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About tips
Tips is the new alternative stock photo and stock footage agency for filmmakers and photographers who want global representation of their work, under equitable terms.
The company, currently headquartered in Milano, is owned by seven photographers, one art director and two former stock agency executives, including the CEO Guido Alberto Rossi, former ImageBank founder and director of the Italian agency for 25 years.
Our vision is to take full advantage of the benefits that the digital age now offers to our industry, while at the same time preserving the traditional business methods that we feel are still relevant today.
Tips currently has agents in the United States, United Kingdom, France, South East Asia, Germany, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Romania, Scandinavia, Spain, Brazil, Russian Federation, South Africa, Turkey, Poland.
Our filmmakers and photographers do not give up any additional percentage of sales to compensate those agents; we pay our contributors a 50% commission on all sales, regardless of where, how or by whom their images are sold.
Tips uses both online and offline marketing methods to introduce buyers to the collection, including direct mail, email, events, and a printed catalog: the first issue was published January 2004 with the magazine Zoom.
We invite creative filmmakers and photographers to join the growing community of Tips contributors. Tips will represent you and your work with respect and equitable terms.
For more information please contact us by email at info@Tipsfilm.com
Frequently asked questions
Who can join tips?
We welcome all active professional filmmakers, photographers and illustrators with high quality material active in all advertising and editorial fields, artists who produce a constant flow of new images and film. Creativity and hard work is what we need to become the N1 Stock Agency
What is tips' business model?
The best filmmakers, photographers and illustrators together with a network of small and agile agencies worldwide, plus a suitably aggressive marketing strategy will make us a winner. A structured global strategy combined with a system of websites offering clients 24/7 access around the world, backed by a strong localised customer service focus.
What is the royalty commission treatment that Tips offers?
50% of the gross sales goes directly to the author, without distinction between digital, online or catalog sales, or between home territory and overseas agents.
Is Tips Exclusive?
All material managed by Tips must be Exclusive. In the past we tested in parallel a non-Exclusive 'short-rights' system but it proved to be commercially inefficient.
Will Tips also handle royalty-free footage?
NO
Will Tips handle assignments ? If yes, what percentage do you take?
75% to the filmmaker, 20% to local agent who secures the job, and 5% to Tips Ltd.
What format would Tips like to receive your submissions in?
We would prefer if you could send us both digital masters and timecoded Quicktime versions of the clips on DVDs. You can either send Tips original master files and they will be converted and edited for web presentation for you, or you can give Tips the corresponding uncompressed digital version in Quicktime MOV format (at correct format fps rate - NTSC or PAL).
Furthermore all material should be accompanied by appropriate documentation in English describing the single clips for keywording purposes. Please read the "Film Submission Instructions" carefully. It gives you all the details you need to submit digital films.
Will Tips charge us for editing and inserting the clips into the online catalogue?
Yes, if you require this service we ask you to help us cover its cost. We charge $5.00 for the conversion and editing of each preview clip, much less than market price. Multilanguage keywording and uploading the preview files into the site is US$ 2.50 per clip.
How long does Tips keep your originals?
We hold your originals until your contract with Tips expires. We will return all originals, and any duplicates that have been made for you within three months of expiry. Catalogue clips will stay with us longer, for details please refer to the filmmakers' contract.
Who will I deal with for all matters regarding my films, my commissions, feedback or shoot lists?
Tips HQ will be your main contact, but occasionally you might be redirected to one of the local agents.
How many times a year will I get paid?
At the end of each month you will receive a monthly statement that will detail all sales that have been paid before the 15th day of the same month, together with the corresponding check. In order to avoid excessive bank charges there will be a minimum cutoff. If a sales report total is under 150 USD payment will be carried over to the next month.
Where do I send my submissions to?
Milano HQ, Italy: both original masters or DVDs with clips for approval.
Are originals insured?
They are, but only when inside our premises. As spelled out in the filmmakers' contract we all know traveling is a risky business, both for people and for things! You are, of course, free to insure your originals at your own expense for any damage/loss while in transit.
Who will select my films?
We have a panel of top level freelance art directors from some of the best advertising agencies and publishers.
Ok, we send you films and you send us money, but what else?
Good question. Communication is one of our priorities: there is a forum on the site open only to tips' artists, where we frequently post shoot lists, comments on trends, advice from clients and art directors, suggestions on needed subjects or concepts, and feedback from agents around the world listing client requests that could not be satisfied. All this plus technical topics or any other subject you might want to know more about, like travel tips, locations, etc.
What about models' or properties' releases?
Releases are very important. We want to be able to control and store each release that you obtain from both models and property owners. You keep the original paper and send us a copy. If scanned it will have to be in a jpg format at 150 dpi 8x10''.
Will our footage on the site be protected?
All footage on line are protected by a strong watermark.
You are a new player. Do you have the funding to sustain a period of marketing and start-up expenses?
Tips Ltd has enough funding for the time we consider necessary to build the business.
Where is your HQ?
Milan, Italy.
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