Schools for FCP vs Avid Symphony

Was reading on Apple that one person has checked out Avid Symphony and I wonder, is Avid losing money?

I know that getting Avid training and perhaps you can get some work, what are the alternatives to Avid as in FCP training WITH, "w", as in W-I-T-H some sort of job placement?

i ask as I see man FCP editors needed but as this poster on apple stated, Avid probably equates money which means budget which means getting paid and not deferred. Although some are starting to show up (NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN).

Appreciate guidance and advice.

Thanks

Not sure about the question here - are you saying where can you get FCP training with a guaranteed job at the end? If so, I think that's not really a feasible request.

Good jobs go to good editors, which is not really the same thing as knowing how to push all the buttons.

The machine that you use is almost irrelevant, compared to your ability to cut a story. Some of the best editors ever used scissors and tape.

>>Avid probably equates money which means budget which means getting paid and not deferred<<

I never accept deferred payment. It's got nothing to do with the gear you use.

Jude is spot on here...tools are tools. The more you have in your belt, the broader your scope is for hirability. The story is the thing.

I just got recruited for a new full time gig on an Avid Media Composer Adrenaline system (PC - yuck) and they didn't even care that I have been working on FCP for the last 5 years. A good company will not hire you for the singular reason that you can operate their tools. A good company will give you the tools YOU need to do YOUR JOB. That said, this new place is dumping their 4 MC Adrenaline PC systems for MacPro FCP systems in the fall.

I remember in early the 2000's tha studio I worked for dumped 4 Media100 stations for Avids and we were all grateful. FCP was just coming up. Now, FCP is the 800 lb gorilla and Avid is going to fall way off into a tiny "niche" market of filmmakers. It's not financially beneficial for a studio to go with Avid anymore.

Sorry... I wandered... bottom line is don't limit yourself to one tool. Tell a good story no matter what your line of work and everything else will fall into place.

When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.

AVID schools...FCP schools....all they do is teach you how to use the tools. Not one has job placement. That is up to you to find. I know, it is tough when you don't know where to start. All about networking and sending out lots and lots of resumes.

And don't expect to hit the ground running as an editor. Not unless you have edited before and have a good reel. In Los Angeles, you will have better luck finding work as an assistant editor, and might have to even start as a Post Production Assistant. But any way to get your foot in the door and meet people is a good thing.

Post your resume here...and even list yourself as an assistant. I found a TERRIFIC assistant editor from the JOB LISTING forum here! I'd like to take this opportunity to give a shout out to Gabe! I got him a job on a Nickelodeon show, and now he is working for me on a History Channel series. KING of media management this guy is. Second most knowledgeable FCP guy there (next to me). Even knows more than the techs setting up the XSAN.


www.shanerosseditor.com

Listen to THE EDIT BAY Podcast on iTunes
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Yeah..."placement" is a very suspect term when looking at schools. My school touted a "Placement Department"...but there was no such thing (it was more like a Guidance Counselor). They gave me leads / helped me write a great resume / told me how to dress / how to talk / etc...but they didn't edit my demo for me (the one cool thing is I have Lifetime access to Leads from the "Placement Department" so that's nice). It was ultimately up to me to sell my own goods and get the gig. Only if your Uncle owns the school AND a studio will "placement" happen automatically. You can NEVER depend on being "placed". Ultimately, you will have to clean yourself up (grooming), write up a successful resume, assemble a killer demo, and pound the pavement. We have all done it. I handed out resumes like wartime propaganda leaflets. I would have dropped them out of planes but that option was too expensive

When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.

It never dawned on me that budget had so much to do with Avid hire>use> Whatever compared to FCP. In Britain Avid is the TV norm, the BBC contrary to all the FCP talk use Avid but they have good budgets and access to halls full of Symphony and Adrenaline. Avid training in the UK is (in dollars) is $4000 for w a weekend. That's a new mac pro...

Not just talk, Phil:

[www.broadcastfreelancer.com]

[www.apple.com]

[blog.wired.com]

When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.

> I handed out resumes like wartime propaganda leaflets. I would have dropped them out of
> planes but that option was too expensive

Thanks for the encouragement. I would have, but there weren't so many production houses in my area. I will someday though, when i reach an area with many production houses. I did however, tweak graphics off a porn pic to use as the backdrop for a resume... and i actually landed 2 jobs with that..

Quote

I would have, but there weren't so many production houses in my area.

Drill Seargent time...

That's just an excuse, son! NEVER let your Geography dictate your career path. You will limit your selection and advancement (unless you already live in LA...but you wouldn't have posted that comment of you did). I sent resumes to 5 states. I just turned down a full time gig in Philadelphia because a better offer came in right here in Orlando.

...as far as using "tweaked porn pics" in your resume... may sound funny, but don't ever get caught. You can be terminated for it down the road if Human Resources ever found out - and that's no sh!t.

When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.

> NEVER let your Geography dictate your career path.

Haha. No, dude. I'm in Asia- I'm in a country with a fairly small media industry (within 2 years, probably all the houses worth working for would have already seen my resume), the local broadcast codec of choice is DV, having a presentable drama to cut is a dream. I'm thinking of shifting towards commercials and network documentaries (when i can) for a more presentable reel. Sending my reels abroad would require quite a bit of logistical planning and language learning, although i'm planning to do that before the year is out and to a country with a major industry within 2.

Tweaked porn pics? You gotta check out the main purpose this lady's picture now- [en.wikipedia.org] No offence to women... Actually i just wanted a shot of the silhouette of a nice body curve, and no, it ain't the @#$%& in your face stuff. And with a bunch of good filters, it becomes pretty ambiguous as to what it is.

Strypes, try and keep the language down a bit please. The web filter messes it up, but the filter doesn't work on emails, and it's not that great to read during breakfast.