"The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals."
Around this time of year you start thinking of your New Year's resolutions. Actually...let's be honest...you're most likely thinking about how bogus New Year's resolutions are.
They are there for people to set, attempt for the month of January and then completely abandon without guilt. When's the last time you a heard from a friend of yours who actually saw one of their resolution through to the end of the year?
But setting goals for yourself is a very important part of learning and improvement. And there are ways you can establish your goals so that you are more likely to succeed at them.
In this episode we talk about a few ways that you can set yourself up for success with your own goals for the next year. They are simple but very essential to getting yourself to the next level.
Also as we end this year, we can't thank our listeners enough! (That would be you).
This podcast started as a shared goal between Josh and myself, as we mention in the episode, and along the way has turned its focus to the goals of the listeners.
What do you want to learn about post-production that will help you in your career?
What other ways are you looking to improve your physical and mental health?
What else would help give you that boost that you need to become more confident with yourself?
We have a lot planned for the Command+Edit Podcast for 2016. Listen to the episode to find out what our goals are and how we plan to achieve them.
Happy New Year, fellow editors!
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*NOTE: THIS IS A SPOILER-FREE ZONE*
There's some kind of sci-fi movie coming out this week that's got everybody's attention. So we figured we should probably do something about Star Wars ourselves.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens launches this week, the long-awaited sequel to one of the biggest movie franchises of all time. And also one of the biggest underdog filmmaker stories ever.
The one that started it all, Star Wars: A New Hope, was an instant classic that solidified itself in cinema history. It's no surprise then that there are endless great stories about the production that continue to be told today.
Three of those wonderfully creative people were the original Star Wars editors: Paul Hirsch, Richard Chew and Marcia Lucas (does that last name sound familiar?). Yes, Marcia was also George Lucas' wife at the time of production. That Director-Editor relationship sounds eerily similar to another popular movie we discussed recently.
This is a fun, quick episode for you to digest where we discuss our first experiences with the Star Wars films growing up, our predictions for what Episode VII has in store (will Han Solo die??) as well as some fun facts about the original editors that you probably didn't know.
Let's face it, you probably didn't even know their names, right? But they've definitely been working on some movies very recently that you've seen. Find out which ones.
And may the force be with you!
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In this episode we answer a few questions sent to us by our listeners and share one editor's story of his first big gig. We love hearing those kinds of stories so if you'd like to share yours, please send them in and we would love to read them.
We've all seen those horrific requests posted on forums like Craigslist or Mandy.com that ask for editors with ridiculous terms attached (usually incredibly low payment or nothing at all for editing long-form projects...but you get exposure!). Check out this one in particular though and see if you can spot what's wrong with it.
A video making the rounds with the hashtag #SayNoToSpec got us talking for this episode. The idea of spec work may have made sense in video production at some point...but it's now 2015 and it's long since lost it's flavour. We are way past sick of hearing potential clients approaching editors with the usual lines:
An ad agency in Toronto, Zulu Alpha Kilo, produced a video that seems to capture honest reactions of other trade professionals being asked to do spec work (spoiler alert: they say no).
Spec work became a laughable concept among video production pros a decade ago. So why are some people still saying yes?
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Nick is out and Rhonda is in.
Our first guest here on Cmd+Edit is filling in for an absent Nick, as his schedule opened wide and swallowed him up this month.
Rhonda Thain is a freelance editor based in Toronto working at Scott Brothers Entertainment. She works with broadcast and digital format shows and dabbles with some sizzle reels for some good measure.
She talks about the benefit of working as a freelancer today, knowing when to switch to a different NLE, and offers a view into what her day-to-day work is like as an editor in Toronto.
You can follow Rhonda on Twitter (@RhondaACThain).
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In this episode we look at Mad Max: Fury Road and talk about the editing style used in this action-packed film.
