Open letter to all FCP X users

Never say never is what I would like to add. I am pretty much a straight editor but have ended up holding a camera or microphone half a dozen times in 10 years. It does not hurt my editing skills either that I had those opportunities. And you know what if some offered me a plane ticket to Japan tomorrow to film from the hip as a B camera (e.g. black magic pocket camera) for a couple of weeks I would go for it. Stranger things have been know to happen.

Sorry for having posted, so easy to beat up on a weaker person, you have no idea how hard it was to post here, to expose myself to abuse, I really hope the best for all of you, thanks for not caring!!

I might not have done all the right things in the right order, had the best career, I am sorry about that, all I am asking for is compassion, an ounce of sympathy, and a large dose of "So what happened in the past, I know I can do something to help", that is you, not me!!

I do not have a video camera, those are expensive, I would love so much to learn as much as I can about editing, sitting here I can watch video, this is a very dead town in terms of video, believe me I have tried, I keep trying, the issue of showreel/demo-reel, is a problem, local national law prevents me from access to the work I did from 1997 to 2009 as a tv news video editor.

We all start at point zero, all I am asking for is a chance to learn, to be part of something, I love video editing, and I do not know what to do to rebuild my career.

If it helps, you can request the moderator to have me removed, I accept that, all I am asking for is a bit of caring, it is so easy to make excuses, to say this or that, how hard it is, when I was in the USA in 2013, I saw just how poor some of the editing was, I would not have produced that low quality, I have very high standards, and I simply cannot produce poor quality work.

If I made an error, then tell me the error, and I will work and work to learn more, that was what I did in my previous career as a tv news editor, I would come in early, set up, practice any new techniques, think of new things, I hate being idle.

Surely there is a space somewhere, where I can spend a short period, being involved, adsorbing new ideas, discussing techniques, if not, then I will leave and not try and bother anyone.

Justine

Justine,
I'm coming to this thread a bit late, but I've read through the entire roll of entries.

Try to think about how amazing it is that people from all over the globe have read your initial question, and have reached out to help. It's really inspirational when you think about it that way.

I think that to move forward you need to begin to look at your barriers more as obstacles. For example, a barrier is that many of us are unfamiliar with the legal restrictions you face. It's unusual (to many of us) that you can't use previous edited material that you made.

on the flip side, however, you seem to be having trouble with the idea that you can create new material. It may not be easy, but you can find creative ways around your barriers.

I would suggest that you set up an account with Kickstarter, or similar site. Come up with a great idea for a project that will resonate with other people, and try to inspire them to contribute to your project. You don't have a camera now, but through crowdsourcing, perhaps you can buy a good inexpensive camera.

Please try to focus your energy on making small steps toward your goals. Every tiny little triumph will eventually build into a great deal of momentum. Don't waste anymore time on anything that is not going to help you advance towards your goals.

Keep this dialogue going in a positive direction by ignoring any comment that is not constructive.

Build your thoughts by explaining what barriers you see to other people's suggestions. Someone may read that and offer another thought.

Hang in there. Keep it positive. Don't give up on your goals.

If I think of another way around some of your obstacles, I'll let you know.

Cheers,
Scott M

Thank you Scott,

I am almost 40 years old, and been in the industry since I was 18 years old, in that time I have learned many things about myself, about my limits and my capabilities. Number 1 on my list of things I simply am not able to do, that is camerawork, I am in no way shape or form a cameraman!!

I love video editing, working in TV news was the best time of my life, being alone, left to create, not everyone is a team-player, I have found through my career that team players tend to migrate to outside broadcasting, where as loners, misfits, tend to migrate to the dark lonely space that is the edit suite.

I have not had exposure to much, given were I live and worked, so applying for jobs is impossible, as I simpky do not have what is demanded of me, a catch 22 situation, that does have a solution, an engineered solution.

To put it another way, there is a breakdown in the "employment" system, I am not asking for a job, let me make that clear and to the point, I am not asking for employment!

What I am asking for is a solution to getting back into the door, as a female it is impossible once you are out, ask wives, and girlfriends, sisters, they will confirm, time lost out of the business, does not matter the nature of the business, time away, cannot be made up, technology moves on, employers want the cream of the crop, the best of the best, and the rest well I do not know, it sucks!!

