Want to hear my sultry voice?

I'm one of the Vimeo community members to have helped at the Vimeo School, so now if you want to hear my sultry voice, you can watch my tutorials on how to transcode and compress your video for upload to Vimeo if you are using Adobe Premiere Pro CS5, CS4 and After Effects CS5 (version 10) by going here:

 

http://vimeo.com/help/compression

 

Maybe I'll make some more tutorials as well!

HD vs SD, 720 vs 1080

Got a new intern in today and realized that as I was trying to explain video display and aspect ratios that I didn't have a diagram... Definitely need to make more diagrams for the intern packet.

So I made this in Illustrator to show the size aspect of Standard Definition (SD) versus High Definition (HD) whether it be 1280x720 or 1920x1080.

At least, this is slide 1 for my slideshow tutorial to show people.

Why do I do what I do: Part 2

* In college I was a Broadcast Journalism major with minors in Latin and Creative Writing. Ultimately these areas of concentration are not the best for the field I'm in. But you have to take into account there are four basic considerations in this type of field: technical, creative, critique, and management/administration. The last one you don't have to take any classes in the field, per se, but having familiarity will make one a better manager/administrator.

Technical: Classes that deal with the mechanical and application of the field. This is where you learn how to create a finished product of what is already inside your head. Taking the mental picture and creating an actual picture for the world to experience. This would include the classes you take if you were studying a program in college for this. Majors and classes would be, but not limited to, the following: Photography 101, Mass Communications, Graphic Design, Film & TV, Cinematography, Production, Lighting, Non-linear Editing, Stagecraft

Creative: This is something that isn't learned, per se, but is influenced. This is where all the abstract comes in, where you obtain and experience the art and humanity of others. This is what helps CREATE, or rather, CULTIVATE, the mental picture in your mind. It can be integrated with the critique, but can also be it's own separate entity. Classes might be: Literature, Art History, Studies Abroad, Poetry, History, Philosophy, Religion, Psychology, Physics, Music Appreciation, Speech and Debate, Political Science, Anthropology, Biology, Classics, Mythology, Fairy Tales and Fables, Drama

Critique: I separate this from the above because there are classes where you take a more critical thinking approach rather than just "experiencing" the art and humanity of others. It is usually where you learn to see different sides approach the same argument. It can diminish the "free bird" part of us all if you stay too long in this area, but it helps in seeing what others judgments are. Classes would be: Criticism of British Lit, Art Appreciation, Music Appreciation (usually any of the upper level courses in your major that are not technical in nature)

* I'm not in it for the money, or the position, or for anyone else. I'm in it for me, because it's how God made me, and it's how I see Him as well.

* My advice: Read Fairy Tales. Pick up a camera and start taking pictures. Watch lots of movies. Read lots of books. Understand that, as DG Barnhouse says, elements of the Gospel can be seen in every aspect of life - so why not go on an adventure and see where elements of the Beauty of God pop up - even from people who don't believe in Him, or people who hate Him. God is the Ultimate Beauty, therefore every other beauty is a shadow He casts. And it's neat to see those all over the place.

I was told once that we can only tell what we know. So maybe what we share, creatively, flows from what we experience, both in the darkness and trials of fallen humanity, and in the joys and laughters of how God created us; from weeping widows to newborn babies to first kisses and battlefield deaths... It is all the great story of God, and we are little storytellers as well.

Why do I do what I do: Part 1

This is based on an interview I gave recently. 

Maybe some of the tips and thoughts can help you in this field as well!

* I don't really have a job title. I do two basic jobs: create video projects and take pictures. Along with that I also dabble in some graphic design. All three seem to be married and knowing more about one makes me better at the others.

* I got into this business because I like stories, and this is an avenue of storytelling; I get to do it with moving pictures and sound or music. 

* The most rewarding part is getting your final product after many hours of pouring all your creative energy into it. You get to step back and look at what God has allowed you to bring into fruition. It can be very humbling, especially when you receive feedback from people who say they were touched, or moved, at the emotional level.

* In my industry there's really no such thing as a traditional resume. You have a demo reel, a portfolio, that you show someone. In this day and age it means you have a website. Then you send out the web address to people, and if they like your work, then you're hired.

* Wages are a little tricky. Sometimes you charge by the total hours needed to complete the project. Other times it's like a bid. You tell  a client you will do a project for "X" amount of dollars, and they accept, give a counter demand, or go find someone else. Sometimes a lot of negotiating goes on. But you can also, instead of freelance work, get hired by an agency or company, then you'll make a salary or hourly wage, and the agency or company will deal with all the project negotiations.

CineStyle Picture style for CANON EOS SLRs

Technicolor has released a new superflat style for all you HDSLR users to help "flatten" images and preserve details for when you color correct later.

On the left I have CineStyle loaded in my one of my custom presets. On the right I have the flattest image that can be made with the neutral preset and contrast at zero.

I wasn't on a tripod when I did this, but it's pretty close.