Video Assist is a technical position on a film crew. Before film itself was replaced by high resolution digital video capture, it needed to be processed and printed after exposure. It couldn't be viewed until the next day. Video assist referred to a video camera attached to the optical system of the film camera, and the technician who recorded and played back the video image immediately. It was strictly a reference for the shoot day, as the real film was available for viewing the day after the shoot, as dailies.
In the HD world, I recorded, played back, edited and composited all without jeopardizing the camera original, ultimately using the greatest Video Assist system built, QTAKE.
My work included:
studio and locations
on-set editing
green screen and compositing
slow-motion analysis
motion control overlays
integration of Photoshop in the workflow
DC package for run & gun (helicopters, camera cars)
For thirty seven years, I was lucky enough to work 120-140 days/year as a freelance video technician. It allowed me to support my family, and freelancing provided the time to do all the other creative things you see on this site.
Video Assist History/ About Media 100
In the winter of 1995, my friend Rolf May, owner of Positive Image Labs, demo'd his Media 100 system to me. He was using it to create an industrial video for one of his clients, but my interest was in the speed of operation, and the speed of the effects. Everything, including Rolf, worked in real-time, which is the only speed that would be acceptable in my industry.
In the summer of 1996, with the help of John Molinari, Andy Netburn, and Eric Janzsten of Data Translation/Media 100, I became the first video operator on the East coast to switch from videotape to a digital system. To everyone who saw it, it was clearly a better way to work and at the time, fun to be on the bleeding edge.