How did the modern DIGITAL FILM EDITORIAL come to be?

When it comes to film editing, it can be a pain in both the ass and your wrist.

That's because in the olden days, you had to handle actual filmstock by not just holding the film with your own hands but also using cutting tools, tape, glue, staples, etc.

The image above is that of a FEMALE EDITOR working with filmstock in the 1940s.

My guess is that she's using this:

Until the advency of the computer, FEATURE FILMS were editing the physical way but not with MOVIOLAS.

Rather this contraption shown bellow:

This called a FLAT BED editor.... or as some call The STEENBECK.

It's purpose was to make Editor easier by having a multi-control interface with stereo speakers when editing filmstock.

Also, there were these sprocket holders

According to my readings, these were to hold the film together without creating a mess on the floor or dealing with some many holders held up at once.

In the name of tidy order.

As some people on the internet might think that editing through physical means are superior to the digital method we use now with AVID, Adobe Premiere, or even DAVINCI RESOLVE, 

The reality is that the older methods have their downsides.

Not only do you risk destroying a master with the repeated cutting, storage canisters, and timing issues but also the cost of Film Development and the waiting period for them chemicals to finish developing

as the sordid stories of HEAVEN'S GATE still being wet from the lab are any indication.

And STAR WARS creator GEORGE LUCAS was one of those who got sick of using the old school method of EDITORIAL.

So after getting inspired by the story of the CMX 600 machine from 1971

He got to work collaborating with his COMPUTER DEPARTMENT at LUCASFILM.....

This group was called DROIDWORKS & CONVERGENCE CORPORATION.

The idea was not just to simplify the age old FLATBED editing process but also make it digital as so George doesn't have to look through bins or ask for assistants to hand him reels or sticky tape during editorial.

This gave rise to the EDITDROID system

It was a PURPOSE built system meant for editing film without using physical pieces of acetate filmstock.

Just a bigass desk with 3 Monitors

2 for interfaces with the 3rd being the center to view your sort of finished work.

That as well as a KEYBOARD, TRACKBALL, and some JOGWHEELS.

All powered by this guy below

The SUN MICROSYSTEMS SUN-1 WORKSTATION.

To sell the idea to other people in order to buy the equipment,

Some raw footage of YODA ON HIS DEATHBED was edited using the new EDITDROID system

However, it was the 1980s.

Not every filmmaker at the time was willing to switch from their TRIED-&-TRUE Steenbecks to a bigass desk with computer monitors and keyboards.....

Nor would they want to justify the cost for needing the equipment or storage....

And storage was another issues.

The EDITDROID system needed LASERDISC to store the info but if you've read about the LASERDISC's drawbacks on storage capacity, then you'll know how it became the downfall of EDITDROID to begin with.

But LUCASFILM didn't give up.

Some people from APOLLO COMPUTERS decided to buy parts of the tech and develop what would become the AVID system that HOLLYWOOD uses nowadays.

In the earliest days, AVID was compiled mostly to run on APPLE's MACINTOSH II line of computers due to their supposed workstation feel of their tech while also being more easily accessible financially compared to all those SUN SPARCSTATIONs or SGI WORKSTATIONS that could easily cost you as much as a brand new CAR in the 90s.

But as the tech grew, 

AVID eventually began branching into other OSes like WINDOWS, SGI IRIX. and so on.

While people who do VIDEO WORK often have to choose between ADOBE PREMIERE or DAVINCI RESOLVE for their editing fix,

HOLLYWOOD prefers INDUSTRY STANDARD and AVID seems to fit that bill rather well.

While I primarily do my editing on ADOBE PREMIERE PRO, 

I would love to try out AVID even if the way you cut and edit is different than what I'm used to.

But If I need a cheat sheet, I can just refer to keyboard diagrams I can find on GOOGLE IMAGES.

Thank balls the KEY SHORTCUTS use the TENKEYLESS format.

But since I'm a proponent to MECHANICAL KEYBOARDS who refuses to go back to RUBBER DOMES, 

Here's my suggestion to AVID or Keyboard MANUFACTURERS:

Please supply AVID MEDIA COMPOSER friendly KEYCAPS that I can use my Mechanical Keyboards. 

