Yet when I moved to Atlanta without a job, every professional told me I was in the BIG city and now NOBODY CARES that I could do anything, I needed to have a specific specialty in one production aspect. So I chose editing and moved up the skill path I mentioned on the previous post.

And now what are people expecting in the BIG City? The Return of the All-Purpose Guy.

Kinda wish I could find all those professional advisors from back then and ask their thoughts now 🙂

Now CNN shows the same can be done in the broadcast world. The question just comes down to whats good enough for the audience. Whats the least amount of work we need to do to draw in an audience? Rather than whats the most creative way we can present our stories to engage the audience.

Thats why I say for now editing is a commodity. Someday the pendulum will swing back to where folks understand the artistry of editing is just as important as the software.

And when you say Eventually the pattern will swing back to the artists, it makes me think about the 1999 Cronenberg film eXistenZ. In the film, a growing backlash against technologists produces an army of realists who rebel against the pervasive augmented reality that has overtaken society.

Do you see this industry reaching some tipping point down the road when we realize automation is good only to a point? Because I believe after that point is reached, there are only diminishing returns.

That corporate experience really helped me develop my skills as a Producer / Director that still plays a big part of my professional life today. I’m in the midst of development of four original television series and the lessons I learned back in 1996 producing a national commercial for the casino I was working for at the time still come into play.

A buddy of mine is in the Navy Communications department right now actually. Quite proud of her and her service to this country.

Im biased but Ive said for a long time that the best non linear editors are those who started in the linear world. Give me an Accom Axial 2020 / Philips Diamond Digital switcher / Abekas A53 / Chyron and Im living the good life! 🙂

What you are describing is already happening with individuals like Ariana Huffington starting an aggregate website that has now gone mainstream as credible news. So you will have that one man news station popping up all over the web able to give micro specific news to whatever audience they want to reach. For every successful one there will probably be thousands that fail.

But again, my post was not really about news. CNN just happens to be a very public example of what has been happening with the craft in general.

Nowadays there is less skill required in editing than was ever required. Its kinda like the cashier at the grocery store, she used to have to have a memory and skill with a numeric keypad.
Now they just have to scan and ask for my club card.

Ive saved that email as a reminder to never work with him…and I havent.

Outstanding post. Ive been using the word processing doesnt make you a writer example for years about any craft. The candles been burning from both ends slowly- equipment had gotten cheaper and the professional standards have diminished, all to save a buck. As an independent, I always respect good business decisions, but it can be frustrating when your skill and experience is decreasingly valued to the point where one thinks anyone can do it.

Another disturbing trend is the OVER-crossover knowledge people expect of us. I learned to edit old school (GVG, Axial, Chyron, D-2 Preread; etc) then adapted to the non-linear world- AVID FCP among others. Along the way, I learned 3rd party plugins like Shine pro-animator, and of course Photoshop, AE, Motion, Flash, Color. Still, I get calls from clients asking me if I can do complete 3d modeling (cinema4d, Maya, Studio max), or if I can shoot and provide a Canon HD XL1 with lights and green screen. Im pretty intelligent and flexible, BUT How much hardware/software does someone expect us to provide/operate for the same day rate???

But out of fairness, this is happening everywhere – Cant tell you how many colleagues of mine now use turbotax quickbooks and fired their accountant. Web Software is also getting so thorough and smart, one needs to know less less coding to build a commerce site, write an app, and so forth. Its a trend that will continue in any field that requires computer operations.

All we can do is improve our skills, and align ourselves with employers/producers who respect what we do and know that broadcast programming is not done with a flipcam and imovie.

thanks for my rant 🙂 BTW Walter, thanks for AtlantaCutters.com. I was at GPTV two months ago for the monthly event and wanted to introduce myself, but you were busy. Maybe next time.

Rick Neely