As a 25-year veteran in high-end post, animation, and special effects, I can honestly say that this is the most dynamic and promising period yet in production and post for those embracing new desktop technology. It is my opinion that professionals in our industry need to aggressively combine their years of real-world experience in production and post, with an immediate and intense learning of desktop media in order to stay competitive in the future. The combination of their real-world experience with the liberating power of desktop media solutions will be formidable.
Several years ago, I realized that the desktop video revolution was accelerating, after seeing an early demo of Final Cut Pro. The concept of an individual being able to build an inexpensive digital editing and compositing suite of his own was extremely liberating. I had no doubt that it would impact upon every aspect of our business in the coming years. My choices were to master the new technology or to miss out on the future. Having now spent the last two years aggressively learning, and integrating desktop and Internet technology with traditional high-end production and post techniques, I am convinced that the future promises to be empowering for everyone: high-end facilities, boutiques, freelancers, and the highest form of human life—clients.
Rather than focus on the threats of increasing competition from less-expensive technologies, I see a future where digital media becomes more ubiquitous and important to everyone. Apple’s Steve Jobs believes that the desktop video revolution will be bigger than the desktop publishing revolution. If he is right, then many more people will be fluent in video and animation creation in the future. It’s true that the status quo may change, but access to technology doesn’t supplant the need for technical expertise and creative storytelling. If anything, greater interest and understanding of video creation techniques will lead to an increasing appreciation of great work. In the rapidly changing effects world, for instance, no one appreciates Ray Harryhausen’s pioneering accomplishments more than today’s computer animators. The best of them combine an understanding of traditional animation techniques with new technology to create work more exciting and ambitious than ever before.
Desktop publishing changed the rules of print production, but there are still needs for great photographers, writers, editors and printers. The successful print companies embraced and integrated the new technology. Experienced professionals involved in film and video creation that aggressively incorporate desktop and Internet technologies will also reap personal and professional rewards. Producers, art directors, and account representatives will all have greater power to communicate their ideas much more clearly and quickly. The fact that producers can edit video, build Web sites, and burn DVDs, does not necessarily mean that they will eliminate production and post personnel. It does mean that producers may redefine their own roles, and become more creative and effective in communicating ideas and managing projects.
The fact that the tools are inexpensive is irrelevant if you focus on the two most important issues: the quality of the work, and the client.
The bottom line is that inexpensive professional tools should not be thought of as threatening to the status quo. It’s much wiser for high-end providers to quickly integrate new inexpensive technologies into their skill sets and business plans. If you have invested a great deal of time and money in mastering the complexities of our industry, and technology changes the rules, you had better learn the new rules quickly. The personal and professional rewards will be great. As Charlie Chaplin says in Limelight, "Life is wonderful if you are not afraid of it. All you need is courage, imagination and a little dough."
