As the year ends, I just wanted to share some good news regarding my job. Sort of good news, which is better than sort of bad news. At this time last year, I didn't know whether our company would still exist the next day. At times, my pay would come in late, which would throw off my budget. I haven't had to worry about this for a while.
Business has been picking up ever so slowly, which is better than business going down. In addition there will be some changes with our business model, which should get us even more customers. We might get some new equipment, too, but we still have to see about that.
There's a slight chance I may get a raise, but at this point, I'll settle for the slight improvement in job security. It's a lot better than being less secure or taking a paycut. There are still some concerns in the back of my mind, and I would probably take the next available job in a heartbeat if offered. But right now, I'm just damn happy to be employed. Thank God.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Final Cut Bro: Customary.
Have you ever seen those old gasoline station commercials, where a car pulls up and a team of attendants rush out and service the car? They fill it up with fuel, wipe the windshield, check the tires, etc. Or maybe you've seen it in an old movie or something. This is what customers expect, for some reason.
Post production houses don't work like that, dear clients. We don't sit around twiddling our thumbs until you, specifically just you, come in through that door. We will not stop everything so you can have everything you want in two minutes and drive off into the sunset.
Things go on before and after you arrive. You say your video is only five minutes, so it shouldn't take so long for us to do? That would be true if there were no other jobs running ahead of yours. We will not stop those other processes to accommodate you.
Post production houses don't work like that, dear clients. We don't sit around twiddling our thumbs until you, specifically just you, come in through that door. We will not stop everything so you can have everything you want in two minutes and drive off into the sunset.
Things go on before and after you arrive. You say your video is only five minutes, so it shouldn't take so long for us to do? That would be true if there were no other jobs running ahead of yours. We will not stop those other processes to accommodate you.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Chum Bucket: As a whole.
I mentioned yesterday that I played the drums. I have always appreciated that instrument even before knowing Kevin. When I was in college, I finally saved up some money and bought my own set.
After a couple of years, I had been a part of a bunch of different groups and playing different genres. This entry is about a specific band of which I had so much hope. I don't mind sharing the name, which is Distane. Yes, that's what we ended up calling ourselves. Sometimes people would ask what it meant, and we would tell them it didn't mean anything. Then they would say, doesn't it mean being far away? I would say, no, you're thinking of "distance". This name was picked out of the blue because it was supposedly unique and sounded like "disdain" and people would be curious about it and remember it.
As for the actual members, I will give them fake names. I don't even actually remember their last names. I don't think any of us knew each other's last names actually.
On lead vocals, here is Mick Jagoff. On guitar is Keith Bitchhard. On bass is Ron Wouldifhecouldbuthecant. And me, I'm on drums.
After a couple of years, I had been a part of a bunch of different groups and playing different genres. This entry is about a specific band of which I had so much hope. I don't mind sharing the name, which is Distane. Yes, that's what we ended up calling ourselves. Sometimes people would ask what it meant, and we would tell them it didn't mean anything. Then they would say, doesn't it mean being far away? I would say, no, you're thinking of "distance". This name was picked out of the blue because it was supposedly unique and sounded like "disdain" and people would be curious about it and remember it.
As for the actual members, I will give them fake names. I don't even actually remember their last names. I don't think any of us knew each other's last names actually.
On lead vocals, here is Mick Jagoff. On guitar is Keith Bitchhard. On bass is Ron Wouldifhecouldbuthecant. And me, I'm on drums.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Chum Bucket: A funny guy.
Well, this is the guy I really had in mind when I thought of writing these entries. Unlike the rest of these other chums I will be writing about in the future, I will actually share his real name. This is because, first, I have nothing but good things to say about him. Secondly, I wouldn't mind if he stumbles upon this blog and we get in touch again.
I was a pretty meek and shy kid until the 10th grade. I was working at a summer camp and hated the noise in our cabin so a few of us moved out nextdoor into an empty one. A few days later, one of the head counselors comes in and looks around to see if there's room there. With him is a kid with dreadlocks and very confident attitude. Swagger, as they say. Great. We pretty much escaped from the trouble in the other place and this new kid is coming in here. So my first impression of Kevin Hunter wasn't a good one. To add to that, we later found out he came there late because he pretty much had to be convinced by that counselor, who was his uncle, to spend the summer there so he doesn't get into trouble where he lived.
He didn't move in with us though. He took a spot in the other cabin. One night, I couldn't sleep because this hardcore music was blasting from next door. I get up to investigate and find him riding his bike indoors and trying wheelies. Meanwhile, he apparently brought with him a huge amplifier to play his songs. When he saw me, he smiled and asked, "Do you listen to hardcore?" I said no.