That would be most appreciative. 

WARD KIMBALL tells you HOW NOT TO DRAW MICKEY MOUSE.

Was browsing my iPhone's photo library and I came across this photo I haven't used in this blog yet.

I've done some reading and as it turns out, 

This is actually WARD KIMBALL's TOUNGE-CHEEK-IN joke about his employer's rigid standards of ON-MODEL compared to other studios who's rules on ON-MODEL are somewhat lax.

I don't see it that way.

The way I see it, It's a fun experiment to mess around with MICKEY MOUSE's model for one's own personal amusement.

Makes me wish I shared this when the MOUSE entered the PUBLIC DOMAIN back in January 2024........

I did however encounter this alternate take on the photo above:

I'm gonna guess this one is the original while the one way above is the revised one.......

Hilarious,

With apologies to both the late WAYNE ALLWINE 

&

BRET IWAN.

And with greater apologies to Former Disney animator ANDREAS DEJA but sometimes I can't resist an art piece done by one of the NINE OLD MEN even if it's their own amusement piece.

SKYDANCE Merger News 10/08/2026+My thoughts on the matter

I read on my FACEBOOK feed that there might be some talks of merger the services 

PARAMOUNT+ with HBO MAX

But that conflicts with reports that the two services were meant to be separate, just that they're now operating under the SKYDANCE umbrella.

Why should I care?

Well for starters, 

Yes, I get it's controversial the merger due to a certain friendship that DAVID ELLISON has while also putting the THEATRICAL RELEASE window into question 

But to me, I'd rather have the WARNER BROS/HBO library under ELLSION instead of ZASLAV.

I've had to put up with ZASLAV's bullshit for FOUR YEARS since the WBD MERGER back in 2022, that it's been hurting my soul ever since.

Just look at my demeanor in my BLOGPOSTS between Feb 2023 to November 2024 and you'll see why.

So RANT about the SKYDANCE merger for all I care.

I'm just relieved that I don't have to put up with ZASLAV for the time being.

(While ZASLAV can finally retire in piece and relaxation.)

We already won the fight over rescuing the triumph that is COYOTE VS. ACME from TAX PURGATORY thanks to the good people of KETCHUP so the least we can do is embrace this new change.

Though I am concerned about the hiring of a certain BOBBY KOTICK who's infamous amongst gamers for nearly running ACTIVISION BLIZZARD to the ground before his firing....

We'll just have to wait and see.

Also, I'm up here in CANADA so I can't even get HBO MAX here.

Nothing to do with the CRTC but rather it has more to do with BELLMEDIA having a chokehold on WARNER BROS. streaming media in CANADA what with their CRAVE service.

The Computer that put APPLE on the map-THE APPLE 1

I don't own an APPLE 1,

And finding them is not only difficult but also UBER EXPENSIVE.

So instead, I'll rely on my findings.

The APPLE 1 was meant to be a pet project for both STEVE JOBS and STEVE WOZNIAK after visiting JOHN DRAPER, the famous PHONE PHREAK,

who demonstrated to the two how he connected to an early pre-cursor to the internet called THE ARPANET to play chess with someone in BOSTON, MASSECHUSETTS.

This inspired JOBS & WOZNIAK to build a BOARD COMPUTER that would be a low cost terminal that connects to a standard TELEVISION set.

As well as using an inexpensive keyboard from SEARS.

After visiting the HOMEBREW COMPUTER CLUB and being introduced to such computers like the ALTIAR 8800

WOZNIAK was inspired to put a MICROPROCESSOR into his terminal to make it a little more ALL-IN-ONE to the user without having to source expensive components.

He originally planned to use a MOTOROLA 6800

But it's asking price of US$175 would have made it prohibitively expensive so it was GOD's BLESSINGS that in late 1975, MOS TECHNOLOGY would introduce the 6502 CPU who's asking price of US$25 made the computer project more economically feasible.

By March 1976, WOZNIAK completed the basic design of the computer and tried to offer it to his employer HEWLETT PACKARD but the company rejected the design on FIVE OCCASIONS.

