Thanks Kevin and I’m glad to be back in the new forum.
I think that the B-roll nation deserve some explanation of what’s been going on behind the scene.
Since the big blow out and my departure from B-roll I’ve received dozens of equally divided e-mails, some asked me to come back and others to start my own blog so those serious about learning don’t have to put up with the idiocy that have been spreading here like wildfire. I did get the domain EFPBLOG.com but the site has been dormant as I hesitated to get things started. I didn’t feel right taking viewers away from B-roll, so Kevin and I exchanged a few e-mails in order to figure what the problem was and how to fix it; and this was the first solution, of course general inputs and suggestions will be greatly appreciated
The VJ Forum
The problem is that the industry is changing, but that’s not the real problem, there’s a new influx of people with very limited knowledge of the business, mostly known as VJs. Just a few years ago most of these newcomers wouldn’t qualify even as interns, today they’ve been told that they are the future of this business, handed a prosumer camera and sent out on assignments. The more entrepreneurial ones walk into Best Buy with a credit card and walk out all equipped to start their own business. This is the fastest growing segment of this business and these people fill the need of inexpensive labor and cheap production. Like it or not they are here to stay. Mixing them with the general production population is unfair to them and to the rest of us. Many of the discussions that ended up in battles were caused by apple and oranges discussions and people who couldn’t tell the two of them apart. People in this new segment of production needs their very own place to exchange ideas and grow with the business.
Granted, many VJs are experienced photographers who have chosen or forced to become a OMB. If you are one of them you could do a world of good by lending a helping hand to the new wave of newcomers.
The ENG (Electronic News Gathering) Forum
This is for the traditional news photographer, those who works with reporters, use satellite trucks and most importantly produce real news; yes real news because the line that divides real news from most of the stuff done today has become really blurred, or people with their own agenda have been intentionally blurring the line for their financial advantage.
Most of the videos that I see today is not news, those are mini features. News by definition is information that the public need to know. Although I enjoy watching a video of sunsets or amateur roller derby, that’s not news and I doubt that the public NEED to be informed about roller derby and just about everyone know about sunrises and sunsets. I’ve been looking thru many of the videos submitted here on B-roll, fine work but hardly any news.
News is politic, health affairs, the economy, unemployment, the real estate crisis, the war, the oil spill, etc. This is information that the public NEED to know. This is journalism that requires research, investigation, knowledge and experience.
The EFP (Electronic Field Productions) and Advanced Productions Forum.
Some people still have difficulties distinguishing the difference between ENG and EFP, so here’s my very basic definition:
ENG is doing something with something that’s there
EFP is doing something with something that isn’t there
If you push a cart filled with equipment to the job site, (or better yet if you have one of your crew push the cart) chances are you are doing and EFP assignment.
If you push two carts filled with equipment then chances are that you are doing an Advanced EFP Production.
Most EFP photographers are freelancers and most will get hired to do all sorts of assignments, assignment that might also include VJ and ENG types of jobs, and often ENG and EFP are mixed in the same job. Skills diversification is the most important tool in order to succeed.
EFP photographer also have a substantial equipment investment. Maintenance, repairs and upgrades is a major part of the business, not to mention how to make the investment worthwhile. This require discussion that normally do not apply to the other forums.
So here you have it, this is why Kevin decided that there’s a need to give each of the 3 types of productions their own forum so discussion could take place without outside interference and hopefully avoiding the past conflicts. So please, know where you belonged and help your fellow photographers.
As far as my renewed involvement with B-roll goes it will be confined to the EFP forum. I will however comment (on this forum) on all posting if I feel that wrong or misleading information were posted, especially if related in anyway to EFP or advanced productions
I invite all the veterans who have left B-roll because of all the idiocy that took place in the past to come back and share your knowledge now that we have our very own forum and a new beginning.
I think that the B-roll nation deserve some explanation of what’s been going on behind the scene.
Since the big blow out and my departure from B-roll I’ve received dozens of equally divided e-mails, some asked me to come back and others to start my own blog so those serious about learning don’t have to put up with the idiocy that have been spreading here like wildfire. I did get the domain EFPBLOG.com but the site has been dormant as I hesitated to get things started. I didn’t feel right taking viewers away from B-roll, so Kevin and I exchanged a few e-mails in order to figure what the problem was and how to fix it; and this was the first solution, of course general inputs and suggestions will be greatly appreciated
The VJ Forum
The problem is that the industry is changing, but that’s not the real problem, there’s a new influx of people with very limited knowledge of the business, mostly known as VJs. Just a few years ago most of these newcomers wouldn’t qualify even as interns, today they’ve been told that they are the future of this business, handed a prosumer camera and sent out on assignments. The more entrepreneurial ones walk into Best Buy with a credit card and walk out all equipped to start their own business. This is the fastest growing segment of this business and these people fill the need of inexpensive labor and cheap production. Like it or not they are here to stay. Mixing them with the general production population is unfair to them and to the rest of us. Many of the discussions that ended up in battles were caused by apple and oranges discussions and people who couldn’t tell the two of them apart. People in this new segment of production needs their very own place to exchange ideas and grow with the business.
Granted, many VJs are experienced photographers who have chosen or forced to become a OMB. If you are one of them you could do a world of good by lending a helping hand to the new wave of newcomers.
The ENG (Electronic News Gathering) Forum
This is for the traditional news photographer, those who works with reporters, use satellite trucks and most importantly produce real news; yes real news because the line that divides real news from most of the stuff done today has become really blurred, or people with their own agenda have been intentionally blurring the line for their financial advantage.
Most of the videos that I see today is not news, those are mini features. News by definition is information that the public need to know. Although I enjoy watching a video of sunsets or amateur roller derby, that’s not news and I doubt that the public NEED to be informed about roller derby and just about everyone know about sunrises and sunsets. I’ve been looking thru many of the videos submitted here on B-roll, fine work but hardly any news.
News is politic, health affairs, the economy, unemployment, the real estate crisis, the war, the oil spill, etc. This is information that the public NEED to know. This is journalism that requires research, investigation, knowledge and experience.
The EFP (Electronic Field Productions) and Advanced Productions Forum.
Some people still have difficulties distinguishing the difference between ENG and EFP, so here’s my very basic definition:
ENG is doing something with something that’s there
EFP is doing something with something that isn’t there
If you push a cart filled with equipment to the job site, (or better yet if you have one of your crew push the cart) chances are you are doing and EFP assignment.
If you push two carts filled with equipment then chances are that you are doing an Advanced EFP Production.
Most EFP photographers are freelancers and most will get hired to do all sorts of assignments, assignment that might also include VJ and ENG types of jobs, and often ENG and EFP are mixed in the same job. Skills diversification is the most important tool in order to succeed.
EFP photographer also have a substantial equipment investment. Maintenance, repairs and upgrades is a major part of the business, not to mention how to make the investment worthwhile. This require discussion that normally do not apply to the other forums.
So here you have it, this is why Kevin decided that there’s a need to give each of the 3 types of productions their own forum so discussion could take place without outside interference and hopefully avoiding the past conflicts. So please, know where you belonged and help your fellow photographers.
As far as my renewed involvement with B-roll goes it will be confined to the EFP forum. I will however comment (on this forum) on all posting if I feel that wrong or misleading information were posted, especially if related in anyway to EFP or advanced productions
I invite all the veterans who have left B-roll because of all the idiocy that took place in the past to come back and share your knowledge now that we have our very own forum and a new beginning.