And then I don't remember the specifics of the conversation but he turned out to be so amicable that I couldn't help but get along with him. I came there to complain and yell but I ended up making a friend instead. I remember talking about Rage Against the Machine, Korn, Tool, Helmet and more. I told him I liked bands like Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots and Smashing Pumpkins. He said he didn't like Billy Corgan's voice.
I really liked his positive attitude about everything. When somebody would joke with him, or even insult him, he would just say, "You're a funny guy" and brush it off. For a while there, I tried that approach, but eventually grew out of it. It just wasn't me.
I also took a lot of other things from him. I started listening to heavier music and even bought and wore band t-shirts for the first time. He played drums and eventually, years later, so did I. But more importantly, I started to be more outgoing and generally stopped being so negative, pessimistic and cynical.
The previous year, I made money by writing essays for classmates. It wasn't hard actually. I just took my own assignment and dumbed it down. I liked making money quickly, and I was really focused on it. I also lied habitually for no real reason. For example, I used to stay home on Mondays because I simply didn't want to go to school. I got my classmates to believe that I was getting psychotherapy and that's why I was always out on that day. I never got into trouble for my days off.
Things were different in junior year. I tried to get to know everyone, which was fairly easy because we weren't a huge high school. The freshmen, I think, especially liked me. But then again, they were freshmen. Also, I took a course in video production and made sure I could come on every field trip to shoot it. I even tried to run for school president but lost. That was something I would have been too afraid to try the previous years. My grades weren't as good as they had been, but I was happier.
I credit Kevin for that change in me. I did come to work at the summer camp to get a different insight on life, but I think my friend was the catalyst for that. I always thought I would be back there the next year, but it didn't happen. I never met him again, along with many other people I became chums with there.
I'll probably write about them as well.
I was a pretty meek and shy kid until the 10th grade. I was working at a summer camp and hated the noise in our cabin so a few of us moved out nextdoor into an empty one. A few days later, one of the head counselors comes in and looks around to see if there's room there. With him is a kid with dreadlocks and very confident attitude. Swagger, as they say. Great. We pretty much escaped from the trouble in the other place and this new kid is coming in here. So my first impression of Kevin Hunter wasn't a good one. To add to that, we later found out he came there late because he pretty much had to be convinced by that counselor, who was his uncle, to spend the summer there so he doesn't get into trouble where he lived.
He didn't move in with us though. He took a spot in the other cabin. One night, I couldn't sleep because this hardcore music was blasting from next door. I get up to investigate and find him riding his bike indoors and trying wheelies. Meanwhile, he apparently brought with him a huge amplifier to play his songs. When he saw me, he smiled and asked, "Do you listen to hardcore?" I said no.
And then I don't remember the specifics of the conversation but he turned out to be so amicable that I couldn't help but get along with him. I came there to complain and yell but I ended up making a friend instead. I remember talking about Rage Against the Machine, Korn, Tool, Helmet and more. I told him I liked bands like Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots and Smashing Pumpkins. He said he didn't like Billy Corgan's voice.
I really liked his positive attitude about everything. When somebody would joke with him, or even insult him, he would just say, "You're a funny guy" and brush it off. For a while there, I tried that approach, but eventually grew out of it. It just wasn't me.
I also took a lot of other things from him. I started listening to heavier music and even bought and wore band t-shirts for the first time. He played drums and eventually, years later, so did I. But more importantly, I started to be more outgoing and generally stopped being so negative, pessimistic and cynical.
The previous year, I made money by writing essays for classmates. It wasn't hard actually. I just took my own assignment and dumbed it down. I liked making money quickly, and I was really focused on it. I also lied habitually for no real reason. For example, I used to stay home on Mondays because I simply didn't want to go to school. I got my classmates to believe that I was getting psychotherapy and that's why I was always out on that day. I never got into trouble for my days off.
Things were different in junior year. I tried to get to know everyone, which was fairly easy because we weren't a huge high school. The freshmen, I think, especially liked me. But then again, they were freshmen. Also, I took a course in video production and made sure I could come on every field trip to shoot it. I even tried to run for school president but lost. That was something I would have been too afraid to try the previous years. My grades weren't as good as they had been, but I was happier.
I credit Kevin for that change in me. I did come to work at the summer camp to get a different insight on life, but I think my friend was the catalyst for that. I always thought I would be back there the next year, but it didn't happen. I never met him again, along with many other people I became chums with there.
I'll probably write about them as well.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Final Cut Bro: Ready for my close up.
This is a story that was shared to me a few years ago when I first started. This video editor, whom we will call Ed (get it?) was working with a client, whom we'll call Cleo. Cleo the client, get it?
Cleo brought in footage of a concert. The videographer shot it from the back of the room.