Josh and I are the last two people in the world to watch Fury Road. It's been hailed as the "perfect action film" and has effectively hit the refresh button on the Hollywood action blockbuster. Featuring more actual stunts than CGI and a style reminiscent of the 70's road chase, exploitation films, Fury Road is a great example of an action-driven story told very well.
Listen on to hear us break down what made George Miller's action hit so successful as a story, what we thought of the editing style used and what lessons we can take away from it.
WARNING: SPOILERS BE AHEAD
What editing tricks did you notice used in the film? Let us know on twitter @CommandEdit.
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Every editor nowadays appears to be expected to have a basic understanding of After Effects. It is the new Photoshop, in that clients assume that you are able to use AE to achieve certain effects for their videos, whether it be removing logos, adding motion graphics or more advanced compositing.
In this episode we cover some ways that After Effects should be a part of your everyday workflow.
Also, we are looking for some ideas for what the first pieces of Cmd+Edit merch could be. Rather than do the basic t-shirt or coffee mug, we want to do put our logo on something that's going to be especially unique and useful for you. It can be something for your desk, for your kitchen or even for your pet (thinking outside of the box here!). If you have any ideas for merch items that you'd like us to offer a limited run of, tweet them to @CommandEdit.
Did you see the ultra-cool video that mashes together about 20 different characters from popular movies and composite them all into the same nightclub? Serpico, Terminator, Blade, Pinhead, Obi-Wan Kenobi and many others appear in Hell's Club. It's an exercise in creative compositing and editing. Check it out. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QajyNRnyPMs)
And we chose to close out this episode with an Ed Sheeran track. Why? Because we could. Enjoy!
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Welcome to our first AKS Episode! (All Kinds of Shit)
Okay, so it's an acronym we just cooked up. But it's hard work coming up with a big theme for each episode every week! So for this episode Josh and I address a bunch of smaller topics and answer interesting questions that have come up.
Topics that we chat about:
• What the hell is Canadian Thanksgiving all about?
• Which of our lucky listeners gets to meet with a Cmd+Edit host?
• A brief recap of Adobe MAX 2015 and the new (not-so)exciting updates for Adobe. Some were neat, most I didn't care for. What did you think?
• By the way...DO NOT UPGRADE TO EL CAPITAN YET!
• Nick's Gear of the Week wishlist now includes a backlit Adobe Premiere keyboard from EditorsKeys. Once they make one for Mac, that is. (https://www.editorskeys.com/products/video-editing-keyboards/)
• Josh's Gear of the Week is his shiny, new teleprompter.
• What happens when your boss does not appreciate you doing exercise at work?
• Plus updates on Nick's current project (horror feature The Haunting of Kirby Road is almost locked) and Josh's announcement for EditVideoFaster.com
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This episode is all about some handy tips to keep in mind when you're about to tackle a large edit. This could be a horror feature, a documentary, or a series of commercial videos. The decisions you make in setting up your project will stay with you straight to the finish line, so you'd better make sure you're setting yourself properly.
These tips could help you optimize your workflow, keep your client happy and keep you from losing hair and sleep due to overwhelming frustrations.
Nick draws from his recent experience editing his latest feature film "Kirby Road" and Josh draws on a massive series of videos (197!) he finished for his work.
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We go down the list of 5 of the most common editing techniques and when they should be used in your project.
Cutting on action, crossing the axis (breaking the 180-degree rule), reveal shots, jump cuts and cross-cutting are used in cinema all of the time. So much so that you probably have never noticed them when they are used most effectively. However they stand out like a sore thumb when misused.
Using popular examples in movies that you probably have seen before (if not, you should obviously rush out and see them after listening to this), Josh and Nick discuss how you can use these techniques to tell a story better. Think of this as the first episode of Film Editing 101.
What other techniques do you enjoy seeing on the big screen? Or using in your own timelines? Let us know by emailing CommandEditPodcast@Gmail.com
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We present to you our Top 10 Tips for Better Editing that have nothing to do with the technical skills that are involved. Yes, efficient workflows and master of hotkeys is a big part of editing but there is so much more to it. These are tips that any editor can use with any NLE to improve their cuts and take their sequences from good to GREAT.
