[Bob Cole]

[Ned Miller] “extras are fellow aerobics instructors”

Having made a series of yoga videos, I want to endorse Ned’s observation. If you look at the best yoga videos, you will realize that the “students” in the videos are either celebrities or professional yoga teachers in their own right.

Bob C

[Bob Cole]

Whom do you recommend for transcription? Does your $60/hr source provide timecode?

Bob C

[Bob Cole]

[john sharaf] “I’d suggest using the four 800’s as background and night ambivalence.”

John, what do you mean by this statement?

bob c

[Bob Cole]

The vast empty background is a problem; in order to light something, you need something physical you can light. I’d suggest hanging some billlowy fabric around the back edges of the place, or perhaps placing some lights in the background for some bokeh.

[Bob Cole]

Mark, does the hot knife help to solidify the foam and prevent pilling?

[Bob Cole]

Good suggestions. Thank you. I wonder whether Great Stuff is too rigid to be a good cushion.

I also wrote to Pelican, who replied “Due to the nature of the polyester foam it will pill over time with the placing and removal of objects. We have suggested that after the foam is actually cut to your specification you place a thin sheet of gauze over the area that can be glued down with a spray adhesive.” (By “gauze” they mean fabric, not bandages.)

I think I’m remembering why I don’t like foam!

Bob C

[Bob Cole]

It’s your fault, Don. I’ve been observing the same technical forums, but you’ve answered all my questions. And we already know that I don’t know the answers, so why should I post anything at all?

To return to the Business Theme of this forum, sort of: There are a couple of people I’d like to thank explicitly, whom I’ve met through the COW.

I met Don through the Sony XDCAM Forum, then in Vancouver on a shoot. It’s been a great relationship, both on a personal level and professionally. He’s been a terrific guide as I learned a new camera system, and now, a friend as well.

Now, I’m not complaining about Sony. Sony has a great presence on the XDCAM Forum; one of their U.S. employees is extremely responsive and helpful. But they don’t always have the user perspective the way someone like Don has. Thank you!

Earlier, as I was migrating from D/Vision to Discreet edit* to Final Cut Pro, my guide was David Roth Weiss — and we followed the same path, melding a personal friendship and a professional one. Without David, I don’t think I could’ve segued into the Apple Kingdom with anything like the success I’ve had. (I complained to David once about the smug-looking employees in the Apple Store, who were not as friendly as they are now; they were carrying themselves with the air of members of an exclusive club. He thought about it for a few moments, then said: “You’re right about the arrogance. But all you have to do is buy a Mac, and then you’re in the club.” He was right.)

I don’t have much to offer to the technical wizards, which is why I tend to post here, where just career experience can be helpful to others. But I do appreciate all the forums where I lurk. So Don, I’m still there — I just don’t have anything to ask or answer!

Meanwhile, Tim Wilson, thanks for steering us to the Final Cut X Debate forum. It’s pretty wild over there – lots of fun to see what’s being discussed.

Bob C

[Bob Cole]

Thanks Ann. That’s a great resource.

But I still would appreciate some specific advice. Although the base price of the “classic choices” in the HP line is not that high, it really adds up when you start optimizing it for video editing. Am I correct or incorrect in suspecting that there is a huge price gap that separates the Z420/Z820 workstations from the others? If so, is that jump justified by reliability or performance? Or, are there “ordinary” workstations which, if souped up by a careful reading of the document you cited, would offer more bang for the buck?

Thanks again.

Bob C

[Bob Cole]

[Nick Griffin] ” I’m self-employed so I can get a 7 day vacation after 16 months without one”

Sheesh. What a complainer. When I was a kid we had to make our own film emulsion in the kitchen sink, and grind the glass for our lenses. And vacations? We never even heard the word. I thought it meant “evacuation.”

Face it, Mr. Griffin. You’ve attained success and you are going to have to learn to enjoy the rewards.

Meanwhile, I’m glad you’re back on your real job, helping this forum stay relevant.

Bob C

[Bob Cole]

[Mark Suszko] “As far as the FCPX debate forum, well, I don’t go there very often because of the name”

Thanks Tim for that info about the FCPX forum. Like Mark, I have avoided that area, thinking it would bore my socks off. I’ll take a look.

Tim’s analysis of the way the business is evolving is the best thing I’ve read on this forum in a long time, and since comparisons can be invidious, I should add that I don’t mean that as faint praise. I would really like to see more of those insights from Tim. Where should I look?

Oh, that’s right — the FCPX forum!

Bob C