They loaded the video into the computer and started editing. They made a couple of edits. Then Cleo asked Ed to cut to a close up. And he replied, "Did you bring another tape? Because I don't recall seeing any close ups when we were loading the footage."
The client was confused. "You mean you can't just cut to a close up?" She was dumbfounded.
Ed answered, "Let me bend over and pull it out of my ass."
Okay, he didn't really say that. He wished he did though.
_.. ._ ..._ .. _.. ..._ .. ._.. ._..
Cleo brought in footage of a concert. The videographer shot it from the back of the room.
They loaded the video into the computer and started editing. They made a couple of edits. Then Cleo asked Ed to cut to a close up. And he replied, "Did you bring another tape? Because I don't recall seeing any close ups when we were loading the footage."
The client was confused. "You mean you can't just cut to a close up?" She was dumbfounded.
Ed answered, "Let me bend over and pull it out of my ass."
Okay, he didn't really say that. He wished he did though.
_.. ._ ..._ .. _.. ..._ .. ._.. ._..
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Chum Bucket: Final cut bro.
The second installment of "Chum Bucket" is really the first installment of a new section I call "Final Cut Bro". Here I will post about being a Video Editor and give advice about workflow efficiency, maintaining client relationships, and the media arts field in general. I will also share some stories from the editing room hoping that you'll enjoy them and so that I don't forget about them.
So how do these two sections of my blog meet? Because this business is dog-eat-dog, and you don't really have chums. You might get along with people in your field, and you might enjoy their company, but when you really get down to it, everyone is looking out for themselves.
And you better learn this quick. This area is very competitive, and it makes a lot of people shady. There are a lot of people I could write about but for now, I will only focus on one individual. There will be time enough for the others.
This person I will call Joe Nosay. Why? Because that's the best I could come up with at the moment.
So how do these two sections of my blog meet? Because this business is dog-eat-dog, and you don't really have chums. You might get along with people in your field, and you might enjoy their company, but when you really get down to it, everyone is looking out for themselves.
And you better learn this quick. This area is very competitive, and it makes a lot of people shady. There are a lot of people I could write about but for now, I will only focus on one individual. There will be time enough for the others.
This person I will call Joe Nosay. Why? Because that's the best I could come up with at the moment.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
IndieVisible: Green.
I hope you are enjoying the holidays.
This is a film I shot for multimedia class. As part of a pattern of my ambitiousness, it is only one scene out of a planned feature. This was one of the easiest film shoots I've directed, mainly because of the crew. I didn't try to do everything myself for a change.
And then he sings, "Last Christmas, I gave you my cock. But the very next day, you gave it away." I have to finish the script someday just to finish it. I don't think it's a great screenplay or anything, but it was fun to write.
The production was by no means smooth. For some reason, the Arriflex camera started giving us some trouble. You check and check the equipment and never encounter problems, but then production starts and things happen. We were able to calmly fix it without stressing out or losing it.
I was very happy with how it went. Unfortunately, this was my last production project in college. I never shot film again after that. In addition, I've also lost touch with the cast and crew.
We shot other angles, as well as coverage. However, once I watched it in the editing room, I decided I liked this take as is it. I also thought the tracking in and out felt a little more subtle without the cuts.
This was shot in a studio which didn't start out as a studio. It was a gym that somebody decided would be good enough to convert into a media arts facility. The ventilation system was loud, and the room had echoes. Someone praised me for being able to make use of that place and actually making it look like a bedroom. It's not the best set, but it was no easy task.
_.. ._ ..._ .. _.. ..._ .. ._.. ._..
This is a film I shot for multimedia class. As part of a pattern of my ambitiousness, it is only one scene out of a planned feature. This was one of the easiest film shoots I've directed, mainly because of the crew. I didn't try to do everything myself for a change.
And then he sings, "Last Christmas, I gave you my cock. But the very next day, you gave it away." I have to finish the script someday just to finish it. I don't think it's a great screenplay or anything, but it was fun to write.
The production was by no means smooth. For some reason, the Arriflex camera started giving us some trouble. You check and check the equipment and never encounter problems, but then production starts and things happen. We were able to calmly fix it without stressing out or losing it.
I was very happy with how it went. Unfortunately, this was my last production project in college. I never shot film again after that. In addition, I've also lost touch with the cast and crew.
We shot other angles, as well as coverage. However, once I watched it in the editing room, I decided I liked this take as is it. I also thought the tracking in and out felt a little more subtle without the cuts.
This was shot in a studio which didn't start out as a studio. It was a gym that somebody decided would be good enough to convert into a media arts facility. The ventilation system was loud, and the room had echoes. Someone praised me for being able to make use of that place and actually making it look like a bedroom. It's not the best set, but it was no easy task.
_.. ._ ..._ .. _.. ..._ .. ._.. ._..
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