[Mark Raudonis]

Neil,

I can’t control your interpretation of what I said, but for the benefit of others reading this, I’ll just say that
my interpretation of “the future” doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m happy about what I see. I DO BELIEVE I’m correct when I say China will be a force to deal with IN EVERYBODY’S future.

That’s a fact.

Responding to your other comments will just turn this forum into one of those talk shows on Fox news, so I’ll resist the temptation.

mark

[Mark Raudonis]

Unless you can make your money back in a few months, do NOT buy a tape deck. The
trend is towards FILE BASED delivery, not tape. Acquisition formats left tape behind a couple of years ago on both a consumer and professional level. Mastering is not far behind.

I repeat: unless you have a specific delivery requirement that demands tape, I would NOT be looking to buy a tape deck at this time. And… even if you have a specific delivery requirement, make sure that there’s enough need to make the “rent vs buy” equation work for you.

Video tape is dying. The only thing keeping it alive is it’s archive value.

Mark

[Mark Raudonis]

[Tenille Susan] “despite my (assistant editor title) I expect I will be doing 50% of the actual editing.”

Did we not say “spell out IN WRITING” what you’re going to be doing? If they want you to edit, then your deal memo should say, “EDITOR”, not “assistant with a high likelihood of editing”!

Come on! Take that “kick me” sticker off your back, and start acting like a business person. If you’re not happy with how the working relationship on this project turns out, then you only have yourself to blame. Be up front. Be clear. Be fair. But get it in writing BEFORE you start. Your bargaining position will never be stronger.

You keep asking how much to charge, but then you’re throwing in these “uncertainties”. We can’t help you with that. You need to understand what’s being asked of you BEFORE you can price your services accordingly. For example, there’s a significant difference between an assistant editor’s rate and an editor’s rate. Sounds like they’re trying to get you to work as an editor but at an assistant’s rate.

Mark

[Mark Raudonis]

Sounds like there’s a lot of uncertainty here.

You asked for our thoughts? Here’s my thoughts:

You need to have someone write down ON PAPER, exactly what your role will be.
Asking questions here ain’t gonna help you. Speak to the people who are PAYING you,
and get a deal memo outling your role, start date, end date, rates, terms, etc.

This is standard procedure for most professional hiring. NOT doing it is just plain stupid!

Mark

[Mark Raudonis]

Great idea to “show” us what’s happening.

My guess: go to your render manager and delete ALL renders. Everything you have. Nuke’em. Then, select all, and rerender. This looks like a render issue to me. Where are you setting your renders to save? Locally? An external media drive?

Good luck.

mark

[Mark Raudonis]

Digital delivery? Funny you should ask.

Short form has been into digitial delivery for awhile now, but only this year have we heard from multiple networks that they want their long form programming delivered digitally as well. You’ve gotta use WAN acceleration or have extremely fat pipes.

Here’s a couple of vendors I’m familiar with in this space:

https://www.apseratech.com

https://www.signiant.com/-1/Solutions/Broadcast/

File formats: Quick time prores seems to keep ’em happy.

mark

[Mark Raudonis]

[Shawn Miller] “I’ve seen a number of print and web design jobs fly south and west because of “cheap” labor… are editors, motion graphics and VFX artists so far behind?”

VFX: Done and done. Already that work is global, chasing the cheapest labor pool available. That’s a whole ‘nother thread about why most of those companies have unsustainable business models.

mark

[Mark Raudonis]

[Chris Dolan] “ways of conducting business to which we are accustomed.”

That’s the POINT! They aren’t conducting business in the ways to which we are accustomed. Old rules don’t apply, and the west hasn’t figured out yet how to deal with it… other than to take advantage of the cheap labor. What’s lurking in the future is the fact that we’ve transferred lots of our technology and lost access to many raw materials. When nobody in the west has a decent paying job anymore, all those cheap chinese manufactured goods are going to look pretty expensive.

In many ways China is playing the classic “colonize” and plunder game better than the Europeans did last century. Why do I say better? The Chinese aren’t bothering with the messy aspects of actually “governing” those poor states. They just want the natural resources or minerals and they’re getting them. All of the infrastructure they’re building in those countries is primarily designed to aid in the EXTRACTION of resources. The roads or railways usually go right to the ports, and therefore, right back to China.

Back to my original post. The “Center of the Universe” isn’t necessarily the best place to live. It IS a place that can’t be ignored.

Mark

[Mark Raudonis]

[Herb Sevush] “I’ve never been to Asia”

When you’ve seen with your own eyes, then I will concede that your opinion is anything more than just that… an opinion.

Mark

[Mark Raudonis]

True. But, still doesn’t change my initial statement.

Mark