[Bill Davis]

Simon,

The App Store model provides two things that are both pretty valuable.

For the consumer, the “Vetted by Apple” approach makes sure that malicious code and system screwing mistakes are (hopefully) filtered out.

For the authors, they don’t have to operate their own back-end “e-commerce” engines – which is a huge time and effort savings.

I actually think it’s a pretty efficient model and both sides benefit.

“Before speaking out ask yourself whether your words are true, whether they are respectful and whether they are needed in our civil discussions.”-Justice O’Connor

[Bill Davis]

For decades, the “trade show” was the target event for rolling out manufacturers new products. It was efficient for all parties. The producers could set “product readiness” dates, sales forces could gather to be educated, and PR knew when their information had to be “locked” for distribution.

I think the spread of the internet has changed ALL of that.

With a direct, persistent link from producer to customer via the web and search, everyone knows everything as soon as it’s made publicly available.

So what is the “trade show” for these days? It’s largely social interaction.

Yes, the ability to assess gear in a “hands on” setting is valuable, but it’s pretty expensive to take a trip to a centralized location once a year, when the same products are likely to be distributed closer to you in the months after their “trade show” reveal. And with YouTube, et al – the “virtual product demo” – if done even reasonably well – can give the potential purchaser most of the “tire kicking” experience on-line.

In the early years, I usually came home from NAB, CES and the like with 20 pound bags of one-sheets, brochures, and similar “educational” materials. Now I leave with maybe a half dozen photo-notes on my phone.

I go to see friends and socialize with colleagues. The INFO requirement is gone.

Apple understood that well in advance.

Formal trade show participation might not always be the best way to reach potential customers in the modern era – unless they can “re-invent” themselves to provide things we can’t get on the web.

I actually think the “Supermeet as performance” demo – and the social oriented “after”parties are the best thing about the modern trade show.

The human connections are important. The one-sheets? Not so much anymore.

My 2 cents anyway.

“Before speaking out ask yourself whether your words are true, whether they are respectful and whether they are needed in our civil discussions.”-Justice O’Connor

[Bill Davis]

Regarding support, this has been my experience with IA as well. I’ve had two contact emails from Greg in rapid succession. Suspect these early glitches will grt worked out and this will turn into a really solid tool for those who need it. The edit that I was testing Xto7 on is delivered already, (finished in X, instead of 7) so I’m keeping out of IA’s hair to let them work rather than add to their distractions in these early days.

It does kinda reinforce the idea that in the new App Store era of constant update, revision and enhancement – pushed instantly to the market – “real world shake out” is somewhat replacing the old system of months of formalized beta testing prior to boxed product release.

Mr Dylan nailed it back in the 60s. The times they are (definitely) a-changin’.

“Before speaking out ask yourself whether your words are true, whether they are respectful and whether they are needed in our civil discussions.”-Justice O’Connor

[Bill Davis]

[Craig Shamwell] “The bottom line is this. With the addition of Multicam Editing, along with other new enhancements, FCPX will be the single best on-the-fly-editor money can buy for web editors especially….. If it can run SMOOTHLY! I have several projects coming up this week and I will see how it goes, but right now my shyt is not running smoothly.”

It’s just past 2am here.

In the past 48 hours, I’ve had to deliver two projects as rough cuts.

So I was seriously concerned when I had those issues the day after the 10.0.3 release.

But everything appears to have settled down. I had one evening, one overnight, and a morning where things were a little squarely. I did some cleaning out of older Events (moved them to alternate drives) and did that one “repair permissions” via Disk Info – and everything seems to be fine now.

Got two more projects out the door yesterday, and one more has about 5 minutes to go before I upload it via YouSendIt.

Whatever was happening to X over the weekend, appears to be over. At least in my work.

YMMV.

“Before speaking out ask yourself whether your words are true, whether they are respectful and whether they are needed in our civil discussions.”-Justice O’Connor

[Bill Davis]

[Chris Harlan] “Bill, the term “spine” in regards to story structure is actually new to you? I’d have thought that someone with your experience had come across it many, many times.”

