My Portable Edit Studio

Much of this year has been about upgrading, refining, and organizing all the aspects of my editing equipment and software.  Balancing the demands of corporate editing with my future goals of making more ambitious personal films has been at the forefront of all of these decisions.  I've already started tackling my home edit suite, but for the moment I've become focused on creating a studio that I can use on-the-go.

It's perhaps a bit surprising, but up until last week I'd never owned (or even saw the value in owning) a laptop before.  So I suppose the real question is, why now?  Here are the main reasons I finally changed my tune:

1. Shooting on Flip Video

Since I began using my Flip HD I've loved capturing home videos and random events on the fly.  For an evening out it's no problem, but for any extended period of time it doesn't quite cut it by itself.  Having a laptop with a powerful video card and a large hard drive means that not only can I preview what I've shot on a larger screen, but I can also batch my footage right there and then.  In the meantime, the Flip HD can recharge itself through the USB port making it an ideal companion for travel.

2. Easy Communication

From blogging to email to YouTube it's nice to have that connection available through your laptop when you're away from home or just looking for a change of scenery (I could get used to blogging in bed).  The real feature here is the integrated webcam and microphone though as Skype has become a bit more essential when discussing editing projects between various locations.  

3. Separating Work and Play

There are times when my desktop edit studio is bogged down with hours of HD footage rendering, multiple pieces of software open, and the desk itself is covered in notes.  The laptop provides an alternative way to access email, waste time on facebook, etc. while eliminating the possibility that I might accidentally close the wrong program.  In that sense, a portable option keeps my main editing hub more efficient and dedicated to the task at hand. 

4. A New Way to Screen Media

The ability to access the web or bring a library of video files with me on my laptop means it's easier to share a lot quickly.  With an HDMI output it's so easy to plug into my TV and screen high definition footage from the web or directly from the laptop without any hassle - no DVDs, no uploading, no FTP required.  As an added bonus, it makes watching online television on my big screen a breeze.

5. Backup

Purely for the sake of having another option if I need it, this portable addition to my edit studio is a great investment.  Photoshop, editing software, final draft, etc. it's all there if my desktop is tied up or having issues.

In short, my portable edit studio isn't about replacing my main edit suite at all, it's about complimenting it.  Versatility is only becoming more and more important, especially in the case of an independent editor like myself. It always feels better to have options.

On a personal level it's also a great feeling to know that you have room to breathe and expand with the projects you want to take on - a bit of flash doesn't hurt either.  Like all equipment, it's only as good as the use you can get out of it.  As far as I'm concerned I can already see how much use I'll get out of this, and for that I feel this upgrade has already paid for itself. 

Inspired Singles: Could It Be

Issue 21: Could It Be by Mackintosh Braun

Sometimes my connection to what I consider an inspired single comes from how the song fits with what I'm feeling when I first discover it.  This couldn't be more true than with Mackintosh Braun's relatively recent track, Could It Be off of their latest album Where We Are. 

It seems this year has been a mix of trying to balance my desire to grow and feel challenged with the reality that last year I managed to achieve a lot of the things I had been working towards since film school.  In short I've spent a lot of time brainstorming and trying to figure out what I want to do next.  The process sometimes adds more stress than anything, and then I'm left wondering why I'm purposefully frustrating myself.

The chorus of Could It Be echoes my sentiments perfectly - "could it be enough to only stay right here, could it be enough never needing more"?  The truth is that it's probably not, but that doesn't mean that I can't appreciate where I'm at for the time being.  It's the great dilemma we all face, to continue seeking new adventures or to be satisfied with the ones we've already had.  This is a great single to get lost in.

Coins From Around the World

Tucked away with my old movies backed up on DVD, old bubble gum and comic book cards, and a few blank VHS tapes, you'll find the several boxes that make up my coin collection.  My Canadian coins have a dedicated box of their own, and then there's the millennium quarters, my framed centennial coins, and most recently the Olympic coins that have their own cases.

The biggest box is full of coins from around the world.  Some of them were gifts, some I bought at airport currency exchanges, some from eBay, some I found in the dryer at College West, and a bunch I bought in handfuls from collectors shops as a kid.  None of these coins are particularly valuable by themselves, but as a collection they represent every region of the globe.     

I don't really know why I started a coin collection so young, but I think collecting is in my blood.  As I started to learn more about geography and history, the idea of having something tangible to connect myself to those concepts became more appealing.  It's why I'm still adding to this collection to this day.

I like to think about the stories behind the random coins I find.  What was happening the year it was minted?  Why did they put this image on it?  How many people might have held it?  It's a bit ironic, but a box of currency from around the world has actually been one of the cheapest ways to experience it.  

Here are a few of my favorite coins:

1916 - Canada - One Cent

This penny is actually closer to the size of a modern Canadian quarter.  It was minted during WWI.

1916 - Russia - 20 Kopecks

This coin features the emblem of Imperial Russia and the monarchy of Czar Nicholas II.  It was minted one year before the Russian Revolution would result in the formation of the USSR.

1947 - India - 1 Pice

Some coins caught my attention just because they were so different.  This coin was minted in British India in 1947, the same year that India gained its independence.

1901 - Ceylon - Half Cent

This is one of my oldest coins, now 110 years old.  Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, was under British rule and featured the portrait of Queen Victoria.  This was also the year she passed away.