New Media Communications Specialist/Journalist
 

It's an odd duck, but essentially, I'm a journalist who happens to be working as a pro blogger in the marketing deparment of a medium-sized company as the editor of their house organ.

While alot of pro-bloggers get a lot of flack, everything here at my job is pretty much on the up-and-up, I get to report on industry news, I follow a strict code of ethics, always disclose our biases and our conflicts of interest, etc.

And we've broken some big stories too - got on Slashdot a number of times, etc...

I got into DV partially because we wanted to put together YouTube videos for the blog at work. I stayed with DV because I kinda... sorta... in a long story kind of way, ended up the producer of a feature-length film that I'm flying to NZ while I'm on vacation to shoot.

I'm -really- glad I learn -fast.-

Student for now.
Looking at film for later. Big hobby now.

I'm a webmaster. I run a popular web forum. I'm trying to become a writer/director, but why does writing have to be so hard?

What a long, strange, fun trip it's been. I have over 30 years experience as a theatre artist, five years as a film editor and for the last 13 years I've been a Media Producer for the Oregon Legislature. There's a more lot to tell about the years in between, but I don't know any of you that well ... yet.

Broadcast video consultant - this places has saved my ass on a number of occasions ;)

my story
 

I'm a holistic physician and have developed a healing system using sound. I've been a filmmaker since I was 12....stop motion animations and stuff with my parent's brownie movie camera in 1960...on to Bolex cameras and art school in the 60's in Boston..on to Chiropractic college in 1977...into video production in 3-D with liquid crystal eye frames in 1989 and Canon XL2 recently.

My plans for now:

I have 60 CD's on the market using something called "Brainwave Entrainment"...sound pulses in the soundtrack pulsing at a brainwave speed cause one's brainwaves to time themselves to the pulse and change consciousness. I developed a system in 1990 to do the same thing visually embedded in the visual images for relaxation, hypnosis, meditation, etc.

I film exotic nature scenes in various parts of the world and manipulate the images to effect brainwave function on EEG for medical purposes, but the experience is like a Shamanic Journey for the eyes and ears.

In addition I teach and give national presentations, so I will be filming my presentations and some of my classes for online courses.

In addition....my old artists filmmaker part will be heading out into the big, bad world to make art films whose purpose is nothing other than to please me and have fun.



Dr Jeff

New to serious video
 

In my real life, I start and run commercial banks. I was asked to help out a friend's commercial production business one weekend, and was bitten by the potential and creativity. I will likely never be a pro (too old, too occupied by banking involvement) but I am a type A and whatever I do, I like to do it the best I am capable of. So, I am very gratefull to those of you who are experienced and creative, and I look forward to learning here. Thank you.

Documentary filmmaker, videomaker, producer, journalist...
(and I also translate docs from E/F/D/CH-D into Italian)

Rocket scientist by day..songwriter/composer/producer by night. Was an audio engineer and PC analyst in my previous life...but looking to gain new ground in filming (videography) so as to quit my day job....sigh....and they call me a dreamer. Maybe I could hook up with some investment banker somewhere...hmmm....now let's see....where do I look ...lol

These hobbies are getting expensive.

IT Support and Project Management

Based in Chelmsford in Essex.

Just bought my camera and equipment, so full speed ahead captain!

Having trouble finding ppl I know to work with, but it will come with time. For now, write write write!

Software Consultant / Developer by day (actually, by night too)

student right now, but I still operate my production business out of Victoria & Waco, TX. Do shorts here & there, & I have a mokumentary on the way.

I shamelessly push wide angle lenses and high quality filters on internet forums.

:)

Ryan Avery
Schneider Optics

Hi Jim, I was just reading your post (from April) and I thought I'd send you a link to a short film I did. I also use Cinema 4D and wanted to mix animation with live action. Check it out when you have time:
http://www.sanczel.com/bluvid5point.htm
The little pencil in the film is the star of a lot of my 3D animations. Love the Cinema 4D...

Sean

Jack of all trades that pay little
 

I worked for Win98 tech support, good money. Hated life , went to community college to get into radio. That year they shut down the radio broadcasting program. Did some plays, 7 years since previous one in HS, ended up getting paid techie work at the only local AEA playhouse. Played techie for another year, decided to focus on acting. 8 years later, after becoming one of the few regularly paid talent, got a loan for 60k to start a small studio.

Ive got 15 years of production experience, and great working relationships with darn near everyone Ive crossed paths with. Theres allot of talent int this town, true artist in their chosen areas who are working hell day jobs, and I intend to change that.

Sean,

Very nice!

