Sam Mestman
Forum Replies Created
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Hey Bob,
I actually really agree with this… for post houses, etc… this change will require them to adapt their services. For in house editors that can’t make themselves indispensable this may also be a problem (read Seth Godin’s Linchpin for a further understanding). In many cases, these changes will lead to indentured servitude for many editors caught up in the wrong places with sweatshop rates and poor treatment. Not that this doesn’t already exist anyway, but it may become worse.
HOWEVER, there is a huge flip side that very few talk about. Because of the affordability of gear, there is a HUGE opportunity for those with an entrepreneurial disposition. Because the walls have broken down for gear, distribution, and the ability to do things in-house, you’re going to see many take their careers in their own hands, generate their own content, and make their livings off their own self generated content. For me, this is the dream… to see people fully in control and accountable to their audiences, and seeing the profits from their labor directly. So, while on the one hand, you’ll see editing become commoditized, for those brave enough to strike out on their own, walk the walk, and make the movies and content they always wanted to create, they finally have the toolset to compete on the highest level and be their own boss. I never got into this business to have a 9-5 and be a drone for someone else’s whims and learn to be a yes man. There’s easier ways to make money. I got into this to make cool things and be proud of the work I do. I now have the ability to control what I do and don’t do for the first time in my life. This feels like progress.
No doubt, it’s a double edged sword. There’s going to be downsides to this. A lot of people won’t like it. But for many, it’s an opportunity for creative freedom and independence, and I think that needs to be kept in mind when weighing the merits of what’s happening in the industry.
Sam Mestman
Workflow Architect – FCPWORKS
http://www.fcpworks.com
http://www.wemakemovies.org -
It’s not really odd. It might be inconvenient… but not odd. I realize you have a bit of a vendetta with all this, which is fine… but I’ve never lied with any of this stuff and feel comfortable with all the statements I’ve made previously… when the time comes, people will find out everything they need to know.
I’m sorry if it all feels weird to you… that’s just the way it goes. And BTW, Larry’s a good guy. We did talk, and not just to me… he wasn’t hallucinating.
Sam Mestman
Workflow Architect – FCPWORKS
http://www.fcpworks.com
http://www.wemakemovies.org -
It’s not really my place to say anything without a client’s official approval, whether it be a studio, indie filmmaker, or network show. I never gave a timeline to release updates for anything that I have going on.
This can be read either as a conspiracy… or as simply respecting the people i work with’s preferences.
I realize people want all the details of stuff people are doing in the real world… and i’m happy to share so long as I don’t get anyone angry with me in the process.
Watch my metadata video on LACPUG for some real world things people are using for project prep.
Sam Mestman
Workflow Architect – FCPWORKS
http://www.fcpworks.com
http://www.wemakemovies.org -
Thanks so much for the support, guys. We’re definitely hoping to post something from the event. Details are still being worked out. The Apple presentation is probably unlikely to go up (sorry), but hopefully the other parts of the main presentation will be… however, there’s going to be quite a few other things that definitely won’t make it out there. We’ve got some cool stuff planned for those in attendance… especially for those of you with FCP7 nostalgia.
Sam Mestman
Workflow Architect – FCPWORKS
http://www.fcpworks.com
http://www.wemakemovies.org -
[alban egger] “The good news is that we are actually discussing if FCPX is used or not. 2 years ago we early adopters got thrown under the bus for even considering “iMovie Pro” as a professional tool. And now we might see this $ 300 NLE getting its foot into the door of major studios with all that comes as a result of that development.”
Couldn’t agree more with the quote above. I’m just glad to see people starting to take it seriously and look at it with open eyes. I’m looking forward even more to focusing on specific features, workflow use cases, and the actual merits of the program which can be discussed collectively and gradually improved by Apple. Everything else is kind of irrelevant.
Anyway, here’s all I have left to say about the studio movie in terms of clarification. I’ve never seen the budget (not my department) so can’t officially sign off on a number, but based on the catering, cast, crew, and shooting schedule… it’s no indie, and is on the highest level of production.
In terms of the 6 months of research… yes, it was done, although I came on later into the process, and was only there for about 3 months of it. I certainly, as stated above, was in no position to tell the studio, editors, or directors what they were going to cut with. They chose it because they wanted to use it, and then did the necessary to research to fit it into the pipeline, and are now in production using it as their primary editing tool. I was just lucky enough to be invited on board and become a part of it.
Sam Mestman
Chief Workflow Architect – Lumaforge
http://www.lumaforge.com
http://www.wemakemovies.org -
Wow, guys… for a second I thought this thread was about Roswell or the JFK assassination.
Anyway, just to clarify a couple things. Yes, there are two movies. Yes, Larry Jordan talked to both myself and someone from the post side of the other movie I’ve been working on (a studio feature… currently shooting in the US and it is not the one in Bulgaria). Yes, that other movie is cutting with FCPX. I’ll be writing another article about it for fcp.co as soon as I have a minute. No, I won’t be naming any names until someone from the production says I can.
Sorry about all the controversy. Lots of other cool stuff coming down the pike as well. If any of you are planning on coming out to the Lumaforge 4k Unplugged meetup tomorrow, I’ll be talking a little more in depth there about all of this… and it’s looking like we’ll have a bit of a special surprise for that one. We’ve been working on something pretty cool in the lab today that I’m hoping we’ll be able to mention (no, it won’t have anything to do with a new version of FCPX).
Sam Mestman
Chief Workflow Architect – Lumaforge
http://www.lumaforge.com
http://www.wemakemovies.org