Another addition is the calendar of upcoming presentations. Over then next couple of months I’ll be attending or speaking at the Orange county MCA-I Media Camp tomorrow (Saturday June 20). Media Camp is like a Bar camp, itself a reaction to the O’Reilly FOO (Friends of O’Rielly) exclusive, invite-only conference.  A Bar Camp (Foo Bar, get it?) is the opposite. Anyone is welcome, there’s no formal agenda so you make of it what the participants want to make it.

The Orange County Media Camp is like that – we’ll all be getting together and talking about/planning etc media production and distribution topics. I guess. I won’t know until I get there.

Then there’s DV Expo coming up In September, and the Professional Video Association’s Conference in January 2010 – more on that later but I’ll be presenting a full day on Final Cut Pro titling and a full day on growing your production or postproduction business.

In between I expect to be doing some presentations in Boston, Connecticut and New York and, depending on timing, other user groups or dealers. These will include a full day on New Media – where we’re going and how we’ll make money; and free sessions on how to benefit from First Cuts, Finisher, and Sync-N-Link. We may do the Growing your Business seminar there as well.

I hope to see you at one of the events. If you read the blog, come and say hello.

For those not following along, Prison Break wrapped up its run recently, without being renewed. Fortunately the producers and writers had enough notice that they were able to wrap up storylines for a neat ending. (I wish more shows would do that – even if it meant doing a special for the following season to wrap stuff up. But I digress.)

What’s different is that Fox didn’t really show the last two episodes on US television, withholding them for July 21st release on DVD. This is called artificial scarcity, or more accurately an attempt to create scarcity where it really does not exist, since these episodes were shown in non-US territories. The global nature of media consumption being what it is, there’s no way that program owners can artificially limit access, once it’s been broadcast or made available anywhere. 

In fact, it’s one of the things that will drive non-authorized viewing that does not accrue to the producer/copyright owner. 

Here’s the message if you’re a content owner: do not try and manipulate your audience, they’re smarter than you are. If you won’t provide your customers with:

• the programs they want to watch
• on the schedule they want to watch them
• at a “price” they’re prepared to pay

then you don’t have a business any more.

The Internet was designed to route around “damage” (even survive nuclear war). Artificial limitations based on territory might have once worked, but the world has changed. When your environment changes there are two alternatives: adapt or die. Apparently big  media has chosen “die”.

It’s not just this isolated case. When the modern series of Dr Who was held back from US release, but broadcast in the UK, it was downloaded over 5 million times. (Didn’t hurt the ratings though.) Australia, where there are too few outlets for programming anyway, frequently doesn’t get new programming from the major studios until months, or even years, later. Not surprising, Australians download a lot of unauthorized content because the content owners will not provide a legitimate alternative.

What we’re seeing is a broken system where the content owners will not listen to their  customers, so the customers take things into their own hands, providing the product the content owners should have been providing all along.

The fact that content owners want to charge about 2-3 times for every viewing than what they ever got from advertising revenue just adds insult to the “injury” of not serving your customers’ needs.

Like I said, the two choices are adapt or die. The old status quo is not an option.

Politicians are an easy target, particularly when they get into any sort of tech areas, where they only open their mouth to demonstrate how stupid they are. For example, Missouri passed a law that text messaging is fine if you’re over 21 if you’re over 21! Stupid! Texting while driving is dangerous, period. Not only is it stupid to have a specific law against it (it’s always distracted driving, which has been illegal for years) but it’s a stupid law. What magically happens on the anniversary of 21 years alive that gives the driver super-powers to focus on two things at once? Stupid!

Then there’s stupid California, who are insisting on taking their (obviously illegal) video-game sales law to the US Supreme Court. They’ve “only” wasted $1 million of tax payers’ money on a law that’s been struck down in 12 rulings in the last eight years as State by State have tried to bring in similar legislation that has always been struck down. Stupid waste of tax payers’ money in a State that’s just about bankrupt. Stupid!

And there’s STUPID, stupid, stupid South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster, who tried to go after the principals of Craigslist despite the very, very clear provisions of the DMCA Safe Harbor provisions. (Section 230 of the DMCA if he’d like to look it up.)  Pure political grandstanding from a stupid man who, rightly, now has an injunction against him and his office preventing them from acting. Craigslist quite rightly pointed out they are doing nothing illegal, that there is no legal way to go after the principals of the company and that there are wider and greater “illegal” actions by newspapers and magazines in South Carolina. A stupid man who should be drummed out of office for stupidity alone.