What are some of your tips that you have picked up on the road to becomg a better editor? You can share those with us and the rest of our listeners by contacting us below.
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What do we do in our spare time to unwind, relax all while stimulating our creative sides? In this week's episode Josh and I count down our favourite films to study, TV shows to watch, podcasts to educate ourselves and blogs to subscribe to.
What shows/films/podcasts do you plug into when you want to chill but keep yourself inspired? Tweet us @CommandEdit with your suggestions.
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This episode is a little something Josh and I have been working on that we like to call: The Survival Guide to Hellish Clients.
Here are some common difficult client situations that you will most likely find yourself in. And some ways that you can avoid/escape them.
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Up at the break of dawn to record our episode! That's how much we love doing this.
If you use Instagram for your social media marketing, then you might be delighted to hear that Hootsuite added the ability to post directly to Instagram...sort of. It's not as simple as it sounds unfortunately but it is a step in the right direction for sharing images and videos on post production. By the way, you can follow Nick on Instagram at @Merc_Media to see more pics of his #FitnessInPost lifestyle and stills/clips from the timelines he works on. (http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2015/08/04/hootsuite-rolls-out-scheduling-for-instagram-posts-sort-of/)
The Nerd Fitness blog is a super valuable resource for ways to keep yourself fit while living the lifestyle of an editor (that is, sit all day). Here are some easy steps to follow to break up the monotony of sitting at your desk. (http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2015/07/13/how-to-survive-sitting-all-day/)
Slating your timelines is considered by many to be a forgotten technique, something that the dinosaurs of post-production used but is all but obsolete today. But not us two! Josh published an enlightening post about how to create solid slates for your timelines and how it can help you in the future. You can read it over on his blog EditVideoFaster (http://www.editvideofaster.com/slating-videos-in-your-nle/).
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This week is all about the helpful articles that populate the net: we've got ones for you that improve your productivity, a few things to shop for that will help fancify your office space, and a couple of hot new toys that promise to revolutionize the industry.
Premium Beats is one of the better post-production blogs around. Here they give 10 things to go pick up to spruce up your desk. How many of these do you already have? Which do you need to add to your wishlist? (http://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/10-things-for-your-video-editing-suite-under-200/)
The Gnar Box is a device that turns your iPhone into a "dumb terminal" capable of processing 4K GoPro footage. You can edit and upload your 4K footage on-the-go without having to return to your edit suite. This will be probably make the extreme sports nuts very happy. (http://technabob.com/blog/2015/07/29/gnarbox-portable-video-editing-computer/)
Another device that seeks to squash the editing computer, the TouchEdit app for the iPad claims to be a precise editing system capable of doing advanced edits with your footage with just your fingertips. Dan Lebental A.C.E. created the app to be a mobile solution for editing. He is a seasoned feature film editor so he must know what he's doing building this app. Care to try it out? (http://www.toucheditapp.com/)
Lisette Sutherland is a public speaker and fosters collaborative, long-distance work partnerships. She subjected herself to a 30-day trial of trying different kinds of dressing for work to see how it affected her productivity. Her results led to her making some decisions on how to present herself to her clients even when just teleconferencing at her desk. Any freelance editors should be interested in reading this to find out how you can dress for your work day. (http://www.lisettesutherland.com/2014/06/results-30-day-try-on-athon/)
Finally, this list of simple steps to achieving unbound success as a Hollywood editor seems all in good...until you read the one that says you need to move to L.A. or New York. Seems pretty outdated to think that physical location has that kind of affect on your career nowadays. It's not uncommon to work from a long-distance with just the same level of involvement and efficiency as you would from working in the same building as your client/producer. (http://robertlanford.com/2011/02/26/7-important-steps-to-becoming-a-hollywood-editor/)
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Thank you for listening to us, you are part of the #GroundFloor of Cmd+Edit. We had an overwhelming number of downloads in July. So we're off to a really healthy start. Share the podcast with your editor friends, especially those with a commute who need something to listen to.
