Advocate for Avid Editors
After a long history with film, he saw his first Avid system at Jerry Sherlock's New York Film Academy in the mid 1990's.
"To get to the back room where they kept their Avid computer, you needed to walk past a long row of 16mm film editing machines. That act alone held meaning.
The first time I did so, a brilliant filmmaker named Elizabeth Shub was sitting there. She showed me how quickly cuts could be made on an Avid. Remember, working with film at the time, an editor would average 3-5 cuts per minute. She was much faster. Once I was able to get into that room on my own, I seemingly never left."
When he learned that his hometown's PBS station had bought an Avid, he moved back.
He soon co-created the largest Avid User Group in New York State, bringing in members from three upstate cities plus Toronto. He created curriculum, coordinated sessions with Avid engineering staff, and presented on Avid's workflows, features and updates.
He frequented the Avid Communities. Avid's own staff began reaching out to Chris to learn his workflows. He became an advisor for various members of the Media Composer design and engineering teams.
He became an Avid ACA Leader and a Master Class Instructor, representing Avid Media Composer and its workflows at various venues.
Chris Bové met Avid's Jeff Rosica in 2014 at the first Avid Connect. Over the next few years, they often discussed Media Composer's future and the long-term needs of independent creatives. Eventually, Jeff was promoted to Avid's President & CEO.
Jeff invited Chris to Avid Connect in Las Vegas. He co-presented a masterclass on editorial workflows with longtime friend, Steve Audette ACE, Senior Documentary Editor for PBS Frontline.
Jeff invited Chris to attend Avid's Vision Strategy event at Avid's Headquarters.
Chris brought an agenda of pain points to be discussed in front of Avid's Board of Directors and business partners. Over the following two years, Jeff enacted changes within the company that allowed Chris's entire list to get completed.
In 2021, with over 15 years of experience helping to moderate the Avid Communities, Chris was headhunted by Marianna Montague to replace her as Avid's Online Community Manager.
He managed Avid's Community Team for nearly 2 years, helping them service Avid's customers on forums, and social media sites.
Shortly thereafter, he was given the green light to hire two new teams to run Digital Customer Success. He and his team now reach out proactively to users of Avid Media Composer, Pro Tools, and Sibelius.
Since the early days, Chris had to learn almost everything on his own. He doesn't want to see today's editors endure the same uphill battles.
In his new role at Avid, he is creating new ways for users to learn the apps quickly so they can onboard into new jobs ASAP.
"The faster I can help make that happen, the faster we can see this new generation's creativity injected into the content we all stream."
History as a Television Writer
Chris has worked as a writer, co-writer, story editor, or ghost writer for hundreds of scripts for television programs, documentaries, and digital stories.
"Lately I see two types of editors - those who have grown comfortably into the visual effects and flashy side of the work; and those who have grown comfortably into the writing side. I'm in the later camp, where editing is simply another step in the writing process."
Lots of people had time on their hands during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chris took that time to create a series bible for a new Northern Exposure reboot, as well as writing several episodes for its first season.
Musician
A musician and songwriter for over 40 years, he scores much of his own documentary work.
"I can't remember a time when I wasn't writing or playing something, somewhere, for somebody."
Shihan Chris
Chris is a Shihan (teacher of other teachers) and Master Instructor at a self defense school. He holds a 5th degree black belt (Godan).
The school teaches practical defenses for real world situations. They cover theories and techniques from multiple self defense styles including Modern Kenpo, Commando Krav Maga, Japanese Jujutsu, Combat Jiu Jitsu, Kenpo-JiuJitsu, Judo, Kapop, Kali, and many others.