[Eric Schoonover]

Appreciate the feedback, and I could definitely see how processing the multiple video files all the time may bog the machine down later on in the project.

Will try this workflow out on my next project.

[Eric Schoonover]

Bill,

Thanks to both you and Nick for the feedback. I think the best thing I can do at this time is to contact them tomorrow and advise them about the concerns mentioned above. I’ll offer the best I can do under the requirements, but just be very frank about the problems they (and those in the field) will encounter with the guidelines set forth. Unfortunately, we don’t have any direct control over what is required of us.

Thanks again,
Eric

[Eric Schoonover]

I appreciate the bluntness, because quite frankly, “What?” was my reaction as well.

The people viewing and requesting this are from a certification organization separate from my company, and basically they want videos of all the candidates’ field exams to verify everything was done properly. Unfortunately their requests seem to be built from common complaints they hear from the examiner’s on the field, with little working knowledge of video equipment and some of it’s limitations or challenges (especially when it will be used by someone out of the film/video field).

A common field exam lasts 2 hours, but if a candidate is going for multiple certifications, it can be an 8 hour process.

What we have done for submission in the past is just use an inexpensive handheld camcorder with some high capacity batteries, and have the person running the exam carry it around, with the ability to set it up on a tripod when they will be stationary for a while, or need to take notes. There were a lot of complaints, not just from the crew in our organization, but nationwide, that the handheld cameras were slowing the process down or interfering, so the certification group came up with new guidelines requiring hands free operation.

So when I saw the new guidelines, I was at a loss, and after looking through multiple options, all with strong downsides, I wanted to make sure I wasn’t completely overlooking something or having a dumb moment.