I'm still trying to get time to work on my not quite magnum opus. A lot of ideas, not much forward progress. Real life (work etc) keeps getting in the way of doing personal stuff. One of these days (months? years?) I'll get it done and post it.

work
 

I am a student at Ohio University in telecommunications. But on the side, I run a little production gig and shoot/edit/produce music videos, weddings/events, and corporate work.

Over the summer I worked for a design firm in Columbus, OH doing video for their web. The company owner had the idea to do video driving directions from all over columbus to the office, so I strapped my camera to the top of a truck and drove. they turned out pretty well and the boss was happy.(http://www.prioritydesigns.com/contact.html)

Why QT?
 

The idea is brilliant, I've never seen it before. But you (or the owner) might want to re-thing posting quicktime directions... virtually all work computers are PCs and with tightened security most of them won't allow installing additional software - in plain English you're loosing out on most of the potential viewers.

So think about offering WinMedia as an alternative; as an added bonus, it's quite a bit better quality too at the same bitrate/file size.

newbe from The Netherlands
 

Hi DVi Crew:

I've started in the industy in 1987.
Initially as an allround nono. Done a few workshops. Learned most by doing and making mistakes.

Used a lot of machines.
Umatic VO 4800, Umatic Type 5's, DXC M3, DXC 3000, DXC 325, Highband Umatic, 1 inch C format, Paltex Abner, M2, BVE 900, BVE 910, BVE 2000, Abekas Solo, Betacam Sp, Digibeta, Beta SX, DVS 2000, DVS 8000, DVS 9000, Ampex ADO, Dme 3000, etc. etc.

Specialised to (lineair) editing from 1991.

Nowadays i use Matrox RTX2 edit (2 sets) with Adobe Premiere Pro, Sony Vegas, DXC D30 with DSR 1P, and XDcamHD F330.

Started working 5 years for corporate producers, 10 years in commercial television and since 1999 as an independant freelance director and editor.

I'm a partner in PictureThis.tv, a production company specialised in streaming media, both live and on demand.

I like being allround again. Use the cam a lot. Like to write, shoot, make music and give people advise on creative and technical stuff. Still hooked to the profession.

Happy shooting!

Eelco.

Work in a factory and hate it

Also run two buisnesses and starting a third...LOL

Value Sports & Entertainment Tickets
http://www.vsetickets.com

And Stera-Clean C.S.C.

I'm opening up a marketing group with a high school friend called
D.S. Marketing Group

Scott,

:)
 

I work the overnight shift as a tape deck operator at NBC in Rockfeller Center. We back up all the feeds that come in off of the news wire into our servers, and that's where the tape deck operators come in. I stand in front of a wall of 36 betamax tape decks and switch them, label them and cart them all night. It is exciting to be part of a big company here in NYC, in a company with so much production constantly. Hope to ask questions of some cameramen and other production crew.

I edit off of FCP and own a Canon XH-A1 HDV camcorder. I have done some jobs on my own, as well as interned on a Brett Morgen (think "The Kid Stays In the Picture") film. I also was an assistant to an independent filmmaker here in New York City for close to a year. I hope to be able to support myself with a job within the film/video industry, whether it be PA on a shoot, working with a television station, and/or build up a client base and do some video work on my own. We'll see where the road leads!

Street Basketball consultant from the New York area
 

I am a Partner of Inside Streetball, a one stop shop for the Summer Basketball Tournaments in New York City. Our business evolved over the years from writing proposals and taking pictures to shooting over 100 games a summer. Along with shooting, we had to learn editing. Being the idiot that I am I never looked online for a forum such as this. I am overwhelmed by the knowledge shared here. We've been shooting on 2 Canon GL2's but just bought an A1. I can tell I'm going to be on the forums all the time. I look forward to sitting at the feet of the masters and learning from you guys.

Been working as a Network Administrator for the last 22 years and it's getting pretty old. Would love to finally make the jump to writing novels (which I am in the process of writing a couple now), freelancing for several publications on a regular basis (which I did about 13 years ago, almost leaving the IT world behind) or making movies and films (which is something I have enjoyed doing these last few months that I've got back into digital video).

Still work in the outdoors shooting photos and video for piece meal stuff. Still working in education, though most of the work goes to the web anymore. Aside from that I freelance every so often for various gigs.

Transitioning to HD all around, which is exciting.

Full time I produce short for shows for web pertaining to action sports, music and lifestyle. www.steelroots.com. I also do consulting work, but only the Mac/Final Cut side of it.

Part time I'm a semi-pro grape peeler

Mixed Bag Background
 

Hi Everyone,

My background is a mixed bag. Career began as a scientist (marine biology - 15 years), then pres of the Canadian Museum of Nature (13 years), then started a consulting company (7 active years) based on fun but helpful things including environmental and sustainable development projects, defending and promoting traditional knowledge of aboriginal people in sensitive negotiations with resource development companies, photography, writing, and television documentaries (mostly as a subject or resource person, but have written about a hundred scripts for underwater docs), then got sidetracked into being CEO of a manufacturing company to help my terminally ill brother (5 years) -- did a couple of corporate documentaries using employees as hosts, slowly extracting myself from that so I am now back at the door of opportunity to do something different.

