The light is near!

As I post this we are close to finishing the Above the Noise DVD. It is one of those projects that as I get closer in a way I will be sad to see it over. I have learned a lot about business and a lot about myself as a editor. I will miss the interaction of Casey and Beth, but I know our paths will cross very soon again and this time the product will be even better because we will have a better vision of the project from the start. Look for a windows media file or two to be linked on the side bar. Up next BendFilm.

The random post of the day...

So for all of us production people out there it looks like there is hope in sight! Okay maybe we shouldn't live this way, but for those long editing session day after day help is on the way.

The random thought of the day!

Change in projects

You know that you really are pushing the envelope when you pull several all nighters and when all is said and done you just aren't happy enough. That is the way that the Above the Noise DVD is going. We are pushing hard to get this done and delivered by tomorrow, but we all sat down and said you know it isn't ready yet. This is a powerful DVD that will have a broad reach and yet we seem to be pushing it. The message will get lost unless we do it correct and that is just what we are going to do. We sat down and talked to the client and they agree that it needs to be done right and not let the message get lost. New deadline is August 1st and we will have an amazing DVD then.

other projects going on right now include a new edit for Working Wonders and 2005 campaign video for United Way of Deschutes County.

Reinventing the ????

So it is interesting to think that I am awake at 2:50am. Maybe it is the hot summer night or the restlessness of the next step. So what do I do I turn on the computer and contemplate just that.

Steps within every business happen. You open your doors. You make your first sale. You may even have a great group of repeat customers, but how did you get here? It struck me as I sit here on this warm summer night that first; this really is unlike any post I have made recently and second; we all reinvent ourselves or at least we should. From time to time we should take a breath, look around and take a hard look at where we are in life. Now sometimes that is a scary thing to do I realize, but I guess I was fortunate that events happened that made me look at my life a year ago. As I begin year 2 in business and almost a full year in the blogasphere it is time to take those steps again.

The reason I started this business was because I really only wanted to work for myself. I find this incredibly rewarding, but the one thing I do miss is the amount of interaction with the other employees. People and your relationships with them are really some of the rewards in life. I am fortunate that I have worked for some great clients so far and it really was the people. So I guess I have traded one form of relationship for another and some would say you are able to really take the time with clients that you may not be able to do with co-workers. Personal gain only gets you so far in life it is how you form those bonds with your clients or I guess the way that I would treat them would be friends. I think I have made a pretty good trade in that regard, but what about the other reasons which were, Family, Time, and personal satisfaction.

I think that those are the things I am struggling with the most. I really am blessed to have a great girlfriend. She has opened my eyes to many things and we just recently had the conversation about working conditions. For all of you out there that operate home based businesses you can appreciate what I am about to say in that it is tough to run a business out of your home and have kids that are home during the summer. Plus side you can go out on a nice summer day and do something, but it also can make them a tad stir crazy. So I think it may be time to get an office. Now Bend is not exactly the best place for real estate, but it may just be workable. This will mean I may have to actually have office hours again which is not exactly my favorite, but it will give a feeling of okay here is where I work and here (home) is were I relax. Increased overhead, but I think it may be time.

I really am feeling a strong pull to grow the business. Not necessarily to make it bigger, but better. More focused on what I love to do and that is live events. I realized that I have not produced an event for a couple of months and would love to do another. I just love the adrenaline rush you get when everything is working and you are enjoying the event. I may need some reinvention here. I think I need to go back to my roots and develop some marketing materials that can help sell those services better. Show people why they need to hire us.

You know the reason you should be doing anything though is because you love it and I most certainly do!

Yes More Functionality

So as you will see by the post below I am working on adding even more functionality and include even better photo links. We are working fast and furious on the DVD for Above the Noise and I hope to go into authoring by the end of next week.

Thought for the day: How will HD filter down into use by everyone in the home?

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Mac VS PC

Okay why the heck would I take a swipe at this one... I am definitely treading in uncalm waters! Let me get this out of the way. I edit with Premiere Pro on a PC and have in one way or another edited on a PC for the last 7 years. So with that disclaimer out of the way let me talk a bit of the reasons that I would go to a Mac for doing what I do.

I am in the business of creating media. I want a tool that will do the job in a cost effective manner and one that has many features built into one piece of software. I think for everything that has been done Microsoft has done an outstanding job when it comes to tools for the office, but that is what they have focused on. Apple has focused on developing tools for media professionals.

I recently did a job for a client that required me to edit some video pieces into a short movie and then play it back during the final banquet. Now I have been editing on a PC, but I had access to a G4 laptop and decided to give it a whirl. The process went so much smoother and I was even able to burn a simple DVD in less time than with my PC. I know the Mac may be slower, but the workflow is in my opinion much better and even quicker on a mac. I encourage Apple to take this opportunity over the next 2 years to really develop fast efficient computers with Intel.

Okay now back to work on my PC... Oh but I crave a new G5 with Final Cut Pro.

Podcasts?

So the question of the day for me has to be the natural extension of podcasting into video. Apple deserves some credit here. I know that they are the little company that people either love, hate, or love to hate; but they are changing the landscape of how media is delivered. With the new update of iTunes they have included a feature for podcasting. This alone leads to greater equalization in media by allowing anyone with a way to record audio to publish their thoughts on the matter. What this means from a marketing standpoint is podcasting can be an extremely useful tools with tips of the day or even speeches from CEOs or even more. I know that the more traditional marketing people would tell you that the potetial for your message to be copied and diluted is also there, but I think this is just another way that we can reach out to our customers. I think I really went off into a tangent though.

