I’ve been on a research-and-shopping spree lately.
There’s a new fancy DSLR camera which the Internet promises is great for .. video. Yes, the day of reckoning may be upon us, soon.
There are a pile of cinema lighting things, microphones and dedicated voice recorders, tripods and high speed SD cards scattered all around my office. And software. There’s lots of software and instructional videos running, most of which just serve to make me feel clueless and insignificant.
Software for audio and video production. Fancy business.
What are you saying, Jake?
I look at this site, and things are getting better. Streamlined. Less links, less ambiguity. The program is starting to see new sessions, all updated and shiny.
I’m getting to be fairly happy with it.
But then there’s the elephant in the room. It’s all … rather old school. Text-only. All that’s missing is an option to input your fax number to have my articles faxed over to you.
I look at it all and I think … if I was you … or even if I was me, would I really be fully satisfied with all this?
I wouldn’t be. I’d put up with it because it’s a great resource.
You should get video sessions, and audio guides, and more front row experiences.
Really, I’d like to see this guy who promises to fix my eyesight. I want to listen to audio sessions while I’m driving or relaxing with my eyes closed. I want options to engage with all this content, besides just text on a page.
And if you’re anything like me, nodding at this, then yes. I’m working on it.
The challenge is a) that my face isn’t the world’s most video-genic. I’m self conscious about it. That and from the research and shopping and testing I’m learning that half decent video production takes actual skill and experience.
I’m thinking, what if these guys see me, and they go … “good lord, Jake doesn’t look nearly guru-esque enough, in an Indian-man-with-beard sort of way”.
What if the video looks like a 12 year old shot it on a Nokia flip-phone.
I thought about just hiring a crew. But then there’s the fact that I travel a whole lot, I can’t take those guys with me everywhere, and ultimately I’ll want to know how to do this myself. I went to see a few local firms anyway, and their attitudes totally put me off. You know me, I like to teach you things, so you can be empowered to have your own experiences. But those firm guys immediately basically told me that I’d never be able to produce good quality on my own, as soon as I told them of my intentions. I said, I’ll pay you to teach me. Name your price. I need to know what gear to buy, and how to make it all happen.
They reminded me a bit of the ole’ optometrist, with their “only we can know how” attitudes.
So whenever you come to the site the next few days or so, and it’s maybe a bit behind on articles, just know .. somewhere out there in the world is a very confused, barely-guru-Jake, fiddling with cables and mics and lenses and settings, trying to get you a little closer to the experience than just text on a page.
Here’s the volunteer crew and I goofing around, trying to learn how to use all this equipment.
Yes. We’re silly.
Hopefully all this will add to your experience, rather than be distracting. Let’s see soon, yea?
Cheers!
– Jake, the confused one
On, and … lately especially quite a few really awesome e-mails from you guys. Loving the encouragement and thumbs up on the new program sessions. Very happy to hear about you enjoying the various new experiences. ;-)
