What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
For those clients who would like to pay by the hour, I have a standard pricing system in place that appears on my website, nonlinearpost.com. However, as an independent contractor, I find that most projects are accomplished best by using a flat rate. This flexibility in pricing is of benefit to most of my clientele, and exchanges clock watching for creativity.
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
The challenge in working with a new customer comes in establishing excellent communication. Without getting too personal, I like to know something about a clients background in order to relate to him or her in the best possible way. This is very important.
To achieve mutual satisfaction, it is important for me to understand more than just the sentences that are being exchanged between us. I make the effort to visualize my clients needs by repeating the vision in laymans terms, making sure we understand each other.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
As a professional musician, I learned much about listening, hearing, harmony and timing. The spirituality that comes from playing with other musicians made it possible to sometimes communicate without the use of words. I believe these qualities set me apart. Also, being formally-trained by A.C.E. editors was a big plus.
How did you get started doing this type of work?
As an audio engineer and sound mixer for major recording artists, I owned a tape-based multi-track recording studio. In 1998 I formed Go Left Productions, producing audio recordings mainly for TV and movie-of-the-week programming. In keeping up with the digital revolution that happened in music, it became imperative to diversify, so I began to focus on multimedia which led to picture editing.
What types of customers have you worked with?
I have worked with producers, directors, actors, schools, entertainers, wedding videographers, performed news-gathering and event coverage, and film festival scripted narrative.
Describe a recent project you are fond of. How long did it take?
In recent years, I edited a project for the 168 Film Festival in which there were only 168 hours to write, produce, film, edit and deliver a short film. The first cut was the cut that met the directors vision. I was pleased with the second cut which didnt make it to the festival, but is posted on my nonlinearpost.com website. The title of the film is 14 Minutes.
