NEED ADVICE: Need to learn AVID in Colorado Area

I need some DESPERATE help. I've been in the Television field for 10
years. It's been my life long dream to become a professional editor,
but it seems I haven't been able to get my foot in the door. So I
purchased some equipment running Adobe Premiere and opened my own
part-time post production company. In the past 5 years I've been
primarily producing and editing DVD documentaries and concerts for
various bands which are being sold through the major record chains,
here's one of them I did for the group Spock's Beard
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...93653/sr=11-1/ref=sr_11_1/103-7623034-8927061
After it's release I thought this might be a good foot in the door,
which unfortunately is not the case. I work for a major cable movie
network here in Colorado with hopes of getting my foot in the door,
only to find my foot getting "kicked out" by unsupportive bosses,
politics and back stabbing. After seeking advise throughout the years
almost everyone has told me "I need to learn Avid", fair enough. About
5 years ago they taught Avid classes at a place called the "Heat
Center" which I tried to enroll in, Unfortunately the classes were
filled up and was told to sign up in the next session, which never was
because the Heat Center closed right after the session I was locked out
of was complete. (the kicker was one mf my co-workers was the last
person admitted, who went on to beat me out of an Assistant Editor
position with my company and is now a full time editor. (Yea, I know
this is a pretty sob story Recently the Community College of Aurora
started Avid editing classes, which I thought was a blessing.
Unfortunately the classes are only during the day and with a supervisor
unwilling to compromise my work shift to allow me to take the classes
and the College's refusal to hold night classes (even after I was able
to gather 20 people willing to take the class and an even a person
willing to teach it) I'm stuck! I've looked into traveling to one of
the out of state Avid centers, but just can't afford it. Needless to
say the stress has been KILLING me, my wife is at her wit's end (I've
been pulling 82 hour weeks between work and my business) and all I want
to do is become an editor. Does anyone have any good advice or know any
places here in Colorado where I could learn Avid? My Ideal situation
would be to get as much training as I can and take the Avid
certification exam (work is sending my to California for 3 days this
summer, so I wanted to stay an extra day or two on my dime to take the
exam there seeing there's nowhere in Colorado where they offer it)
Again, I know this is a sob story, but I've run out of options!

Thanks,
Phil

 

Teach yourself.
The Avid Forums are very responsive to beginners' requests for information.
This is what I did.
Your best teacher will be purchase of a copy of Avid Express Pro HD, which
actually doesn't require the latest hardware to run in standard definition
mode.

Avid is a huge, messy system, and you will find that the typical short
course doesn't cover all the bases, and doesn't give you enough practice to
let it sink in. Get it in your home, and work on it slowly.

 

Your best teacher will be purchase of a copy of Avid Express Pro HD, which
actually doesn't require the latest hardware to run in standard definition
mode.
or even try Avid Free DV:
http://www.avid.com/freedv/index.asp


--
Brian Alves

Listen to the new podcast
for DV creators- The DV Show!
http://www.thedvshow.com

 

I was kind of in the same boat as you - wanted to change jobs, no one to
learn from, etc.

I vote with the other guys - get a copy of AVID and start doing some
projects in it. It really is something you have to use and abuse in order
to get anything out of it.

Tom P.
P.S. It's a better system than me. I had to give in and go to premiere.
But I'm not looking to get a job in TV... yet.

 

The problem with AVID is the interface is clumsy . That's what happens when
you have such a large user base. Many of whom are simply button pushers. You
can't change the interface or the GUI without losing users. Premiere kicks
ass anyway and with Premiere / Combustion 4 / 3DSMax there is nothing I
can not do.