As
I reviewed the software, I did find a major glitch with
the Security features. One of the options that you can adjust
for various crew members is "Delete Project".
Obviously, only the highest levels have this option. But
when I tested the Security limits of the lower levels, I
found that even the Location Coordinator could delete an
entire project, even though his settings weren't supposed
to allow it! I did it a couple of times with different settings,
and each time, levels that didn't have the authorization
to delete projects were able to.
Because
this glitch had the potential to jeopardize entire projects,
I made sure
I contacted Jungle Software, and explained the problem to
their software designer, who confirmed that it is a glitch
in the system. He said that he would fix it right away and
that the updated version (3.0.5) would be most likely available
at the end of the month. (Of course, any users who purchased
the program would get a free update.) Once this has been
taken care of, I see absolutely no major problems with the
overall performance of this program.
Additionally,
I found that their willingness to get a problem corrected
immediately, rather than forcing users to wait for Version
4 spoke volumes about the quality of customer service at
Jungle Software.
Value
This software will prove invaluable to the low-budget producer.
At only $299 for the Standard version (with its 48 shoot-days
per project and more limited budget), it is definitely a
worthwhile investment, especially since most microcinema
producers have so many diverse roles in every aspect of
production. Because this holds so much information (photos,
videos, schedules, etc.) it will cut down on disorganization,
which is one of the biggest problems a producer can have.
It is software that can be used again and again well into
the future and will make up for its cost in the time it
saves you. (And, if you land a seriously big budget deal
for a future film, the Pro version with unlimited budget,
unlimited shooting days, and lots of features to deal with
things like SAG contracts and the like is only $399!)
Final
Comments A must-have if you are a microcinema producer and plan
to work on more than one film. It works well with other
movie-associated programs (screenwriting, storyboarding,
etc.) and can integrate multiple forms of media. It is fairly
easy to learn and actually helps you when you get stuck.
The three versions of the software (Student, Standard, and
Pro) show an attentiveness to the diverse needs of different
filmmakers. It is a tremendous organizational tool that
will repeatedly prove its worth.
