It's a good time to be in video production!

Wow!  WIth NAB going full force and the announcement of Apple's new version of Final Cut Studio, it's a cool time to be in this business.

I'm watching the news with anticipation as new cameras come out, new gear and accessories, and software.

Let's see what happens this week.

Evolution of Editing Systems

I was inspired by the first comment to the blog last week when I thought about the Amiga Video Toaster.

I've been editing for a long time now and have come across some interesting edit systems.

I began cutting film on a Steenbeck flatbed editor.  When cutting 16mm film negative I used the nightmarish gang sync, a guillotine splicer, and viewed the footage through a Moviscop which looked like a miniature Mac SE.

Some of my first video projects were shot on 3/4" machines and transferred to VHS.  Then I'd use two decks and an edit controller to piece the videos together.

Pinnacle had a piece of software that could edit videos at a 320x240 resolution and I was hooked on non-linear editing.

In Los Angeles, I worked with Avids, Media 100's and a couple of Lightwaves.  I did a lot of work on Adobe Premiere as well.

And then came FInal Cut Pro.  I jumped on that about a year after it was released because I talked to so many people who needed a Final Cut Pro editor and I really began liking it.  

What kinds of systems have you worked with?

New Macbook Pros Announced

I'll add more to the post as I have time, but the announcement from Apple is pretty interesting - not so much in the upgraded specs we would expect - but because these machines include Intel's Thunderbolt technology.  With claims of 10GB transfer capabilities, this could make life a lot easier for laptop editors.

Unfortunately, there aren't any peripherals yet that use the new technology so we'll have to wait and see how it works.  But with commitments from Blackmagic, Lacie, etc., I'm sure they will hit the stores soon.

And you could still buy the 17" Macbook Pro as it still has an Express Card slot.

Filmmaking Lesson #1

I just uploaded my first feature film, 97 Brooks, to VImeo.

It's 83 minutes long.  Do you want to watch it?  I didn't think so.

What if I told you 'it's a dark comedy about a serial killer who moves to a small town and falls for a cop'
No?  Still not interested?

That's your first lesson.

Some upcoming topics:

I plan to discuss a lot of different things here and if you want me to discuss something not mentioned below - let me know.

Independent filmmaking do's and don'ts (I've made many mistakes you could learn from)

Working in the real world - freelancing, corporate videos, commercials, client relationships - everything that doesn't include making movies.

Dealing with your money and invoicing

Gear reviews

Taking a look at other people in our business

Tips and tricks on everything from editing to shooting, to taping a camera to a tripod because you lost the mounting plate.

New Final Cut Studio or Finally Going Back to Premiere?

Since Final Cut Studio is still the primary piece of software I use, I'll be glad to move into the new millennium.  This article from Apple Insider gives the latest scoop.

To paraphrase, the new version appears to be a nearly complete overhaul of the current one with "dramatic and ambitious" changes.  If you don't read the article, at least take this snippet:

Egypt

It's been in the news a lot lately and the events that have unfolded are truly remarkable.  Here is a video I shot while on vacation there in 2007.



Shot with an HV20. I had no luck using a tripod or even a monopod for most places, so I used The Pod system to steady my shots.  The beauty of it is that it's essentially a beanbag that settles on various surfaces.  It's also handy because one can still do some basic tilts and pans relatively smoothly.  I know the Gorillapod is quite popular and there are numerous variations of it that can come in handy.  I haven't picked one up yet but if you've used one, let me know.



Posted in Final Cut Pro.

It was 25 years ago...

That I made the decision to get into this business.  I've learned a lot along the way and I plan to share some of it with you.  So sit back and enjoy and please participate in any way you like.  I certainly hope to hear feedback from you about the site.