This week we talk about those times when an editor is not working...confused yet? When you have down time how do you use it? Some work on marketing themselves, some have side projects to work on, some actually go on vacation. This episode isn't about that last group.
Here are some ways to make good use of your down time to further your career as an editor.
*Note that we here at Cmd+Edit fully acknowledge the importance and sheer joy of taking a much-needed vacation. We are not overlooking the value of that here, just saying if you're looking for more work to do, here are some ideas.
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It's an often revisited topic by others, but Josh and I have our own thoughts on whether your career is better off by you attending film school versus going straight to work.
Nowadays editors are entering the work force at younger ages. It's likely the work opportunities start presenting themselves before they decide to attend a film school. So what are the benefits of first going through school and becoming certified? And could it make more sense to instead start going after your first clients?
One is the path of the student; the other is the path of the entrepreneur. Which do you decide?
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So last week Josh and I had a clashing of schedules and couldn't find the time for both of us to record together. Instead of release nothing we decided that we would each record our own segment and slap them together.
Basically you get two episodes for the price of one this week!
Josh talks about how you can benefit from "backing your car in". That one needs a bit of explaining, but rest assured it is a metaphor for how you can be better prepared for whatever your work may throw at you and at any moment's notice be able to seize an opportunity like a pro.
Nick has some thoughts about this whole "CGI is ruining movies!" cry that is being heard across the internets lately. With the release of so many movies this summer that rely heavily on CGI, it's become the usual suspect for when the movies fail to tell a good story. But is that fair of us? After viewing Jurassic World last month with some filmmaker friends, it changed Nick's view of CGI in movies nowadays and this will explain why he feels they get villified too much.
If you could tell the director to shoot something differently, what would you tell them?
There are many times when editors wish they could travel back in time to when filming was happening and advise the production crew on how they can make the edit go smoothly.
Whether it be "I wish they got a shot of this" or "Could they have cut a second later" or "Could they have gotten this angle instead?", there are many things that would make the editor's life a lot easier...but they often never occur to the director.
Why? Because they're filming as a director, not as an editor. They have a million things to be thinking about while shooting a scene, and not always is "How will this edit together?" one of those.
So educate them! Tell them what you as the editor needs to do your job the best you can and deliver a golden edit.
Here are some common things that we wish directors would keep in mind when on set. And the most important reason for them to do so is not to make you happy, but to make Mr. Future-Director happy when he/she sees their movie come together in the editing room.
Tweet us your own things that you wish directors would do to make the edit better. @CommandEdit.
E-mail us if you enjoyed the show and let us know how we're doing. (commandeditpodcast@gmail.com)
We all seem to be spinning too many plates or juggling too many balls in the air when it comes to work.
This episode talks about the ways you can help improve your multitasking skills and prioritizing your tasks. From the macro (organizing larger feature projects into manageable steps) to the micro (prioritizing the minutes of your day), we could all afford to become better masters of multitasking to avoid being buried in work.
8K video hath arrived to YouTube! Actually the ability to upload 8K video has been there for a while but it seems there's someone with the ability to shoot and upload a short doc called "Ghost Towns" in full 8K resolution. Test out your internet streaming speed and press play on it. Do you notice a huge difference in the clarity of the image? (https://youtu.be/sLprVF6d7Ug)
We discuss a few noteworthy points from the big Apple update at WWDC 2015. There were only a couple of interesting points for post-production folk. Nick is excited that humanity is a step closer towards having a personal JARVIS. (http://www.theverge.com/2015/6/8/8745353/apple-wwdc-2015-highlights-announcements-recap)
Follow us on Twitter and let us know what you think of this episode (www.twitter.com/CommandEdit)
They are the holy trinity of networking tools for any post-production minion: the business card, the demo reel and the CV.
