Hey Alex

[Alex]

The primary issue that has resulted in conflict on this forum in the past two months has dealt with two different ways people have acquired knowledge who post on this board.

Some know what they know, and learned through experimentation and book smarts and by assisting others with even more knowledge than themselves....and can explain what they know by giving complex and highly precise technical terms....

.....and others learn by observing and experiencing through their own production experiences, and by observing and learning from the experiences of their clients....

.....and some learn from all of the above.

I find the few conflicts that only recently emerged on this forum in fact mirror one particular conflict I have had in my professional life with my own technical guru, who I have learned a ton from over the years but only rarely ever fully understood the technical portions of his explanations.

He has confidently told me on a few occasions...."I know everything about everything down to the molecular level"....and he probably does.

In many instances, he is difficult to deal with, because the moment he hears something that sounds "non-technical", he tends to jump on the statement and want to either correct the statment or end the discussion because the wording of the scenario has not met his standard of correctness.

Nonetheless, when we were both on stage among our group of 9 this past summer recieving an LA Emmy Award for a production we both worked on together (he did the original sound recording, I produced and edited)...he made the comment to me "I don't know how this happened, but you seem to make a good result from chaos".

He analyzes and fixes chaos in his lab, I interpet chaos in the field and create something new and different.

Both are essential to productivity and creativity.

Anyway, I've worked for 10 years building up my editing business and the equipment needed for the purpose of being able to edit my own films....

....in the process I became so immersed in problem solving others peoples projects, also known as my clients and the reason I can pay my bills every month, that I've have had little time to make my own projects happen.

In fact, I began "adopting" my clients projects as my own...and on a few occasions, I have come close to being no different than the mechanic on the show "Seinfeld"...(the guy who kidnaps Jerry's Car because he thinks Jerry is not properly taking care of the car)

I have several credit cards I have used to buy equipment.

The good news is I make my payments every month, and all of my cards that I owe money on carry interest rates under 10%...a couple are down at 3.9%....a couple others at 7.9...

Don't ever owe credit card companies at a rate higher than 9.9%....and if you buy non-perishable items only with your credit cards that will return an investment, you can make it work. (and don't have car payments, that helps immensely)

The bad news is I'll be paying the cards off for a few more years.

This board for me will continue to be a blessing as I continue to get back into Super-8 Filmmaking in the near future.

And as long as we can't send electroshock therapy through the internet phone lines, all is good to go.

-Alex











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[Nigel]

That sheds some light on the matter. Good Luck

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[Nigel]

Alex--

I like the fact that you are here. We have had shit to disagree with since day one. The only thing is, is I have noticed that things around here have gotten a bit pointed as of late.

I don't know who has shown up in my absence but the dynamic is different.

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[Nigel]

Alex--

Mike has a point. As of late you have been going off on a lot of shit that is just off topic and off base.

I love the fact that we can/could have a talk about film and filmmaking but since I have come back to the board you seem to have changed. What is going on???????

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[Matt Pacini]

Nigel,
What's going on here, is that in the interest of accuracy, for the benefit of the newbies on this board, myself and a couple others have dared to call Alex on some of his more bizarre and inaccurate posting here, by simply questioning his source, or asking him to back up what he's said with evidence or facts (note the "Kodak is discontinuing K-40" posts he's made, with NO evidence, other than someone on ebay saying it).

Alex greatly resents anyone questioning his expertise and supposed Forum Seniority (whatever that is), and immediatly tries to shoot the messenger, complaining that he is being "attacked" by myself and Moviestuff, mostly, just because we disagree with him, or ask him for more evidence or clarity.

(Not that we are the only ones, others have complained directly to M. Brantley, apparently, because I didn't).

Anyway, Alex, you drop this Emmy award statement out, obviously to elevate your standing and credibility, so I would like to know exactly what show you produced and edited that won an Emmy?
(Never heard of a TV producer also being the editor, buy hey, what do I know?).
What show exactly do you produce that won an Emmy?

I would think you would have mentioned it by name.
If I won an Emmy, I would mention it.

Matt Pacini

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[Nigel]

I would like to hear from Alex. Since I have been absent from this board for a few months--There has been a shift in the board's dynamic.

There have been a few posts that seem to quickly shift into name calling and getting off topic. Which never seemed to happen in the past. I don't want to put Alex on the run because I think that he does bring forward some very interesting points and views--However, something is odd here now. And I would like to know why?

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[Matt Pacini]

Well, you know, when you're (allegedly, as they say on TV), an Emmy winning producer/editor like Alex, you just don't have time to shoot anymore.

That reminds me of the time I directed Raiders of the Lost Ark, and some grip named Spielberg, I think it was, started telling everyone he was the director.
Boy, did that make me mad! If it werent' for that guy, I'd be really famous by now!

Matt Pacini



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[chas_ucla]

He won an L.A. LOCAL Emmy which isn't quite as prestigious as a, uh, "regular" Emmy.

Personally, I have no doubt that he did. But that has nothing to do with Super-8. He didn't shoot his production in Super-8, nor does it appear that he shot any Super-8 in many years.

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[MovieStuff]

Okay, guys. Let's not beat up on Alex needlessly. Whether it was a local award or a national award, if he did good work and was recognized for it, then that certainly counts for something valid. I may have differences with Alex over some of his posts, but I don't think any of us should scorn another's achievements, regardless of the format.
Still, I would like to know what the production was about, running time, what format it was produced in and what part he played in it, as I think we all would. As I said when I first came to this forum, it's all about film making, not the specific format.

Roger

[chas_ucla]

For a Super-8 message board I find it very interesting that Alex never speaks of his CURRENT Super-8 filming activities. Makes you wonder, ya know?


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