Friday, 19 October 2007

Avidly growing an editor's network

"Avid has a bullet-proof software that has paid for my mortgage," says veteran editor Peter Hordylan, regarding the company that created the first commercially available digital nonlinear editing system.

Hordylan is the new president of the 12-year-old 700-member Avid Toronto Users' Group (replacing the group's founder Al Mitchell), and he's keen to put the perfect spin on the technology. "Everyone I know in the industry has one," boasts Hordylan. "You never have a problem with Avid."

Hordylan's message comes across as pure PR (as Avid is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year), but as the new leader of the non-profit association, his top priority is actually to create a much-needed directory and database of editors in a revamped ATUG website.

"I've noticed the difficulties production and post-production facilities have had finding freelance editors," says Hordylan. "My hope is that through the website, the frustrations of companies looking for editors will end."

Avid Technology is fully supporting the project and has promised Hordylan that the site will be up before 2008. The directory will offer every ATUG member one free demo and CV page and the site will also feature job postings and a forum.

Hordylan says the invigorated group will also increase the scope and variety of its seminars - which typically attract about 80 participants - adding sessions that underline "what editing really is - an art form."

On Oct. 25, at the Bravo! studio in the former CHUM/City Building on Queen Street, ATUG will present a panel on editing dramas and comedies.

Eric Abboud, who has worked on Bravo!'s Arts and Minds, will host, and one panelist, The Tudors' editor Lisa Grootenboer, has been confirmed to participate.

Another more technology-based session dealing with intra-frame editing, advanced motion effects, vector-based graphics and advanced key framing is expected to take place in late November.

Hordylan notes that ATUG founder Mitchell started the first Avid user group in the world and that chapters now exist in the Middle East, Japan and the U.S.

www.atug.ca

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