There are those who swear by them and label them as must-haves. Others think differently and choose to not use them at all. Which camp are you in?
Every editor means to get around to updating his/her CV or reel but it seems to only become a priority when you receive an email from a producer asking for them before they can hire you.
Nick and Josh discuss the benefits to using each to score your next job, and how you can use them more efficiently. Plus we explain why and when we don't bother using them at all.
Does the concept of an editing demo reel even make sense?
Are business cards a good investment or is there a better way to give your info that costs you less?
Should you create a CV or is it okay to just link to your IMDB page?
Follow us on Twitter and tweet us if you use any of these tools to nail down jobs.
Nowadays it seems like you can throw a stone and hit 5 editors. The industry has exploded over the past decade and in the struggle to get noticed and hired some have taken different approaches. Some treat other editors strictly as competition and work hard at improving their own skills and marketing themselves. Some treat other editors as collaborators, brothers-in-arms to team up with and support one another in their careers.
It may seem that taking the competitive approach is a negative one, but there are some advantages to it. As well, there are times when collaborating and building a team can help further everyone in attaining a booming career.
Somehow Nick manages to squeeze in Nash's Equilibrium theory and a strategy for getting laid into his explanation on how to decide whether to compete or collaborate.
Not everyone is looking for someone to collaborate with (or be a mentor to) and you can expect some to not react well to a proposition to work together for experience. Listen at the [30:28] mark for a story about an encounter Nick had with a gruff veteran photographer and the price he had on working together.
SHAMELESS PLUG TIME:
Nick's first feature edited for Black Fawn Films was recently released. The Drownsman (2013) was the first time Nick worked on the edit of a film while it was in production and it changed his career path forever. It's available on iTunes for $12.99 (https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-drownsman/id982105972) and on Amazon on DVD/Blu-Ray (http://www.amazon.ca/Drownsman-Blu-ray-Import/dp/B00UJH1R60/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1434465267&sr=8-1&keywords=the+drownsman).
Josh has released a blog series titled "Over the Editor's Shoulder" chronicling a new series he is editing. It's split into 4 parts and you can see his daily progress and tips for editing faster. http://www.editvideofaster.com/otes-part1/
We start out with a couple of shout-outs to some of our loyal listeners and retweeters so far.
Jaclyn Rogers, Michael Cardilio and Rachel Bogan have been some of our top contributors this past week. Thanks for tweeting us and for sharing our episodes.
The Shameless Plugs of the Week: Nick is back from the set of Bed of the Dead, the latest horror feature from Black Fawn Films that he was editing on-set while they were filming.
Internet fans were abuzz with opinions on the Supergirl 6-minute "trailer" for the TV series premiering in the fall. It was described by some as "The Devil Wears Prada mixed with that SNL Black Widow parody trailer. Some editors have taken it upon themselves to re-edit the trailer by slimming it down considerably and amping up the action while ditching a lot of the "ditzy, urban girl problems" material. Nick has started cutting his own version, too.
How do you set up your editing suite and office so that you can better concentrate and do your best work? Some editors have personal touches that they put on their work space, personalizing it and making it there own. Some are neat and tidy. Others are messy and more decorative. Some swear by 18% grey walls and balanced lighting. Others not so much.
There are some things that you can do to improve your work space and allow you to edit better. Listen on to hear from Nick and Josh and about what might work for you.
This episode is brought to you by ScreenLight, the service that allows you to easily share and collaborate with others helping to get your project to approval faster.
This episode marks the first of our podcast that has an official sponsor. Screenlight saves you time on your editing projects and makes you look like a pro in the eyes of your client. Upload your videos to a customizable gallery with ease and allow your clients to easily offer frame-accurate feedback. It’s a great service that gets projects to delivery quickly, which is a win for everyone. Both Josh and Nick have used it for both commercial and feature-length productions and it has proven to be an incredibly valuable tool. The best part is it’s 100% free for you to start using right now. Head over to Screenlight and sign up to use it for your projects now.
