
I define "Professional" as someone who creates something for sell, profit or greater recognition. The same can be said for their tools. If you create a slick movie, documentary or other video that is popular and profitable using Windows Movie Maker™ then you are justified in calling WMM your "professional" editor. Yes you are because you are a professional and the tool is what you used to become a professional, therefore the tool is a professional tool. It is an extension of you. Without it you could not create anything. Nor could you have reached the lofty position of Professional.

This is nonsense.
There are consumer editors that have the power to help you make the next big production of all time, and other 'professional' NLE's that frankly are a major pain to simply edit cuts.
So who defines if your NLE is "Pro" or not?
You do!
If you can take IMac™ or Windows Movie Maker™ and make a great video then you have succeeded. You are a Professional.
The same can be said about cameras. Some are "Pro" and some are considered cheap consumer camcorders. A Professional camera shouldn't be defined by it's bells and whistles.
The bottom line is this, you determine if you are a professional. You do this by evaluating your talent, skill and creativity.
A master carpenter can take a basic hand saw and hammer and build a house. Or he may use a nail gun and skill saw. It doesn't matter what tools he uses because the talent, creativity and skill needed to build a house is in him, not the tools.

Many aspiring videographers believe they cannot produce great video because they are stuck with cheap equipment. This is malarkey!
Will your camcorder record a decent image? Will your editor cut your footage together? If so then you have all you need to make great videos. Perhaps what you are lacking isn't better equipment but a better impression of yourself ?

Could I have done it better with all new equipment? No.
Sure I could have made it look better technically but the subject and content would be the same and I didn't need flashy bells and whistles to accomplish that production. I had an idea and the will to make it happen. I got creative and made the elements I needed to illustrate concepts and ideas.
Am I some sort of guru because of this? No. I didn't do anything you couldn't do!
Too often we get bogged down in the idea we cannot accomplish something without that new and exciting piece of equipment we want so badly. The truth is you CAN produce profitable and entertaining videos with the stuff you have. You don't need the latest and greatest gadget, you need confidence and self esteem!
Confidence and your creativity and talent will get you much further than all of the sweet and pretty toys on the market.
Yes it is always fun to get a new toy and then apply it's abilities to your next production and move up to a new level. But you still have to stand on your own skill to make it happen. The toy will not do it by itself. You have to step up.
So you define what is professional or not by what you can do with it. Who cares if the industry thinks you are playing with a less than stellar consumer product.

And because he believes in himself.
Steven Speilberg started out making 8mm movies in the family garage. He directed a few episodes of TV shows like Night Stalker and later made American Graffiti. Then he took a chance on a little low budget film. Jaws had an almost worthless mechanical shark, a horrid shooting schedule, ran over budget and starred some no name actors.
Where is Speilberg now?
If you can make great video with the camera and editor you currently are comfortable and skilled with, and you believe in your talent and creativity then nothing is preventing you from succeeding. Nothing. Your first step toward achievement and success is believing that you and your equipment are indeed professional. If you believe this, then it and you are.
If you believe in yourself then you have already succeeded.
You are a professional.
J.
1 comment:
AMEN!
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