You Can Never Go Dome

The Astrodome Control Room 2012

     So a little over a month ago, there was a media tour of the Astrodome. I'm not sure what the purpose of the tour was, but Melissa Phillip from the Houston Chronicle took this photo and it was sent to me via a friend who knew I had worked there.
     I sat in that chair for approximately four years. I saw the Sosa and McGuire home run race from that chair. I got to watch the '97 and '99 Astros teams, which may have been better than the 2005 team, from that chair.
     It was crazy to me that it looked almost exactly the same as when I left at the end of the 1999 season. It also pointed out how far technology has marched onward. I'm amused at the 9" black and white camera monitors we used. Also, the size of switchers has increased proportionately.
     We almost sat in each others' laps in the old days but one of the finest things about directing at the Dome, you always had a great seat. I will always remain fond of the building because it's part of my past.

Directing at Minute Maid 2012

   
     Walking into Enron Field in 2000, there were painters still putting the final touches on the stadium just a few hours before the first game. In 2011, a new control room was built in the converted Star Suite #1. With an HD control room, some of the latest equipment, and a lot of space and leg room, it's become the new home. I just wonder, in 10 or 15 years, will there be as many changes in technology. Scary thoughts!

The Gathering - Austin

It's early in the year so it must be time for the "gathering". Yes, this is a direct reference to the movie "Highlander" but it seems appropriate for this event. Every year at this time, editors from around the country, and a few from beyond our borders, convene at one location to talk and learn about their craft.
The Master Editor's Retreat takes place in Austin this year starting tomorrow.
I have attended three times before and it's certainly one of my favorite things to do. We spend the day considering advancements in technology, software, and compression techniques, and wind the evenings down considering artistic and esoteric considerations in storytelling.
I'm always recharged after the retreat about being an editor and spending time with my fellow artists shows me the possibilities that are out there.
The dual nature of my career, directing/technical directing and editing, is not so strange. I think of directing as live editing and still try to find the right shot, framing, duration, and flow along the way. Plus, there are nearly as many revisions in live television.
As most of my editing is done alone, and all of my live work is with a large group, it's a nice mixture between the roar of the crowd and the quiet solitude and reflective nature of post production.
So stay tuned and wait to hear more on what the future holds courtesy of the 2012 Master Editor's Retreat!

5 Percent Takes 20 Percent of the Time

Greetings friends,
It's been too long since I've posted anything here but with the new year starting, I have dedicated myself to writing on a more regular basis. The world continues to be comical to me most of the time so I hate not getting to share some observations and opinions from time to time. Especially since I can sleep this morning for some reason.
I'm getting ready to attend the Editors Retreat in Austin next month and it has me thinking about the craft of editing and what I do on a regular basis. For those of you who watch television or any kind of media for that matter, have you considered the very painful process of editing? Yes I said painful!
It seems, and it's been true for many years, that as an editor, I spend roughly 20 percent of the time on a project, on 5 percent of actual content. You would think with advances in computers and non-linear editing software, this would have improved over the last twenty years but for some reason, it's a part of the process.
We now do reviews via sites like yousendit where we have less interaction in person with clients. Although I like the fact that I can do the majority of my editing alone, there's a gap sometimes in the communication process that can often lead to multiple revisions.
So I guess we just plug along, try to stay creative, and hopefully bridge that gap in communication a little better when you can.