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FCP X Summitt in San Jose
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That’s great, Bill. Thanks for painting a great picture and for shedding light on the FCPX team. Seems like it was a terrific event.
Don’t know why AAPL goes to such lengths to hide their team and commitment to the pro community—events like the one you describe help us all justify our commitment to the FCPX platform, which is still a tough position to maintain in the face of agencies and editors who haven’t seen the light.
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[Bill Davis] “Apple among the biggest companies in the world. A central campus would be disruptive no matter where it’s put unless they go the way of Dubai and opt for a “build a city” different type of isolation. “
Why Apple didn’t opt for something like this I have no idea. Or maybe it’s more of an ‘Adobe thing’? 😉
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[Bill Davis] “That’s my off the top of my head stuff. It’s gong to take me weeks to mentally review the rest. There was so, so much to think about.
“If you get the time to put something together I’m sure everyone here would love to read it.
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Brings a whole new level of thinking about Cloud Services…
Doug Metz
Anode
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[Michael Hadley] “Don’t know why AAPL goes to such lengths to hide their team and commitment to the pro community—events like the one you describe help us all justify our commitment to the FCPX platform, which is still a tough position to maintain in the face of agencies and editors who haven’t seen the light.”
Maybe think about it like a popular band? At some point, there’s no way you can interact with everyone that wants to interact with you. Plus, what’s different about a software team compared to a band – is that almost no one is using a bands output to make a living and feed their kids! With our NLEs we do.
The emotional investment in software is much higher. Is this one RIGHT for me? Would I be faster if I switched to that one? Will this one keep improving? How fast?
In my 4 years of debating here, this has been the biggest surprise. The emotional stream underlying so many of the discussions. That all of us (myself absolutely included) are often deeply and emotionally invested in our software choices, PRECISELY because they are VERY important in our lives.
When we make a choice that goes well, we feel empowered. When we pick a pony, and it fades or stumbles, we gasp. Because there often is a LOT on the line.
The bottom line about the Apple visit is that I feel great. About everything. I talked with a lot of really smart and accomplished people. I talked to the people that make the software, people that use it in huge movies, huger TV operations, big corporate installations, and solo editors just trying to make their rent. Most of them saw similar thing about X that I saw, and picked their horse.
Remember, having a great horse does not make any other horse bad. Some may even jump a bit higher, or have a clever Lippizaner like sidestep. But this horse is strong and dependable and has a great temperament. And it’s young. Who knows how far we can travel together? But I bet a LONG way.
Know someone who teaches video editing in elementary school, high school or college? Tell them to check out http://www.StartEditingNow.com – video editing curriculum complete with licensed practice content.
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[Tim Wilson] “And we’re going to be hearing for years and years about how this is the greenest office building ever. Just not for anyone who lives near it.
Not specifically an anti-Apple dig (not like they’re the only company blowing community-altering craters in the area), but I wonder what they might have come up with if they’d tried harder to “think different” rather than “let’s make it really big as long as it’s energy efficient.””
Sums it up well, Tim. I feel a lot of love for Apple in many ways (as a former contractor and one with a lot of friends that work there) but think they have fallen short in being a better neighbor to the surrounding area.
They could have made a large public area or park, flush with its green tech, a showcase for all. Pruneridge Ave. is only a 2 lane road leading from a major expressway. It’s going to be a major choke point getting in and out of a place my parents have called home for decades. Who knows the impact of that huge infrastructure piece going in a stone’s throw from where I rode bikes, played catch, and walked to high school (All Hail the Cupertino HS Pioneers!)
A missed opportunity, to be sure.
Kevin
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I like FCPX quite a bit. We switched over 3.5 yrs ago and it’s been good and getting better ever since.
The ONLY real issue I have is having to play in the outside/real world with it. Clients still hold their noses when we say we use it and it’s still tough to source freelance editors since it still has a bad rep. That’s nothing to do with editing but it is still a real challenge we are up against. And one we wouldn’t have if we switched to Pr or Avid.
That’s why overt efforts on the part of AAPL are so welcome. And lack thereof so fraught.
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[Bill Davis] “more creatively conducive physical space than the current system of a central campus, surrounded by far flung and isolated buildings (Like where the FCP X team currently works!) where when they walk out for a break, they see pretty much other team members, but not rub up agains too many cross-functional players.”
That’s another topic. I’m sure it will be beneficial.
I’m talking about the end of an era for Westwood Oaks. It will no longer be a quiet suburb. Nothing was done to ease the entry of this massive entity to the surrounding area. The infrastructure around my childhood home is frighteningly insufficient and will have a terribly negative impact on my friends and former neighbors.
[Bill Davis] “It sucks, but time moves on.
Sigh.”
I suppose I shouldn’t worry about this since my parents are doing the smart thing and at just the right time: cashing in and getting the HELL out of Dodge. I will be visiting them in a totally different place from now on. It’s been a ride through hell selling the place, apparently, but YAY mom and dad for getting’ it done! Off to retirement land in the Roseville area.
I should be happy, but it’s hard ’cause I probably won’t be back except to take a look at the old place. Ah well, it’s already so different around there. No more kids riding bikes in the streets, no more kick the can, no more BBQs with the neighbors, or summer time in Westwood Oaks Park. The families that live there now pretty much keep to themselves and are not very neighborly. A little weird, and a real loss, I think, but oh well.
Here’s to memories of how it once was and hopes that Apple doesn’t mess up the area too badly. I do think it’s too late for any hope of harmony with the surrounding areas, though, I’m hopeful.
Kevin
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Thanks Bill –
Maybe I missed it here, but any hints that will this be an annual event? I am planning on going to Adobe Max this year (yes, really) but would love to attend an FCPX summit to bring tips and tricks back to my students (as well for my own editing company). Thanks again.
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