New Year's Resolutions for New Media Producers by F.R. "Fritz" Nordengren

It's the time of year when we all lie to ourselves:
        Lose (random integer here) pounds
        Run a mile in less time than it takes to process a roll of C41
        Bench press the ISO rating of my favorite film
        Visit a homeless shelter, no, wait÷. Volunteer at, no, wait....
        Build a homeless shelter
        Get my columns to my editor on time

But, kidding aside, there is something about the new year that brings the "potential" for change to our lives. And if you are ready for some change, here is my list of suggested resolutions you can add to your list:

1) Enough is enough. I will stop buying software upgrades just because they are released.
 

This isn't meant as a slap to the industry. I believe in worthwhile upgrades. But, I've fallen victim to automatically upgrading software because it was released, not because it works in my projects. Premiere 5.0 is one example. A great product, a great company. I saw it at NAB and upgraded.  While I edit primarily on AVID, Premiere does some things easier than other tools I have on my shelf--like make QuickTime movies and easy export to Real Video. That was April of '98. Now version 5.1 is released and they still don't support the Truevision DTX video board.(soon they say, soon).  My point is, just because it's released doesn't mean it works for me.
 

2) I will help someone who is not on the Internet discover the world of online communication.

It's time to be a new media evangelist. I'll give you an example. My sister is 50+ years old and retired at age 50. She's traveled much of the world, and is an avid movie buff. She used computers in her job. Of all the people I know, she would really enjoy the online experience÷. But, my sister is still off-line. She says she doesn't want anything to do with computers now that she's retired. Maybe this is the year I send her Web TV. (It's not a computer, its TV.)

2a) I will help someone who is on the Internet rediscover the real world outside.

The real world is bigger than 640 x 480.

Ignoring all the pop psyche studies about whether spending too much time on the Internet makes depressed people more depressed, or brings people together ala "You've Got Mail." It's time to get out of the chair and into the world more. I chose a life as an independent producer to get away from tyrannical bosses and ridiculous schedules.

My email has become one of the tyrannical bosses. Hell, I even give some folks the email address of my digital phone-I can be emailed when I'm in the car! (What was I thinkin'?)
 

3) As a producer, I'll make sure the people working with me have the tools necessary to do their jobs.

This is the opposite of #1 above. In my role as producer, I need to understand what tools are necessary for doing the work in my shop.  Look at the tools your competitors (or associates) are using and make sure that yours are up to speed.
 

4) Just for kicks, I'll try to put together a package using low cost consumer tools.

I think at times, we have so many tools, effects and gizmos available that we forget how to tell a story--simply. So try this some weekend: put together a project using simple consumer tools. Shoot with a VHS C or 8mm camcorder. Edit with an inexpensive edit package like Avid Cinema ($99). Tell a story. Use good light. Listen to the nat sound audio. Edit in camera as much as possible.

I have a Sharp Viewcam we use for home movies. Frankly, I always have fun shooting with this camera.  It's a simple, 8mm format and the quality is not "broadcast quality," but it does produce a nice image for home movies. It's a camera you can turn on and pass around the room.
 

5) I will give someone a "break" into the business.

You remember what it felt like when you got yours.
 

6) When I see someone's work I really like, I will let them know.

I will send them an email (see #2 above)--or--I will send them a hand written note (see #2a above).
 

7) I will learn the difference between editing and spell checking, and do both in my written work.

If your projects use a displayed word--we can't limit our thinking to "printed" anymore--it's time to remember the basics. We need to spell check (I'm guilty of this one) and edit. That includes some basic things like lead writing and copyfitting.

Writing for the computer screen includes editing so that the words are easy to read, that line breaks make sense, and the display works well on little screens as well as big screens. If you are doing Web stuff, the "standard" monitor size is reduced to a display area of 600 x 300 pixels after you account for the browser navigation buttons. Web TV is 544 x 378, and a Palm Pilot is 160 x 120. If you are delivering text content to folks on those platforms, editing for the screen is going to be crucial. (We're blessed at The Digital Journalist with a good editor. Self-editing is much harder.)
 

9) I will keep a "list" of projects I want to do on my desk at all times.

This is my creative fuel. These are the projects I would do if I had no obstacles. I think Robert Schuller calls it--what would you do if you could not fail. I have a list of 7 to 10 projects I keep in front of me, and every so often I connect with someone who can help take one of them to the next step.

Here are two from my list, anyone interested?

"Seven Rivers - Seven Years" - Interactive & video documentary of life along: The Nile, Ganges, Mekong, Mississippi, Amazon, Chang (Yangtze), Volga

"So Now What do We Do?  Ashes to Ashes - Dust to Dust" - Interactive & video documentary describing death and post death ceremony and practice.

9a)  And while I'm at it, I'll keep short proposals for pitches on my hard drive so I can send one out at a moment's notice. It's amazing, with the ease of desktop publishing, layout, and mail-merge (or search and replace) how quick it can be to print out (or email) a custom proposal to the sponsor, producer, or client. After all, isn't that what I bought a computer for?
 

10) Work less, play more.

My office used to be across the street from a cemetery. In all the time I walked through it, I never saw a tombstone with the epitaph  "I wish I spent more time at the office."

There you have it. From my chair, 1999 looks like a great time to be a storyteller.