Practice Using Adobe Premiere Pro

I learned the basics of Final Cut Pro in my spring 2011 Multimedia class. Since I don't have a MAC at home with Final Cut Pro, I do have a PC with the Adobe Master Collection. So, I thought I would practice editing video using Adobe Premiere Pro.

Project: Short Music Video
Software: Adobe Premiere Pro
Song: Tom's Dinn Daa Daa

Created, shot, produced and edited by Elvira (Visual Xplosion). This is a practice project.



Visit my You Tube Channel SaFire98 to view more video projects.

Back to School.....

I've been trying to find a job as a Graphic Designer (Print) and it seems that these days, employers want employees with a combination of Graphic Design (Print) AND Web Design knowledge. So, in order to keep up with the times, I'm hoping to accomplish what employers want and I'm going BACK TO SCHOOL!! I'm also doing this for myself!!

I'm excited, yet scared. Excited because I'm going to learn some new things and I'll be updating my skills and knowledge, and scared because with a mortgage to pay, I have to find a job (NOW) that will allow me to work AND go to my classes.

DOES YOUR COMPANY VALUE EDUCATION?

Do any companies out there send their employee's to classes anymore? And/or, do employee's have to pay for udating their own education? I guess it all depends on the company, the supervisor and the job.

To me, it seems like there are some companies out there that don't value education. It's like, they're not going to hire someone who is taking classes during working hours/days. And, that's partly because they don't want to pay someone what they're worth. Even though they want someone with all the skills and knowledge in the world they are only willing to pay low wages. They just want to get by with an employee who has barely the real experience that they would like an employee to have. Do you now what I mean?

As a current job seeker, I've seen tons of job advertisements that want it all, but don't want to pay the wages deserved (for someone who has the skills and knowledge). It's like, they want you to have the most awesome Adobe CS skills, PowerPoint skills along with some Administrative skills and you'll have to do this and that, etc., and you need to have a Bachelor's degree but they're only paying that?...Hahaha, that's funny!!

Then, there are those companies who will work with you and let you attend classes AND pay you what you're worth. That's what I want to find, a company who will work with me while I'm working towards updating my education. In the long run, it will not only help me out, but it's good for the company that I end up working for. I've seen some job ads with great pay for the job posted (of course, you do have to have the skills and knowledge for the job).

GRADUATION IN THE YEAR 2012?

Currently, I have two Associate degrees and if everything goes as planned, I will have three Associate degrees. My third degree will be a Web Design Associate of Applied Science degree. Since I have most of the class requirements (from when I received my Computerized Graphic Design degree), all I need are about 5/6 classes. In that case, if all goes well and there are no interruptions such as classes canceled due to low enrollement, etc., I should hopefully graduate in the year 2012.

MY CLASSES

The classes I will be taking in the spring 2010 semester are Introduction to Digital Design and Introduction to Multimedia Design. I can't wait to start and especially to buy books and whatever other supplies I need.

One of the instuctors I've had before in the past and the other instructor will be new to me.

The only thing I'm not happy about is that out of the five classes I have to take, only one class is either in the evenings or on Saturdays (so, of course I'm taking the evening class). All the rest of the classes are sometime in the morning hours. I've always attended my classes during evening hours and now (at least this coming semester) I'm going to have one class that I'll have to attend during morning hours. They don't even have online or hybrid classes (which would help alot).

NEW SOFTWARE

Hopefully, I'll be able to update my software. As a student, I will be able to buy the latest software at really low prices at school. I really need to update my MS Office Suite and of course, my Adobe CS Suite. What I have now (MS Office XP and Adobe CS2) still works for me, but it will be great to be updated.

A NEW JOB

Now, all I need is employment. If there is a company out there that is a great company I can grow with and needs a great worker with great attendance, an employee who is always on time, a fast learner, etc., let me know and HIRE ME TODAY!!

I have a lot of great graphic design, marketing and administrative skills and knowledge. It's not like I'm new to the working world.

You can view my online portfolio at www.coroflot.com/egallegos

Also, join me on LinkedIn: Elvira

Interview's Next Week.....

I'm so tired of being unemployed looking for a job. In a way, it's nice to be home, but since I don't have any extra cash to spend, I can't go out and do anything. I mean, it's not like I'd go out and spend like crazy. I'm talking about going out every once in a while for lunch somewhere reasonably priced or anything else to get out of the house.

What I basically do everyday is I'm on my PC job hunting on CareerBuilder, Craigslist, Creative Hotlist, and other job sites. I'm on my LinkedIn account, etc. I should say, I'm stuck to my pc...LOL.

One thing though, I sure am looking forward to next week, the week of September 21. I have a meeting with an office products company on Tuesday, September 22 for a possible freelance graphic design project and, an interview on Wednesday September 23 with an actual company for a permanent, full-time job.

FREELANCE PROJECT

The freelance design job consists of cover sheets that will go on top of the product, then the product will be shrink wrapped or put into a pouch. The cover sheet, besides the company logo and line art, will state the name of the product, a discription, an item number and a bar code.

Also, I think they will have a couple other projects too such as an e-mail letter. I'm thinking he's meaning an e-mail blast and I can't recall what the other thing is (if there is one). If I accept this project and he accepts my quote(s), I'll have a few extra dollars which, of course, will go to pay utilities, groceries, etc.

PERMANENT, FULL-TIME POSITION

The permanent job is for a Senior Administrative Assistant position. The cool thing about this job is that they also want this person to have some Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign knowledge. So, I'll at least get to be a bit creative (if I'm the one to get the position). I'm so excited, I can't wait till next week!

The drive to this job, for now, would be about an hour away. The good thing is, they're moving closer to my way. That's supposed to happen sometime before this year is up. In that case, the drive may be some 40 mins (give or take) and that's not too bad. They say an average commute is 30 to 45 minutes.

What would be really nice is to be able to work from home. Maybe one day if and when I get VISUAL XPLOSION, my graphic design business going. Dreams do come true, huh?...LOL.

OTHER POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY

Also, I received an e-mail from another company (who had e-mailed me a couple of weeks ago) regarding a position that consists of Marketing, Administrative and Graphic Design.

The only thing is that the drive to this job would be an hour each way. During the winter, on snowy days and even on stormy, rainy days, you can bet it will take an extra 45 minutes or more each way. I don't know if I could really handle that after a while. I wouldn't mind if I could take the train and the ride was an hour. I've taken the train to downtown Chicago and depending on the time of day and how many stops the train has to make, it can take up to an hour each way.

THE WEEKEND(S)

Weekends are no fun! Now, I just have to get through this weekend (and every weekend for that matter). I really despise weekends and holidays because HR is, of course, not working. Not many new jobs get posted.

So, I sit at home on weekends, on my PC reading news headlines and articles that interest me, chatting on chat sites and/or IMing. What I SHOULD be doing is designing some new mock pieces for my portfolio such as brochures, ads, post cards, newsletters, etc. And, I SHOULD be reading up on and learning more about HTML, CSS, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Web Design, and more! I really need to get on it NOW!! Time is just passing me by.

Oh yeah, another thing I need to really get going on this weekend is to type out some questions for both the freelance project and the interview. Well, I do have tonight (Friday) and the next three days to work on that. I surely don't want to end up doing it at the last minute...LOL