Nonetheless, WOZNIAK decided to demonstrate the computer to the HCC and with persuasion from STEVE JOBS, WOZNIAK decided to start a company and sell the printed boards for hobbyists to assemble themselves.

To finance production of the first boards, WOZNIAK sold his HP-65 Calculator while JOBS sold his VOLKSWAGON Type 2 Microbus.

After assembling the first prototypes, JOBS & WOZNIAK showed off the prototype to PAUL TERREL who was starting up a new computer shop called BYTE SHOP.

TERREL was mighty impressed with the machine so he told JOBS that he would order 50 units and pay $500 each on delivery but only if the board is fully assembled as he's not interested in an unassembled board with no components.

And the rest writes itself.

The APPLE 1 would eventually go on sale for US$666.66...(Ominous choice of numbers) 

If you want to read more on the TECH SPECs of the APPLE 1, Here's the WIKIPEDIA link:

APPLE 1 Hardware specs

The APPLE 1 would later be successful enough for APPLE to introduce a successor in 1977 which fully cemented them into the COMPUTER MAP with the APPLE II

But that's a story for another time....

Next year in 2027 for this thing's 50th Anniversary.

I promise.

About 5 years ago as of this writing, 

DAVID MURRAY of THE 8-BIT GUY did this video where he built a replica of the APPLE 1 to demonstrate to the audience on how it works.

and then his older brother MIKE MURRAY of THE GEEK PUB followed it up with building his own case to compliment the build.

The main difference is that DAVID had to assemble the computer completely 

(Capacitors and all)

whereas the original APPLE was an already pre-assembled motherboard.

Similar to how we purchase our MOTHERBOARDS by themselves before we assemble them in our own custom builds.

Pictured is an MSI X870E MPG CARBON WIFI AM5 Motherboard

I had some other posts that aren't finished yet or they are finished but won't be posted until their SCHEDULE has been elapsed.

And I realized I missed my chance to celebrate the APPLE 1 back in JULY 2026 due to the room switch in my house so.....

Now's a better time for me to make such a post.

Johnny Hart predicted the electric unicycle before the damn thing was invented in the 2010s

In 1958, 

JOHNNY HART created a newspaper comic strip series about CAVEMEN and their daily lives

One defining visual gag is that the character THOR can be seen riding on a makeshift wheel contraption that consists of a single wheel with both ends be held by just a single piece of wood for THOR to balance on.

They even made a COMMODORE 64 game based on that initial concept

Little did JOHNNY HART know that he outright......

Well.... his surviving members of his family keep insisting that he didn't predict the thing....

But with the way THOR rides his wheels, it's pretty obvious this was foreseeing a little invention that I sometimes see on the streets when I go shopping

The main difference with these machines however is that compared to THOR who seems to be using his knowledge of WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION from his upper abdomen to balance his board or accelerate his travel,

The ELECTRIC UNICYLE keeps the user GYROSCOPICALLY STABLE.

It's not to say that it's all GYROSCOPICALLY STABLE as the user still needs to tilt their wheel as to steer the damn thing.

I never in my mind could understand these devices, or purchase them in a store like LONDON DRUGS or BEST BUY,

Not because of how expensive they are but also, why would I use them if I have perfectly functioning legs to walk.

And if I want to use a wheeled contraption, I can just take public transit or drive a car or even ride a motorcycle....

Or ride a bike........

But at the same time, It's amazing that such an invention was even predicted in the late 1950s, at a time when we all were excited for what the 21st Century would offer us....

.....

..................................................

I'm not going to provide a PUNCHLINE about our circumstances regarding this century so don't make me do it.

I'm just gonna call it a day with this post so I can work on some other blogposts that are in need of completion before they're ready for primetime,

Probably while I'm drinking a can of PEPSI

The time CARTOON NETWORK invaded NICKELODEON in 2004, way back before talks of the acquisition

With all the uproar of the planned PARAMOUNT-WARNER BROS. Merger due to it threatening how the theatrical business does it's work

(amongst others without going too political),

It's starting to remind me of the time when CARTOON NETWORK decided to invade NICKELODEON back in 2004 by running this ROGUE PROMO to promote CARTOON NETWORK's 

CARTOON CARTOON FRIDAYS Block.

