Derek Entringer is a talented Interactive Media/Web Application Developer who really loves what he does. His talents include a mixture of multimedia and application development that allows him to create dynamic and engaging projects ranging from full Flash or Director games and websites to web based CRM Applications and Flex projects. The quality of Derek’s work is determined by his vast experience. The projects created by him embody creative and modern ideas and incorporate top-notch functionality into a simple, uncluttered form.

But we got interested first of all in Derek’s activity as an interactive media specialist, as his talents are also specialized in the technologies that allow us to control the dynamic content and give us the ability to collaborate with others online. As it is known, he is a creator of FLV Player – free video player Flash component that have already came into notice of many users and Flash developers due to its significant features. But Derek is famous not only with this project. He has many achievements to his credit.

Well, enough introductions, as Derek willingly agreed to give us several priceless pieces of advice concerning interactive web application development, web design and how to make it a powerful interactive tool between you and your customers.

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Can you share with us a little bit of your history, and also what is the main attraction point that got you into the Flash Platform?

Back in 1999 I was working for a company creating a Microsoft C++ application which allowed users to interactively place office furniture, kitchen fixtures, and cabinetry within a specified floor plan. We were using AutoCad and 3D Studio Max along with our custom application to create these interactive environments. It was very similiar to todays Ikea Office Planner, but it was tied to installing on a users computer. My manager at that time asked me if I wanted to look into something called Macromedia Director to see how we might be able to port over the functionality that we currently had, to something web based. You’ll have to remember that back then, Macromedia was really just starting up to become what it is today. I gladly took on the challenge, and it was my first step into the online interactive media world.

At that time, Flash had just become accepted as a default plugin for MS IE5. It was quite a young development tool, but there was a lot of buzz surrounding it and it was a new and interesting platform. Right about then, I decided that I wanted to further my education, and learn more about interactive media. I knew that things were going to really pick up, and I wanted to be right on the forefront of how the internet was going to change. This was really the starting point for everything that I have accomplished over the last 10 years in regards to Interactive Media, and developing on the Flash Platform.

Now, I’m working as a Independent Contractor under my DerekEntringer.com brand, and am also running FLVPlayer.com.

As everyone knows, you have excellent experience in multimedia and application development. How long have you been engaged in it?

I’ve been developing creative interactive media for about 10 years. How long you have been in the business of Online Interactive Media really can make a difference, but I believe that how well you keep up to date with current online media trends is what can really make you stand out from the crowd.

You were involved into numerous projects ranging from full Flash or Director games and websites to web based CRM Applications and Flex projects. What of these professional experiences did you enjoy the most? And what is the one you are proud of most?

A couple of projects that come to mind would be a few games that I created for Rozerem. While I was working with a Chicago based interactive agency, we created the Rozerem Dreamcatcher Game. The Rozerem Dream Catcher game was created in order to entertain, as well as inform users of the benefits of Rozerem and a goodnight sleep. You may remember the commercials where a man wakes up to find his dreams in his kitchen, instead of him getting a good nights rest.

Rozerem Dream Catcher Game

Two other memorable projects were with a company called ActiveCampaign. We were a two person startup, and we created web based applications. I was involved in the development of SupportTrio, a web based support center app, as well as iSalient, a web based survey app.

SupportTrio	iSalient

The best project thus far though as been my involvement in developing FLV Player, a fully customizable Flash Video Player Component. This is the main focus of my work over the last nine months. It’s been great talking with clients, building up our feature set, and we’re looking forward to where we will be in another six months or so.

What is the main thing (or crucial moment) when you start a new project? What’s more important to you – your personal vision or a customer’s opinion?

If I can be involved in bringing new ideas to the table for a project, that’s really where I have the most fun. Helping my clients fully realize their ideas and how they can improve their web presence is something that I really enjoy. The crucial moment in any project is really knowing what you want to accomplish for an end result, and creating the tools that will get you there.

Over the years and after creating several products that have been sold to thousands of people, I’ve found that customers opinions are really what matters. If you are creating something for a specific audience, you always want to know what else that audience might need or want in relation to what you have created. A personal or company vision always has to be kept in consideration of course, but interacting with your clients or customers is really what it’s all about.

While creating websites, do you usually use any Flash components to speed up the development process? If yes, what ones more frequently?

Video has been huge online lately, and there really seems to be no end to it’s growth. While working with my latest product, FLV Player, I have been also using the component in many of my projects. It’s a great way to get streaming video up and running on a website quick and easy.

I’ve also used a few Papervision 3D Wall components [flashloaded.com], which are great for setting up interactive photo galleries. Another one of my favorite components is Slide Show Pro [slideshowpro.net]. It’s a very polished Flash Component and also works great for photo galleries.

What helps you stay creative and be in touch with the situation in the world of web development? What do you usually do to improve your skills as an Interactive Media/Web Application Developer?

Keeping up to date with how media is being used online is really part of my career. It’s constantly changing, upgrading, and improving on itself on a daily basis. The most important thing you can do is keep in touch with the heart of the interative media world. Attend conferences, talk with other developers in area, follow others in your industry on Twitter, and collaborate with anyone you can.

I believe that improving skills is just as important as keeping up with current interactive media trends. They basically go hand-in-hand. I’ll challenge myself to create new projects outside of what I am already comfortable with. A good example of this would be when AS3 was first released. It was perhaps a little frustrating that everything that I had learned about AS2 was becoming more obsolete, but it was also an opportunity for a new challenge. I made it a point to get going with the new code base as soon as possible, and I did it on my own time instead of waiting for a project that required it. Push yourself, be hungry for change, and the interactive media environment is somewhere you’ll find rewarding.

Do you have people who inspire you? Maybe some Platform Evangelists?

Many people have inspired me throught my career, and in many ways. Co-workers, managers, business owners, friends and family. I really can’t say that any particular Platform Evangelists fit into that list exactly though.

Any advice for people who want to learn Flash?

If you’re looking to get into a career that is always changing, and never really becomes dull in any way, interactive media is really a great industry to be a part of. Flash is really only one piece of that industry, but it’s an important piece. If you’re just starting out, take a few classes at a local college, or go through as many tutorials as you can on GoToAndLearn.com. The web itself is filled with resources to help anyone who is interested in Flash to get started.

Interactive media is a constantly evolving industry, and the most important thing is to always want to learn more.

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Thank you, Derek, for this amazing interview. It was a real pleasure to cooperate with you. Hoping, our readers found this interview interesting and helpful as well.