Blog Archives

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2024 is over. 2025 has just begun. Last year was mess, and the tumult in media production and post is likely to continue. Here are Larry Jordan’s reflections on the year past and year to come.

The year was 1972, I was just starting in broadcasting as a director and learning to use 2″ quad video tape recorders. The main problem – and there were many – was that all edits were plus-or-minus a second. That’s assuming the machines edited at all.

Robert Dalva was a unique filmmaker with a gift for story-telling whose credits spanned from Jurassic Park to Star Wars. But his real gift was something much more subtle – and longer lasting.

It’s a fifty-year-old stopwatch. It was a gift. And it brings back memories every time I use it. Gifts that matter come from the heart and remind each of us that we are important to someone else.

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Bruce Wittman challenges video producers to support non-profit organizations in their area. Here’s a description of the pro bono work that he does, how he does it, and why he enjoys it so much.

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Four classic production stills that showcase how much video production has changed over the last 40 years – along with some core ways it hasn’t changed at all.

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I think these four skills are essential for every video editor to master. I also think it is impossible say that one is more important than the other, because if any one is missing, the project suffers.

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We love the look of film, but the world has gone digital. In this guest blog, Drew Gula, from SoundStripe.com, explores the balance between digital media and creating a film look.

Motion graphic templates are created in After Effects for use in Premiere. This illustrated tutorial explains how to add, find, edit, modify and delete these templates.

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Adam Wilt shares his thoughts on why Blackmagic Design released a camera recording 12K frame sizes. And, it isn’t the reason you expect.

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Thoughtful reflections from Bill Goetz, news videographer, on how change changes us.

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Everyone around us is scared, isolated and feeding on rumors. In spite of it all, there’s hope. And we have the technology and the skills to provide it. Ask your clients what you can do to help. Here are some ideas.

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Ever wondered where interlacing, drop-frame, and credit cards came from? Well, here’s the story.

These are challenging times for media professionals. But from a baker’s dozen of industry leaders, there are a lot of reasons for hope. Read their thoughts here.

Earlier this week, Norman Hollyn and I gave a presentation to the LACPUG (Los Angeles Creative Pro User Group) on creating documentaries. Norman covered story-telling and editing, while I discussed interview planning and techniques. In thinking about my presentation, I …

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Larry Jordan’s thoughts on his new partnership with Thalo.com.

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Why become a member of Larry Jordan’s Video Training Library? Because you can learn exactly what you need to know from our library more quickly and better than you can learn it on your own.

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Step-by-step tutorials covering Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, Adobe Media Encoder and product reviews written during Dec. 2015 by Larry Jordan.

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An essay on finding ways to set client expectations, and budgets, on creative projects.

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A bad audio mix shows that you are trying to hide something and the audience knows it. A commentary on a stage show.

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An inside look at an Apple press briefing and why simplifying interfaces is essential to Apple.

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A commentary on why we need to keep learning.

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Part 2 of Larry Jordan’s thoughts on 2014 and what it means for the media industry in 2015.

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Part 1 of Larry Jordan’s thoughts on 2014 and what it means to the media industry in 2015.

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A look at the challenges of adding a media asset system to a small company. It isn’t the software; it’s the people.

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A look at the new 5K iMac from the perspective of a video editor and trainer.

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A commentary on the challenges of being a new user of technology; specifically related to Behringer Digital Audio Consoles.

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Why are video frame rates 25 or 30 frames per second? It has to do with history, as this short article explains.

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A commentary / think-piece on how offering subscriptions to software changes the software that’s produced.

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Comments from industry experts and manufacturers on the best way to configure a RAID for media editing.

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Thoughts on technology that is making optical media obsolete and the impact that will have on media creators. This also provides options to consider when planning for the future.

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A description of what “personally identifiable information,” our company retains about its customers.

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Thoughts and commentary on announcements and trends at the recent 2014 NAB Show in Las Vegas, NV.

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An explanation of video compression, image quality, and bit rates using an unbelievably brilliant analogy. This is why the size of the source file doesn’t matter.

A commentary on coping with continual changes in technology.

A discussion of where the eye looks in the frame and how to control it.

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Ask the right questions to get the right answers for your interviews; on or off camera. This short article explains how.

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Use this “Three Codec” method to shoot and edit video to improve speed and image quality.

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A detailed tutorial on HTTP Live Streaming and how to compress video files for it. Updated frequently, most recently in 2023.

This afternoon, at the 2013 Adobe MAX, Jacob Rosenberg, Chief Technology Officer and Partner at Bandito Brothers gave a presentation showcasing the history and projects of his full-service media company. Founded by two men, Scott Waugh and Mouse McCoy, with a …

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A commentary on how to pick the best video frame rate to shoot your project, with a look back at history.

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The seven basic ideas you need to think about before starting your own creative company.

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A detailed explanation of the video and audio gear used to cover the 2013 NAB Show for the Digital Production Buzz podcast.

[This article was first published in April, 2013, on my blog.] I’ve been thinking a lot about careers in media recently. It started with a recent blog I wrote, called: “Can You Still Have a Career in Editing?” which generated …

[This article was first published in March, 2013, on my blog.] Three emails got me thinking today. The first was from Jack Reilly, of Future Media Concepts who is organizing Post-Production World at NAB. He’s asked me to host a …

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Some good tips to keep in mind when you are interviewing someone on camera.

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10 Rules to keep in mind when you are interviewed about technology products.

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Report from MacWorld 2013 MacWorld Expo is a consumer technology show. However, tucked in amidst the endless iPhone covers and quirky iPad accessories were a number of gems that filmmakers might find interesting. So, I took the Digital Production Buzz …

[This article was first published in January, 2013, on my blog.]   Of all the questions I am asked each day, this is the most popular: “When will Final Cut Pro X be ready for professional use?” Sigh… Right now! …

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A discussion on using Apple-supplied media in commercial productions, along with issues of copyright on YouTube.

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