Tom Roe -- What I've Learned

Completed creating the DVD today using DVDit! from Sonic. This program works but doesn't have much in the way of troubleshooting built in. It would have been fairly simple to place some helpful hints into the DVD production process, but they have assumed that you will know what to do, and even though I am very competent in using Windows based applications, this program has created hours of unnecessary research, analysis, and errors during the production of my first couple of DVD's. I think I have it down now, but they get a "D" on help and intuitive design. The NewLife Promo I just mailed yesterday, was going to SteeleHouse Productions in Tulsa, OK, and it is going to be included in the Elevate 2004 program schedule. I feel really good about this, and am delighted that God made a way for me to use my talents to contribute to such a good cause. A little background... NewLife Industries has been doing what it does, Christian Apparel, for more than 25 years and they are very good at it. Of course being good at something isn't sufficient to ensure that you will survive. You have to move forward and follow trends and keep up with the world or you will be extinct. With the advancement of our Internet Commerce plans we have at least begun the process of stabilizing the future growth of NewLife Industries. As Technical Director for I have done my part in encourage change in the company and even given a 45 minute presentation to the board and key supervisors in a critical meeting in April of 2003. I believe that was a major catalyst for change in the company and with WisdomTEK Media Services God's great assistance it will help NewLife to prosper and grow well into the future. More background... WisdomTEK grew out of a need for us to have a way to share our capabilities with NewLife's customer base, which consists of many Christian organizations and churches. These groups don't always have the finances to pay large media companies to produce things like websites, logos, 3d animations, and videos but we believe we can do quality work on a lower budget. Having the resources to do this in Somerset, KY is unusual. Right now WisdomTEK consists of Me - Tom Roe - as Technical Director, Cindy Smith - as assistant, she is learning how to edit websites and content, including artwork. She's very quick and I think she will be able to handle most things within a few more months of on the job training. This time of training her has shown me that you don't really need a background in Information Technology to do this job, just a desperate desire to learn, and an sincere interest in what computers can do for us. She is most competent on Macromedia Fireworks and is learning to use Dreamweaver for editing websites. Tony Poynter is a competent artist/musician, and can handle most of the projects that are thrown at him. Tony is very technically astute and works mostly with Photoshop - In Design - and other Adobe tools. He is also getting pretty good with Macromedia Flash and Dreamweaver. He dabbles in 3D Studio MAX on his PC at home. I complete the team as Technical Director. There really isn't anything I can't do. This is not ego, just acknowledgment of what God has given me. If I come across something that is beyond my skills I am quick to figure out what I need to do the job and get the hardware, software and knowledge necessary to do it. I use the following tools on a regular basis... Macromedia * Dreamweaver MX - Web Development * Fireworks MX - Artwork production and optimization for video and the web * Flash MX - 2D animation for the web - Also 2d GIF animation FW * Director 8.5 - Web gadgets and interactive game content Adobe * Premiere 6.5 - Video editing software * I have used Photoshop, but my needs are for video and Fireworks does it all Matrox * Digisuite MAX/DTV - Video editing hardware