Which way to the unemployment line?
Yesterday, I was quoted in an interview with Randy Dotinga of The Voice of San Diego talking about video saying “any idiot can shoot good basic video”.
Over at b-roll.net, ‘chestfever’ responded by posting:
Rosenblum is his own worst enemy. Using words like “idiot” just makes him sound like one.Â
He should have said that any elementary school student can shoot good video. I know. I watched one being shot, edited and played for my son’s fifth grade class. It was a farewell video for the teacher with bites, b-roll and effects. And it was the equal of a lot of what currently passes for TV news feature packages. Oh, and it was also shot and produced by one person, a fifth grade girl in the class.Â
And it was done in one day. And there was not one word of help offered, or asked for, by the student who did the project. And no, she is not that special, this is being done every day all over the world.
The reporter in that KGTV story is right and she’ll probably have a job a lot longer because of it. Good or bad, right or wrong, idiot or genius, it’s reality.
He is right.
It does make me sound like an idiot, even if it is an easy and glib comment.
Fast moving video technology has changed the industry, and that which was once a complicated and highly technical job (shooting good basic video) is now extremely easy to do.
The same thing happened to cars.
When automobiles were first invented, they too were extremely expensive and complex. Driving them required a wide range of skills, from mechanic to charioteer.
But cars improved. Â Electric starts, automatic transmissions and an smooth interstate highway system soon made it simple to drive a car.Â
So simple that any idiot could do it.
(Just go for a drive down the New Jersey Turnpike to see for yourself).
The job of chauffeur all but vanished. Â Where it survived, it moved from skilled auto pilot to Driving Miss Daisy.
Shooting good basic video is undergoing the same transformation. Â Just substitute the Internet for the Interstate and you are pretty much there.
That doesn’t mean that everyone is a Michael Schumacher, or that he doesn’t have skills that are enviable.
In the coming world, there will still be the Jeff Gordons of video acquisition.
And some of the folks over at B-roll undoubtedly qualify in that category.
For much of the day-to-day, bread and butter video work however, the race is definitely over.
5 Comments
Peter Ralph August 13, 2009
As markets become more open, they become more competitive – there is less room for idiots, not more.
Brendon Brooks August 12, 2009
There will always be a market for engaging, well-produced television. But the reality is local TV-stations are neither intelligent enough or have enough capital to produce such. VJ’s win the battle because they’re cheap and don’t have the skills to negotiate a proper rate.
Which would you rather watch: Top Gear or a local story about new electric cars?
Yes the KGTV reporter will have a job, but I doubt anyone will be watching.
Michael Rosenblum August 12, 2009
Just bought the book on Amazon.
I’ll let you know how it is.
Looks pretty interesting.
prw August 12, 2009
This discussion topic always reminds of:
http://www.amazon.com/Thoughts-Classical-Physicist-Russell-McCormmach/dp/0674624610
The book is about the same thing that’s happening in the video production world even though it happens to be about the breakdown of classical physics.
Alan August 11, 2009
I’ll bite because the old flame debate will start but your right on every level. I can write too but Im no Hemmingway or Tolkein yet there is room in the market for all levels of video production like authors of famous books to magazine writers