Hey guys! Real name's Robert Dusseau

I've looked around the net and like your forums the best. They seem the most active and motivated.

I'm a software engineer at a large corporation in Michigan. I went down the computer programming path because of my early skills and the money it offered, but doing so made my English professor cry because of my writing ability. Sorry professor, I was a 22 yr old father and the starving artist bit just wasn't going to cut it.

From early age (around 7) I've always enjoyed making plays, magic shows, books, and eventually videogames (which earned me my early programming skills) ect...

Once I managed to get my hands on a video camera (rented one from the local video store) I went crazy making music video's of us all break dancing and little horror shorts. Since back then you had to plug the camera into the vcr, I created an equipment cart out of an old toy box that would hold a tv, stereo (to pipe in music), and VCR. The whole thing was on wheels, so I would literally walk around filming while dragging that thing behind me. The VCR was huge, but it had audio dub (woo-hoo! ).

Then for the next 10 or so years not much happened in the filming department. I was working a few scripts, but every time I borrowed a camcorder from my uncle I could never get it together. There was tools missing.

Two years ago I received a DVD burner for Xmas. That opened the flood gates and all those old film making dreams came flooding back in. I bought a $500 sony mindv camera and a $100 sony editing package - Screenblast (Vegas light).

I reconstructed the original movie I had started a decade ago and wrote up story board for the movie I wanted to make.

It was really special because it's design involved constructing it in a way that would make filming it a party. No acting, no lines to memorize (I gave them on the spot), no special effects, no budget.

Because of the wonderful power of editing and adding commercial music it turned out surprisingly well, and now I've got a little (very little) cult following waiting for my next one (should be finished in a few months). You know the movie was good when complete strangers are telling you they liked it and that their kids watch it all of the time (it's a pg rated thrillomedy called Sterling Frights).

So my brother has been trying to join forces with me (he's learning how hard it really is), and this next one is our creation (a unique comedy), but I've done the majority of the work on it. No big deal, I love the guy.

We're calling ourselves No Budget Films, and we've already got our next to films lined up after this one is finished.

He wants to do a music video, which will be first, and I want to do a suspense horror film.

For the serious movie I plan to buy a better camera, editor, look into getting more serious actors, ect...

Which leads me to here. I can't express how much I enjoy making these little movies, and I want to get more serious about it (my bro and I have already filmed a few weddings to help finance things. (stop laughing!)

I'm not looking for fame or fortune, I just enjoy sitting back with a beer and watching my work on the screen. Brings me back to being a kid again.

So ... just one question for now (I'll probably be quietly reading through old posts for while).

Do any of you guys use windows?

Anyone?

Yea, I'm sure most people do.

BTW how is that Screenblast program working out for ya? Once you get more editing experience you should definitely upgrade to Vegas 6.0. Fantastic program.

I love screenblast. Being a programmer really makes you appreciate it.

I'd love to upgrade to vegas, but a new PC and possibly an xbox 360 keep jumping up in front yelling "me! me!"

screenblast is awesome, even as an entry level program. it's easy as hell to learn, and despite being a budget version, it's still extremely functional. I feel that other lite NLEs don't have room to brag as much as Screenblast. It doesn't work for what I need it to do, thats why I use Vegas. It was the best few hundred dollars I've ever spent.

i'm a total windows/vegas user, so if you've got any questions, both Mark and I are in the know about this stuff.

That's awesome! Thanks!

And since you asked,

One thing I've had a hard time doing with my latest film is displaying a still frame. The only way I've managed to do it is by copying one frame and then pasting it a zillon times. Does Vegas address this? Does it let you show stuff in reverse?

What can it do that screenblast can't?

Go ahead, make me drool. My wife doesn't know where you guys live, so if I should loose my mind and go spend the money she won't be able to hunt you down.