Profit$ via Vegas Forum Night School

CClub wrote on 11/2/2007, 11:12 AM
I've been reading postings on this forum for the past several years. I started about 4 years ago with just one Sony Handycam TRV22 for fun, upgraded to 2 Sony 2100's, recently upgraded to a Sony V1U and a Canon HV20. All from reading this forum.

I've assembled a computer system that can handle HD, upgraded to full lighting kits, audio, and a 1,000 small accessories (never knew what a ShuttlePro was before). All from input from this forum. Spot for HD info, Farss provided amazing audio info (directed me into buying Rode mics), Grazie, Cheno (guided me through buying my full lighting kits), VicMilt, John Cline (followed his advice to upgrade my own system), JohnMeyer, Ed Troxel, business encouragement from Ken Calhoun, on and on. I've printed out hundreds of postings that I've used from dozens of different individuals here. My wife jokes that the forum is my night school, and it really is, and it's actually brought about a fun, creative side career for me.

I'm just a beginner compared to those who do this full-time (you'd wince at some of my current technique). Until now, I've channeled all of my earnings back into equipment upgrades. Then, over the past 6 months I've done several quite profitable projects, and tomorrow I tape a project with a national marketing company for which I was paid $5,000. Small potatoes for many of you guys, but big for me as a late evening/part-time business. On 11-04-07, after much technical and historical research, I'm beginning taping a feature-length documentary on a Holocaust survivor.

I use Vegas, because I can do it quickly and easily, which has enabled me to come in cheaper than others with the same quality. I picked up Premiere Pro/After Effects and will likely pickup a Mac/FCP eventually because I've been offered cooperative work if I can use those programs. But going with Vegas, with this support family on the forum, has enabled me to keep right on the edge of things while producing low-cost, high quality productions.

I would not have come anywhere near this level without this forum. In addition, Vegas opens up the field for guys like me, due to the easy learning curve. Over time, it enables me to move forward technically and creatively, while even sometimes using other programs due to enabling me to break through the often daunting information in this field.

I know this all sounds cheesy and like a commercial, but I've found that this forum is an incredible resource, and I wanted to thank all of you (maybe someday I can even answer a question in a posting!). It is a real educational opportunity which can lead in many directions.

Ya think I can list the Vegas forum in my Holocaust documentary credits??

Comments

TheHappyFriar wrote on 11/2/2007, 11:21 AM
yes. video game companies thank individuals/communities all the time. Spot was thanks in the game Prey.
Soniclight wrote on 11/2/2007, 3:16 PM
CClub,

I'm much further behind you in terms of accumulation of skills or accomplishments (hats of to you on yours! :) I'm also on a semi-medical leave from all things video.

BUT...

I have the same sense of gratitude about the great people here who have replied to Qs I've posted and other things I've learned from them through reading other posts. I certainly support your acknowledging them on your project/s.

Credits Idea: They may like to have their real-world names used. Or not. That's up to you and them.

Keep up the great work -- and let us see some of it too :)
Spot|DSE wrote on 11/2/2007, 3:40 PM
CClub, congrats on finishing projects and the successes behind it! Always nice to see a fellow forum member enjoying success as they chase the art.
I hope we're all smarter faster because of the web, I'd like to think so.
CClub wrote on 11/2/2007, 3:42 PM
Soniclight,
I've read your posts... I am certainly not anywhere near ahead of you regarding skills or accomplishments (everything I have done is listed above, that's it!!). I've benefited from both your questions and input. Hopefully my posting above doesn't come off as any bragging about either my skills or accomplishments, which are honestly just crossing the starting line. I'm just real fired up about the projects coming up and had to share it with a group who would be interested. Despite just basic to [a few] intermediate skills, perhaps I'm just stubborn enough to press through and find some crazy niche that none of the studios in the area are covering.

James
Cheno wrote on 11/2/2007, 3:57 PM
CClub,

It's been a pleasure chatting with you. Glad we all could help in some way. I don't think there's anyone here who hasn't started out the way you did. I'm grateful for all the support I've had along the way and it's still coming :)

I was just talking with a friend today about how great the internet has been for things like this. No way we could amass this knowledge in more traditional ways as quickly as we do now.

-cheno
CorTed wrote on 11/2/2007, 5:25 PM
CCLUB,

I totally agree. I'm certaily a newby to this forum and perhaps to video editing as a whole compared to what I consider real talent on this forum in some of the names you mentioned. I am truly surprised at how quickly people jump in to give you answers, and I think this is definitely one of the reasons I purchased Vegas. This forum is extremely valuable for the people dabbling in this field like I am. There are way more people reading (and learning) than just the few involved in the discussions.
Kuddos to you and your success. And my personal thanks to ALL the contributors to this forum, and Sony for letting it happen.

