Week of Learning

Well, it has been a bit of an interesting week. Really it was more of a learning experience. Nothing overtly special happened, just a couple of interesting items in that checkbook of life kind of thing.

First was that I finally got to take a class on Final Cut Express. I've been wanting to do this for over a month now and I finally did it. When we bought the mighty I-Mac, one of the extras that we bought for it was something called Apple One-to-One. For $99, we can take an individual course with an expert from the Apple store about any program that we have on the computer. I had been looking at various Final Cut courses, all were considerably more than that. There is a website called Lynda.com that will give you a tutorial, but it is difficult to digest.

((Me in my Producing days//Courtesy: Jon Nelson))

Thankfully, I am already able to edit, I just needed to figure out how to do things with the program. The "Expert" spent about 15 minutes showing me what buttons I needed to use to do things...and I was off and running. He didn't have to say much else, I think I asked 3 or 4 more questions, but I got it and got it quickly. Now, I just need to start applying what I learned. No, right now I probably couldn't cut a story on deadline like I used to on AVID, but with some practice, I will.

That leads me up to the other interesting tidbit of the week. There is another job open at the ABC station here in town (Assignment Desk and Associate Producer/not perfect, but I'll do it). As soon as I saw it, I contacted the person I spoke to the last time I was there (the Asst. News Director) and applied. So you are asking yourself, "OK, why was that important, you probably are applying to all kinds of jobs". And you are right, I am. This was interesting because on Friday morning, I found out that my contact is leaving to take a job in West Palm Beach (not an option).

Thankfully, I am smarter than I look. Immediately I sent him a congratulatory e-mail. In the second paragraph, I just played a bit dumb and asked what I should do about the job and who should be my contact. He got back to me about an hour later and said that he no longer is hiring the position, but the News Director was and that I am on their radar for spot. (Yea!) I e-mailed the News Director and hopefully I will hear something from him next week (cross your fingers).

Those are the highlights of the week. Michelle had her Surgery follow up on Friday as well. It went really well. She is cleared to work from home next week and then go to the office the week after. Though I love her with every fiber of my being, I'm kind of happy that they are going to let her go back soon. I have kind of come to enjoy my time here while she is at work, I get more done that way. I still haven't finished the book and my deadline is closing fast. Sunday is probably going to have to be a workday where I get at least 2 chapters written.

Enjoy some Kiss. Thanks You Tube:

Google is your friend (Not in a Facebook Kind of Way)

It's true. Google may be the answer...or at least the provider of all the answers that you will ever need. Amazing as it is...and quite honestly for those who are hip and up and technology, you already know this...you can find out just about anything you want by doing a Google search.

I had used the search engine on occasion, mostly for stuff relating to Onlinesportsguys.com, but that was only the tip of the iceberg. Really, if you know the right combinations of keywords, it's amazing what is out there.

Most of my searching...at least the job search related ones have been using derivatives of keywords that would work for my profession. For example: Video Photographer or Video Editor. You can be even more specific: Television Video Photographer or Final Cut Pro Video Editor...be specific if you can because adding one word will make a huge difference as to what will come up in your search.

The other thing that I've learned is this; while your search will call up umpteen million hits, you probably don't need to go past the first 5 pages or so. After that, the links become pretty repetitive and often times are older and out of date.

This search method works in other places as well. One of the cool things that you can do on Indeed.com is type in Keywords like you do in Google. In fact it will list jobs only rather than some of the excess crap that Google spits back

So far, I've found some useful stuff on these searches. I've found a couple of production companies that keep a crew database for available freelance help and I'm now on their lists. I've also found some local production houses who may or may not be looking for help, but they at least have an e-mail and my resume'. Yeah, they could delete them...or they may not act on them...but they are there.

I've also had a bit of luck with one of the local TV Stations. I went to there website and found a job listing for a Fill-in Producer, something I have some experience at...at least in doing Sports shows. I applied at their corporate site and got a call 4 hours later from the Assistant News Director who saw my resume' and wanted to talk. 20 minutes later he said "I just wanted to talk to you and see where you were at" "If this position doesn't work out, I'll probably have some others, with your resume' it looks like you can do a lot". Maybe that will work out and maybe it won't, but...it keeps me hungry and interested because I got feedback and probably the biggest thing I've learned with this job search is this: "Any response is a good response, it keeps you going and motivated to do more". It also validates that the search does work, if not this time...eventually.

If you are interested, here is a brief tutorial that I found on the You Tube:


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