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Post Democracy/Apocalypse Now
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[Eric Jurgenson] “I perceive all of these to be in decline. Quality TV is slowly being replaced on cable by trash TV and reruns.”
That trash TV still needs editors. And there aren’t all that many reruns.
[Eric Jurgenson] ” PBS is on the skids. Local broadcast’s days are numbered.”
I agree with PBS, but local stations are fine. At least here in LA.
[Eric Jurgenson] “DVDs are on life support. “
Yes, but they are DVDs of MOVIES and TV SHOWS that were already edited. They are a delivery method for programming and films that were already edited. The delivery method is switching from DVD to online distribution, data files. But, it is still content that is being made…that’s just the delivery method.
[Eric Jurgenson] “No real way to make money with internet-based video.”
I’ll agree with you that to a point. I’d say 95% of internet video is dirty and cheap…and edited by hungry kids with FCP/Premiere/Vegas/iMovie and dreams of one day editing features. But there is internet content that has budgets behind them that pay editors…well…a livable wage. For some reason people think “internet video” and think that everything about the production of it must cost less. Even if they want to shoot it on a RED (and yes, they do…for web video), they try to justify it with “this is only for the web, so we don’t pay much.” Then don’t have the high end production expectations…but they do.
But, no matter what, production is still happening, and that will need to still be edited.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
[Eric Jurgenson] “I perceive all of these to be in decline.
I think it’s time for you to get your perception checked.
[Eric Jurgenson] Quality TV is slowly being replaced on cable by trash TV and reruns. PBS is on the skids. Local broadcast’s days are numbered.
Trash TV still needs an editor and reruns still need a first run. If PBS gets axed I’m sure Discovery will pick up the slack. With the growing number of Cable stations, maybe broadcast days are numbered, but there will continue to be new networks and shows on satellite, cable and internet.
[Eric Jurgenson] DVDs are on life support.
Good thing you learned something about compression then, because with all the electronic deliveries your going to need it. I certainly did like the the day when I could make a DVD and be done with a project. Now I have to make the Blu-Ray then the DVD then the iphone/ipad version followed by one for the youtube then a flash version then a…
[Eric Jurgenson] Corporate video down maybe 90% from the early ’90s.
I would say they are up 90% from the early 90’s. At least in my world, gone are the days a salesman can walk into a meeting with a powerpoint presentation, now they need a video. Intranets are filled with training videos and development videos, the internet is full of what this company is about videos. Heck, walk into a Walmart recently? I’m bombarded with monitors playing ads and talking about products.
[Eric Jurgenson] Wedding videos becoming passe.And yet they are still becoming more and more important to the bride and groom.
[Eric Jurgenson] No real way to make money with internet-based video.
It certainly isn’t a get quick rich scheme, but you can make a decent living producing videos that will never air anywhere over than the internet. -
I think the original article being referred to showed figures to prove that the post production ‘business’ was on the decline. Not post production the occupation. Time was when one had to go to a facility which had a telecine, linear suites, Avids and Smoke/flame systems that ran into millions of dollars, which made up the post production ‘business’. And it flourished, too.
Today, post production continues, and will also possibly show a growth, but as an occupation. People that need to do post have got their own gear as owning gear is so affordable that a reasonably successful editor can afford. Why, some finishing artists and colourists could possibly afford their own finishing and grading gear. Filming is getting increasingly digital, doing away with a range of super expensive equipment.
This is a decentralization of the business, in a way.
Also, if I remember right, the figures are for the US. In other parts of the world the figures may differ. Possibly show a growth too, in some countries.
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Neil Sadwelkar
neilsadwelkar.blogspot.com
twitter: fcpguru
FCP Editor, Edit systems consultant
Mumbai India -
Okay, I’m sorry. The video editing business is doing great and getting better. Wages are increasing every year. There are lots of great employment opportunities in the business for both the young and the experienced. There is an online delivery scheme that gives you copyright protection and the ability to charge a fair price for your product. Instead of trying to do it for themselves (or hiring their snotty nosed nephew with an iMac), people are still inclined to hire experienced professionals, with the assurance that a better product will make them more money.
Let’s face it. It’s a lot easier to edit than it was 25 years ago. People think they can do it for themselves, and – guess what? They can! And with the new FCS4, it will be even easier.
Video editing has gotten a lot more fun, a lot cheaper to get into, and at the same time a lot harder to make a buck at. Anyone want to start a union? (probably a bad time for that – apologies to ACE)
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[Eric Jurgenson] ” No real way to make money with internet-based video.”
On this I really differ with your opinion, but I’ll have more to say about at another time. Yes, there is real money to be made with internet based video, even moreso soon than with “traditional broadcast and cable TV.”
Talk about democratization of the process…..
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media -
Shane,
“I agree with PBS, but local stations are fine. At least here in LA.”In Denver duopoly/LMA killed 2 commercial stations, resulting in the loss of about 95% of the absorbed stations staff. The ‘parent stations’ are running with so much automation that sweeps looks like it’s being run by vacation relief crew.
Two PBS stations in the market. Both are being run by the larger of the two. In effect, another LMA.
Two other commercial stations in the market are operating with less than 5 full time staff members each. That’s counting the GM, sales, traffic and ops staff.
On the non-broadcast side, there are several large ‘cube farm’ cable origination facilities in the area. All are actively reducing staff, and taking other cost cutting steps.
The largest film/video rental house laid off the entire staff, and has been liquidating most of the gear except for a few of the big pieces. The owner is operating it part-time for now.
It’s not all bad news.
A large VOD porn distributor is doing well, and often posts job openings due to expansion.Scott Sheriff
Director
https://www.sstdigitalmedia.comI have a system, it has stuff in it, and stuff hooked to it. I have a camera, it can record stuff. I read the manuals, and know how to use this stuff and lots of other stuff too.
You should be suitably impressed… -
I agree. I just meant how that article might have come up with its figures. Production is increasing not decreasing. But for relatively modest projects, companies can handle all three stages of production in-house. Maybe when the recession lifts, and the Internet becomes even more flooded with video, companies will be willing to spend more to have their videos stand out from the crowd. That might mean production companies sub-contracting more post work to specialists. Either way, professional editors will be needed. I also have noticed that non-pros just playing with video are more confused now than when it was DV in DV out to DVD. Quality productions, even modest ones, still require time, money, expertise, and talent (at all three stages of production). Some things holding back the non-pros: you can’t zoom a mike, even today’s cameras need good light, mostly you can’t come up with good material by winging it, you can’t correct bad production in post, video takes up huge amounts of storage, editing is time consuming even when you know what you are doing and even when you are using a format which you’ve learned how to use, distribution is more complex than ever.
OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A. -
Overall I would agree with the OP and the article. However, I don’t think it effects most of the regulars who hang out on the COW 😉
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