I always keep my rate at a great value based on my experience and it is also competitive. This combined with working at a quick pace means that I have built a reputation for being affordable but still delivering quality results. I have a daily rate and my hourly rate is my day rate divided by 8. This means I can be flexible with my time and work either whole days or just a few hours on amends for example. To enquire about my rate or for more information then please get in touch and I can send you my details hello@stevemillington.co

It varies on how busy I am but most often I am free within a couple of weeks. Sometimes immediately, it is always worth asking me and I will do my best to accommodate as soon as possible or at a convenient time. I operate on booked time and this is first come, first serve.

Pencilled time - This is time that is very loosely acknowledged that I might be working. If time is pencilled then I shall inform you as soon as possible regarding my movements and if it is still available. It is not confirmed that I will commence any work and is simply an indication that there could be work. I would still recommend pencilling my time before confirming it as I will keep you informed in case it needs to shift around.

Booked time - This is when we have both firmly agreed on the time that I will be working. I always require and look for this in writing in an email so that we are on the same page. Please note that I have a 48 hour cancellation policy (excluding weekends) where by I shall still charge for half of lost time as a result of very last minute cancellation, this is to help prevent any loss occurred as a result.

Please note I am never responsible for your budgeting and I am a resource.

Of course I will do my best. It is quite common that I have to hit the ground running with a quick turn around. I am very used to this and I am therefore flexible with my time and can offer you my evening and weekend time slots in order to do either extra work or to fit it in around other bookings.

Unlike some editors, experienced animators understand that this is the same as saying 'how long is a piece of string?'. There are many factors that I have to calculate in order to provide an estimate and the duration of a piece is simply just one of those many factors. I always give the quickest estimate but still with some room to ensure it is done right. It is very common that I will estimate for a first initial draft and then have a secondary estimate for potential amends.

I need to see as much or be provided with as detailed brief as possible to be able to provide a good estimate. The more information I have on what is required then the more accurate I will be able to estimate.

Please note that any estimate I ever provide is only an indication of an approximate final cost and is not an agreed cost for the whole project. If there are many changes then I still charge for my time.

Yes, it is quite common that I have to step in to help. Just please ensure that you have all the necessary project files, any fonts, assets or pre-production materials all packaged up to pass on to me and I can do my best.

Not a problem. I am very often under NDA. This for me is also out of respect which is how I like to operate.

This is a very common mis-conception and I have been asked too many times to do this. It is in fact, completely illegal whether it is internal or not. What makes it illegal is the act of profiting from another persons work. If you want to use Fat Boy Slim then down the line, he should get paid. Want to use a scene with Johnny Depp, then Johnny Depp should be paid for his acting. People think it is okay because it is internal simply because it is less likely that somebody will flag it, but it still doesn't make it okay.

Certainly illegal to rip anything from Youtube in any capacity. Unfortunately, I have had this so often that I now refuse to do anything of this nature as I would in fact be the one responsible. I think this is fair and decent of me and I would not jeopardise my reputation.

Yes, depending on the project this is something that I might build in Illustrator or in After Effects but I am very experienced in seeing through an entire project from conception to delivery. This is still entirely down to you to direct me and meet the requirements of the client. Without working with your client I would be relying on you to provide as much information or pre-production material as possible. A key ingredient to a good storyboard is first having a good script.

It is very difficult without any or little pre-production. In order to meet client expectations and deliver what they want then it is important to have many stages of development. The answer is yes but I am still entirely dependent of what direction you can give me. The only times in the past when this has not been the case is when I am sometimes commissioned as a Creative Director, in this case I will be able to take a lead over the development of the project. This would require working alongside your client, thus meaning I have a higher dayrate for Creative Director due to an increased responsibility.

Quite common question and the direct answer is no, however a presentation can act as a good storyboard and I can produce animation that acts like a presentation, perhaps with a voice over and make it more professional or impressive. Please note that I will ideally need any assets such as images to be provided separately from the Power Point file.

No, not really. Some assets might be able to be taken from it. But it is a backward way of working because everything will have to be effectively rebuilt. The best design software to then be imported into After Effects is an Illustrator AI file. Please note that there are some further rules and preferred methods of setting up an Illustrator AI (layer hierarchy for example) so that it is ready to be animated. For any questions regarding this work flow then let me know.

I am fully proficient in both Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, so I can generate anything required. If there are time constraints or stock photography required then this is something that either you or myself can source. Some 3D assets may be generated in Cinema 4D or I might also produce assets directly in After Effects.

Video formats - MOV, these can vary in compression but it is always worth considering the quality of any footage and to keep it high. I can work with MP4 but an MP4 is actually supposed to be more of a delivery codec opposed to an intermediate codec like an uncompressed MOV. It is always worth advising your client on basic video file types and try to avoid allowing your client to film anything of a poor phone camera.

Also, if they ask for a WMV file, please tell them that this is outdated and they no longer need it. Windows machines play all the same formats now.
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Audio formats - AIFF or WAV, try to avoid MP3 because they are compressed.

Image formats - JPG, PNG, TIFF, PSD, AI

It is quite common to use a transfer service such as www.wetransfer.com

Yes this is something I can do however not actually advisable as to clearly communicate what your client needs then you will be much closer to their vision. It is best if you can provide me with this.

I have a subscription to a library of music in which I can obtain licenses for. Either you can provide me with licensed stock music or if requested then I can find something suitable that works. This will then be charged on your bill, usually around £20 per track.

With me, yes in fact it is. I am also in spare time an accomplished and experienced music producer and have have had a fair few commissions that required bespoke sound design or music.

There are several resources to count on for professional VO, either this is something you can arrange or I am happy to arrange myself and the same for any subsequent costs, I shall apply this to your bill.

There is a certain amount of processing that I can do to reduce unwanted noises, hums or hisses. Although not ideal, this is still something I can do for you if required.

I try to be as flexible as I can with my time as it will take some time for either yourself or your client to feedback. Once I have this feedback then I will be able to give you a rough idea of the time required and I ask that you still book and manage my time so that you can balance this with your budget.

For accurate and collaborative feedback I use the platform called Wipster which is great for facilitating the process of getting video feedback.

I can but only if it agreed that I will then switch to my Creative Director rate and I continue the commission in this role. Otherwise, it is not my responsibility to liaise with your client.

I only ever charge for my time and therefore always try to provide the most accurate estimates.

I will send you an invoice via my electronic system after the project is believed to be finished. If there is a project that is still active but has perhaps gone quiet for a while or has been ongoing for more than a month then I may send you an incremental bill for my time to date before the project has been completed. This is to ensure that I have ongoing cashflow.

You do as I will have been commissioned to produce it for you, however unless requested otherwise then I only withhold the right to use the final product or variant of, for my own portfolio and never for any further financial gain.

If requested then at a convenient time, I can supply you with all the files you will need to continue work on the project. Please note however, I can not supply any third-party plugins or software used within the project as this will solely be licensed to myself.

I quite often request recommendations and feedback on my services via LinkedIn. After a job has been completed then please look out for a request on there for the chance to give me a review.