ProFusion Presenter Q & A: Gary Adcock

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been introducing you to our incredible roster of seminar presenters. Gary Adcock, founder & principal information architect at Studio 37 Inc. , will be sharing a wealth of wisdom during his five video seminars at ProFusion 2012 (and you still have time to register!)

With his extensive background & CV, we thought the best way for us to tell you more about Gary Adcock would be to let him tell you… in his own words!

How did you get your start in this industry?

I was working as a professional still photographer who had dabbled in video projects, when my next door neighbor needed a hand on a video shoot. I started my first job as a dolly grip and gaffer. I knew how to light, or at least thought I did. From that point on I tried to learn as much as a could. I was already known as a computer geek by that time, so my transition from print to video progressed rapidly at that point. I was soon doing support for the first Avid Systems in Chicago, then I was doing Photoshop and Graphics, then editing. I was one of the early adopters of Final Cut Pro, even founding the Chicago Final Cut Pro User Group which meant I was sharing my ideas and techniques regularly and from that sprang the teaching and speaking career.

You’re also a writer, speaker, seminar presenter and are heavily involved in NAB workshops – which do you consider your principal career/passion?

My main work is consulting with a number production companies and manufacturers both in and out of the video industry.

I have been leading the charge for data-only, tapeless workflows for video and film production for the last 6 years and that transition can be a daunting task. I work with every manner of camera, on an incredible variety of project – from industrials and corporate work all the way to mainstream feature film production. I’ve helped compile and define the data handling protocols for the Camera Union in the US, presented 3D training at NAB and IBC, in addition to workshops around the world.

But I still am a production guy. I started behind the camera and love to shoot. But in my travels, I have found that my skills are best for creating the best workflow for any given production. People need to understand that every project requires its own workflow: from which camera that is best for the job to how the footage is named, handled and archived. That needs to follow all the way into the editing and finishing tools and what is to be delivered to the theatre, client or on the Internet. There are hundred of alternatives at every critical decision you need to make in your production – and a mistake early on in production can quickly cascade to costly or even prohibited cleanup in post.

Which part of your day-to-day most keeps you on your toes? Which part do you enjoy most?

The consulting is what drives me – different clients, different problems with any number of viable solutions – my days are always changing. The client list includes: Adobe, Aja, Apple, Arri, Autodesk, Sony, Panasonic, JVC, as well as media outlets like CNN, MSNBC, IRIB, Discovery Networks, MTV Networks, WGBH (Antiques Roadshow USA), FOX Broadcasting, National Geographic Inc. and the National Geographic Networks worldwide. My commercial clients include such prestigious brands as McDonalds, Taco Bell, HBO, MLB, NASA, Citibank, NBA Entertainment and NFL Films.

How do you keep on top of the continually-evolving technology in your field? It must be a daily learning process.

Staying ahead of the curve has become my living. I am lucky that many of my clients contact me to solve problems and issues before they release new products. I worked with Panasonic on the release of P2 HD and with Sony on the release of the EX1. Arri sought me out, because of my knowledge of Apple’s ProRes codec to test the very first of the Alexa cameras with ProRes recording. Being the first with a new technology can be exhilarating at the same time being massively frustrating. That dichotomy makes you look at problems from every possible angle.

What new tech has you the most excited right now?

Thunderbolt. It changes everything. Speed of editing, formerly limited to the largest desktops, is now the bastion of the laptop. With Thunderbolt there is no limit to what can be done on a laptop, when needed. I am seeing data transfer rates on my system of over 1 Gigabyte of data per second, with speeds in the 200MBps to 500MBps very common on a single SSD drive. When you consider that uncompressed 10-bit 1080 60i video is about 160MBps, you understand that we are in a brave new world. Now take that speed and use it for file transfers and data backup on set. The rule of thumb has been about 4 minutes of transfer time for 1Gigabyte of data on a Firewire drive. And, with Thunderbolt, that per-gigabyte transfer time accelerates to less than a minute on a multi-drive array, so the data handler is no longer the last guy on set while everyone else has gone home. Thunderbolt will change your ideas about what can be done on location regardless of whether you are in production or post.

You travel, teach, are a regular contributor to such sites as Macworld and Creativecow.net and you’re also a Hot Glass artist… how do you find the time to fit all of this into a 24-hour day?

Persistence. I live in a connected world, and there are plethora of devices I use to stay connected. I travel almost 200 days a year – which means that I have a large amount of time that I can use to stay in touch. I also take time to enjoy the people and locations around me. Just this spring I was able to experience the Taj Mahal during a business trip to India and I am actually premiering part my latest 3D project on the last of the breed of Glass Masters of Murano to investors the weekend before ProFusion.

What can people coming to ProFusion 2012 expect to learn at any of your five seminars?

I share what I can – the more people ask questions, the more information I will share. I have always considered learning to be best in an interactive environment. I will be covering a wide range of ideas, concepts and solutions during my sessions at ProFusion 2012 that will offer attendees more than just a boring Powerpoint demo. I show and share from my personal experience and those I work with.

Be sure to catch one of Gary’s informative seminars at ProFusion 2012!

Trials & Troubles to look for in HD Production
June 19 | 9:30 – 11am | $59 >> Read more & register!

Working in HD with Mixed Formats
June 19 | 12:45 – 2:15pm | $59 >> Read more & register!

Monitoring: On Set & in Post
June 19 | 2:45 – 5pm | $59 >> Read more & register!

File-based Acquisition & Workflow
June 20 | 9:30 – 11am | $59 >> Read more & register!

Working with 4:4:4 Content: 2K and Beyond
June 20 | 12:45 – 2:15pm | $59 >> Read more & register!

Tags: 3D Stereographer, CreativeCow.net, File-based Acquisition & Workflow, Gary Adcock, IATSE, Monitoring: On Set & in Post, NAB, ProFusion 2012, Q & A, Trials & Troubles to look for in HD Production, Working in HD with Mixed Formats, Working with 4:4:4 Content: 2K and Beyond