My idea is pretty simple. I would like to combine the science and business experiences and skills, as well as my familiarity (although certainly no expert) with TV and documentaries to a mini-career in independent film making.

I look forward to being a part of this group as well as asking for advice as my newest career develops. Starting from nearly ground zero again should be fun.

Alan

In my life time I have been a store man, a counter salesman, a sales representative .I worked for a company doing interior decorating in banks across South Africa for a year. I have repaired air brakes on underground locomotives in Gold mines for about 10 years. I have built and repaired rock drill machines, I once owned a business selling and repairing Golf carts. I was a professional Disk jockey for a while. I was fortunate enough to act in a movie. I owned a computer repair shop for many years. I have designed and maintained Web Sites. I have sold millions of Rand’s worth of property on the east coast. I have raced motorcycles against world champions. I was an infantryman in a war zone for a year. I have been married to my soul mate for more than 22 years. I have 2 children that I love and am very proud of. I have had articles published in a motorcycle magazine. I ran a motocross race track for 2 years. I have been a motorcycle mechanic. I am a manager at one of the oldest and most respected motorcycle dealers in South Africa. I have filmed produced and sold videos. I have broken my back and got up and carried on with life. I failed at some things. Most of the above I was and still am very good at. All of the above have helped shape me into the person I am.

I have no idea what I want to be when I grow up.

Retired at 28. Then I got bored and started a band.

I am happy to say that I get the opportunity everyday to work in the video industry. I have been an audio engineer for over 23 years and I produce a few artists on a regular basis. Since video is a major vehicle for up and coming artists I got into video production to help promote them. It turned into something so much more over the past 3 years. I now do industrial video, commercials, and documentaries along with my music video production. I also started goodintentionsinc.org to help families with cancer by using video and audio production to benefit and educate them. If you are interested, you can check out some of my work at http://youtube.com/user/eddietomecko. God bless all you talented video, filmmakers out there! Eddie T.

I work as a freelance camera op. Not quite sure I'm making a living as yet, though I'm certainly having fun trying. With my work I've traveled to Ghana, Ethiopia and China as well as various places in Europe. I do a lot of corporate stuff and some TV, most the stuff I do seems to end up on the web. I'm looking to build up with more clients and regular work in the London area.

AHH auto biographies!
 

Well I took the long route. Shortly after a years break from college I had just been accepted by Montana State to finish my major in photography when a 22 year career as a submariner intervened. Following that my own computer business and I've been working for a major consulting firm for 10 years. My wife started doing rather upscale video/photo slide shows for people, knew about my photo interests and suggested I get back into it to help her out. So that started the Canon 30D, next thing I know were starting to shoot a few weddings and now someone booked us to video a wedding so there is the XH-A1. Now I'm seeing if I can work a 3 year plan to move into this full time. The last two days we've been researching various stabilizers and looks like I'll be ordering a flowpod in the morning. The forums here have been a huge source of help and inspiration - but this is my first post.

Regards,
Fred

19 yrs old here. I'm the CTO of a small business. I'm 2 months away from my BA, and I plan on going to Grad School for a Ph.D. in Psychology. I've just started testing the video making waters.... and I'm FASCINATED! I'm working on my second project now and I'm loving every second of it. It's a biographical documentary of a very interesting man. With my psychological leanings, I will be focusing in his psychological struggle (he had plenty of demons). Maybe I can combine my talents/interests.. hmm.. Gotta speak with my parents about this, i wonder what they will say..

My start in the industry.
 

Whats going on!

I remember the first day I got my Million Dollar idea. I just got off of my $7.00 an hour job and was anticipating the premier of a music video of my favorite song with a few of my friends.

I’ll never forget how excited I was. I was thinking about it all day. “This is gonna be hot!”

So it finally aired and we watched the whole thing. It turns out I got all excited for no reason. It was horrible. I left that music video premier only to be left saying, “HUH?!” by the end of the video.

I was shocked to see how sloppy the
video was put together!

The director totally missed the mark. I couldn't believe it. There was even a part where the video was off sync with the audio. And this same video even aired on national TV!

And if that wasn’t bad enough, the director got paid lots of money to make that video….We’re talking thousands of dollars.

At this point I found myself saying, “I need to get a camera and start shooting videos for money because this guy sucks and I know I can do better!” That’s when I made the decision to do just that. I started my music video business on the spot.

