Free Mac FileMaker Pro Electronic Assistant Database by Orlando Duenas "Electronic Codebooks", the phrase conjures up images of assistant editors with way too much time on their hands, sitting around collecting unemployment checks and playing on their Powerbooks when they should be out looking for work. Well, in my case, the image is dead on. For a few years now, I have been making my Macintosh FileMaker Pro database "Electronic Assistant", now at version 6.5, available free of charge to friends who promise not to call me at 2 a.m. with questions. Now, you too are invited to use it. You can download this database by scrolling down on this page. It contains a user's guide, which you'll find below the home page, and easy to use buttons for getting around. Those of you who are familiar with these things will find it very straightforward. Those of you who aren't won't have much trouble as long as you print out and follow the guidelines set forth in the user's guide. A Few Highlights The Scene Tracker, Continuity and Timing layouts allow you to enter and print running times and footages, track individual reels and re-arrange scenes. You can also track your dailies on a regular basis for your editor; for instance, every day I print out an "available & coming" list that goes onto the editor's bench. As scenes are cut, I log that information back into the database. The Scene Notes layout is based on the continuity. As editing sessions or screenings are held, I can create a note linked to the continuity, then at the end of the session, print them out by scene, reel, footage, or date. All notes are forever stored in the database for future reference. The Codebook layout is easy to use. Along with the database, you will also download an Avid Bin. This bin has certain columns in a certain order to allow for easy import into the database. You can now track all clips in the system for negative handling, sound work and visual effects. Also any notes that have been attached to clips in the Avid will now be imported into your database - very handy for note binders.. The Visual Effects layout uses the information attached to any given imported clip for tracking counts. You can import frames and even print out counts to Pacific Title layout sheets, but be sure to double check them; this layout is a major work in progress. I personally use multiple versions of the file for different purposes, pretty much as listed above. On a large show it's really the only way to go, otherwise you can end up with in excess of 5,000 records, which can make getting around in the database rather sluggish. Finally, this is a Macintosh-based, Avid-friendly file. I welcome Lightworks/Wintel users to convert it over, if you are interested. Anyway, it doesn't cost anything, so what have you got to lose... besides hours of your free time?   The Electronic Assistant is Available to download here: ElecAsst.sit.hqx or ElecAsst.sea.hqx (right-click to save file as...)   Orlando Duenas was an assistant on 'The X-Files' movie.   Reprinted from The Motion Picture Editors Guild Newsletter Vol. 19, No. 4 - July/August 1998   Guild Home | Newsletter Home | Top of Page   Copyright © 1998, All Rights Reserved by The Motion Picture Editors Guild, IATSE Local 776