Cristina Cassidy Productions

I don't know how many of you are familiar with the work of Walter Murch, the incredible sound and film editor extraordinaire who is responsible for bringing FCP to the big screen.  He has written a thought-provoking book called In the Blink of an Eye.  He approaches editing from a "blink your eye" perspective. 

Just today I was in a fast food restaurant in DC and I used one of his techniques.  I pretended I was the camera.  I would hold an image on people in the restaurant for about 5 seconds and then would blink where I would cut the shot.  It was a great experience because 1) it forced me to observe everything that was going on, and 2) it helped form a rhythm to the way I would shoot an actual film or video of the place.  I guarantee you, I wasn't bored for a moment. 

I think these kinds of exercises are so helpful for video/'filmmakers.  Let me also mention that I began to listen all around the room, too, for interesting bits of conversations, sounds of the restaurant--clinking glasses, soda whooshing out of the machine and the click of the machine when the cup was pushed against the dispenser.  Okay, so I probably seemed like I was on drugs or something, and a couple of times people looked at me uncomfortably as if I were staring just a little longer than acceptable in public, but I really believe that it not only helped me to see the scene from the perspective of a camera, but it also helped me look for the story--how would I tell the story of walking into a busy DC restaurant on a chilly March afternoon? 

I'm curious about your reactions to this technique.  Have you ever tried anything like this?  Do you think an exercise like have value or is it pointless?  What other kinds of techniques have you used to improve your video/filmmaking "eye"?

Any and all comments appreciated, from non-filmmakers and seasoned artists, alike.

Well, all those years writing silly emails to the universe, and page after page of self-searching dribble in my journal, has led me to believe, oh great ego that I have, that I ought to be writing a blog. And since so many of my friends and colleagues are far more clever and way more smarter than moi, I thought this would be a good place to start a dialogue about different subjects, primarily of a video production nature, but not limited to that.

My belief is that everything affects everything else (remember that saying from the '60's--What goes around comes around?), so whether or not your comments have to do with video production is really quite moot to me. What I want to do here is focus on the human element. Whether you're a butcher--or grow organic veggies, a baker--or stay completely away from gluten products, or a candlestick maker--or are a proponent of varied and sundry energy sources, I invite you to blog along with me. I'll provide the topics, and I would hope, you would provide commentary, pros and cons, ups and downs, insides and out. (Come on gang, as you can see I NEED YOUR HELP HERE!)

Tomorrow will be the first official blog post. I have no idea what it will be about, but I'm sure if I watch 30 seconds of TV, I'll come up with Something. One request, however. This is not a political blog. I am going mush brained with all the talk politic, so I'm hoping we can keep it to positive spin--you know, stuff about your life, your hopes and dreams, possibilities, business opportunities, entrepreneurship, documenatries, movies, even commercials that you've seen that have made an impression on you, the struggles and rewards of being self employed, new ways of doing things...Have I said quite enough? (I usually say way too much, but if you know me...you already know that. :-) )

So...look for the first posting tomorrow. I'm going to quote a friend of mine, Michael Kahn, who is new to the video world and extremely talented. He says, "Letting go lets things in." So, I hope this is a place you can let things go, sit back, relax, enjoy and let it all in.

ps I apologize up front for any typos. My copy editor has A.D.D. (Yup! That would be me!)