Tips and Tricks from Adobe’s Senior ProVideo Manager
Adobe’s film expert David Helmly spoke Tuesday to a room full of Full Sail students on tips and tricks of filmmaking using the latest Adobe film editing software. If you haven’t heard of David Helmly, allow me to introduce him to you! David Helmly started off working for Adobe as a part of Adobe’s Sales Team almost 23 years ago. From there, he progressed to business development and is currently the senior manager for Adobe’s global professional video field team!
His team of 10 people has worked on recent blockbuster movies such as DeadPool, Gone Girl, and he is more recently involved with Our Cartoon President of which the technical designer for this SHOWTIME Original Series, Brian Moffitt, spoke in one of the panels at HOF9 on Wednesday.
"Helmly is also the person who taught former Vice President of the United States Al Gore"
Helmly is also the person who taught former Vice President of the United States Al Gore how to use Adobe Premiere Pro. He has worked with numerous actors editing their pitch reels or working on pitch ideas to include Sharlto Copley from District 9 and Maleficent, Matt Damon, Adrian Grenier from Entourage, and Jack Black.
As someone who has been in the industry as long as he has, Helmly offers his #1 tip to up-and-coming entry-level students, he said, “Understand and know what the new tools are such as Motion Graphics Templates in Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro.
When you interview with companies, chances are they aren’t using the latest software, so you have new knowledge they don’t have. Using the methodologies that Full Sail instilled in you in your program, as well as new tools and workflows will help you become employed and stay relevant in today’s media industry. Also, new graduates have an advantage as they understand, know, breathe social media - apply this knowledge in your future career!”
Finally, Dave Helmly ended with some tips for students with different levels of filmmaking knowledge:
· Entry-Level Tip: What is your story? Concentrate on the message. Audio is extremely important almost as important as video. Start out with the audio and build out the cuts from there. Take the time to make sure the story is good.
· Intermediate Level Tip: Start to polish audio and sound effects and bring depth. Sweeteners give stories more dimension.
· Advanced Level Tip: Understand the power of color. Color Drives feeling. Cold scenes- use steel/cool colors. Emotional scenes should be warm colors.
· Final Tip for All Levels: “Don’t get hung up on the technical aspect of the program. Edit with feeling.”
