Story Rules at 2 Reel Guys

I met the ebullient Norman Hollyn at the recent EditFest, the now annual collection of top feature and doc editors sharing their know-how. (There’s a West coast version that has been going on for a few more years. Info here on both.)

He’s an animated guy who seems to have a hand everywhere; an author and editor, he started his editing career in New York, but now runs the Editing Track at the USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.

This past week Hollyn launched a web site–2 Reel Guys— that takes on one of his pet peeves. “There are lots of web sites that will tell you every last thing you want to know about the latest video technology,” says Hollyn. “But I’ve found next to nothing on what should be a filmmaker’s real concern—how to convey story.”

Creating a Siskel & Ebert-like atmosphere is Hollyn’s partner and co-creator of the site, Larry Jordan, a well-known digital media trainer and lecturer.

Their idea? Create a series of free webcasts that push story to the front of attention, showing how technology can be put at the service of visual storytelling. They have 20 shows in the can now, with new ones set to go up every two weeks. Avid is the site’s sponsor.

The NLE maker has taken a beating in market share from the surge of younger users going for Apple’s Final Cut Pro, though the Tewksbury, Mass.-based company still claims the majority of feature film editors use their app.

Highly recommended.