I need to upskill, to find a job here, or in the UK, I need modern skills, on modern equipment, with a current work experience, mine stopped in 2009, long long time ago, and I cannot justify the period 2009-2014.

I know that with a few strings pulled here and there, someone somewhere has capacity to really make a huge difference, it cannot be this hard. I know that with a tiny bit of effort, I can get back on the road and make something again.

Think about how great it would be to see me in action, I am not in the USA, I came and I tried, my host tried, and we were refused, a pity as I really have much to offer, 12 years as a TV news editor, that has to be worth something, I am not green, I am only short of time on FCP X.. I have never seen an Avid, I grew up on Betacam and DVCPRO.

Please ask around, see if there is some way this can happen, really I am worth the effort!! Please!!!

If you have something against me, be honest and say it, hitting negative karma, really!! For professionals, this is childish!

I remember a broke friend of mine with a high end compositing program on a very basic mac about 10+ years ago. Basically he had to hack things to get the program installed as his computer was too slow. Then he needed material which he did not have. But he had a scanner hooked up to his computer that he never used. The scanner was really dusty so he decided to scan the dust!!! And he then built a whole universe with these dust particles and went on to animate the one scan of dust particles into a 3 minute video. Later he moved on and started buying VHS tapes of peoples home movies at flee markets. He had this weird video of a car driving through a military graveyard. But some it kind of worked. The grave stones were the next step up from dust particles!!! Then he became a teacher…

However as long as I live I will never forget that dust moment. When I realised what that guy was doing with almost nothing he won my respect for ever. Markus was his name. Great guy. He helped himself and if I were in a position to help someone which I am not I would help him first. Why, because he demonstrated that he could help himself. Just being honest not bitchy

Today there are all kind of amazing resources. You do not even need to scan dust! Some one has already scanned images and removed the dust for you…

archive.org/

ps do not take the karma thing too seriously

"Surely there is a space somewhere, where I can spend a short period, being involved, adsorbing new ideas, discussing techniques, if not, then I will leave and not try and bother anyone."

This IS that space. This is where FCPX editors (many of whom are also shooters, or motion graphics designers, or colorists), can share editing tips and techniques, talk the trade, exchange ideas. Everyone here had to start at zero, all at different points in time and with different technologies. Some of us are in broadcast, some work for production houses, some are freelancers. Some started out with access to financial resources that others did not, just as some had industry connections that others did not. We are a mix of races and genders, and every single one of us has a different physical and psychological make up than the next person. Yet we all managed to find a way. One now has access to more helpful resources and training than ever before, thanks to the internet in general and sites like this (and Ripple Training, for example), specifically. If we did not care to help others, or at the very least if we did not think others cared to help us, we wouldn't be here.

The entire field of video production is about communication. You are trying to communicate a concept or an idea, either yours or someone else's, to a potential audience. As is often the case, what you say is hardly as impactful or effective as how you say it. I suggest you keep this in mind. We only know you on this forum based on how you're able to express yourself with words. Accusing us of beating up "on a weaker person", and saying things like, "thanks for not caring", leaves a little to be desired. Just be cool. Be thoughtful, and polite. You'll get a lot more help if you take this approach.

"It is not the tool that defines the artist, it is how he uses the tool that defines the artist..." I am sure that must be a quote from some artist... If not then I claim it...

I am a video artist, not in a technical form, more of a crafter of stories through the use of video editing in the area of news.. I spent 12 years using very outdated technology to achieve this, 1 video track, 2 audio tracks on tape and zero time in which to create something worthwhile. I loved it..

Do I know how to use a video camera, I am sure I could learn if I had such a device, would I be able to shoot quality material, not in 10 000 years, I do not have the "eye" I am not a video artist using the camera to source material...

There are people that can multi-skill, in both camera and editing, there are those that only shoot, and those that only edit... I am not a camera operator, to be tasked with the responsibility of getting the source video material, no thank you...

What you are asking is for a chef to be responsible for farming and raising the animals and veggies he uses in cooking, he could care less how the farming takes place, he has a job to do, create delsih food from a supplied source of raw material...

That is how I see myself, I could care less how the material is obtained, not my responsibility, I can turn raw video into quality end product...