I think that the engineers are working hard on how can they include video podcasting. Imagine the ability to not only deliver audio, but deliver your commercials or other content directly to your customer. Now the trick here is that customers know when they are being sold something so you have to give them something that is real about your product or better ways to use them. This seems to be a natural extension of even events with the ability to deliver your conferences at first in audio, but also long term with video as well.

This is going to be fun!

A post a day will keep what away?

Greetings to all of you who may read my Blog. Apologies for not posting sooner! Just wanted to give you folks some quick updates on projects and talk a little about a great easy read for business owners.

The DVD is progressing and we will have a rough version by the end of next week to be looked at. Just shot an Iron Chef like competition at our local Bite Of Bend. We pumped it to a smaller screen for people to watch the food being prepared up close.

So I also wanted to talk a little about a book I just finished which is "Raving Fans". For anyone who has ever thought about making a difference with their customer service programs I encourage you to give a quick read to this one. This book has been out several years, but even today the lessons it teaches is simple and easily implemented!

PIA Version 2

So I am currently in a hotel in Coeur d'Alene Idaho after finishing a banquet for PIA and ready to go home. I wish I had some more time to look around here, but oh well it is what it is.

I am getting a kick out of doing what I love for great clients! In the last week I have done events for the Red Cross and PIA. It is a lot of fun to just combine what you love with work... Or is it really work?

The gorillas with the airline obviously however appeared to have droped my brand new case for some of my gear. When I got here I opened it and have noticed the rack rails on the inside are a bit bent. Need to figure a better way of shipping gear for projects like this.

So in the next week I have to get another rough cut done on Above The Noise and also go ballooning! Yep Balloons over Bend is this weekend and I am looking forward to crewing for Skydancer Balloon Company. For those of you who haven't tried it you must go ballooning. It is a very gentle feeling and very enjoyable!

A great performance

So the Sunday came and went and what a whirlwind day it was. It really is amazing at what we put in that room. Visually I got some great shots by Fluid Images and the rest of the talented crew.

I was really struck on Sunday after the show by all of it. I guess I become numb to the sense of live production. It takes a lot to pull off a good show and it has to be done by good people as well. When a good show comes together you have a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. I think these pictures show how well it looked.

I also am really blessed to be around some incredible people. Not only are they very supportive, but they allow me to continue to push the envelope. Conor keeps raising the bar higher and higher and in turn challenges me to think of different things in unique ways.


Back stage picture

Picture of concert in progress

Not only though is it Conor, but on this one it was an entire group of talented individuals from Above The Noise LLC. Every time I have done a production for them I learn a couple of more things about myself in the process. A good client is one that challenges and rewards through the process of the creation, and they are just that kind of client.

Really though with this kind of production you have an even deeper thanks for those around you that support you. In this case I am really blessed to have a wonderful girlfriend who supports me and the wierd hours of production!

Well on to the next!

T Minus 2 Days

The stage has been placed a day early and the audio has also been placed. Things are taking shape very nicely with completion of the front video piece nearly complete as well. Another really busy day ahead tomorrow, but it is all worth it.



With four subs a side it shakes the entire facility. Pretty amazing sound!

Our front of house engineer, Josh, hard at work dialing in the sound.

T Minus 3 Days

Picture of group working on the platforms for the cameras and Front of house consoles.


This is a picture from rehersal on Sunday night.

Future Filmmakers

So here is a picture from an event a couple of weeks ago. I ran an entire awards show for young filmmakers as well as bringing in a PA for the room. There is a lot of talent that those kids have. The winner of the "Best Of Show" was a spoof on the Lord of the Rings and was very humorous.

T minus 10 days

Here is obviously not a very good picture, but one of a logistics meeting we had the other day. Stage design is in process and final preparations are being made. I will attempt to post daily for the next week to give you the readers a better picture of what we are doing.

T Minus 18 Days

So with it fast approaching we are finalizing the details on the concert DVD for Westside Church. The event is Above the Noise and we will be doing 6 cameras including a crane. As we get closer look for a daily update with pictures of the event each day.

I think I need to write a few press releases about what we have been doing as it has been a lot of great events and a whole lot of fun.

Celebration Of Kids 2005

This is a couple of images from the event last weekend.

This is what it looked like to the audience with the occasional use of IMAG (image magnification) on the screen to the right.


This is a dancer from Warm Springs that helped entertain before the event.

Drake Awards 2005 Images

Here are a couple of images from the awards last month.

This is a picture of the stage before the night began.


Our emcee in action during the event. We drove the 2 screens completely automated. With over 100 images alone on the right screen it took quite a bit of programming by this guy below.


For those of you who read this blog you have seen pictures of him, but this event came off so well largely because of the tremendous work done by Conor of LJ3 Entertainment.


Okay me hard at work during the event.

One more complete

One more event completed! We produced an event for Central Oregon Boys & Girls Clubs and they seemed to be happy. We had some challenges with a drama group, but as a whole it was a great event and I think their was great excitement when it was completed.

This next week:

Produce as many DVDs for Westside as possible.

A month without a post....

Okay I know it really has been a long time. I had a great event this last Saturday and many great things going on. I will post some stuff next week, but I just wanted to let the 3 readers of my blog know that I am alive and kicking.

Productions done in the last 30 days:
1) 30 Second spot for auto repair company
2) Shot some footage for BendFilm
3) Shot 4 DVDs and posted one for local church
4) Major awards banquet (Pictures to come)
5) Pre-production for event next Saturday
6) Began work for production of concert DVD

More details to come early next week on a few of these. On an interesting google note I have had 3 people ask for help in regards to a type one error in Adobe Encore all from this blog. I guess another testament to blogging.