[Clint Wardlow]

[Richard Herd] “Oh yeah, dirty little secret: There are tracks in X. They are called secondary storylines.”

The question I always had about this is: how well does precision editing work in secondary storylines? Or if I place something in a secondary storyline (say a long audio clip) that sets the rythym of the video, how easy is it to cut the primary and other secondary to fit beat within.

[Clint Wardlow]

Or they could cannibalize it, fold some of its functionality into Logic, then EOL it.

This seems very possible give Apple’s history.

[Clint Wardlow]

[Chris Conlee] “Then there’s no reason to exclude one NLE from the list of NLEs being discussed here, is there?

Chris”

With the possible exception of Windows Movie Maker, which shouldn’t be discussed in polite company anywhere.

[Clint Wardlow]

Maybe you just made the dark overlords, with their mysterious ways, unhappy. Sacrifice a goat and perform an act of contrition. I’m sure you’ll be forgiven.

[Clint Wardlow]

[Jeremy Garchow] “Three years? People will still be using FCS3 in three years. The Mac OS is very flexible and can run on a number of machines by taking it out of any mac computer and booting it to another mac computer. It is amazing in that way. Three years from now, everything will look different again, but I bet a person will be able to dust off that old hard drive and boot to Snow Leopard or Lion from that drive.”

I certainly am counting on it. I am freezing my current mac in time and hoping it will still work 3 years from now even if I have upgraded to some other super computer (mac or otherwise.)

[Clint Wardlow]

[Jeremy Garchow] “I take it that you have never switched NLEs before?”

I don’t know why you insist on making this personal.

I am talking about the perception of Apple by many of its former pro users. If you don’t think there is a level of mistrust by many that use to use (and still use) Apple, I don’t think you are paying attention.

It has nothing to do with me.

I just offered an opinion that Apple has a long way to go PR-wise to win back many that were once its staunchest defenders. I mean, this whole forum is an example of that. We are still discussing whether FCPX is a “professional” tool almost a year after it was released.

And frankly, Apple has been closed mouthed about its plans. I heard about modular design based on Thunderbolt and macminis here. I heard about the imac pro here (whether they happen or not is another matter because apple isn’t saying). I mean we hope they release some sort of concrete plans for a MacPro replacement this summer, but we don’t really know for sure.

I think that is a PR model that may work for iphones and ipads…but not about stuff pros depend on to do day to day business, especially after Apple released an NLE that through the industry into a tizzy.

I mean this is just my opinion, but I think there are a lot of folks that will never trust Apple again (and I don’t mean me) unless the company does something to assuage their fears.

These people don’t want to be wowed, they just want to be sure they’ll be able to operate 3 years down the road with what they purchase from Apple.

[Clint Wardlow]

[Richard Herd] “As a literary interpretation method, all dramas have five basics:
1. Who is the main character?
2. What does the main character need?
3. Who or what tries to stop the main character?
4. Does the main character get the need?
5. What does the main character learn?”

What if it is just a collection of images and sounds not showing a single living thing…only stuctures. What if it doesn’t embrace any of these elements. I would suggest watching “Koyaanisqatsi” and tell me how it fits within that dramatic schema.

Or the example David posted?

[Clint Wardlow]

[Jeremy Garchow] “I guess for me personally, putting that much faith in a company that I have zero control over is a zero sum game.

We buy computers, they work for a while, not forever.

Apple is still selling the MacPro today, granted it’s older hardware. But if I were to buy an Apple computer today, it would be Applecared and guaranteed to work by Apple through that Applecare contract.

Even if I bought a new computer today, it would still be covered for the next three years.

FCP7 was EOLd almost a year ago, I still use it everyday.

These are tools, I see them as replaceable, even if it’s going to suck and cost more money.

I don’t know, there’s plenty of options, if one company makes you feel more secure than the other, go for it.”

I am not talking about me personally. I am talking about the perception of Apple by many in the business, that five years ago would have had no qualms about investing heavily in Apple products.
Now there is a feeling of uncertainty (as demonstrated rather promeniently through out the web) and lack of trust by many former Apple devotees in the pro editing field.

I really think Apple needs to demonstrate its commitment to the Pro market (not just say they are committed) if they are going to win back many they have lost. And frankly, from a PR stance, they are kind of doing a piss poor job of it IMHO. Folks don’t seem to be convinced.

I mean really, guys like you in the COW forum seem to do a better job of it than the entire high-paid staff of the Apple PR team.

[Clint Wardlow]

[David Lawrence] “[Richard Herd] “All stories proceed linearly (traditional and avante garde). Non-linear diegesis is a metaphor for complexity in the narrative that forces the audience to use their intelligence and memory, but the playback of the narrative must proceed linearly. That is, even if the tape is cut (like the beatles did famously) and stitched back together randomly, during playback it proceeds linearly.”

Not necessarily. Sounds like you haven’t done much work with interactive or multi-channel video production. There’s more possibility than you’re imagining. This is especially true in the world of art, museum installation, and experimental filmmaking. It’s a very rich field with many innovative examples:”

Couldn’t have said it better.

[David Lawrence] “Which is unfortunately undermined by the single-track UI which is locked to relative time.”

And that’s what worries me.

[Clint Wardlow]

[Jeremy Garchow] “If the end of FCS has thrown people for a loop, then there’s plenty of options out there.

In this regard, nothing has changed from Apple, other than they actually released a potential software “roadmap” and have so far delivered on it. People that have submitted bug reports to Apple have received actual responses asking for more information.

So maybe, Apple’s style isn’t what you want anymore. That’s totally fine. There’s a multitude of PC companies that will gladly help you purchase a computer, and do it with a smile, as well as NLE companies that have a public online presence.”

Well, this is where a lot of pros felt they were thrown under the bus by Apple. They invested time and lot of money built on the FCS studio paradigm only to have it EOLed with little warning. This does not bolster confidence, especially when you need to invest heavy dollars on hardware and software. So I can see where the trust issue is a factor.

That is where Apple needs to do most of its PR work. To get rid of this perception (right or wrong) that Apple will uncermoniously dump a product that folks have invested into and on which their business depends.

A prime example of this is the way they have handled publicity on where they are going with the Mac Pro. No one really knows what Apple is going to do. Or if they are going to support power computing anymore. We can only make guesses.

But a shop planning a future business model might feel a little leary investing lots of dollars if they feel they will remain in a constant state of uncertainty what Apple is going to do next.