For shameless plugs this week: Nick hosts another podcast called Limited Release that features reviews of web series and insightful interviews with filmmakers. Check it out to hear all about how web series are produced and which ones are worth watching. Josh has started one-on-one coaching for those who look to improve their editing game. Whether they want to become more efficient with AVID Media Composer, get better at dealing with clients or market yourself better, head over to Edit Video Faster to sign up for an intro session with him.
Michael “Dorkman” Scott is a VFX artist who was struck by a car a year ago and has been on a long, arduous road to recovery. You may know him from the viral Ryan vs. Dorkman video series from the mid-2000’s that were pretty much the first successful Star Wars fan films. His recovery has been covered by his family through the Support Dorkman Facebook Page and just recently he celebrated being able to enjoy a walk outside with some support. Michael, you’re an incredibly person and we all wish you a full recovery. We look forward to seeing you swinging a light sabre again.
An editor is only as good as their edit suite. Well, that may not be entirely true, but it’s incredibly important to maintain your computer’s health and keep it at peak performance. The task list to do so can be dizzying: back up hard drives, upgrade your processor and RAM, and constantly researching new computers and accessories. Plus the rate that technology is changing stresses the need to stay on top of all of this. How long have you had your computer for without upgrading it? Do you have any regular tasks you do monthly to keep your computer running strong?
Your projects will rarely go perfectly according to plan. Because of this every editor develops his/her own workarounds to issues that tend to pop up. We discuss a few that we personally use and how being a skilled editor also means being a skilled problem-solver.
Enjoy this episode and check out our page of episodes to listen to ones you may have missed.
It's incredibly easy and all too common for a career in post-production to take over your life.
There's the high demand of time from your employers, there's the passion that we all feel about our work that pulls us deeper into it, and when we're not actively working we are training or searching for opportunities. Not all of our family and friends understand the commitment we must put into our careers. As we progress in our careers, the rest of our lives can take a backseat. Our passion to be successful at work can come with the risk of losing relationships, our health, or any other priorities we may have in our lives.
Not to mention that lately it's become obvious to many that an unhealthy balance between our personal lives and our work lives can ultimately cause a detriment in the quality of our work.
So how do we maintain a healthy balance between our lives at our desk and our lives away from it? Josh and I discuss some tips on how we tackle that challenge, and how you can approach it, too.
Let us know how you feel about setting boundaries between work and life and if you've ever felt that strain between the two.
Speaking of setting boundaries, have you ever been approached for a job you felt like turning down but wasn't sure how to do it without upsetting the client? It's an important skill to recognize when you should say no to a job (whether it's beyond your skill level, you don't have time to do it, or the budget is not enough for the work involved), and it's another entirely to say no professionally. Here is how you can do it.
Tweet us at @CommandEdit about how you found this episode to be helpful for you.
Once you've got your edit suite pimped out and are open for business, how do you then find work? In this episode we discuss how we each market ourselves and pursue all of the prospective jobs out there.
Those who believe "If you build it, they will come" will find themselves out of work very quickly. The jobs are out there and waiting for you to go after them. Here are some ways that Josh and I chase those editing gigs and set yourself up to receive repeat work from clients.
Do you consider yourself a generalist or a specialist? These are two different schools of thought on how to successfully position yourself in the market and be poised for the maximum number of opportunities. Would you rather be a one-stop-shop who can take on any type of editing job or be known as an expert in one particular niche market? There are obviously pros and cons to both, so let's talk about what those are and how to decide which one is right for you.
This podcast is a two-way street, folks. We want to hear from you so tweet us at @CommandEdit or email us at CommandEditPodcast@gmail.com.
Did you like the show? Write us a review on iTunes and you will be helping us be seen more in searches and otherwise fluffing our egos a little bit.
By the way if you want to see what Josh looks like when he's not wearing a collared shirt, head over to the blog to see.