F.a.Q.
Can I hire Traverse for commercials, brand films, or help with my YouTube or Social Media Channels channel?
Absolutely! Traverse Image offers a range of production services tailored to your specific needs. Whether you’re looking for commercial campaigns, brand storytelling, or elevating your YouTube channel with high-quality content, we’re here to help.
From concept development and cinematic production to post-production services, our team can bring your vision to life. We also offer co-production support and crew-for-hire services for businesses, organizations, and creators.
To learn more about how we can collaborate, contact us at admin@traverseimage.com. Let’s explore how we can craft compelling content together.
Can I hire Traverse for work-for-hire documentary projects?
Absolutely! Traverse Cinema Studio offers a range of services through our sister company, Traverse Image. We provide co-production support, documentary crew for hire, 2nd unit cinematic services, and post-production overflow services for individuals, organizations, and broadcast + streaming platforms. We also take on Work for Hire projects.
If you'd like to hire the Traverse crew or Thomas Kolicko for your next short film, feature film, or non-fiction show, we're here to help. To learn more about how we can assist with your project, please contact us at hello@traversecinemastudio.com. We'll be happy to discuss your needs and how we can bring your vision to life.
For all Inquiries - please contact hello@traversecinemastudio.com We’d love to hear from you.
Can we have raw footage or raw stills?
At Traverse Image, we craft every frame with intention, ensuring the final edited deliverables reflect our storytelling expertise and the vision we share with our clients. While we understand the curiosity about raw footage or stills, providing these unedited materials is akin to asking a chef for raw ingredients instead of their finished dish—it misses the heart of what makes the work truly special.
Our approach to filmmaking is collaborative and purposeful. The edited content you receive represents not only the story we’ve set out to tell together but also the quality and artistic integrity our team stands behind. For this reason, raw footage or stills are not included as part of our deliverables.
That said, we believe in empowering our clients with ownership. Once the final payment is received in full, you retain full copyright to the finished deliverables, giving you complete creative control over how they’re used and shared. If you have additional needs or ideas for your project, let us know—we’re happy to explore creative solutions that align with our mutual goals.
In rare instances and only with select partners, access to raw footage can be arranged. However, this must be explicitly agreed upon during the initial stages of drafting the Scope of Work (SoW) Agreement. Clear terms regarding usage rights, licensing, and additional costs will be outlined in the agreement to ensure mutual understanding and alignment. If you are interested in including raw footage in your project arrangement, please let us know during the planning phase.
What is included in the production process, and how does feedback work?
Our production process is designed to ensure your satisfaction while maintaining efficiency and clarity. Every project includes three (3) rounds of feedback:
Rough Cut Notes: Your initial opportunity to provide overarching feedback.
Fine Cut Notes: Refining the edit to ensure alignment with your vision.
Quality Control: A final polish for any technical adjustments.
If additional feedback rounds are needed beyond these three, they can be arranged through a change order for an additional fee. This structured process ensures we deliver a high-quality product while respecting timelines and budgets.
How are changes, overtime, and rush orders handled?
We understand that creative projects evolve, and additional changes or time may sometimes be required. Here’s how we handle these scenarios:
Change Orders: Any work beyond the agreed Scope of Work requires a change order. These must be agreed upon in writing and will be added to the next invoice.
Overtime and Rush Orders:
Production days are 10 hours, including a lunch break.
Post-production days are 8 hours, including a lunch break.
Overtime or rush orders will be billed at a higher hourly rate.
This ensures transparency and fairness while accommodating your needs.
How can I intern, assist, or work with Traverse or Thomas Kolicko?
We receive numerous requests from individuals interested in working with us, particularly in camera work and production assistance. While we'd love to work with as many passionate people as possible, we carefully select based on project needs and team fit.
Our approach to collaborations:
We typically work with a small, agile crew of 3-5 members for both production and post-production.
It's our policy not to hire anyone for documentary field work or travel shoots who hasn't interned or assisted with us prior.
We occasionally offer limited internship opportunities for those eager to dive into all aspects of documentary filmmaking.
When considering new collaborators or interns, we look for:
A tenacious, unwavering passion for film
Humility and hunger to learn
Original work(s) you've created and produced
How well you fit with our crew (we usually do one or two test shoots to check for crew mojo)
Portfolio presentation and personality fit over traditional resumes
Ability to listen well and be easily trainable
Please note: Opportunities may vary based on our current projects and needs. We'll review all inquiries, but due to the volume of requests, we may not be able to respond to everyone individually. Please send your original work(s) or portfolio over a resume.
Do you sell prints?
Yes, we offer high-quality prints of select still images from our documentaries and expeditions all photographed by Thomas Kolicko. These prints are for private use only and are available in various formats. For custom requests, email us at hello@traversecinemastudio.com. Our print offerings are expanding, so check back often. Your purchase supports our ongoing documentary work and brings a piece of our cinematic journey into your space.
