The Other Side of Design

Despite the vague title, this post is simply about the “non-design” work I do for my little passion project. Seeing as it is really up to how much or how little I want to put into the site and YouTube channel, I’ve been thinking about creating more of “business plan” going forward.

Not only is it enjoyable for me to design roller coasters and rides, but I also adore creating the content to convey my designs. Video production has been in my blood from an early age when I would draw and record cartoons. Now, these cartoons were pretty awful but I like to think they impacted me greatly. Especially my desire to pursue what excites me in a passionate way, as opposed to becoming another “number.” Not that there is anything wrong with people working in any field or for any company, but my goal in life is to pursue what gives me purpose.

Really, David, this is what you’re passionate about?

Yes, I am, and don’t end a sentence in a preposition.

Final Cut Pro X - Part 3 Video TRCP YouTube

Many years back, I worked for Apple Retail in Atlanta. While working for Apple, I took it upon myself to learn their software ecosystem including Final Cut Pro X. With a generous discount for a new MacBook Pro Retina Display (yes…very generous), I now had the means to use this new software. I had previous borrowed the Macs my friend’s or my school had to use iMovie.

Having worked on real production sets in my past (no, I won’t go into that), I knew a little…very little really…on how things can come together for a presentation in terms of video. Once I started The Roller Coaster Project, the idea of a YouTube channel to work in tandem with the website was always in my mind. Unfortunately, I did not capitalize on video production for some time mainly in part due to lack of a real camera. When I launched the Kickstarter project, I used an older Fuji camera that maxed out at 720p. Once I created that video for Kickstarter, I felt an awakening within that was only paralleled when I first began working on The Project.

Moved on up to the EOS-side!

It’s been a process and many years, but now I have bumped up that film quality and honed my lack of skills. So now my skills are marginally better than when I started, but the videos look fancy.

You might be wondering why I’m going through all of this?

Don’t presume to know what “we” wonder!

Fair enough, I’ll work on that. Well, the reason I am discussing passion and film making or content creation with ride design is that in the next few days I will be launching another side of The Roller Coaster Project. Now, this may be a tremendous bust…kind of like that Flat Earth guy who made his own rocket. No, I’m not attempting space flight, yet, but more so a newer strategy where I work on content creation and design as if it were a full time job. And, if you haven’t noticed the worldwide pandemic f***ing things up for the past year, some people have all the time in the world. Oh, and a nice significant other who keeps me from living under a bridge. I would still be thinking of roller coasters under that bridge, though.

This will all make more sense in a couple of days, more like Monday at 12 PM Eastern Standard Time. Again, not launching myself into orbit, yet. Although, those Flat Earth folk do make a good point…despite that every piece of technology we use relies on the world being spherical. Really an ellipsoid, but that’s scientifically accurate. Have I lost you? Either way, just a little update and a taste of things to come… See you at noon on Monday.