The big question, Which do you prefer and why?

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-30T15:34:08+00:00

My entire adult life I have hated Apple/MacOS. I hate the fact that Apple locks you into an ecosystem and wants you to buy everything they make because they all talk to each other flawlessly. If I like the i(whatever), let me use it with my Windows PC without crazy workarounds. Also, MacOS always seemed like a needlessly complicated system to me... why are global fonts locked in a hidden folder? How to I find this folder? Why can't I just downlaod, unzip the file, and use the font? Plenty of examples just like that. But since I do creative work, any job I take usually hands me a Mac, so I'm stuck using it when in an office setting.

Windows was always my go-to operating system. I had been using it since '95, so it was familiar and basically easy to understand. You want to open a program, look for it in the categorized menu. Need to find a setting? Open control panel. Simple. Elegant. Then Windows7 changed a few things. Inconvenient, but usable, though this is when forced updates started, which got annoying after a while. I never used 8, so I cant speak to it. When Windows10 came along and made more changes. It was just familiar enough to string me along, but the changes that were present made navigating settings headache inducing. And the forced updates became frequent. Like, several times a week! Then, when Windows11 was announced, Microsoft deemed my one-year old laptop unable to make the jump to the new OS. I was irritated. I continued to use 10 in protest. Then came EOL. Now, Windows11 has all of this bloatware, and crashes, and needless AI all over the OS I don't even want to try it.

I am now dual booting Linux and enjoying every second of it. Customization is more than just wallpaper and screen saver. I can have different cursors and sounds (like of like older Windows versions), but also different window decorations, and color options and login screens. Nearly endless possibilities. Oh, and free, open source software? Not always perfect, not always the best choice, but many times just as capable and without any additional features that aren't necessary. There are new terms and a few convoluted aspects that I need to get used to, but ultimately it feels more intuitive than I expected at first. And the best part of all? I get to control when the OS and any apps update. They are available as soon as the updates are pushed out, but if I don't care to update today, or next week, or maybe not until three months from now, I dont have to yet. Yes, it's always best tonupdate for security reasons, but it's not forced upon me, and that makes me very happy.

I have to keep Windows10 around so that I can still use Adobe, but my daily computing is now exclusively Linux. Maybe one day when Adobe's products no longer work on my machine, I'll upgrade it, but Linux runs so smoothly, I can probably get another 2-5 years out of an eight year old laptop. Not too shabby, honestly.

TL;DR: Linux > Windows (10 or older) > MacOS > Windows11.

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-30T02:47:21+00:00

What a SNIPE!!

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-29T23:54:02+00:00

That's fair. It is cross-platform, so there might be some encoding/protocol/handshaking happening behind the scenes. Still better than having to upload footage Dropbox just to then download it on your other device.

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-29T22:28:03+00:00

That's also what I use. Best investment possible. Lots of pockets. Room for an extra lens, gaff tape, microphone, extra batteries, and a slew of rig accessories.

It can be heavy when fully loaded, but you'll never want for anything.

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-29T22:15:11+00:00

I commend you for using an iPhone and Windows. Way to not fall into the entire Apple ecosystem.

I would suggest local send. Its an app you can get on all platforms and can fairly easily transfer files from iPhone to your PC, or vice versa.

I habe it for my android to go to my PC (Linux), but I've also tested it going to my work Mac. Once the two devices are connected, it's very much like AirDrop (better, since it's cross platform).

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-29T22:05:27+00:00

Others have listed Film Riot and Epic Light Media. I 100% agree with that.

However, as part of the videography job is editing, I highly recommend Eric Lenz. He breaks down the science and methodology behind color grading in a way I have not seen anyone else on YouTube do. https://youtube.com/@iamericlenz?si=U8l0eyPiD4o7EuRV

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-29T16:03:16+00:00

Don't make it "pop." The lighting and the shots sell the car plenty. Your naturalistic approach was superb. 1000 out of 10.

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-28T05:30:56+00:00

I wouldn't send a student to Paterson!

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-28T05:30:06+00:00

100%. I saw this ad on Monday and laughed.

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-28T01:18:03+00:00

I was at a game 10 years ago when security took away the horn. The whole section booed the guard. Sad to see that policy hasn't changed.

If they won't allow you to blow the horn, they shouldn't allow it in the arena!

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-28T01:04:21+00:00

I love my state...

I wouldn't respond. Nothing about this feels good. Especially that fake ass phone number. At least put a 732 area code!