Why is this so hard to see??? Not everyone shoots and edits, I gather from various posts here, there is no careers for those that are disabled or somewhat limited in what they can do...

We are moving into a cloud based economy, no longer do we need to sit around the same computer, we can work from 13 timezones apart and be productive, your night sleeping hours in the USA, my day light hours.. Cost of living here not as much as parts of the world, thus an hour's labour in US $ for me would be a fortune, for you no!!!

Why not encourage the upliftment of people, find a way to create work, think of a new way of doing things, which to let you into a secret.. IS WHAT APPLE DID WITH FCP X!!!!

As it was mentioned earlier, making a demo reel is crucial.
When I started editing on my own rather than for any company, about 8 years ago, I found myself in the same boat as you, and probably many others.. where to get the first job.. you cant get that first job until you can show potential clients what you do. saying you have 1000 years experience means nothing until they can see something. What I did was use royalty free stock footage and stills to create my first demo reel. Then from that, I slowly started adding new shots in the demo reel of real customer projects. eventually I made a new demo reel once there was enough final projects/files to work with. Also mention what you do, either in the demo reel or in text for for any job applications. To us green screen, multicam, color corrections, audio clean ups etc... seem minor and not worth mentioning. But do mention it because someone who just want a video made for them, probably has no clue of alot of the work involved making a video 'look good' or 'finished'.
Also, if you have the time, make several demo reels. each with its own theme.. serious, comedy, interviews, movies, web video etc... Or base the them on editing, like color correction, multicam..etc.. take some screen shots or screen record yourself during editing.. take bits from that to add to the demo reel as well..

good luck, but stick it out if you can. after 8 years its paying the bills.. well actually after about 3 years or so it became 'solid employment' and was paying the bills. Not rich and still in debt some, and dont have the pool I want.. but getting there.. hopefully.

Kurt

MsJustine wrote: We are moving into a cloud based economy, no longer do we need to sit around the same computer, we can work from 13 timezones apart and be productive, your night sleeping hours in the USA, my day light hours.. Cost of living here not as much as parts of the world, thus an hour's labour in US $ for me would be a fortune, for you no!!!

OK - let's say I have 9 hours of HD footage, maybe 180GB worth and I need this turning around in 2-3 days. How am I or anyone else supposed to get that to you from different time zones? My internet connection would require several days of upload, assuming it all worked. Fed-Ex, DHL, UPS etc can do fast delivery internationally, most of the time, but then there would be no time left for the edit nor time to return it.

With this in mind you're either looking at a much smaller (shorter) project, which could probably be done quicker in house than outsourcing, or projects than have much longer lead times. Either way, it's not quite the idea of drop it off, go for a coffee, come back and it's done that you were hoping for in an earlier post.

So, what are the practical limitations of your service internationally? I'm trying to help you think constructively here, not be critical, so please think this through. Collaboration often includes challenges to our previous fixed ways of thinking.

MsJustine wrote: Why not encourage the upliftment of people, find a way to create work, think of a new way of doing things, which to let you into a secret.. IS WHAT APPLE DID WITH FCP X!!!!

I would absolutely encourage this, but distance often makes things difficult, different time zones merely compounds the problem, and then taking a chance on an unknown resource tips it over the edge for many.

So, in order to be able to help people there needs to be a reality check on the kind of projects you're hoping for. They either need to be local, which sounds like it's a problem for you to find local work, or some one has to take a chance with their entire business in order to give you the uplift you're looking for.

Thinking from the other person's point of view, trying to forget the bias of 'self', what would make someone want to do that?

Are you willing to put together some edits for free in order to make sample work for people to view? If so, there are budding film makers trying to hit film festivals looking for good editors to help them. They don't have any budget, so you'd be taking as much of a chance with them as they are with you. Would that help?

I think it's been mentioned before, but what about teaming up with local (or national) wedding cinematographers? Many of them love to shoot but sub contract the editing. It's revenue, it's challenging story telling and every project will be unique. It's also not usually an emergency turnaround so there is time to transfer the footage to you and back again. Realise there will almost certainly be re-edits until you hit their style, but things could build over time. Offer to do a couple for free in order to show them what you can do. Those could be weddings they already covered, or ones they are currently having edited elsewhere and you could do it in parallel. If you're edit is better than the other one then chances are they'll choose you in future.