FCP users: “Doesn’t Apple want our money?”

In which I show evidence that Apple hasn’t given up on Pro Apps, and suggest why they aren’t in any hurry to update them.
Given recent upgrades for other editing software, Final Cut users have been increasingly frustrated with a lack of news of updates from Apple.
Today’s announcement of a very minor update for Final Cut [...]

Storyboarding vs. shoot planning

In which I take an Apple patent and suggest that it could form the basis of a new collaborative on-location application for the cloud, iPhone and iPod Touch for TV and film makers.
Storyboards are fine in principle, but crews need to use enough setups to cover enough angles to capture the drama so that directors [...]

Once, twice, three times a loader – Let editors edit

Given the nature of modern production techniques I wonder if the job or second assistant camera and apprentice editor might be combined in the near future. Any problems with digital files need top be caught at any stage in the process.
This could be the job – loading the solid-state memory onto the camera, where once [...]

Film acting BCU

To edit drama, we need to understand acting for film. Almost twenty years ago I saw a film acting masterclass presented by Michael Caine. One of the first things he said is:
[1:12] – “What we do, we actors in the movie, hang on to each other’s eyes. That’s the most important thing in film: eyes. [...]

And now, the award for best technician…

This evening the winners of the British Independent Film Awards were announced. Slumdog Millionaire and Hunger won three each.
For those in below the line positions, there was a catch-all award: that for Best Technical Achievement. The nominees were:
Wardrobe – Michael O’Connor – The Duchess
Cinematography – Sean Bobbitt – Hunger
Editing – Jon Gregory – In Bruges
Music [...]

This post intentionally left almost blank…

I’m not posting much of substance today apart to point out that I’ve added a comment and footnote to the post about YouTube’s HD service and to remind people:
If you don’t have a backup plan, make a backup of all your files now. Then create a backup plan and stick to it.
The HD on my [...]

Paper edits: Timecode for QuickTime movies

Sometimes working on low-budget projects means leaving the initial edit to others. Researchers sometimes already have plans for the footage. Producers might not have the funds for all your editing time.
That means preparing the way for a paper edit. You send the footage to someone else who sends you back an initial edit as a [...]

Directing their view

Today I presented at what used to be called the AppleExpo here in London. I spent a few minutes telling people about my plugins (links in my Final Cut Pro page) as part of MacVideo Live.
Jonathan Harrison gave a presentation on interview lighting that reminded me of a principle useful in editing and post production [...]

Frame rates: Would you like half as much twice as often?

In an extensive interview at Variety, James Cameron has a lot to say about 3D production, but he also mentions the paper tiger that is 4K resolution for movies:
4K is a concept born in fear. When the studios were looking at converting to digital cinemas, they were afraid of change, and searched for reasons not [...]

3D editing secrets

Yesterday, the Hollywood Reporter announced that Avid are researching ways to making their products work with 3D footage. I would characterise the kind of footage they mean as being ‘2.5D’ – two cameras shoot simultaneously from slightly different positions to simulate human stereoscopic vision.
The article refers to the ‘Over and under’ 3D technique. In the [...]