Chris Jacek
Forum Replies Created
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I’m disappointed to learn that this was not a thread providing information about getting a Master’s of Business Administration in video editing.
Professor, Producer, Editor
and former Apple Employee -
Thanks for the great input, guys. So far your comments are supporting what my instincts have been telling me, but I’ve only been in the state for about 6 weeks, so your real-world insights have been very helpful.
I’m teaching at Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Kirkland. Internship opportunities are always welcomed. I continually tell me students that an internship is the single-best way to prepare and network for their post-college job search.
From what I’ve been hearing, Motion Graphics have a big presence here, especially in non-traditional media. Since After Effects will likely always have a place in our curriculum, the Premiere portion seemed a no-brainer. Before I started advocating too strongly for adding Avid (and updating Protools), I wanted to make sure they both still hold positions of relevance here locally. From what I’m hearing so far, it sounds like the answer is “yes.” It also sounds like it may be a good idea to advocate for cross-platform instruction as well.
Any thoughts on 3D for the non-animator? My instincts on this one tell me to look at Cinema 4D. Am I on the right track, or are there more attractive options?
Professor, Producer, Editor
and former Apple Employee -
This really seems like a no-brainer if you ask me. Of course you should learn all 3 if you have access to them. I think there is no question that knowing more makes you more valuable. To say that you should focus on only one or two is like telling a world traveler that they should stick to learning only one or two languages. If you have the time and the access, why not learn as many useful programs as possible? It can only enhance your value. At least until such time as one of them becomes obsolete. I probably wouldn’t suggest spending too much time learning the Matrox Video Cube.
Professor, Producer, Editor
and former Apple Employee -
[Oliver Peters] “Cut in X and send a flat file to AE. Split the clip at the cuts and you are ready to go.”
Yes, but doesn’t that workflow break down when you are dealing with transitions between clips in your NLE. Once Automatic Duck came along, it drastically changed my workflow (for the better). I was never comfortable with flattening, and then having a bunch of segments. Having that ability to get my timing and basic motion down in my NLE, and then bringing it into AE and individually control my elements of each layer is important to me (and maybe nobody else). Granted, I’ve done a great deal of short-form in this manner. I doubt it would work well for a doc.
Professor, Producer, Editor
and former Apple Employee -
[Bret Williams] “You’re describing AE’s keyframing, right? Because AE can certainly do that. Easily.”
Yes, exactly. The option-drag (or alt-drag on Windows) of an array of keyframes is probably in my “Top 10” of AE additions over the years.
Professor, Producer, Editor
and former Apple Employee -
If the best argument for keyframing in Motion is to use behaviors, then isn’t that in and of itself an indictment of Motion’s keyframing process? I’m all for scripting to save time. I think expressions are the best thing to happen to AE in the past 10 years. But if the basic functionality of AE keyframes was subpar, as it is in Motion, expressions would not change that fact. Until you tell me that I can grab a whole stack of keyframes from different layers, representing different parameters, drag on them with a modifier key, and proportionally shrink or expanding their timing together, I won’t be impressed.
Professor, Producer, Editor
and former Apple Employee -
[Charlie Austin] “[Chris Jacek] “It confirms what I’d expected about Apple’s plans for the future, and I am not included in those plans.”
What on earth are you doing that this new computer doesn’t fit the bill?”
Using a workstation that does not require a bunch of tethered peripherals just to function as a nonlinear editing machine. The ability to put in a GPU that “I” feel is best for the job, not what “Apple” can get the best deal on. These should be the minimum demands from a user for a workstation. The closed architecture tells us everything we need to know about Apple’s plans. “Apple knows best, and no other ideas are valid.” This kind of corporate arrogance almost never results in the best product.
This not just a question of whether it is a good machine. It is a matter of corporate ethos. This is another in a long line if decisions that has eroded the Apple ethos.
Professor, Producer, Editor
and former Apple Employee -
It does settle things for me. It confirms what I’d expected about Apple’s plans for the future, and I am not included in those plans. As a former employee of the FCP team, and 25+ year obsessive Mac advocate, it pains me to switch.
But what this new MacPro say to me is that Apple will do whatever Apple wants, whether you like it or not. I know many of you will argue that this has always been the Apple and Steve Jobs philosophy, but I would strongly disagree.
Apple USED TO do whatever Apple wants, but the goal was always to win you over by making the coolest AND best product possible. Now I think they are trying to force the cool factor, en leiu of making the best stuff. They still make very good stuff, but it only made to optimize exactly what they want it to, in the workflow that they feel is best. In the past, they simply wanted to make the best product for ANY workflow.
This makes the “Mac Tax” too expensive. You used to be able to justify spending extra on a Mac, because it was better in just about every way for what you were doing. At least that was the case in the world of video. Now it only does a handful of things better than its PC equivalent, which costs quite a bit less.
Apple could prove me wrong by charging $1500 for this thing, but I won’t be holding my breath.
Professor, Producer, Editor
and former Apple Employee -
Didn’t the keynote specifically state that it was only expandable externally?
Professor, Producer, Editor
and former Apple Employee -
Man, I’d better not break out any of my religious material, then.
Professor, Producer, Editor
and former Apple Employee