Want to get your print signed by Tom?
Yes, please reach out. For details click HERE!
Can Tom speak at my event? How can we screen your films?
I've had the privilege of giving keynote speeches and speaking at numerous events and screenings over the years. I'm always honored to consider engagements related to our films and the communities that we work in. While I can't always guarantee the availability of including our documentary characters and subjects, I'm open to discussing possibilities.
Most engagements require travel fees and a modest speaking fee. If you plan to screen one of our films for a public audience, an additional licensing fee may be required.
To inquire about speaking engagements or film screenings, please contact us at hello@traversecinemastudio.com. Provide details about your event and venue capabilities, and I'll be happy to discuss options and applicable fees.
To ensure the best experience for audiences, I'm selective about screening venues. I prioritize locations that can provide high-quality audio-visual equipment to showcase our films as intended. For this reason, I typically no longer screen at breweries or similar venues.
How do you produce and ship your prints and merchandise?
We partner with a trusted network of print-on-demand providers to offer high-quality products without maintaining our own inventory. Here's what you should know:
We personally demo, field test, and sample all products before making them available in our store. In fact, we test, sample, and wear everything for weeks to ensure it's super comfy and of the best quality available. This rigorous process ensures that you receive only the highest quality swag and merch.
When you place an order, our print partners produce and ship the item directly to you.
We aim for 100% customer satisfaction. If you encounter any issues with your order, please let us know, and we'll make it right.
Every dollar spent in our store goes directly back into our filmmaking efforts. Additionally, a percentage of profits goes to partner organizations associated with the specific film project related to your purchase.
For photo prints, 10% of the proceeds are donated to the Conservation Alliance.
By shopping with us, you're not only getting great products but also supporting our documentary work and contributing to important causes. Thank you for your support – now git on out there and enjoy your new gear!
If you have any questions about your order or our products, please contact us at hello@traversecinemastudio.com
Do you have any books available?
While we don't currently have any books available, we're excited to share that we have a book project in the works. As documentary filmmakers, we see books as another powerful medium for storytelling and sharing our experiences with audiences.
At this time, we don't have a specific release date identified for our upcoming book. However, we're committed to creating a high-quality product that complements our film work and provides additional insights into our projects and the stories we tell.
To stay informed about our book project and receive the latest updates, including the eventual release date, please subscribe to our email newsletter below. We'll be sharing exclusive content and behind-the-scenes information about this project and our other endeavors.
Thank you for your interest in our work beyond the screen. We look forward to sharing our stories with you in print soon!
What gear and equipment do you normally use?
As documentary filmmakers, we believe that the camera is merely a tool for capturing light and story. Our equipment choices are based on what best suits our work, subjects, and the images we aim to produce. Here's an overview of our current setup:
For our film work, we primarily use the Canon C or Cinema Line cameras. These offer the color space and ecosystem that we find most suitable for our documentary projects.
For YouTube content, we use the Canon R6 Mk2, which provides excellent quality for our online presence.
Our drone work is accomplished with the DJI drones.
It's worth noting that while we currently use Canon for most of our work, this could change as technology evolves. We're not sponsored by Canon or any other camera manufacturer, though we occasionally receive demo gear through our industry relationships. However, these demos don't influence our equipment choices. We simply find Canon's color space and ecosystem best suited for our type of work, subjects, and the images we aim to produce. Our selections are based solely on what works best for our specific needs in documentary filmmaking.
Remember, the most important aspect of filmmaking isn't the gear, but the story you're telling and how you use the tools at your disposal.
How do you select the films or shows for your development slate or production?
Our process for selecting films and shows for our development slate or production is thoughtful and strategic. Here's an overview of our approach:
1. Curiosity-Driven: We start with topics that genuinely intrigue us as filmmakers. Our passion for the subject matter is crucial in driving the project forward.
2. Audience Consideration: We carefully consider if there's a niche audience that would be interested in the story we want to tell.
3. Exploration Phase: Once we identify a potential topic, we conduct thorough research and exploration to gauge its viability as a full-scale production.
4. Character-Driven Narratives: We look for stories with compelling characters who can effectively carry the narrative and engage viewers.
5. Alignment with Our Mission: The project must align with our studio's mission of creating films that inspire, educate, and connect audiences with the natural world and human resilience.
6. Feasibility Assessment: We evaluate the practical aspects of production, including access to locations, subjects, and any potential challenges.
7. Market Potential: While not the primary driver, we do consider the potential market appeal and distribution opportunities for each project.
8. Environmental Impact: Given our focus on outdoor and environmental themes, we prioritize stories that can contribute to conservation efforts or raise awareness about important issues.
Our development slate is carefully curated to balance these factors, ensuring that each project we pursue has the potential to become a compelling and impactful documentary. This process often takes months or even years before a project moves into full production.