[Bob Cole]

[Melanie11485] “I did this for my main menu and it works fine, but on my submenu the DVD literally pauses”

Good question. I’m assuming that the reason it sometimes works without pause, and sometimes has a pause, has to do with the layout of the files on the final physical DVD.

I understand that Encore doesn’t let you design this layout — is there other reasonably-priced and user-friendly software which does?

If you want to design the DVD in Encore, can you use other software just to do the physical layout?

— BC

[Bob Cole]

[Nate] ”
Are you able to select a button and manually change its number in the Properties palate?”

No — “1” was the only option and you can’t write in anything — you need to select from the drop-down, which displayed only “1.”

BUT somehow, it works now. I closed and restarted the program, opened a new job, and then reopened the old one, and now when I duplicate a button I actually have the choice of “1” or “2.”

I think I’ve found my first Encore bug.

Thanks for the suggestion though. Actually, this forum helped me to “solve” the problem by giving me a place to post the question — knowing I had to wait for an answer, I went on to other work, which turned out to be the bugfix.

And, on the “object” menu, the top group is no longer totally shadowed. I would love to read a good explanation of all of that, by the way: convert to object/button/create subpicture.

— BC

[Bob Cole]

Thanks for the advice!

— Bob

[Bob Cole]

[Frank Otto] ”
I currently list my title…when pressed…as creator of content for multimedia.”

Around here, a very creative retail real estate company, back in its heyday, had a “vice president for fun.”

They knew retail!

— BC

[Bob Cole]

[Michael Kellam] “I work best when I do shooting, camera and editing as a significant component of the job.”

Great post, Michael. The problem is that people who would “economize” by looking for someone who could do it all probably have a tiny budget for personnel, which means the other part of your quest (avoiding working alone) might be impossible. I’d look for a rapidly-growing company which could benefit from your multiplicity of skills, while offering the possibility of your managing a larger department in the future.

As to what to call yourself, any one title could be limiting. Maybe you don’t have to call yourself anything at all — just list what you have done and express an interest in “production.”

Good luck.

— BC

[Bob Cole]

Book by Woody Allen’s early editor: “When the Shooting Stops, the Cutting Begins.”

[Bob Cole]

[john sharaf] “I’d suggest you hire me (or some other Lighting Director or Gaffer) for a day”

That would be a great idea, Marcelo. I would amend it this way: if your budget is limited, maybe you would want to consult with an LD to give you a shopping list and don’t waste his time in a store. Then, unpack everything, plug it all in and play with it, and make a couple of mistakes. You’ll understand more by doing at this stage than by listening to an expert.

THEN, when you’ve developed a list of questions, and have some basic familiarity, hire John.

I would love to be in your place and hire a great LD — but I doubt I would have been able to absorb the knowledge when I was totally new to it.

You’re already being saved a world of mistakes by posting your query to this list. Although some of the advice is contradictory, it’s all good, and a lot better than you’d get by walking into a store (I guess).

— BC

[Bob Cole]

If the wind is visually part of the scene, that would make it more acceptable as part of the sound track.

— BC

[Bob Cole]

[Greg] “we need the option of editing the video until all are satisfied.”

The customer is always right. As long as you price it right, insist on a payment schedule where you get paid as you go, and set a time limit, no problem.

The edits that Decision Maker #5 suggests may contradict the edits that Decision Maker #3 needs. So, propose a rough cut/first re-edit/final re-edit schedule. Explain that after the first re-edit, they have to resolve any conflicts over content internally, and (as already suggested) give you one point of contact for the final re-edit.

Eternal re-edits? I don’t think they really want that.

— BC

[Bob Cole]

See the posts about Motion Menus. You have to re-render whenever you make a change to the menu.

— BC