Then there’s the stupid TV broadcasters who’s business model is changing, so they too want a bailout form the Federal Government. Stupid.

But my greatest act of stupidity for the week comes from Podcasting news. In an article “Online Video Advertising…Is Horrible” James Lewin made the strangest comment:

“We already know that ad-supported Internet video is the future.”

Now you can imagine that caught my eye, because I have a pretty much 100% contrary opinion – new media (Internet Video) is very unlikely to be advertising supported. So, I was interested in what was behind the assertion as this forgone conclusion had gone by without me noticing!

Turns out, if you follow the link in the quote, that no such thing was proven. Stupid!

The report they are actually commenting on (through very biased and uninformed eyes imnsho) did state that people “were willing” to put up with advertising to watch free video on the net. Not that people wanted to; where happy to; or other qualitative information, just that they would watch advertising to get free video. Woopee. Like that’s news. 

But there isn’t enough advertising to fund new media; advertisers generally are not transferring substantial parts of their budgets to new media and that advertising support is the old media model and failing pretty much at every turn.

And yet, this is the “future”? The only future we’re considering? Even when their own report on the survey concludes with:

“The research suggests that people trying to make money with video podcasts and short-form Internet video may need to look for options other than traditional intrusive ads.”

How stupid is that? And yet, these type of stupid people have jobs! They have employers who obviously know less than they do and won’t call someone to task for drawing a clearly bogus conclusion (is the future) in one article that is not supported by the referenced article. Now that’s clearly stupid.

It’s particularly stupid when the New York Times is reporting in an article titled Ad Revenue on the Web? No Sure Bet that web startups are looking beyond advertising as a business model. (Well, d’oh, what have I been saying for the last two years?)

It’s also stupid when better thinkers in the space, like Chris Brogan, in an excellent post on The Next Media Company says as it’s fifth point:

“Advertising cannot be the primary method of revenue.” 

Anyone who’s not stupid has realized by now that advertising is not going to be the predominant means of supporting new media. It’s not even desirable because as soon as you take in advertising you’re beholden to the advertiser not your audience.

And that’s stupid.

But not as stupid as Sony Pictures CEO Michael Lynton who thinks nothing good can come of the Internet, when the problem is that the company (and it’s CEO) are simply too stupid to adapt to changing business circumstances. That’s another whole level of stupid.

Stupid people. Do not want!

Oh wait, there’s another level of stupid! Commercials between web pages. Just when I hope we’ve reached the ultimate level of stupidity it turns out there’s another stupid person just waiting to be less thoughtful, with less consideration for the real world, than everyone else.

Finisher was originally conceived as the book-end to First Cuts. First Cuts will save documentarians many weeks of work getting to first cuts, with the ability to create first cuts almost instantly while you explore the stories in the footage you have. These cuts are complete with story arc and b-roll. We worked on the assumption that an editor would probably delete the b-roll while they worked on cutting the a-roll into the finished form. (Although not necessarily: I cut one piece while keeping the b-roll around to save me having to go find it again.)

Finisher was suggested by Loren Miller of Keyguides fame who wanted an “editing valet” that would take his a-roll and add b-roll and lower third back in. That suggestion became Finisher.

However, I’ve been long interested in the application to these trade-show type edits that had never been near First Cuts and had to use much simplified metadata. My gut told me that an experienced editor would be faster but the cost effectiveness of a novice with Finisher would be compelling.

I was wrong. As it turned out, I ended up being the editing contender. I was happy about that because I trust my abilities – I’m fast and effective at this type of video. Up against me was the software’s co-developer, Greg Clarke. Greg’s first FCP lessons (other than import XML, export XML, open a Sequence) were on Sunday afternoon ahead of a Tuesday afternoon shootout. To say his editing skills and FCP skills were rudimentary is a huge understatement!

Greg had his edit complete in 27 minutes from being presented with raw footage. (Both competitors saw the footage together in raw form in a new project.) This video shows the Greg + Finisher cut. It’s acceptable but could definitely use an experienced eye.

