Timothy J. allen
Forum Replies Created
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Ryan, The software works well with either choice. You can’t really go wrong as long as you know how to use either of them.
If it was a simple picture in picture, I wouldn’t bother going into After Effects – just because I slow down a little when I go in and out of After Effects. Yes, it’s just a few more button pushes, but seconds add up.
What you are talking about is “motion tracking” or using a “corner pin” effect with the picture in picture. Depending on how realistic you want it (and how much time you have), you might want to do other things to make it realistic, such as add a small light glare that moves across the screen or (if it’s an old “non-flatscreen” monitor you are putting the picture in) adding a slight bulge to the track to make it match the surface curve of the original physical screen.
For most of that type of stuff, I’d still use Avid FX, but a good AE artist can really make it believable. Six one way, half dozen another – just use whatever you are more comfortable with – or if you have time and you want to use this opportunity to learn and stretch use the one you aren’t comfortable with. 😉
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Nick,
Of course we are suckers.I’m betting I’m not the only one on this forum that has walked out of a theater saying something to the effect of “I don’t think I liked that one, overall. The plot and dialog were both really thin and the acting wasn’t convincing at all… on the other hand, the visual effects were well done… and I really liked the sound design.”
My wife tells me that most people would stop at “I don’t think I liked that one” and let that be it.
Still, I’d rather watch a mediocre movie than no movie at all. At least I learn something about what not to do. I doubt that’s the case with most people who don’t enjoy production.
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Things are never as good or as bad as first reported.
On the plus side, the use of video as a communications tool continues a stratospheric rise. According to the “comScore 2009 U.S. Digital Year in Review” online video viewing is up 95% from just one year ago.
Opportunities decrease… and they increase. People are consuming more professional (and longer) content online than ever before. My point is, there is a place for content creators but you have to understand that that place continues to shift.
That in itself is not good or bad, it’s just different. It becomes good or bad depending on which basket you put your eggs in.
That particular report is more about digital marketing than just video, but it offers some interesting insights.
For those interested:
https://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Presentations_Whitepapers/2010/The_2009_U.S._Digital_Year_in_Review -
Mary,
Even though you probably shouldn’t risk being at the helm of this project, I’d still encourage you to try to get a piece of it as a subcontractor. As Mike mentioned and Ron confirmed, there will be a lot of players to put this puzzle together.If video production is your strong point, I’d suggest you find out who the strong bidders are on this project and offer them a proposal to develop and provide the actual video clips to the main contractor.
This could lead to future opportunities for you – in a market that you are already interested in pursuing – while reducing the risks that the project management and interface development portions of the job would bring.
-Tim
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Angelia,
My advice is pretty simple. You try to build in predictability on your end as much as possible. For instance, arrange for childcare on certain days each week and book shoots on those days as much as possible… and pre-enlist help that you can depend upon when those emergencies come up.I’ve been fortunate that in more than 15 years in the business, I’ve never to have had to leave a shoot for an off-set emergency. (Knock on wood!) On the other hand, I re-scheduled one shoot three different times this month, due to the changing schedule of a CEO. I don’t control their schedule, so I don’t sweat it. For my own team, I try to keep things I *can* control predictable, and stay flexible for those things I can’t control.
One way to build in predictability is to work with the same production team – or at least the same videographers – on a consistent basis. If I’m working with a new team, I make sure to have a pre-production meeting to make sure everyone is on the same page regarding the goals of the shoot and my planned approach to get there. That way, if I did have to leave suddenly, I can feel reasonably confident that I could delegate leadership and we would still end up with something useful on tape – even if its not the same as what I would get if I was on set the whole time.
The key is building a trustworthy team in both areas of your life, personal and professional. The way to do that is to demonstrating that you are trustworthy. (For instance, ALWAYS show up on time and always pay your crew on time or early.) It takes time to build that team that you know you can depend on, but it’s well worth it.
Best of luck to you!
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“A tightly structured documentary that adhere’s strictly to ‘set-up’ and ‘pay off’ kinds of rules” can still be “a big ‘ol mess”. 😉
The “art” often comes in where you break the rules. The challenge of the artist is finding the line where the audience still enjoys of at least appreciates the surprise that’s inherent in those broken rules.
You can do it to a point that makes the art difficult for the audience to appreciate. But stretching that line out is what defines an artist.
My advice? Go too far. You’ll never learn where that limit really is unless you push against it once in a while.
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We looked at SchedulAll many times over the past few years, but we never could justify it’s cost to management.
In the end, we ended up using shared calendars in Outlook.
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I’ve been a member of several organizations, including some you mentioned, but it seemed most of what I got in return was junk email.
They may have helped when I put them on my resume for corporate video jobs, but I like to think that my reel matter much more.
If you are going to join an org, make sure it has goals that are in-line with yours. NAB, NATPE and DVPA all have benefits, but like most relationships and I’m guessing just like your local user groups, you get out of it what you put in to it.
To get the most out of creativecow.net, try some searches, check out the podcasts and videos, ask more questions, offer some advice… and above all have fun exploring, learning and cultivating relationships. We really look forward to seeing you more, John.
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Of course, these guys are correct – it all depends on where you are trying to lead the viewer. All other things being equal, I’d probably go with the content, then the observational commentary. (“What” followed by “What does that mean”?)
But sounds and visuals in the scenes around those clips could easily change my mind. It’s not always specific words that make a scene flow, it’s considering all things audio and visual that might push the viewer one way or another emotionally.