We had a tape come through that was drop-out city. For the non-tech-savvy, it’s much like you recorded a TV show but the whole thing looks messed up with peoples’ heads where they shouldn’t be, or funny colors or noise in certain parts of the picture.
Many pros I know couldn’t fix that tape and would of left it for dead – but we did fix it. How?
It’s because I was taught by my mentor that you need to know the technical background to create really great productions as opposed to “walling off” yourself to the “other side.” And with digital tools nowadays, that wall is a low fence that is easily hopped.
Because he taught me those things for years, drilling it in my head that yes, checking your scopes matters, what the difference is between fields, and how still video is going to look when it is between fields (crucial pre-render), what blanking is, etc., we have been (although tediously) able to repair this critical tape using what would be to many people confusing controls (a simple online search shows that others find the controls difficult to use) that are completely understandable if you have a basic technical background. That, and those controls are extremely powerful and can accomplish this task BECAUSE they rely on knowing what you’re doing.
Moral of the story, and what he taught me – whatever you do, do it well. Love it enough to want to know it intimately. And if you don’t love it, leave it and find something you love. That’s when you’ll truly excel at what you do – and when you’ll cease going to work another day in your life.]]>