I won’t take this as a ham-fisted attempt to cast aspersions on me, tempting as that is.

Instead, I’ll treat it as a legit question.

And answer it thus…

I’ve casually studied the concept that I think you refer to as “finding the spine” over and over in more disciplines than I’d care to remember.

It was noted when I learned “news writing” in college.
Similarly in “creative writing” and even “poetry” classes.
When I started writing and voicing video narrations, early in my career, I remember actually using the word itself – (I think the paragraph was something along the line of “to a homebuilder, the HVAC system is often the spine that determines subsequent room layout and location” – something I scribbled about 25 years ago in a homebuilder script.
And, of course, the term “spine” is pretty useful in the medical narrations I’ve done over the years. (yuk, yuk)

It’s a nice “utility” metaphor since everyone has one, I guess.

I think I understand the “search to reveal the spine” way that you and Fritz are coming at it. And I appreciate the value of a process like that. I just don’t think it’s always the way projects need to be assembled.

Sometimes “searching” for the storyline is smart. Sometimes something else DEMANDS a particular storyline. Give me a project outline – I’ll find my own spine. Give me a script – I’ll try to deliver one close to the one the script reveals. Give me a work of art (remember the discussion of Dr. Seuss?) and I’ll lay that down without altering a word and work around the exiting “spine” because to do otherwise would presume that I could do it better – and frankly, I don’t know anyone who can out-write Mr. Giesell.

So “approach to the spine” is yet another thing that I don’t see as as “constrained” a thing as you might.

Or put more simply, sometimes I need to “search” for the spine via my editing, and some times, frankly, I don’t.

There you go.

(grin)

“Before speaking out ask yourself whether your words are true, whether they are respectful and whether they are needed in our civil discussions.”-Justice O’Connor

[Bill Davis]

[Walter Soyka] “I think there are only a handful of people making an absolute argument against FCPX, just as there are a handful of people making an absolute argument for it. In the middle, reasonable people may reasonably disagree.

Fear of change is real, but not every criticism of FCPX is based on fear.”

I agree with this.

But it’s still instructive how loudly (and most of all) how FAST the vocal minority rose up against it.

My central contention has always been that most of the angst was generated by those who simply never took the time to look at the reality of the program – but merely got stuck on what they “thought” was missing – and how it that alone made them feel..

That short-sighted view (my opinion) is fading, is testament to the fact what while features have been added – the primary design of X is exactly the same as it was when it first came out.

What’s changing isn’t the program. It’s peoples’ understanding of it.

Essentially, I’m arguing that anyone who didn’t spend SIGNIFICANT time using it – was simply unable to make informed judgements about it’s capabilities. But that didn’t stop most people from popping up here and doing so.

Some took a “wait and see” attitude (you prominent among them, Walter) and always tried to achieve some balance. Others simply kept yelling about how terrible it was, long after it had shown that it was in no way “terrible” for anyone who was open to some change.

From the distance of a few months, we’re able to see it better. Software that works for many, but not all video editors.

Which is precisely what it was on “day one” of it’s release.

“Before speaking out ask yourself whether your words are true, whether they are respectful and whether they are needed in our civil discussions.”-Justice O’Connor

[Bill Davis]

[David Lawrence] “The Primary Storyline.”

Actually, “That spine thing” has had an industry standard name and meaning for over 20 years:

The Sequence.

(couldn’t resist either)”

Wow, must be great for cutting science fiction films.

Since I had single projects that incorporated half a dozen “sequences” from my many years with Legacy – that means I was creating beasts with half a dozen SPINES.

Yikes! Run for your lives!

(smile)

“Before speaking out ask yourself whether your words are true, whether they are respectful and whether they are needed in our civil discussions.”-Justice O’Connor

[Bill Davis]

[Herb Sevush] “[Craig Seeman] “An EXCELLENT series from a diverse group. ”

Very diverse? Seven editors who’s opinion ranges from X is the greatest NLE ever invented to X is one of the greatest NLE’s ever invented. I just wonder where Phil might have gone to get a slightly more interesting range of opinions?

