Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
What's so good about it is it is uncompromisingly powerful. The most
insanely powerful application for under a thousand bucks.
STEVE MARTIN
APPLE CERTIFIED TRAINER
Any film is literally built. Just as a novel will have chapters and subplots, each
and every film has an underlying structure. The raw components needed to
build the film are planned for in the scripting stage, gathered while filming and
structured during editing.
I liken the filmmaking process to making a set of chopsticks from a tree-trunk.
An entire tree can be whittled away to leave nothing remaining other than two
small pieces of wood - these are the chopsticks. Film or video is the same.
A mountain of footage is acquired and throughout the editing process this
footage is chopped down to a fraction of its original size to leave a small, yet
refined, remnant of the original content.
In simple terms editing is nothing more than putting shots and sounds
together. In reality it is much more than this. It is both a technical and a creative
process - it is also intuitive. Anyone can string words together, but not
everyone is able to write a good story or a good book without a sound
knowledge of language. Editing is similar.
There are several key methods of editing with Final Cut Pro. Of these the most
important to understand are Insert and Overwrite Editing. While there are other
methods available such as Replace Editing, Fit to Fill and Superimpose,
provided you understand Insert and Overwrite Editing you will be able to edit
any production.
Let me stress, the key to editing with Final Cut Pro lies in the difference
between Insert and Overwrite Editing and when to use one or the other.
Beyond this, you must understand how to control audio in relation to these two
ways of editing. Once you have this clear in your mind you are well on the way
to mastering Final Cut Pro. You will then have the technical knowledge to make
a film that is fully professional and equal to whatever you watch on TV or see at
the cinema. I'm not kidding here. You will be able to edit anything from a thirty
second commercial to a feature film.
