Testimonial:
Video Hobby Funds Retirement
Real Pinnacle User Etienne Kinnaer
While most six-year-old Belgian boys were busy chasing after a ball and running from little girls during the early 1950s, Etienne Kinnaer was already capturing his life to film. In 1954, using a film-based camera, Etienne captured his First Communion. Years later, in 1992, that early experience influenced him to edit video for the first time using a modern camcorder and a video recorder to make hard cuts of unwanted scenes.
Etienne moved from film to video tape to capture family moments, celebrations and the like, but often didn't video as much as he would have liked because of the cost of Super8 tape. Today, Etienne has two digital cameras to choose from--a SONY Digital 8 and a Panasonic HDC-SD5, which he won in last year’s Pinnacle Share Competition. With 2 cameras, he now has the ability to freely record as much digital content as he wants. Editing has gotten easier as well, and has provided him with greater creative license.
"I have edited my videos from the first day," said Etienne,
"but in the beginning, there were no programs or PCs, etc. to do so. I
could only make simple edits as I transferred my content from the camera to
a VCR. I wanted to edit my videos because even then, I did not, and I still
don’t like to play videos directly from my camera on the TV. I don’t like to
show all the mistakes on the original recordings."
For a short time, Etienne used a hardware editing solution from Hama (out of Germany), but switched to Pinnacle Studio 400 editing software after a personal friend and local dealer showed him what the software was capable of and what he would be able to accomplish with his video hobby.
"I now use Pinnacle Studio 11 and 12 simultaneously," said Etienne. Pinnacle Studio [software] is a simple program to work with. In principle, you don't need to be very experienced with a computer or with video editing. Of course, there's a great difference between knowing nothing at all about a PC and knowing and understanding the base principles of a PC. When the first PCs came at the office of my professional work, I bought a personal computer for home so I could learn at my own rate,” Etienne continued. “I know how to work with a PC, and that’s enough to work with Pinnacle."
Beyond being a software-based solution, rather than hardware, Etienne immediately appreciated the ease of use of Pinnacle Studio software right out of the box.
"Since my first experience with Pinnacle Studio, I've always found it to be very simple to use," said Etienne. "And each new version is packed with new feature, like the many transitions, text possibilities, video and audio tools. I really like the brand new Montage themes."
For Etienne, having so many tools at his fingertips has given him greater freedom when he shoots video because he knows he can edit to get the quality results he wants.
"The movies I can make with Studio 12 are more professional-looking
now," said Etienne. "People who see them say that they do not look like they
are made by an amateur. All the extras like transitions, video effects, audio
effects, and Montage themes are making my movies simply fantastic and giving
them a professional, more polished final look."
The results that Etienne has been able to produce has since inspired several family members and friends to try their hand at video editing and production. It has also provided him with extra income.
"I've had several people ask me about video editing and they're all using Pinnacle Studio software now as well," said Etienne. "I also get a lot of requests to make videos of weddings, silver- golden- diamante anniversary parties, communions, baptisms, and the like."
Etienne has grown his hobby into a fairly lucrative side business and has had a growing number of companies ask him to create video content for them as well.
"They are simple DVDs, mostly about the company's products
or activities made with video, photographs or a combination," said Etienne.
"It isn't that it's too difficult for them to do internally, the real reason
they hire me is because they lack the time to do it themselves."
This video editing "hobby" has also given Etienne a taste of fame. Following his win of the Pinnacle Share your video contest in August 2007 for his entry “Turkey”, his local television station ROB-TV interviewed him about the contest giving him even more publicity, and ultimately, more work.
"More and more people contacted me, asking me to make a DVD
of their old 8mm Super8mm, video tapes, digital videos, photographs, slides
and so on,” said Etienne. "For these types of projects I use a four-in-one
mirror system, or sometimes I record the content directly from the projection-screen.
The extra publicity was great though. I keep my hobby independent from my salary,"
continued Etienne. "In other words, I'm not obliged to use the money that I
receive for my normal professional work, so I can actually put the money I earn
producing videos to fund my retirement, or to buy more of the things I need
to do my hobby better."
Video production has become more of a daily activity since he first began about a dozen years ago. Etienne is also a founding member of the Pinnacle Video Club in Eindhoven, Holland and actively participates in the forum boards both to garner editing tips and to share the knowledge he’s acquired with newer users. All in all, the personal motivation for Etienne has grown over time as well.
"I like self-made things, or things made by someone else,"
said Etienne. "I get great satisfaction making films as original as possible,
and then watching the reaction of people seeing my productions. I always hope
to get critiques; good or bad, because if I don’t get critiques, I cannot learn
to make things better."
Another major event that has changed his personal motivation was the discovery of a tumor on his liver. In January 2008, Etienne underwent surgery to have 65 percent of his liver removed.
"So the year 2008 was a very difficult year for me," said
Etienne. "However, since the operation, the tumor hasn't come back. I hope
it stays that way! Times like that remind you that it’s the little things that
make a world of difference; you realize how important old and new memories are.
It took about three months, but I’m back to recording weddings and anniversaries
and actually, I'm recovering very well. I expect to record a lot more memories."
About Pinnacle Studio Software version 12
To meet the video authoring and budget needs of consumers, ranging from beginners to experienced users, the award-winning Pinnacle Studio™ version 12 family of products includes Pinnacle Studio, Pinnacle Studio Plus and Pinnacle Studio Ultimate. Equipped with powerful personal video creation and sharing capabilities, Pinnacle Studio can be used to create Hollywood-style DVDs that can be played on any set-top DVD player or PC. Movies can even be enjoyed on a Sony® PSP™, Apple® iPod® and other portable devices. The Pinnacle Studio version 12 family of products is available now through e-tail and retail stores.
About Pinnacle Systems, Inc.
Pinnacle Systems, Inc., a part of Avid Technology, Inc., is an industry leader in providing a complete set of home video editing and TV viewing tools for the consumer market. The company’s product lines including Dazzle®, Pinnacle ShowCenter®, and its flagship Pinnacle Studio line, cover the needs and requirements of any level of video storytellers. Pinnacle Systems® has received nine prestigious Emmy® Awards for its technical innovations and carries the commitment to help consumers enhance, preserve and share their memories with ease. For more information visit www.pinnaclesys.com
About Avid Technology, Inc.
Avid is a worldwide leader in tools for film, video, audio, and broadcast professionals – as well as for home audio and video enthusiasts. Avid professional and consumer brands include Avid®, Digidesign®, M-Audio®, Pinnacle Systems, Sibelius and Sundance Digital®. The vast majority of primetime television shows, feature films, commercials and chart-topping music hits are made using one or more Avid products. Whether used by seasoned professionals or beginning students, Avid’s products and services enable customers to work more efficiently, productively and creatively. Avid received an Oscar® statuette representing the 1998 Scientific and Technical Award for the concept, design, and engineering of the Avid Film Composer® system for motion picture editing. For more information about the company’s Oscar, Grammy® and Emmy award-winning products and services, visit www.avid.com, del.icio.us, Flickr, twitter and YouTube; connect with Avid on Facebook or subscribe to Avid Industry Buzz.