My cut took 40 minutes to add in lower third and all the b-roll. There is a third cut, which is where I took the Greg + Finisher cut and added my editorial experience to that, which took an additional 11 minutes, for a total of 38 minutes. Yep, almost exactly the same time to get to a finished result.

Until you work on the cost side of the equation. Let’s assume that an experienced editor is going to work for $45 an hour for this type of work. (That’s approximately the Editor’s Guild rate for an assistant on a low budget documentary.) Let’s also assume that we’re paying Interns $15 an hour.

Rounding to nearest quarter hours for easy math, my cut was $33.75 to the producer; the basic Finisher cut would be $7.50 and the Finisher plus novice with editor tidy-up (however you would write that elegantly) would add another $7.50 of craft editor on top of the cost of the Intern cut.

Under half price.

Scaling production

Here’s where it gets exciting (for me anyway – I am easily excited). The Digital Cinema Society and Studio Daily produced some forty videos during NAB 2009 with the talented Chris Knell editing. Let’s assume that Chris got paid the hourly rate he should have and worked 10 hour days (with breaks) to get forty videos done within the week. By rights he should have been paid in the order of $1800 for that time.

One craft editor can tidy and clean four videos an hour (five based on my numbers, but let’s say four). Each video will take an Intern about 30 minutes to prepare a video for the craft editor. We need two Interns to feed the skilled craft editor four videos an hour. (2 Interns producing two cuts with Finisher per hour). Now 10 videos can be produced in 2.5 hours instead of 10 (getting them to the audience faster).

Faster and cheaper: Cost per day is 2.5 x 45 = $112.50 plus 2 x 2.5 x 15 = $75 for a daily total of $187.50. For the four days the editor also gets to enjoy NAB – show or hospitality – and the total cost to the producer is $750, not $1800. The massive reduction in time means that one crew could shoot and edit without damaging their personal health.

So, what I learnt at the Face-off is that Finisher is a tool I can use as an editor (more on that shortly); it helps scale large volume production to get results out faster; and it can substantially reduce the cost of the mass production of these types of video. It was not only Studio Daily producing forty videos but FreshDV, Mac Video and  MacBreak were also producing video and could have achieved similar savings.

Analysis

Both approaches required logging the material. During the Face-off we both trimmed or subclipped our b-roll to individual shots. (Here’s a tip we both used: drop the b-roll clip or clips in a Sequence and add edits, deleting bad sections of b-roll as you go, then convert to independent clips and name something appropriate. Finisher will use the name as metadata).

We also trimmed up our A-roll adding Markers as we went. For Finisher the Markers were added to Sequence Markers and given a duration that the novice wanted to cover with b-roll. I was placing Markers into the A-roll clip – so they would move when I cut the clip - so I could locate where b-roll shots would go based on topic.

What I learnt was that, if I adopted the convention from Finisher and basically added comments to my Markers that matched clip names, I could automate the process of laying in clips to the Timeline – 2 minutes for the Finisher round trip vs 10 or so to do it manually. It’s basically an automation tool.

Plus, as an editor I’d be closer to being finished as I’d place my Markers a heck of a lot better than a novice does/did.

But it’s really in the scaling and cost reduction for mass production that came as a surprise – a pleasant one.

When I heard the news Monday morning I went into a mild shock. Mik was a lot younger than I am, and that’s always scary. He also seemed the picture of health. If he knew of the condition that killed him, he never let on.

Mik was a friend both online and in person when I’ve travelled to New York and, of course, at NAB time. So many people have attested to his generosity of spirit, good humor and generally gentle nature.

Appropriately the 2009 NAB Supermeet was dedicated to Mik’s memory with tribute paid by Carey Dissmore and Rob Birnholz and a slideshow of Mik – mostly at user group functions – was presented by Dan Berube.

The International Media Users Group has posted a tribute page.

God speed Mik, you will be missed.

While I’m not sure exactly of the schedule, I’ll be helping Larry Jordan and his crew with their mighty “official podcast of NAB” schedule by filing some reports through the week.

NAB starts very early Sunday morning when I moderate a panel starting at 8:15 am for the Creative Storage Conference on Electronic Content Delivery and Digital Storage where I expect to learn a lot from the panelists. Apart from the early hour – not my golden time – it should be a great session.

