[Bob Cole]

Thanks Steven and Craig. I noticed the Logic unit is marketed with a separate “Shuttle Pro” while the Bella keyboard has a built-in shuttle. Any preferences?

Another somewhat related question regarding programming the keyboard: coming from discreet edit* the keystrokes I use most often are H (number) and T (number) for trimming by a number of frames. Aside from “trim backward/forward by one frame/large trim offset” Alt-(shift)-(right or left) is there any keystroke combo which allows numerical trimming?

— BC

[Bob Cole]

That link doesn’t seem to work.

— BC

[Bob Cole]

Great advice. Two aspects of this situation which haven’t been touched on: (1)how to deal with being impugned by your previous employer; (2) how to let people know your new situation.

When you aren’t around to defend yourself you might be blamed for everything that goes wrong. When I left one job, partially over my opposition to pursuing a major contract, the company went ahead with the contract. About a year later the contract blew up with a loss of about $800,000, much as I predicted. A few months after that, one of my friends “inside” told me that the company was saying that I had been in FAVOR of the contract. Implication: I’d been canned and good riddance, instead of, I’d left and coulda saved them a bundle if they’d listened. Damage to reputation: I don’t really know, but I bet I didn’t get a few calls as a result.

Also, your old employer isn’t going to tell anyone that you are in business.

So, if you have valuable contacts from that job, make sure you stay in touch. You can tell them you aren’t soliciting THEIR business because you know that they are happy with XYZ Firm, but you are open for OTHER business, and if they know of someone else who might use your services, please let them know…

[Bob Cole]

I hope some better authorities jump in, but please clarify: you mentioned “abroad.” You might want to search the forum because there have been some great posts on that topic, including the need for carnet letter, electrical tips, etc.

Unless you have lots of help, I’d keep it even simpler, make sure you know about local voltages and plug types, and cut out the green screen because it’s a bear to use and light on location properly (if you’re shooting 16:9 you can pose the interview subject to one side, use a black background which is much easier to “not light,” and composite the footage to the other side).

I’d play with all the equipment extensively before taking it overseas, and carry-on enough so that you don’t lose a shooting day if the airline misplaces one or more of your cases. Does anyone else think that traveling with lots of fluorescent tubes is problematic?

[Bob Cole]

Very interesting website. Thanks!

Do you have any more background info on this site or its creator?

— BC

[Bob Cole]

Shine and Tinderbox Rays are very useful; Boris Continuum Solarize has been invaluable for exploring a dramatically different look.

I’d also be curious as to which plug-ins people felt were a waste of money, or rarely used anymore.

Plug-ins to avoid?

— BC

[Bob Cole]

Something I heard years ago, and has rung true as a bell ever since:

“Some of the best business deals I ever did are the ones I didn’t make.”

Good comment from Arniepix about the difficulty of getting paid by the likes of this guy.

— BC

[Bob Cole]

Ron’s right about consulting a lawyer (hurrah, you’ve already “lost” — some money to the lawyer — but it may be worthwhile). But what you are doing is sort of like collage, and perhaps you’re making even more transformations than a collage artist.

I don’t know the legal principles behind collage work. But I doubt that the Monty Python animations, and similar work based on cutouts from magazines, were legally “permitted.” Or, for that matter, art works that are made up of newspaper headlines, etc.

There are so many laws and rights running around — but generally they won’t be litigated unless someone sees a financial reward at the end. That said, companies like Disney zealously protect their copyrights to an absurd degree.

So, imho it’s a combination of what is legal, and what is practical. I’m no lawyer! In your case, I would contact the seller of the work, and get their okay.

— BC

[Bob Cole]

My first reaction was, “No way.” Most publishers say, “You can use the pictures, but you can’t resell them.”

But you should check the language in the license agreement that came with the stock photos. You could also call the agency or publisher. I would imagine that a lot of people in your situation don’t bother to contact the publisher.

— BC

[Bob Cole]

[Steven L. Gotz] “Have you tested your memory?”

No. What do you recommend for testing. PPro is the only program which has shown a problem, though.

— Bob