Ingesting Video into FCP

If you've used one of our cameras to shoot your film, you will use the following workflow:

Here's a reminder of how to connect the camera and transfer your footage to your FCP project:

DSLR Workflow

 

You will need to follow these steps when editing in Final Cut Pro 7:

1. Make a new folder on the desktop.

2. Insert the SD card into the card reader slot in the side of the mac.  An icon will appear on the desktop.

3. Copy your videos from the SD card to the folder you created on the desktop.

4. Launch Compressor from the dock at the bottom of the screen.

5. Drag your videos from your folder (on the desktop) into the top left window in Compressor.

6. Once they've loaded drag the Apple Pro Res 422(LT) preset onto your clips.  It may take a minute to load.  Click on Submit.

7. You will see the status and time estimate of your conversion jobs in the bottom right window of Compressor.

8. Your converted files will automatically save to the folder that you created on the desktop.

Be sure to copy your folder from the desktop to the Network to back them up.  

STAY ORGANISED!!

9. Now you can import your converted movie files into Final Cut Pro from the network OR the desktop**

**If from the desktop:  a) you will need to return to that machine each time you edit  b) others can access and mess around with your folder... you could relocate that folder to a more secure partition on the machine - ask Sophie.

**If from the network:  a) you can move around to other machines and access your footage  b) it may be a slower connection and footage may stutter or lag.

10)  The first clip that you drag down into the timeline will set your project to THAT format and size.

11)  When FCP asks if you want to set the project to the settings of the clip, click YES.

If in doubt, ask Sophie  :)

Slugline

Here's a free trial for some really useful software!  You simply type in your content and it will do all of the formatting to turn it into a screenplay.  Amazing! 

 slugline.co

Creating Your Animatic

 Once you have a complete storyboard put together and the rough timing for each shot figured out, you can then create a simple mock-up of your film.  

1)  Photograph each frame of your storyboard.

You may use your phone for this or you can borrow a camera if needed.  *It is very helpful to number each scene to identify later in editing.  

2)  Upload the photos to the computer, making sure they are in your folder on the network.  Put them in a folder that is clearly labeled.

 3)  Import your images from the network into Final Cut Pro.

*After you have saved the new FCP project to your network space, of course! 

*Note:  as a default, still images are set to around 10 seconds in FCP.  You can adjust the length of a still image by dragging the endpoint in the timeline...

 ...this is often a bit fiddly.

Alternatively, you can change the duration of a still image in the Viewer beforehand.

1) Double click on your image in the Browser to load it into the Viewer...

 2) At the top left of the Viewer, change the duration from 00:00:10:00

3) ... to 00:00:05:00!  Presto!  This clip is now exactly 5 seconds long!

Now when you drag your image down into the timeline, it will already be set to the exact time you require.  Do this for all of your images beforehand and you're basically done!

Fantastic Film Series "The Science of Editing"

Is Good Editing Just Instinct?  The first in a series by Sven Pape and Dr. Karen Pearlman

Student Work 2015-16

A2 Film:

A2 Media:

 

Posting Videos to Blogger from YouTube

Adding a video to Blogger is very easy, but even easier and better when you use YouTube.  You'll have the advantage of being able to upload a higher resolution video, but also it will continue to exist as its own entity once you leave college.

To upload to YouTube you need to be logged into your group's google account, then simply go to YouTube, click on upload, then drag and drop your video into the drop zone.  Once it's finished processing you can go back to Blogger, create a new post, then select the "my YouTube videos" option to find and select your video within the "insert a video" option in Blogger.

You can also upload directly to Blogger by clicking the "Insert Video" icon and then dragging and dropping a video (under 100MB) into the drop zone.  If your video has been exported from Final Cut or GarageBand using the iphone or ipod export setting it should be small enough to upload easily.