Monday night, more so than usual, is incredibly busy. I’ll be starting the evening at the IMUG (International Media Users Group) MediaMotion Cafe (downgraded from the MediaMotion Ball this year – the ball will be back in 2010), which is sold out. I’ll also be attending the official Avid event at pretty much the same time, while trying to catch the unofficial user event in the central bar. That’s sponsored and your business card gets you free drinks.

The big highlight for me is our Finisher Face-off: the Finisher software with novice editor, up against an experienced editor, cutting a package shot at the show by the Digital Cinema Society. Neither contestant will have seen the already-captured footage before the edit. Should be fun to watch at 2pm Tuesday April 21st on the Final Cut Pro User Group Superbooth - SL10129 near the Blackmagic Design booth. We have no idea how this will go down, so if you’re at NAB, come find out when we do.

We’ll be revealing the results at the Final Cut Pro User Supermeet that night at the Rio Amazon Ballroom where we have an Exhibitor Table (shared). The agenda for the Supermeet looks amazing.

Although the ProMax Digital Lounge is on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night, I’ll only be able to make it on Wednesday night. At 6:45 I’ll be presenting on  ”Growing Your Production / Post Business During The Recession” based on my new book that will get first showing at NAB but be officially released a week or two later when we get paperback copies back from the printer.

The book is called The New Now: Grow your production or postproduction business in a changed and changing world. It’s packed full of practical advice on how to use networking, social media, company blog and ‘the new PR’ to grow your business whatever the economic circumstances. Like the HD Survival Handbook the new book will be available for PDF download from ProAppsTips.com for $9.95 or from Amazon for $19.95 for those who prefer paperback.

The way the book industry is changing is probably the subject for another post.

Wednesday night is also the RED user event where I’ll before heading off to  the ProMax Digital Lounge.

Hopefully I’ll see you at NAB.

In addition to these specific articles that I read in depth instead of just scanning the headlines, there were general news items from the US and Australia, and a couple of tutorials that will be added to the BuZZdex today. (I’m still doing that to help Larry Jordan out.) There are also about 20 email groups that come via Mail.

So, the day after iPhone 3.0 software announcement, and all things Irish, here’s what I’ve been reading this morning, and why.

NBCU’s Zucker Calls Out Jon Stewart: Blaming CNBC Is ‘Absurd’

The thoughts of the President of NBCU are always interesting. These types of summary articles also give insight into statistics. Interesting that Zucker thinks that NBCU is a “cable company” (rather than broadcast) and that they are now at “digital dimes” for digital content, up from digital pennies.

How is Avid faring in this tough economy? – Response

A response on the “Chat with Avid” blog from Kirk Arnold. Any comments from companies important in our industry is worth reading. (They’re doing ok but watching the economy carefully.)  In another post Kirk suggests people come to NAB for “the conversations”.

Streaming TV on ABC and MTV Is Profitable

NewTeeVee is a useful blog. Like the NBCU article this one is interesting for the data points it provides.

Google Provides Numbers On Just How Often DMCA Takedown Process Is Abused

Copyright, and the way DMCA takedown notices are being seriously abused by “big media” and those who want to drive out competitors is a subject area I follow closely. This provides some useful statistics.

How-to: building services into iPhone applications

While we’ll probably never build an iPhone application, never say never! So I maintain interest in articles on creating iPhone apps against the day we’ll decided to make one, or create one on behalf of a client.

The benefits of history

Frankly I read every post on Seth Godin’s blog. Marketing is an area where I can improve and his advice is more “out of the box” than most. Always good insight. This one is particularly challenging since we think Assisted Editing will “change the world”. So far I can’t think of who else has tried and failed at this.

Entrepreneurs vs. VCs

While we’re not currently planning to raise money from Venture Capital, I’m always interested in knowing about the process, in the hope that if we do ever need to go through that process, I’ll be informed and prepared. Brad Feld is always a good read.

Zucker Loves Hulu, But He’s About To Kill It

Who wouldn’t read this, given the headline? A different take on Jeff Zucker’s comments about Hulu. Apparently digital dimes aren’t worth much more than digital pennies?

iPhone 3.0 now with SquirrelFish Extreme?