When I made the decision to start filming music videos, I realized I lived in an area where lots of unsigned artists needed a hot video to launch their careers. I already had a starving market; I just had to let them know I could be their ticket to success. I had a strategy.

A week later I had my first paying client! I was so excited, and even though I’d never filmed a music video before, I knew I could do it. Not long after that, I went from local customers to celebrity clients who paid me thousands of dollars per video.

It's been history ever since. My first music video I ever shot for a local artists ended up on B.E.T so I was lovin that.

Now I teach people (along with still doing music videos) how they can make money shooting music videos whether they have experience or not.

I was in a 9 to 5 for a while but keep pressin and youll get it

Much luck and success!

Jamal "Jag" Johnson
Http://www.MusicVideoTrainingCenter.com

Dcoumentary Filmmaker
 

I am lucky enough to be making a living with my video cameras. I work for a Wisconsin State agency that produces all forms of educational, teacher staff development and documentary productions. We are a small office, and for the most part I'm a one man shop with some help from college interns and stringer. The most interesting work has been documentaries for local historical groups.I have been shooting on small remote great lakes islands, state parks, maritime museums and currently in the Teton Mountains /Jackson Hole valley in Wyoming.

I fill in that work with wedding and event videos and some shooting for a couple of independent film companies.
www.replayvideo.net

I am a web developer and shall be attending university next year for my degree in computer science.

Arma virumque cano.....
 

How long ago it seems, that day I took the first step to joining the film & tv business....OK, sorry folks, this will NOT be a drone-a-thon! But you DID ask. Mid '60s. Had made a couple of 8mm movies at school, but had just left Tech College and had no idea of what to do. Saw an ad in a London paper for a tea boy and post room op in a documentary film company. Got job. Saw editing, camera and sound departments at work and chose sound. Joined union, absolutely essential in those days as you could not work unless in the union; yet could not join union unless in work. I guess that it's easier to get in the business now in that respect, but of course there are few (or no?) training schemes, as the BBC used to have for its entrants. How is a person supposed to learn or train now? Are experienced technicians suppose to leap forth, fully formed? No, yet again it's who you know that is important. If you can persuade a crew chief to take you on as an inexperienced dogs body, then you can absorb experience and eventually make contacts and branch out on your own. You ask how to get into the game? That's it: persistence, luck, contacts. Plus...be NICE to people, it really does work. OK, you'll be ripped off and exploited from time to time, but that's life,isn't it? People will remember that you were helpful and supportive and ask you along again.
I'm now in my 60s but still working in broadcast tv and corporates. If I'm approached by someone who needs help to start up in this game I feel that it is not only my privilege but my obligation to pass on the torch. If they get me regular cups of tea, that is!

Good post, Nick

and me....
 

im a taxi driver :-(
I changed my dads rank into an internet coffee shop and had fully intended doin video work in a back room that i spent £500 on soundproofing! Unfortunatley the staff have left and have not been replaced. I have struggled to pay my half of the rent drove taxis every night.. and been in coffee shop all of the time... its only little n was never meant to be stand alone...i even moved the video editing stuff into main shop so could get on.. but i find stopping and starting is just no good with video work... people wanting to have a chat etc can have advantages when you need a second opinion..... but generally i think for video work youneed to be locked away for a few hours... with a good supply of coffee!
So as yet i have not made much of a sucess of anything. I have done a little bit baby work with local youth centres... and few little jobs... but i countinue to dream on....
I have had stupid computer problems too..... using edius 4.6 ... and am finding in general organising and storing clips etc really difficult. I have loads of fantastic ideas... fantastic software... some good shots.. but hey its just bringing it all together... and doent it always seem like.. if i just had another camera... or that tripod... or that latest processor... or another hard drive...! :(

I'm 19 years old. I am involved in three different businesses: a web design firm (chief designer), a real estate market data analysis company (VP) and a media company (writer, gopher, and technology head). I also work at a local grocery store, just to meet some interesting people.

While I am fairly new in the film making world, I can easily see it becoming a central part of my life. In the next several years, I can see myself filming full time. I love it!

I spend my 9 to 6 hours working as an Assistant to the Manager, or Assistant Manager, depending on the shoes I'm filling, at an Apple Authorized Service Center.

It's not video editing, but it is working on Macs all day, so that's some solace. But the first time I get enough gigs lined up I'm quitting this job and cutting out on my own.

The job does have a perk of a discount on hardware once a year, so I have enough recurring gigs lined up in the next year that I recently justified a purchase of a Mac Pro (early 2008, 8core 2.8ghz) to edit on, which replaced my aging 1.5ghz 17" Powerbook.

So that's nice. But yeah, using the Mac for creation far beats spending time around crashed hard drives in Macbooks and customers who are currently hating Apple for not being perfect.