Check it out:

How did this slip by NICK's affiliates?

Well, it was a case of them CN Affiliates purchasing unauthorized LOCAL AD SPACE.

Why LOCAL AD SPACE?

Because CAR DEALERSHIPS & FAST FOOD CHAINS like MCDONALD'S use those to advertise their products and are rarely vetted at the NATIONAL NETWORK LEVEL.

Of course, I like how a few characters are freaking out about having bypassed NICKELODEON SECURITY(or in this case SUMNER REDSTONE) but worry about getting caught.

Because even if you find a loophole to pull off a stunt like this, You'll still run the risk of getting caught.

And no, stealing SOLID SNAKE's cardboard box is not going to help you in your stealth missions.

SKYDANCE's security is too smart to be fooled by a BOX.

And even FRED SEIBERT is not gonna approve of said stunts, what with him worrying about lawsuits and all.

Oh, and EDD(aka DOUBLE D) being in a PROMO that is in the SLIME FACTORY's affiliates is proof that ED, EDD N EDDY was originally going to be a NICKTOON but thank balls NICK's execs rejected ANTONUCCI's pitch and allowed him to sell the EDs to CARTOON NETWORK due to not only wanting to retain all CREATIVE CONTROL at AKA CARTOONS but also so that nobody interferes with his CANADIAN FILM & TELEVISION TAX CREDITS during production.

While people would consider ED, EDD N EDDY to be a CANADIAN Cartoon, 

It originally aired on the very AMERICAN CARTOON NETWORK so.......

Goofy's HOW TO series explained+Any similarities to MR. BEAN are virtually nil

In 1937, voice actor PINTO COLVIG had a falling out with the DISNEY company and left the studio to work with FLEISCHER STUDIOS in MIAMI, FLORIDA.

This abrupt departure left GOOFY without a voice for quite a while.

While other actors like DANNY WEBB would briefly take over, this caused issues within the company since GOOFY isn't really GOOFY without PINTO COLVIG's performance.

Then JACK KINNEY had a brilliant idea:

KINNEY decided to bring in CANADIAN-AMERICAN actor JOHN MCLEISH to provide narrations for a series of cartoons starring GOOFY.

MCLEISH was not new to DISNEY fans as we've heard his voice in the opening THUNDERSTORM scene of DUMBO.

The staff realized that MCLEISH's voice would be perfect for a series of cartoons where GOOFY would struggle to perform simple tasks due to his bumbling nature, all while a narrator explains the situation to the audience.

This would give rise to the.....

well.... it gave rise to the HOW-TO-SERIES of cartoons.

The idea like I said is that GOOFY has to perform simple tasks as the title of the cartoon would insinuate.

But that sounds easier said than done because GOOFY is somewhat of a bumbling idiot.

But since GOOFY would be left without a voice for a while, barring exceptions where he's voiced by a sound-alike,

The main voice is a disembodied Narrator who provides a verbal description of what the heck is going on in ANYTOWN, USA.

In the later years, a similar concept was developed by a fellow BRITISH comedian by the name of ROWAN ATKINSON

Yup.

But even though MR. BEAN was not inspired by the DISNEY HOW TO SHORTS as MR. BEAN was actually inspired by a FRENCH comedy called MONSEIUR HULOT,

Them two series share a similar premise:

Bumbling Adult Men try to perform simple tasks.

But the difference is that GOOFY is BUMBLING as per his nature.

While MR. BEAN is actually a smart fellow but the reason for his actions is because He'd rather improvise problem solving so that it suits his needs

Another difference is that while GOOFY has JOHN MCLEISH to back him up,

MR. BEAN instead has a SITCOM LAUGH TRACK to cue laughter from the audience.

No, this is not a CLASH post.

Had this been a clash post, it would have a title like CLASH OF BUMBLING IDIOTS at the title.

But I didn't intend this post to be a CLASH post anyway.

But if you want me to consider it, then let me know on the comments but then I'll have to come up with a better title than what I wrote above.