Re: New blog post from Philip Hodgetts. Worth the read.

[Herb Sevush] "As for the rest, the solution isn't a better NLE, the solution is more experienced and better trained producers."

I actually agree with Herb on this wholeheartedly.

Sadly, I don't think we're going to see a very large group of such "experienced producers" re-entering the business any time soon.

Most people know that I work primarily in the once lucrative corporate video space.

Nearly every quality, experienced producer I've ever worked with at the Fortune 500 corporate level has long been "downsized" in the rush to cut expenses starting about 4 years ago. They've been freelancing ever since, but since business budgets have been crunched in the same cost-savings at all costs - efforts, they've been forced into the "fast and cheap" space along with everyone else.

Quite a few of them have moved on, taking their experience into teaching, making their digital documentaries (good luck with that) or taking a job at Sears simply to cover the costs of keeping the lights on at home.

It may be different in the "movie making" business - but in the bread and butter "corporate production" space I'm familiar with, the entire industry is essentially being driven by well intentioned young men and women who were the administrative assistants of yesterday who had low enough entry level salaries to keep around during the crunch and are now the employees with 5 years on the job who are being asked to "supervise" whatever return to production may come down the pike.

Sadly, these young "producers" are likely NOT going to be the folks to bring back patience and a push for quality. Since they've likely never had much experience in translating "thinking time" into superior results.

Probably 50% of the bids I've been asked to generate over the past year, have been "vetted" by people with no experience in reading a quote - and the most "analytic" response I typically get is is limited to "is there a way you do this any cheaper?"

Be REALLY nice if I was wrong about this, tho.

It also makes me supremely thankful for the clients I still have that value quality and are willing to spend some money to acquire it!

FWIW.

"Before speaking out ask yourself whether your words are true, whether they are respectful and whether they are needed in our civil discussions."-Justice O'Connor