I have a long standing belief that Apple will never allow Flash on their digital devices nor their own website. Instead they’re going down the path of HTML 5 and Javascript for Rich Internet Applications. With 30 million iPhone/iTouch sold that’s the world’s second largest platform not supporting Flash. (I figure there are less than 30 million Macs in use, it’s close and if not yet, the mobile OS X will have more uses than the desktop version). If website owners want to reach those people, they need something other than Flash, and Apple make it easier with improved Javascript speed. The Ajaxian blog is valuable to anyone programming web applications.

Client Collaboration and the IKEA Effect

While I’m not a lawyer (and don’t even play one on the Internet) the [non]billable hour always has great marketing insights for any sort of service company. And a consultancy – the Big Brains for Rent – is part of our business. Get clients involved in solving their own problems is the take-away here.

Major Book Publishers Start Turning To Scribd

I’m interested in self publishing – I think the technical book model will change to updatable pdfs and print on demand for those who want hard copy, so I’m interested in any developments in that space.

Mobile TV Backers Figuring Out That People Don’t Want To Pay For It

 I remain skeptical about “mobile video” although no-one has really defined where the demand is, or where the business model is. 

Vonage Pro now compatible with Macs

We’ve got Macs and we’ve been exclusively Vonage for “land lines” for more than 5 years now so why wouldn’t I be interested?

That’s what’s caught my eye this morning. I’ll probably look at other stories later in the day.

There’s plenty of free vector art out there, but most of it shouldn’t be seen in public, let alone on your latest digital art masterpiece. Here are 60 completely free vector graphics that even the professionals use. They really should cost money, but we’re not complaining!

Check them out here.

So, once again I’m not going, and this year it’s bad. This is the first IBC FCP Supermeet organized in part by my good friend Mike Horton. Imagine putting together a major even a couple of thousand miles from your home base, in a city with a foreign language, expensive currency and way cool coffee shops. (They probably wouldn’t help Mike keep organized though!). The agenda has been set for the September 14 meeting at the Culture Park Westergasfabriek, Gashouder. (I hope that’s an address – for all I know I could be insulting someone’s mother!)

And there’s a good lineup for the meeting – ok, obviously *I* won’t be there to wow the crowd with a demo of Assisted Editing, but we will be giving away a copy of First Cuts as a raffle prize.

Those that make it will get Paul Saccone, Director of Technical Marketing in Apple’s Applications Marketing group, will provide the latest news on Final Cut Studio. If you’re into Digital Cinema Technology QuVIS will debut their offering there. Adobe’s Simon Hayhurst and Jason Levine will show how Adobe Production Premium’s suite of applications can compliment the Final Cut Pro workflow. (BTW, smart marketing by Adobe – people will have the CS3, and before the end of the month it appears CS4, and be tempted by what Adobe adds to the Final Cut Studio) without taking it on directly.) There will also be opportunity to see how the Infinity camera integrates with Final Cut Studio.

If you want to see the work of your peers, Darius Fisher will show clips from “Fields of Fuel” – the documentary that won the Audience award at Sundance 2008. Darius will also show how Final Cut Studio was used to make this complex and important documentary work. “Traitor” has only just been released Aug 27th (same as First Cuts/Finisher) and has an incredible pedigree behind it: written and directed by Jeffrey Nachmanoff, edited by award winning film editor, Billy Fox and it stars Don Cheadle and Guy Pearce. Once again, the role of Final Cut Studio will be discussed by Billy Fox and (if available) Jeffrey Nacmanoff.

The final show and tell will be Miguel de Olaso – a Director of Photography from Spain – about using the Red camera with Final Cut Pro. Not to forget that the ever-smart Rich Young – editor of Macvideo.tv and founder of the UK FCP User Group – will share his “Top Ten FCP Tips and
Tricks”, which would make the trip worthwhile.

In addition to the above agenda there will be twenty vendors from all around Europe showing off their wares. Many of these companies will not be on the show floor at IBC. The SuperMeet will be the only place you will see them. There will be food and cash bars and rounding out the evening will be a
raffle with prizes totaling into the tens of thousands of dollars.

Doors will open at 5PM (17:00) and the show will begin at 7PM. (19:00) Tickets are on sale online only for Euro 10.00 each and this event is expected to sell out. Historically every SuperMeet for the past seven years has sold out.

Complete details, including daily updates on the agenda as well as a link to where to buy tickets can be found on the lafcpug web site.

Maybe I’ll make IBC 2009

Saturday February 23rd in New York. Distribution Workshop.

Hope to see you there