One Man Show Teaser from Andrew George on Vimeo.

I've started to play around with a small, solo, personal project regarding writer's block currently titled "One Man Show." I've shared a clip of the project (above) for your viewing pleasure.

The idea is to examine the warped direction one's mind tends to wander through the process of writing. Arguably, short films themed around writer's block are about as free as dialogue free scenes in student films. However, I aim to be honest, dynamic, and attempt to bring the viewer on somewhat of an adventure.

Also, the "solo" aspect of the project is something I've always wanted to try. To set up the camera, lighting, and ultimately direct myself with no input is somewhat agonizing. The production process goes hand in hand with the theme of the piece. All I can promise is the final product will be.... interesting.

All Good Projects Studio

I'm thinking, as I'm typing, of posting pics of my current set up. I just picked up a new Macbook that I'm proud of. But as I look around I see a more sterile environment. I could argue, a more polished environment, but sterile nonetheless.

Sadly, it may very well represent my current state of creativity. Polished. Sterile. As oppose to Raw, Cluttered, and Young.

I'm glad I stumbled upon these pictures. I think I know what I need to do next.

It's hard to argue that the interface isn't an upgrade

I've went through Apple Training on FCP X. I've edited a half a dozen or so projects on the new NLE. Compared the hundreds I've worked of projects on in FCP 6/7 over the last 4 years, I haven't even scratched the surface with FCP X.

Currently, I don't edit, or shoot, on a regular basis. I manage a production department, and have largely been hands off with "work" type projects.

My experience with FCP X, along with the editor in my department has been both frustrating and liberating. Since the 10.0.3 update, I've been reading more and more about FCP X, and I've noticed the prior hate towards "iMovie Pro" has began to wane. People are beginning to realize the potential of the Magnetic Timeline (liberating) and are realizing that Apple doesn't want you to edit the same way you did with the prior Final Cut legacy versions (frustrating).

This past summer, I abandoned a short video project. A fan made music video came out of it, but the original goal also included a short film. We had great footage, but the script was lackluster. However, given enough time, I do believe that a compelling story could emerge through the editing process.

Mentally prepared to revisit the project, I re-opened FCP X, and loaded the footage from the abandoned project into an "Event." With advice I've picked up from the editor in my department, the Apple training, and from reading dozens of articles on FCP X, I'm now approaching this step with a new mind set on the editing process.

Some think it's the beginning of the end for Final Cut and  professional users. But would Apple ever really leapfrog Avid, or even Adobe (considering the suite, and After Effects) in Hollywood and the majority of the pro market?

Already, I'd be crushed if I had to move back to a legacy version of Final Cut. The interface is much cleaner once you get familiar with navigation. Key-wording, Meta-tagging, and organizing clips is much more intuitive. If you're frustrated with FCP X, I recommend that you continue to persevere with the software, and begin to think about how you shoot and organize your clips before the editing process. The proper workflow makes working with the Magnetic Timeline much more liberating.

If you want a faster, stronger, Final Cut 7, move on to Adobe or Avid. I don't believe Apple wanted to stay in this market.

If you want a new way to edit, a new workflow, and a new way to interact with your clips, you have to start working with FCP X. For any editor or filmmaker feeling as if they're in a creative funk, working on the same type of project with the same old formula, the answer is FCP X.

I'll write more as I continue on with my current project. I recommend to all that you read this article on Philip Bloom's blog, which features 7 professional editors sharing their honest un-bias opinion on editing with FCP X.

If you have any questions about FCP X, comment, shoot me an email, or find me on Facebook.

MTV was gracious enough to do a piece on myself focusing on my short film A Good Indian


I have a few updates on the film coming, but if you haven't yet, click here to head over to MTV and check it out.

No sense running these posts in chronological order.

I noticed this on Facebook this week. You can check it out at tigheland.com as well, along with dozens of other videos that will leave you both chuckling and scratching your head (in a good way, of course).

Back in Fort Frances, a man by the name of Dan Robinson came back home for a couple of years. We talked plenty of times about shooting something together, and the day came where we actually followed through and put together a great little piece!

There was a time when mullets were cool. Unfortunately it was short lived.

Sometimes I'm not sure what had more success back in Fort Frances, the attached ode to Fort Frances Ambassador to Fort Frances or the short film it was meant to promote. We uploaded and promoted this on Youtube before the video sharing behemoth was a household name.

I'd like to think this video, and The Show: Loser Pissed, has a place in Fort Frances Folklore, a sentence in the Fort Frances history books. If not, hopefully I'll still come across that odd person in the bars back home, willing to by me a drink for having a little fun highlighting part of the Fort Frances culture.