To enable editing on Final Cut Pro, we first had to convert the footage into a format best suited to Final Cut Pro. Using MPEG Steamclip software we converted our footage to "Apple Pro Res 422 LT" format maintain the quality of our footage.
- Batch List
- Add Files
- Locate Original Footage (Select Footage and Folder)
- Click to Batch and Export to QuickTime, OK
- Select Destination Folder
- Compression Type Apple Pro Res 422LT (reduces size of files)
- Quality Type 100% and Sound to AUTO 48kh, DeInterlace the video
- Batch (4 Settings)
- GO!
To begin with we explored Final Cut Pro and tried to understand how to operate certain functions like cutting an unwanted parts of the clip using the razor and adding sound. As we added our clips and began the process of selecting the parts we wanted we soon realised a major problem with our footage…we had NO SOUND. This was due to our mistakes during the Production Shooting phase with our microphone. To overcome this we decided that since we had no sound for the dialogue we could include subtitles to communicate meaning digitally rather than sound. Thus using our editing and film making skills, we edited our footage with Match on Action in mind and making sure specific shot types were used effectively; such as Shot Reverse Shot and the Establishing Shot throughout. This took us time but we managed to make to sequence flow well with specific cuts expanding and shrinking screen time through our editing. After finishing adding all the subtitles of the Dialogues between the protagonists we decided that we needed some kind of music that would create the correct atmosphere for our Opening film. The music needed to incorporate the building of tension as our film was a Thriller (Crime). This was hard to find and we search to find the appropriate music and finally through YouTube we selected "How you like me now..?" We were happy with our choice and converted the MP4 footage to MP3 and added the music in with our footage adjusting the settings of sound to make it quieter in certain places for effect and tension. And in the end added a tension builder sound that increased in volume dramatically ending the digital piece. The song that we chose added life to our Film and it worked well as the ending of our piece. The main problems we encountered were with adding dialogues and the sound. Finishing the final touches by letterboxing our footage we were pleased with the outcome.
Effects and Filters
To insert our text we went to the Viewer and clicked "A" and then Text Controls, selecting the appropriate font we inserted all the dialogues and posited them at the bottom of each clip. Since there was no sound we had to make sure that this correctly matched what the viewer was visibly seeing.
Another Effect we had to use to make sure our footage flowed was Fade In and Out. In Video Transitions we chose "Dissolve fade in and fade out". Initially we thought to expand screen time for match on action by slowing the motion down we later decided that it did not work so we left put Slow Motion options on our footage.
Exporting
Converting our film to QuickMovie to upload on YouTube.
