The Clap(board)

The Clap(board)

Daily I have to launch an application from my Dock in which in the icon is a clapboard (or claperboard). And daily, I launch the wrong program – sometimes more than once.

I finally took a good look at my apps dock to see exactly how many icons I have that are clapboards in one form or another.

The total number was 5, though it feels like 20 the way I constantly launch the wrong program, but alas it’s only 5.

Here’s the run down:

Cinema Tools. This is the one I use the least, almost never actually. It’s the database and conversion program that came with Final Cut Studio. It is one I will use for more extensive projects (particularly the one NeoZAZ is work towards over the next year) but for what I’ve filmed over the past years or so, I haven’t needed. But since it’s something I know I’ll need in the future, it stays.

Final Cut Pro. This is one of 3 programs I’ll launch everyday. It’s distinctively different from the others red digital time code graphic, but even with that I’ve missed the target and opened one of these other programs when meaning to launch Final Cut.




Live Type. The Title and text animator and generator for Final Cut Studio. It’s one I’ve just recently been using, migrating off of After Effects for Titles and credits. I accidentally launched Final Cut when meaning to launch Live Type, but most of the times it’s because it’s sitting right next to the Final Cut icon.




Soundtrack Pro. This is number 2 of 3 programs I launch everyday. It’s what I use to edit all of Trailer Pod Boys audio – host recordings, show clips, intro segments, music, everything. And it’s my primary application for all sound work. Most times, I’m able to launch this app when I’m intending to use it… but not always.




Celtx. My one and only Script formatting and writing application. The only one of the 5 that is not part of Final Cut Studio. And the last of the 3 that I open daily. It’s got a distinctively different motif than the other 4, but with it closest resembling Cinema Tools, I tended to mix the 2 up often, especially when I’m running with a thought that I need to get in Celtx quickly and I’m in a rush – that pretty much when I launch the wrong program thus making the time to get my thoughts on paper take even longer.

Of course I’m sure part of the problem is the close proximity these icons are to each other on the dock:

An obvious solution maybe to move them farther away from each other. But I can’t seem to do that. For all of the things I’m not anal about, and all of the things I leave completely unorganized with zero structure in production projects (much to the dismay of my creative partners I’m sure), my app dock is one thing I’m strictly OCD about. All of this program are grouped together as my “production area”. The Final Cut Studio icons are alphabetical, left to right, then ending with the non-final cut studio app, Celtx. It’s a pattern I’ve tried to break up, but couldn’t live with for more than 10 minutes. Ironically, I auto hide the dock so for most of the time I’m in front of my computer I don’t even see it. But if it’s out of order, I know it, I can feel it. So I guess I have to live with the ten to twenty minutes a year I lose opening then closing the wrong programs to have that piece of mind.

This article really doesn’t serve much of a purpose. I guess it’s more of a way to for me to address this issue, an issue big enough for me to get down on paper I suppose. Admission is the first step to recovery, maybe this post will help me move the icons with comfort, or even better, launch the correct application when I need it.

Trailer Pod Boys Episode 11 is now online

We finish up season 2 of Trailer Park Boys with episode 7, “The Bare Pimp Project”. And the inevitable discussion of mashing up “Trailer Park Boys” with “Star Wars” has finally happened.

Hear it here at the Trailer Pod Boys Website.

Trailer Pod Boys Episode 6 now online

This week there is some news to report on DVD releases, awards, and new show! Our round table discussion picks up with Episode 3 of Season 2, “I’ve met cats and dogs smarter than Trevor and Cory”.

Check it out here at the Trailer Pod Boys site.

‘Tis the Sceazon

For the past week my spam folder has been bursting with an unusual amount of entries, mostly from “delivery request information” or “payment requests”.

Just today, 3 made it past the spam filter and into my inbox, all payment requests notifications with attachments – attachments that the spam filter stripped and I hadn’t seen before.

The attachments are zip files, most likely containing some sort of malicious code, even more likely, something that will either capture all my activity in hopes of finding bank and/or credit card numbers.

Luckily there’s 2 things working in my favor to keep this from being a problem, 1 I’m on a Mac, and 2 it’s a fairly old trick that’s been reported before.

But, they are getting clever. The latest one was a payment request from “Converse”, and oddly enough my wife is a converse “chucks” freak. If I had happened to order her a pair of chucks for xmas (which I haven’t) and I wasn’t aware that a zip file is a major red flag for computer danger, I may have fallen for it.

The sad part about all this came to me when I associated the mass amounts of spam are coinciding with the fast approaching holidays. A time where many people will be purchasing items on-line thus typing in their credit and debit card numbers repeatedly.

It’s sad, yet not surprising, that cyber hackers are ramping for the holidays with as much gusto as the major retail chains. Sadder still, there will people innocent victims that fall for some of these scams.

Ruining holidays should be best left the time honored traditions: Family gatherings, scarce parking, and department store brawls, cyber hackers can have the rest of the year.

Start from the Beginning

More podcasts than you can shake a mic at from NeoZAZ this weekend. The official Episode 1 of Trailer Pod Boys is now up and running. You can find it here at the Trailer Pod Boys website.

Trailer Pod Boys

Finally, a podcast dedicated to “Trailer Park Boys” and the latest edition to our Podcast collection. David, Quint, and I have begun hosting a bi-weekly podcast about “Trailer Park Boys” that will feature news, reviews, profiles, and round table discussions about this iconic sitcom.

So, check out our pilot episode at the new Trailer Pod Boys Website, and stay tuned for new episodes coming soon.

And if haven’t checked them out already, take listen to our other podcasts:

The D-1-3 Show - A comedy podcast with 3 guys that talk about just about anything that slips in and out of their minds.

The Cutting Room Floor – a (nearly) weekly podcast about filmmaking and reviews of films that you’ve most likely missed in theaters.

Fan Film The Series Director’s Commentary

In celebration of the 1 year anniversary of filming “Fan Film The Series” David and I recorded a director’s commentary for each episode of “Fan Film”

Find out what we were, or weren’t thinking, some of the origin of some the scenes, and other bits and pieces about the production.

Enjoy!

Click on each link below to see the commentary versions:

Episode 1 Director’s Commentary

Episode 2 Director’s Commentary

Episode 3 Director’s Commentary

Episode 4 Director’s Commentary

Episode 5 Director’s Commentary

Episode 6 Director’s Commentary

Fan Film Episode 1 Director’s Commentary

Get the inside scoop on Episode 1 and all it’s many versions that lead up to this final version of the debut episode of “Fan Film The Series” with this special director’s commentary version:

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Fan Film Episode 2 Director’s Commentary

Episode 2 was episode 1 before episode 1 was episode 1. Khrysti was Karen, and Dave was Taylor, but Gregg is still Gregg. Make sense? If not, check out the commentary for Episode 2 of “Fan Film The Series”:

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Fan Film Episode 3 Director’s Commentary

Lost in the woods, flubbed lines, siblings arguing – and that’s just half of the topic’s discussed in this episodes commentary:

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