Andreas, why don’t you give Phil a call.

Herb Sevush
Zebra Productions
—————————
nothin’ attached to nothin’
“Deciding the spine is the process of editing” F. Bieberkopf”

Or perhaps, just possibly…..

The fundamental program design is functionally better than was demonstrated by the huge chorus of people who approached on the first day as “not what I’m used to” and therefore sucky in all cases and for all time – and have been stuck defending that view ever since.

Also, Herb, Reading your sig again, I had to laugh…

That “spine” thing you guys are so focused on…it now has a name.

The Primary Storyline.

(couldn’t resist.)

; )

“Before speaking out ask yourself whether your words are true, whether they are respectful and whether they are needed in our civil discussions.”-Justice O’Connor

[Bill Davis]

[James Mortner] “That’s really stretching the idea of a “wedding video”, Bill. No slurring speeches, no awkward dance, no drunken disco.”

That they let us see…

; )

“Before speaking out ask yourself whether your words are true, whether they are respectful and whether they are needed in our civil discussions.”-Justice O’Connor

[Bill Davis]

[Scott Sheriff] “Thomas Frank] “Come on a professional means someone makes money is there a different levels of money?”

Sure there is. Shane pretty much nailed it. Just like there are different levels in quality of professional tools.
I see a huge difference between someone using X on a 15″ laptop that is pretty much dedicated to supporting something consumer oriented like a 5D, and someone with a dedicated facility with multiple NLE’s, and the I/O options to support whatever walks in the door from VHS to 4K.”

No Scott, he did not. (Nail it.)

The last “wedding video” that I watched was produced by NBC and the BBC – and was likely the single most costly live video production of the past 100 years. The Royal Wedding from England.

I’ve read stories of guys working in the middle east, who regularly have six figure “wedding video” budgets.

This view that editor ‘A” is at the top level, and editor “B” is at a significantly lower level is one largely propagated by those who have comfy seats at the top and feel that they therefore possess some specialized knowledge that makes them “superior” to others.

What they have is demonstrated interest in improving their skills over time – combined with the luck and career navigation chops to have found and stayed in their seat – again, over time.

I’m not dismissing this. It’s very hard to become good at something as complex as video production. But there are literally thousands, if not tens (or perhaps hundred!s) of thousands of people doing similar work, world wide. The guys in the seats at the BBC, or the seats in Norwegian TV aren’t any more or less “special” than you or me. And I’m sorry, but there are a lot of folks in seats in small production companies who, given the chance could grow into editors every bit as accomplished as anyone of us chatting here.

There is no “magic” that makes one person a “pro” and another an “amateur.”

Consider that on the set of Memento, young Chris Nolan didn’t have much more than passion and drive and some good ideas – certainly no where near the “professional experience” that you or I have been privileged to have earned – but he managed to slingshot himself beyond all of us. Why? Because “professionalism” isn’t just ONE thing. It’s a range of things, and his combination of skills were singularly effective for his time and place.

And trust me, there’s an “event video” guy out there who’s probably a better overall video professional than you or me. Also, likely, some nice lady cutting in the back room of a shabby documentary production group in Bankok.

To think otherwise is hubris, plain and simple.

The explosion of low cost high capability video production tools is going to change the game. Not fast, but over time. And sorry, but having nothing more than “editing skills” is going to be a smaller and smaller “differentiator” in the years to come.

Time to add new skills. Perhaps better people management, data wrangling, or art skills – because no matter how complex visual editing is at it’s core (and it IS complex) it’s inevitable that more people today know how it works than ever before. And in a generation, it’s going to be like the number of people who know how to type.

Yes, there will still be “great novelists” – but also great newspaper writers, great greeting card writers, great ad writers, and great poets – and all of them are worthy of respect.

FWIW.

FWIW.

“Before speaking out ask yourself whether your words are true, whether they are respectful and whether they are needed in our civil discussions.”-Justice O’Connor