a still from NYC Midtown Studio ASL Productions who are known for podcast recording in this Living Room set… have spoken with folks who have worked there and enjoyed it but to me it reads a bit generic, limits angles, pickup shots, and costs $7200 for 12hrs. WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS and will maintain high aesthetics to deliver a premium product.
IF INTERESTED IN MORE PRODUCTION - here are some MARQUEE EVENTS TO POTENTIALLY PRODUCE CONTENT AT IN Q1 & Q2 2027: JAN 6-9th… CES LAS VEGAS, JAN 21-31st… SUNDANCE IN BOULDER, FEB 7th… GRAMMY AWARDS IN LA, FEB 14th… SUPERBOWL IN LA, MARCH 12-18… SXSW, MARCH 14th… ACADEMY AWARDS IN LA, APRIL 9th-18th… COACHELLA, APRIL 13-18th… MILAN DESIGN WEEK, MAY 3rd… MET GALA IN NYC.
OTHER PAST WORK OF BEN SPIVAK… JUST FOR DISCUSSION OF ADDITIONAL TYPES OF CONTENT AND EXPERIENCES, mostly aimed at community growth…
Ally Brooke x JCP PRIVATE 2-HOUR LAUNCH PARTY, ALL SOCIAL CONTENT, AND EARNED MEDIA STRATEGY.
3 MONTHS, ~250k ($100k AGENCY FEES, $30k LAUNCH PARTY, $25k FLOWERS/SIGNAGE/COLLATERAL, $20k CONTENT (VIDEO/PHOTO w/ REALTIME EDITORIAL) + ~$100k TALENT FEES)
Mac-A-Roni PRODUCT LAUNCH, PUBLIC EXPERIENCE, & STUDIO PRODUCTION
6 MONTHS, ~$1M+ ($200k AGENCY FEES, $250k EVENT/EXPERIENCE DAY, $150k KEYNOTE/FOOD PRODUCTION DAYS, $450k TALENT FEES)
The Atlantic - 2020 Hanz Zimmer & 2021 John Meyer (APPROXIMATELY $500k IN PRODUCTION FOR EACH ANNUAL CAMPAIGN, part of an annual ~$5M+ ON & OFF CHANNEL MEDIA SPEND)
The 2020 campaign was named Ad Week's Ad of the Day, selected as an editor's pick in Ad Age, written about by the editor-in-chief of the Clio Awards, picked up by Little Black Book and featured in Brandtale's Best of the Week newsletter. Since launch, it has surpassed nearly every Atlantic Re:think benchmark, the video has garnered over 10 million video views and the social actions are a staggering 1,451% above benchmark.
Facebook 2021 Communities Summit and Meta Products. Massive production costs ~$5M for upfront development, pre-produced content, licensing fees, talent collaborations, in studio production, and live streaming of main event… big online community outreach and engagement. This was a celebration of the communities to further growth. I’m not recommending something as elaborate as this (yet).
SAP Super Bowl Times Square - custom experiential build, permitted for short term use in highly visible public space. Something like this could be movable to multiple cities.
Kindle Paperwhite Engineer Videos - example of highly produced content and possible opening up of other Shop My staff voices.
Cultural Institutions - ASF, NY Aquarium, PBS. Historical work for cultural institutions… lots of overlapping high-taste/good aesthetic requirements.