Resume
Workflow | Editing | Graphics | Compression | Work History
Workflow
My slight obsession with organizing data started as a child, when I found classifying and categorizing my VHS library to be a fascinating pastime. Just one look at my iTunes and Photo databases and it’s obvious how rigorous and demanding I can be.
I started using Final Cut server in January 2009. Today I can setup software in a Mac OS X Server environment, manage the users who have access to it and create different profiles regarding their rights. I use my compressor settings in order to get exactly what I need from Final Cut Server. I create and administrate Watch folders, Schedule Scans, Subscription Triggers, Devices, etc …
Since I found Applescript to be too limiting, I started learning Python to extend the possibilities of FCS through scripting. I wrote my first script just to rename files properly after compression. Today I have gotten to the point where I can write scripts parsing Excel files into FCS using XML.
Editing
I discovered non linear video editing with Adobe Premiere 4 and I also played around with Sony Vegas Video. But it was with an AVID Xpress Station that I acquired the fundamentals of professional video editing .
From there on I progressed to Final Cut Pro. I have become an advanced user and it is mainly what I use today for editing. Nowadays I know every aspect of Final Cut Pro: I can anticipate the program behavior and bugs. I know its capacities and limitations. I can tweak the settings to optimize the usage of your hardware, depending on which one you work with.
Aside from the technical part of editing, I make it a point to keep up to date with the latest technologies and experimentations in the television and film industries – this also includes computer, web and photography in general.
Graphics
I launched Adobe Photoshop for the first time on an AMIGA with a MAC Emulator called Shapeshifter – you can imagine how long ago that was! Today my proficiency includes all picture formats with a clear understanding of their advantages and drawbacks.
I started using Adobe After Effects to pan and zoom into pictures while editing with Avid. I then used After Effects on a more regular basis to create credits and animations for TV Shows.
I was very excited when I first heard of Apple Motion. I remember the software being really buggy and slow at the beginning. Motion 3 opened new perspectives for me and I try to favor this software over AE to remain within the Apple workflow.
Compression
Your workflow needs to be adapted to your audience as well as to your sources. You would not compress an interview in the same way as you would encode footage of the jungle. What standard you use is also important to transmit video across the world. I know the different settings it takes to convert PAL to NTSC and NTSC to PAL (Frame rate and resolution conversion).
It is also necessary to target the largest audience possible, which requires knowing not only your codec specifications but also the history of those codecs in order to ensure that most people are equipped with them.
Once all those choices have been made, it is time to find the right tool to use to reach your goals. This tool needs to match your quality expectations and integrate your workflow as well.
When you remain within the Apple world and their Final Cut Suite it makes sense to use Compressor But it has its own limitations. Having the possibility to use Episode as a plugin for Compressor gives you more options.
Work History
Video Technical Director, UNICEF, 2006 – now
We are equipped with 5 Editing rooms, all with Final Cut Pro and PowerMac G5. All the data is centralized on 20TB of storage (2 XRaids and 1 Promise VTrak) managed by 3 XServes (1 for Xsan and 1 failover, and 1 for Final Cut Server). We also have a Protools room where we produce the podcasts and voiceovers for our videos.
I provide support to our video producers and editors and their editing stations. I research and advise on any new technologies that may be relevant to video and audio production, distribution and syndication systems support implementation.
I have to find the best solution to a technical problem in a politically and economically sensitive environment.
Video Editor, Equipage, 2002 – 2006
This is when I started working for broadcast television. I started with Avid and then moved on to Final Cut Pro. I edited a variety of projects including TV shows, documentaries, and short films. I also developed skills including camera operation, post production supervising, graphic design, compositing, mixing, color correction and DVD authoring.
Partner IT Manager, Gaiaxys, 2001 – 2002
I created dynamic websites (using PHP) with back office to administrate the webpages. I created CD-ROMs with Macromedia Director. I also administrated the network in the office, supervised our computer programmers, and was a partner involved in company decisions and forward-thinking.
Project Manager, Palo Alto, 1999 – 2001
I managed major online and offline projects in a web agency (with a $150,000 budget). I started by administrating an Oracle Database then creating an engine to automatically extract content from QuarkXpress Documents into a database. I was part of a huge project in France which consisted in posting TV and Radio content online way before its time. When I started, the company employed about 10 people. Six months later we were 80.
