Wednesday is National Signing Day. This is the day when High School athletes, across Texas (and the Nation, thus “National”…digress) sign contracts with their prospective colleges! The local school system has ask my colleague, Brooke Robbins and me to be there to help cover the event. Our main role is to help the High School A/V Program students to achieve effective “news” type coverage of the athletes as they sign, and then conduct interviews afterwords. Needless to say, the students have never done anything like this, especially in a live action environment… so they are nervous, but excited. We hope to make it a learning experience for the students while making sure we cover the event for posterity. Wish us luck!
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High Definition Video Production "From Script to Screen"
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Planning for Particles
I am preparing for a science project (been years since I have said that!) for a customer… a video about science.
While AfterEffects appears to be the right direction to go, it is not my strength. The goal will be to simulate particles dancing as they are heated up over a bunsen burner in a beaker. 
And then (insert boring science procedure here)…. yadda yadda… the particles explode or something… I have not seen the script, so for now I am just jockeying ideas. My challenge, is which software platform to use… Apple Motion (which is slowly dying, from what I understand) which I know very well… or Adobe AE, which I know “OK” and need to be better at in general because it totally kicks butt… but I am SLOW AT IT… so:
I found this handy tutorial on YouTube
And then we have the Trapcode Particulator 2:
I have also found Apple Motion (I know, RIP most likely) to be useful such as this “behavior” here:
While I am SURE I can create AMAZING particles doing EXACTLY what I need in AE CS5.5, I am stuck since I have VERY limited time on a small budget…
So… that is what my day has in store for me. That and some other quick YouTube videos for another customer.
Stay tuned and I will share what “happened”. Meanwhile, I will continue my goal to master AfterEffects (someday).
Music Videos of the 80s
Music videos in the 80s made bands… or ruined them. I have to admit that most bands benefited from music videos since they chose to tell a story…
(Poor) Example:
That said, “Alternative” artsy videos, in my honest opinion… would have ruined me for the bands.
I probably missed the point… but these were very poorly executed.
A Talented Voice
Steve Walker, a colleague of mine, has recently published his new website:
If you need talented male voice work for your projects, I highly recommend Steve!
Do GO HERE to listen to some fun samples… everyone loves samples.
Gone in a Flash
Having invested significantly in Adobe products for years, I have a problem lately with the whole Apple vs Adobe Flash war for their devices, which it also seems Microsoft has had a stake in this game… My problem is that I think Flash is pretty cool… and has been easy in general to use. Heck, my business website uses it on the MAIN PAGE and I like the look!
I have been struggling with possibly redesigning my recently redesigned website just to eliminate flash… because some of my current and (gulp) potential customers can’t see my darned impressive website home page!!! UGH! (Charlie Brown).
But after read this article (although dated) and then the subsequent comments and posts BELOW the article… I am even MORE confused and less able to decide… Perhaps I should just shoot something… and since I am in the video business, it is safe, legal and non-lethal so suggest doing that.
Adobe Creative Suite is pretty impressive!
Transitioning from my beloved Final Cut Pro (Not X, NEVER X) after almost 8 years is tough… Although I was an AVID guy for years (Certified and all)… I jumped at the chance to buy FCP as soon as it proved it was up to the job… that was 2003. NOW, I am all over Adobe for too many reasons to list… And it is as close to FCP as I could ask, being a completely different software package and all… not to mention it all “talks” well with each program.
So, I am taking baby steps and editing my family vacation videos with it. Sounds lame, but you should know that my vacation videos are usually multiple DVD sets, with chapters and titles and effects that some in my family would consider over the top… and I assure you, THEY ARE!!! I am an editor afterall… My Disney vacation has 9 hours of footage… that may not seem like a lot, but I did actually want to have a vacation…
Digress… Adobe… rocks. Clips coming soon! Come back then!
All Post and No “Play” makes editor something something
Lots of post work lately (not complaining) but now and then the brain gets a bit locked up. A solution, while cleaning audio, you find a gem (distraction) and spend a few moments (not billable time, so relax) letting you mind stray… and this little tribute to “we will rock you” is created… (you will get it at the end).
Working with New Software/Plug Ins
Often in video production, some program comes out that we have to spend precious time learning and applying to our craft. It is difficult to learn some of these more advanced tools “on the job” as few projects require the need to test the full strength of our software/creativity. So on occasion… editors do the following:
I have found it fun to work with my children on their videos, including stop motion legos! And ask me about my EPIC Disney vacation video (6 DVD Box Set in HD) which is currently in “post production”.
If you want to see what I do when I am working check out my professional work at
The New Website is up!
Check it out!
Adobe Creative Suite, my new best friend!
As we all know (assuming you are like me and have invested 10 years in Apple), Apple has decided to stop servicing the Final Cut Studio. Well, I used to be a cheerleader for most things Apple (never got and Ipad or Iphone)… but that has changed since this latest announcement.
SO, I am off to the store (internet, actually) to get the latest and greatest that the good people at Adobe have to offer. I have used their products (After Effects, Photoshop) for years so now I just need Premier.
Learn!
