The Free Test, the Borrowed Matte and the WhatsApp Bank Details
You are a freelance roto artist in Amritsar. A Mumbai studio sends you 40 frames from a running commercial and asks you to roto the actor 'as a free test' before they confirm a 600-frame paid job. They want the test by tomorrow noon and will not sign a purchase order until after the test. At the same time, a friend at another studio asks you to send him the matte you made last month for a different client, saying, 'It is only roto; no one will know.' The new client's coordinator has asked for your bank details and PAN over WhatsApp. You have no written contract, no rate card and no backup of the last project. What do you do?
1. How would you handle the free-test request so you protect your work and still keep the client interested?
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A test can be legitimate, but it must be bounded and must not become free production work. I would reply professionally: I can provide a short test on 5–8 frames, at reduced resolution and watermarked, with a written test brief and a clear statement that it is for evaluation only. I would not roto all 40 frames free or let the client use the test in the commercial. I would ask for the shot brief, frame range, delivery format and expected schedule so the 600-frame quote is based on real scope. I would also explain that a purchase order or a paid test is required before I start production frames. If they refuse any written terms, that is useful information about the client. I would keep the email polite and offer a quick call. The aim is to demonstrate skill without giving away the full job or setting a precedent that roto is free until a PO appears.
2. What do you say to your friend, and why is this a professional issue rather than a personal favour?
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I would decline clearly: the matte belongs to the previous client, was produced under their job, and may contain their unreleased footage. Sharing it would breach confidentiality and could expose both studios to legal and reputational risk. 'It is only roto' is not correct; a matte can reveal shot content, timing and production plans. I would offer an alternative: I can explain the technique, help him plan his own roto, or take on a separate paid job if his studio needs capacity. I would not send the file even as a 'reference' without written permission from the client. If my friend pressures me, I would keep the refusal short and avoid debating. Protecting client material is part of being trusted with production work, and a freelancer's reputation depends on it more than on one favour.
3. What practical steps would you take to make your freelance business safer for the next client?
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I would create a simple one-page contract or statement of work covering scope, frame count, revisions, delivery format, schedule, rate, payment terms, confidentiality and ownership of the delivered matte. I would issue an invoice with my GST details if applicable and use a business bank account rather than sharing sensitive details casually over WhatsApp. For the new client, I would ask for a purchase order or a signed approval before starting, and I would confirm the payment schedule in writing. I would set up a rate card with separate charges for roto, tracking, clean-up and revisions so I am not guessing. For data, I would use a 3-2-1 backup: the working drive, a local backup and an encrypted cloud copy, with client folders separated. I would also avoid sending bank details in an open chat; use email or a secure payment link and verify the recipient. These steps are basic digital literacy and entrepreneurship, not bureaucracy.