Mike Cohen
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COW Coin
Forum Replies Created
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Thanks for the clarification Tim.
“Beta testing” is this vague notion I think a lot of us have. It would be interesting to read about the process and what types of things actually are corrected that we are unaware of.
Regarding the Astra (sorry, very way off topic), on the plus side it has heated seats and killer breaks. Turns out it is a German car with a Saturn logo.
Mike
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With new clients, or non-new clients with a history of payment problems, always get a down payment. That way if they skip town at least you have some money. 50-50 is the norm, although we have done 33.3-33.3-33.3, and occasionally a custom billing motif if the client wants to pay by the end of the year.
Ron should collect all the “grinder” threads and offer them in a leather-bound edition available for sale. It would be a bestseller!
Mike Cohen
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Benjamin Button does look good – most of Fincher’s movies are good ones.
I cannot understand Valkyrie opening on Christmas Day. Looks like a good movie and may improve Tom Cruise’s public image, but a movie about Nazis on Christmas seems a bit risky. Interestingly, the German film community were initially opposed to allow filming at historic locations, possibly due to Cruise and his religious views. But they eventually were permitted, and in fact had to re-shoot the execution scene due to a film lab error. They should have shot digital!
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Here’s a complaint!
It is puzzling that such issues get past beta testing. But then, I test drove a Saturn Astra yesterday and realized that if car companies can screw up a car so badly, then a few software bugs in a major software release are to be expected.
There is always room for improvement!
Mike
PS – I am a long time Saturn owner, but I think they are finished.
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Todd – Amen!
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Check out wedding rates in your area. Most 2-camera weddings will run $1500-$3000 – they are about an hour long finished project, and most of the cost is the editing (40 hours or so).
Who are this guy’s clients? Individuals, businesses, clubs, etc?
If you can survive on these projects (rent, food, a life away from the computer) in this economy it may be ok. But it sounds like you are being short-changed.
Does your employer have any template or other SOP for one of these videos, or do you just keep working until it is done? A $1000 video should have some criteria attached to it, ie. 15 hours editing, 5 music tracks, 2 hours graphic design work, etc. If there are no restraints then your hourly wage will indeed approach zero and you are going to lose your shirt and possibly your mind!Pretend this is your own business. Would you charge the same rates? Would you pay others the same wages for the work you are now doing?
Don’t get taken advantage of. If you are working for someone else out of someone’s apartment, and this is a long term deal, that could be a sign of trouble ahead. Not getting paid in a timely manner is another red flag, there are dozens of threads about that issue alone.
Could you do this sort of work yourself? Presumably if the guy is paying you $1000, he is probably pocketing a similar amount, but not doing as much work. That would be ok if you were paid in a customary manner.
Lots of questions you need to ask yourself.
Report back. We are happy to give advice.
Mike Cohen
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I noticed that HDV indexing seems to take longer on CS4. Not sure why.
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if it is all on one channel, then you will just have to use EQ to get rid of the offending frequencies (low or high) but you will of course affect the primary audio. In these cases, it is common to use a music bed to draw attention away from the background noise, but when the background noise changes, it becomes noticeable again.
Did you use a lav and shotgun on the camera? If so, make sure you isolate only the track you are using. Fill left and fill right are two audio effects that may help if you have two tracks, currently playing as a stereo pair.
Mike COhen
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that’s good advice. Occasionally hiring a freelancer to help you is a great way to learn. It’s like a one day refresher course in audio/video/lighting…whatever.
Let us know how you made out on the shoot.
Mike Cohen
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Mark, we do this a lot, or the feathered droopyness as depicted in the original diagram, combined with some gelled slashes of light works nicely. Make sure you have enough space between the talent and the background to soften the backdorp, whatever you are using.
Mike Cohen