Post Fifth Pictures

Embarrassed of Edits

Have you ever cut something you are embarrassed to watch again? Do you feel sorrow everytime you hear the music cue on the television/youtube?

I once cut a piece for someone and was completely disgusted with how it turned out. I was booked on to another show and left the first job (ran out of budget) for another. The director proceeded to finish the rest of the show by themselves. I didn’t really want to leave the show because I like to see how projects go until the end. I was told we were about 95% done when I left so I wasn’t too concerned.

I showed up to the viewing.

Experiment: Adobe Soundbooth + Avid Script Sync

So I tried it. I’ve read all about it on people’s twitter accounts, forums, blogs, etc, but I had never tried it or seen anything actually do it. In theory it should all work fine right?

Here is what I did:

Take a clip from your project, export an aiff of the clip. You will probably be working in Avid just because you are going to take it back into Avid to use the Script sync feature. In this case I was editing a non-scripted interview of NHL Analyst Brian Engblom for HockeyPlayer.com. I took a clip that was close to a minute in length just for this test.

When is a spec a good idea?

Taking on a spec piece can be really troubling. It can also be rewarding.

I find it really awkward. I’ve only had a few decent experiences with spec ads that have led to more work or a better relationship.

I’m not going to tell you whether to accept them or to not, but I will give you a few experiences I’ve passed through since graduating college.

Experience A:

The Week of Anticipation

In a week I will be downloading Avid Media Composer 5.0. I’ve been delaying all edits of H.264 files. I have a batch of XDCAM files ready to test. I already have a client convinced we will use Avid on the next project instead of FCP because it is being shot on a 7D and the workflow will be faster. What other new tricks will I be able to conjure up in the “old dogs” software known as Avid.

On a small shoot yesterday, a client called me in to make sure this camera crew she hired was getting all the coverage and types of shots she wanted to see during our edit. I asked them about software preferences in editorial. It’s all FCP. All HDV. That sounds just like a big headache to me. Why not move with something faster workflow wise to save time and money? You know, the opportunity cost of the workflow?

I had lunch with an agency in Salt Lake City two weeks ago. After talking about a small piece I had edited, I showed them the piece on my laptop. “Is this color corrected already? It looks great!”

Is IMDB Pro worth it?

So I have wondered for a while about the usefulness of IMDB Pro for people in post, like myself.

Questions View Results

Using Compressor to Convert to DNxHD 36

Here is a freebie compressor setting. Recently I was working on a…

MetaCheater

This program offers a way to assign metadeta to Quicktime files that…

“Dress for the job you want, not the job you have”

I’ve always thought that the phrase dress for the job you want not the job you have was a little funny when applied to the entertainment industry. While working on Pirates of the Caribbean, the picture editor wore shorts and a t-shirt with sandals. I wore a polo shirt with jeans. So I guess the higher up you get in the editors guild, the more comfortable clothes you can wear. On a somewhat related thought I read this article and thought it was worth sharing.

As a Disney fan, I subscribe to a few Disney blogs and found this article on a real life “Jessica Rabbit.” This is circulating YouTube as this woman in her 50’s had plastic surgery done on her face and went on a diet to look more like her dream, Jessica Rabbit.

Nike Write the Future

I’m a huge hockey fan. However, soccer will always have a special…