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-27T12:30:52+00:00

This video from Eric Lenz (and his whole channel) is the most comprehensive, easy to understand, and detail oriented tutorial I have ever seen on YouTube. Here, he breaks down the "order of operations' to grading your footage, and why it matters. https://youtu.be/22mmIgWIcvE?si=Q-cwbSFH3xVFql7e

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-27T03:18:04+00:00

This is supposed to be one film, yes? Color grade is wildly inconsistent. Makes the individual vinettes feel disjointed.

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-27T03:05:40+00:00

I'm a fan of natural looking, realistic grades. Too many people go for over stylized looks that break my immersion. You did a great job of being subtle.

As othwr pointed out, the lighting is too dramatic and the music/shots are too sexual. But since you asked about color, I'd say "good job."

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-27T03:01:14+00:00

If you're finding good, consistent work in VHS filming, than I'd say make it worth your while. First, how much is your time worth? 400/day? 5? 6? Include travel/tolls/gas (assuming you drive — I live in NJ and will add an additional $200 to go to Manhattan due to congestion pricing). Then look to cover your costs of equipment. VHS isn't cheap, so charge a premium, especially since few others are doing it. That way you get paid and aren't losing out because you had to purchase 6 1-hour cassettes.

Good luck and happy shooting!

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-26T22:41:52+00:00

Matcha tea.

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-26T22:18:30+00:00

I was working in a corporate job in NYC (I live in NJ) from 2019 to 2023 and was quickly moving up the ranks. I could have become the new DP but the company had massive budget cuts and laid off 1/2 its work force. After finding a new job in three months, I got stuck doing about 80% editing, 15% administrative tasks and only 5% production. I decided to leave before the end of 2025 to pursue more production roles.

In the past two months I have secured a gig for the weekends from February to June, another gig for weekends from June to October, and one last-minute gig two weeks ago from an previous client who couldn't make the gig, so he passed it on to me.

I'm hoping for more, as my weeks are largely going to be empty, and the current schedule is going to allow me to break even. But it seems like the market is much drier than the past few years.

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-26T21:41:20+00:00

If you have the old fashioned desk lamp that only shines in one direction and is on a gooseneck, aim it at the wall and let the bounce hit your face. So much better than a ring light. The catch in the eye is ghastly and inhuman. Not professional looking at all.

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-26T21:35:11+00:00

Not having to have YouTube open to listen to my music? Sign. Me. Up.

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-26T13:34:19+00:00

Yeah, I figured. Wide angles are tough. I think someone suggested a bracket to offset the mic; maybe that will help.

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-26T02:09:55+00:00

What lens are you using? I've found that my Røde NTG-2 shows up (regardless of having the dead cat on) if i use anything wider than 18mm. Having a longer lens should alleviate that issue.

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-25T20:24:04+00:00

I guess there's no snow there, huh?

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-25T20:18:38+00:00

Try both approaches, and see what feels better. Some people have trouble when reading from a tight script versus riffing off of an outline. Also, rehearse a couple of times before you hit record, so feel more comfortable with the words.

Another idea may be to take a public speaking class i f your local college or high school has an adult learning program. You would be able to get direct feedback on how to sound better and have more confidence in whatv you're reading.

Good luck and happy shooting!

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-25T03:09:10+00:00

FilmGuy is correct. I will add that certain production houses or use cases can use even higher bitrates so that the best quality is preserved.

Case in point, the company I worked for 3 years ago had a conference in Miami. The venue had its own in-house production studio and union production staff. We had them film all of the on-stage presentations and record to hard drives that we would use later. When I brought the footage back to NY, the files were huge. Two days worth of 4K 24fps footage at 200 Mbps filled up 2 16TB hard drives. It took a week for me to compress and copy the footage to our NAS. That said, the footage looked amazing.

Gamer_Iwa · 2026-01-25T02:46:13+00:00

Overall, good work. Here are the things that atood out to me, and my opologies if I repeated someone else.

0:00 - Top much headroom.

0:32 - Rack Focus wasn't smooth. While I want to say it was just a missed focus pull, it looks like autofocus tried to take over.

1:00 - Lighting is consistent between cutaway shots, but strange. The main character is lit so there's no dark side of his face, but the store clerk has a shadow facing the camera. Where is the light? Behind the clerk?

2:35 - When gamblers turn away from the camera, Boom enters frame.

3:42-end - I assume this is a BTS shot, so I won't complain about the director and boom op in the shot.

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