[Mark Raudonis]

If you want to move forward with your version of this project, it’s time to “lawyer up”.

Mark

ps… if she’s so “psychic”, she should have known you were coming!

[Mark Raudonis]

OOPS! Well it all looks the same to me anyway!

Mark

[Mark Raudonis]

Sabrina,

You’re not the only one faced with this problem. I’ve had many conversations with people at Sony,
Apple and elsewhere to address this issue. I optimistically hope that by April (NAB) there will be
an improvement to this situation. We’ll see.

In the mean time, go ahead and contact anyone you can at Sony and Apple and let them know that
this is a SIGNIFIGANT ISSUE and you’d like to see it addressed.

I’m a HUGE fan of the XDCAM format. We shoot thousands of hours of it every year. But, this flaw in how it handles the “reconform” or “uprez” really is a weak point that needs addressing.

Mark

[Mark Raudonis]

Here is where all your questions will be answered:

https://producers.discovery.com/

Mark

[Mark Raudonis]

[Andy Mees] “[Chris Borjis] “well not quite. you CAN have time code breaks on XDCAM-HD disc media”
“

Time of day timecode will create timecode breaks on every clip. I think that’s what he means. Within a clip? No. Between clips. Absolutely.

Mark

[Mark Raudonis]

[Mark Spano] “It’s these scenarios where I’ll get the call from the ‘right’ person *after* the delivery/deadline has been made, only to find out what was needed and what had been misinterpreted or not relayed through the client to the producer etc. etc… Even then, the ‘right’ person often doesn’t understand enough about what they’re doing to ask for the right thing.”

You just confirmed my point! Save yourself the grief by INSISTING that you speak with the person who
you’re delivering to. Trust me. You’re actually SAVING time by doing this.

A five minute phone call can save hours of “redo” time. In my book, that’s time well spent.

Mark

[Mark Raudonis]

This isn’t a technical issue… it’s a human “knowledge” issue.

Many people (read that “clients”) are CLUELESS when it comes to communicating technical specs. They may have heard a few buzzwords like “uncompressed” or “DNxHD”, but they really don’t know what they mean. Worse, they just don’t understand the implications of what they’re asking for.

As professionals, we take on the responsibility of protecting them from their own lack of knowledge.
The easiest way to do that is to ask to speak directly with the “end user”…i.e. the other editor/post house/grfx house/ network who has to use what you’re giving them. Inevitably, this conversation will
change what the client initially blurted out, and result in smiles all around.

My only other bit of advice is to put any intended delivery specs IN WRITING! There’s just too many
variables involved not to be absolutely, 100% clear.

Mark

[Mark Raudonis]

So… will you ever do business with him again?

Mark

[Mark Raudonis]

[Bob Zelin] “Mark’s company likes sheep. Mark’s company doesn’t want to pay for rock stars.”

Bob,

First of all, it’s not “my” company. Secondly, you’ve got to work much harder to piss me off.
Thirdly, you’ve got your facts wrong. We have plenty of “rock stars” on our editorial team, and they are compensated accordingly. I have no interest in herding sheep. I’d much rather spend the day with “The Rolling Stones” than “Spinal Tap”.

Mark

[Mark Raudonis]

[Steve Kownacki] “this has been one of the most brilliant discussions ever. “

I guess that means it qualifies for the “Thread of fame!” 🙂

Mark