Understanding the Basics of Editing

How to edit in Final Cut Pro

Importing footage:

1. Right click on the upper left hand box (the bin), then click Import - Files.

OR

Click File - Import - Files

2. Select which files you want to import by navigating to their saved destination via the window, and then click Choose.

3. Now your file(s) are imported into the bin. To use the footage all you have to do is drag it into the timeline below.

4. OR click on Log and Transfer in the File menu (if you want to import files directly from the camera)

Select the clips that you want to transfer from the device of your choice. Drag the into the Transfer Queue area and click okay. These clips will be added to your bin.

How to cut/slice/trim and add cross fades:

1. There are 3 ways of cutting your clips. The first way is to double click on your chosen clip, which brings up a menu like this:

Navigate to the place in your clip (using the play button etc.) that you want to start from and click the button at the bottom of the screen that looks like this:

This will trim your footage to this point. Now navigate to the point where you want your video to end and click to the button next to the button you previously clicked.

Now you can drag your footage from the bin to the timeline and it will be trimmed.

2. Or you can drag your footage from the bin straight onto the timeline and drag the end inwards (cropping).

So this would change to this:

3. Or you can use the razor tool on the footage in your timeline

The razor tool is in the toolbar on the far right of the screen (the 6th one down).

Choose where you want to cut your clip into two and, with the razor tool selected, click on your clip to separate it.

4. Now that you've separated your clips, you can add a cross fade. Drag the second clip further up the timeline.

5. Double click the second clip and navigate to the following menu (click motion)

Click the opacity option.

Drag the slider from the right (100) to the left (0), making sure that your cursor is on the beginning of the second clip, and click the diamond button to the right of the 0 to set a keyframe.

Move your cursor along to when the second clip and first clip stop overlapping and set another keyframe - this time at 100 (drag the slider all the way back to the right). Note: You don't need to click the keyframe button twice, it will automatically set a keyframe once you've changed the opacity value.

OR

Navigate to the Effects menu above the bin.

Then go to Video Transitions - Dissolve - Cross Disolve and drag said effect onto the clip(s) you want to cross dissolve.

Now when you watch your video clip 1 should fade into clip 2.

Exporting:

1. Navigate to File - Export - Quicktime Movie

Make sure to name your video and choose the appropriate settings (usually Current Settings, Audio and Video and None). Then click 'save' and your video will be exported.

Evaluation of 'How To Shoot An Interview'

       Initially, we sat in a circle and decided on everybody's individual roles. I was assigned the role of the director and so it was my job to control what was in frame when. I was also the main editor. Originally we sat down and wrote a script for the actor's speech, but then we decided that we wanted to do a voice over for the video (except for the first and last shots where Amber would be talking directly to camera). So, instead of continuing with the script (which we could do after we'd filmed) we chose to get on with the filming.

       We'd had a brief discussion on how we wanted to do things so that we knew where to start. It made sense to leave the shooting of the lighting until the end, as we'd need as many lights as possible for the rest of the video. As for the sound, we only needed one boom pole and mic for the video production, because of the decision to use a narration (which turned out to be a good one!) We needed 3 cameras for the production: two for filming (one for close ups, and one to be stationary) and one for the demonstration. Overall, the filming went pretty smooth and everyone worked together. However, some people were left without anything to do once their job was completed (for example, once the lighting had been set up there was no need for the lighting operator (until it needed to be changed again)). We also filmed more than we needed (multiple takes of most shots) so that we definitely had enough footage when it came to editing.

       The editing process was fairly smooth, as we had plenty of footage to choose from. The two shots that we had to record sound for (Amber talking to the camera) could have done with being re-shot, as the sound quality was a little fuzzy. This may be because I had to increase the volume of each shot in Final Cut Pro though. However, every other shot was of an adequate quality, so I think we've done pretty well in terms of filming. All of our transitions were either cuts or fades, as a tutorial video doesn't need anything too flashy. We chose some "elevator" music for soundtrack to give the audience something cheerful to listen to whilst the demonstrations were playing. 

       We ended up recording the narration twice, as the first set was completely out of synch with the video and it was too fast to cut up and re-arrange. The second time we wrote down what happened in each shot of the video and made a script for Amber to read. These narrations worked quite well. However, there were still some long pauses between narration, due to lack of content (there was no way of elongating the speech without it sounding silly).

       I'd say our video met the brief, as it displayed how to set up lights, camera and record the sound in a way that all audiences could understand. Our team worked well together, as we communicated efficiently - if someone suggested an idea it would be taken into consideration. The final product reflects how well we worked together.

       The only improvement we'd need to make is to make the narrations more detailed, to make sure that no one would misunderstand what we were saying (however, we didn't think this was completely necessary as the narration combined with the visuals made it clear enough for most people). We'd also re-shoot the first and last shot (as mentioned previously).