Jim Lafferty, Creativecow.net Contributing Editor


	COW Leaders : Jim Lafferty

Creative COW Web Writer, Contributing Editor

Jim Lafferty
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA

I’d thought by now I’d be making films with the likes of Lucas and Speilberg. Such were the aspirations of a 13 year old kid when he was given a writing assignment in the 8th Grade about what he wanted to be when he grew up.

My how things have changed.

Somewhere along the way I got side tracked by this whole “art” idea – aesthetics and theory, the tug of emotions and the play of ideas – and suddenly, the idea of making commercial films became superfluous.

I attended film school at both Drexel University here in Philly, and Florida State (sorta.) Having never been one for the academic life, and by now feeling justified that I knew enough about life out in the real world, I decided to drop out and carve a niche without a degree.

I’ve since taught myself a good deal about the hardware required to make a film, and done my share of stumbling over the usual rocks and pits involved in the journey. Still have a way to go, though…but I hope to help any aspiring digital filmmaker to step around the problems that have plagued me in the past.

As of today, I’m working quite a bit and putting together a few fictional projects shot on miniDV. I’m of the opinion that miniDV is a format that has its own aesthetic potential apart from film – like watercolors to oils, it is neither better nor worse a medium, just different.

I’ve also done some ‘bread-n-butter’ work in DV. This past year, I shot a fitness training video for Steve Maxwell of Maxercise Gym here in Philly (Steve Maxwell’s Cruel and Unusual Kettlebell Exercises), and I can just feel the weddings around the corner :)

Thanks to Ron and Kathlyn for the chance to contribute to a great site, and I look forward to seeing you all on the forums!

Articles by Jim Lafferty

Windows Hardware & Software

Building a PC NLE: Assembling your NLE

Assuming you have a limited budget to work with, and are looking to jump into digital video non-linear editing, building your own PC editing platform is the surest way to save a great deal of money. It is not, despite what others may have told you, a monumentally challenging task or cause for lost sleep provided you know what you're doing. In this second part of the two part series, Jim Laffety helps you assemble all the parts.

Tutorial

Windows Hardware & Software

Building a PC NLE: Choosing the Components

Assuming you have a limited budget to work with, and are looking to jump into digital video non-linear editing, building your own PC editing platform is the surest way to save a great deal of money. It is not, despite what others may have told you, a monumentally challenging task or cause for lost sleep provided you know what you're doing. In this article, Jim Laffety sorts it all out.

Tutorial