Ted
farss wrote on 11/2/2007, 5:33 PM
"No man is an island, entire of self;...."

Personally I think thanking this community is more appropriate than thanking the individuals. Even when we help we learn too.

Bob.
Soniclight wrote on 11/3/2007, 7:44 AM
CClub,

Glad I have inadvertently been of some use to you :)

No, you're not coming off as bragging, simply stating facts and yes, you have a right to be fired up about it all. And trust me, I'm far more in the "newbie" wing compared to the other luminaries around here. Not false humility, just a fact.

That said, as with many, I can pull off some fairly decent stuff due to what many of us have -- transferable skills. In my case, past graphic and display design and some still photography experience.

Still very much in video learning (and enjoying curve :)

Farss,

"No man is an island, entire of self;...."

Said in your typical, self-effacing Anglo-Saxon/British/Aussie manner. I've thanked you a few times for your direct help on and off board and thus know how Bah-Humbug you can be about this type of thing.

Sure, thanking the community is fine, but every community is made up of individual (a.k.a. human beings). There is no crime in acknowledging people personally -- or in gracefully accepting someone's gratitude.

The ego can play the game of stoicism too.

Small kindnesses is what makes life worthwhile too. Helping others is kindness in action, accepting their gratitude is just as honorable. And indeed, one learns as one teaches or helps too.

So get a grip, Bob: You and others do contribute to many of us here and you won't your dignity or objectivity (Anglo-Saxon or otherwise) by accepting/acknowledging a thank you here and there.

Deal with it, mate :)

~ Dr. Phil
Soniclight wrote on 11/3/2007, 8:09 AM
P.S. to Bob -- An Example of Why Acceptance It Ain't So Bad

On my last visit to my ophthalmologist I mentioned how having even one of my cataracts fixed had made me appreciate and actually see a simple thing like the patterns of the fur on my cat.

And that I thanked her for her having done the surgery.

She does surgeries like we cut and paste events in Vegas -- one of the top ophthalmologists in the U.S. and a woman of humility yet obvious professional acumen. I'm sure she's used to being lauded for her skills.

Yet mentioning my cat and such brought out a lightness in her whereby she expressed how she felt blessed in having the skills to help people. For a few minutes, it was two human beings talking, not just patient and doctor.

It was a nice moment in which a hard-working and dedicated woman got what was coming to her: one more deserved thank you.

She didn't lose her professional perspective as her humanity opened up to a patient's gratitude. But it sure seemed to add a touch of joy in her demeanor.

No crime in that.

And comparing her skills to ours isn't the point here. That's more ego stuff. The point is that whatever our skills and whatever we contribute to others has value.

So I see no existential faux pas in CClub thanking individuals at this board, not just the community in general.

Or Mr. Bob/Farss and others accepting a thanks once in a while :)

And, yeah, I'm rambling on here. So time to put a sock in it.
But you get the drift.
Grazie wrote on 11/3/2007, 8:32 AM
Entomologist? I thought they studied bugs?

"Stay away from the light!!" - "But it is so prettyyy . .. . .. "

Just how many "retinas" and lenses DO you have???!! No wonder you are pleased!!

- G
Soniclight wrote on 11/3/2007, 9:08 AM
Grazie,

Thanks, I corrected that, uh, field-of-endeavor typo. Just goes to show that having only one eye fixed and using the Firefox spellchecker isn't a smooth a thing right now -- still have to squint for such things.

And I obviously got myself, well, buggy here by choosing the wrong word options.
My second and last surgery is on the 27th of this month.

I won't have the one-eyed excuse after that anymore :)
farss wrote on 11/4/2007, 3:05 AM
Phil,
thanks for your kind words and for putting me straight, you are right, the thought that was in my head when I wrote that was that if it wasn't for the help, encouragement, provocation and patience of many here (some long departed) and elsewhere I wouldn't be in the position to give what meagre help I might.
I hope I didn't sound ungracious, that certainly wasn't my intention, only that my feeling has always been that all that I'm doing is 'passing it forward'.

Bob.
RogerB1 wrote on 11/4/2007, 5:16 AM
I attend this wonderful school several times each day.

I am a 70 yrear old retired music educator. I started to make movies at age 15 but have only been using the computers for these last 11 years or so. Now I am trying to learn how to editi HDV. I have not gotten too far as yet, but I will! This forum has been a God-Sent for me. Just to let you know I really appreciate your help. Thank you so much, Roger Bloemers
Wausau, Wisconsin