Forward Edit Blog RSS

AVID>Compressor

paul@forwardedit.com — 2011-06-22T23:31:42-07:00

Thanks Sean at EPS for this terrific workaround! Lots of times we need to get an AVID MC Ref QT into Compressor and add TC or a “Prop Of”, and with DNX codecs, you can’t. Lots of steps await you. And of course, time. Here’s the uber simple workaround: Pull the Ref QT into FCP (I suspect not X), and then SEND to Compressor.

Tools and Talent

paul@forwardedit.com — 2011-04-13T09:22:40-07:00

We all enjoy talking, arguing, at times getting very heated (trust me, I know editors that are very, very passionate about their like/dislike of, especially, FCP) about the tools of our trade. ... Get ten assistants in a room and you’ll hear ten different ways to get a QT out of an app, transcode it, compress it, and upload it to various cloud servers. ...The truth is, if I went to NAB, it would have been more for fun than “work.” ... Reading the tweets and blog posts coming out of Vegas, I know the post world is having a good time. As it should be...it’s a party with opportunities for discourse about the tools we use while making a living. ...Though we all know how to get around any “limits”...and there is no tool that doesn’t have limits of some sort.

Boob Lube Promo

paul@forwardedit.com — 2010-11-17T22:24:44-08:00

A promo I did recently for a terrific company!

3D Film Contest

paul@forwardedit.com — 2010-05-21T22:05:14-07:00

So I’m going to continue with a post workflow how-to that will be up shortly. ... The wave of the future is sending a tsunami toward me and I’m not ducking all the 3D meatballs, swords, and bullets! In the meanwhile, here’s a 3D film competition that SONY Europe is sponsoring. ... First and foremost, your film will be included on a Blu-ray disc that will be shown in stores around the world when demoing Sony’s new 3D TVs. ...And, even better, the are a number of video tutorials and pdfs that do a nice job of explaining how to make a 3D short, primarily in 3D animation/CGI software. ...Filmmakers, remember we’re a team, not only in post, but in prep and production as well!

3D Yet Again

paul@forwardedit.com — 2010-05-04T19:31:06-07:00

Since I left this subject six weeks ago, the world has gone cuckoo about 3D filmmaking and whether it should even exist. ...Otherwise, let’s use 3D to enhance reality and draw us into a world and story that stands on its own. Just as music and sound mixing transport us to either a more realistic representation of our environment or a fantastical world we had never heard of before, 3D should work hand in hand with the other key elements of the film to boost the artistic intent of the director. ...Not only does this process ensure that the finished product will not look awful, it forces the filmmakers to think about their intent in using 3D. ...All this said, I do believe that on rare occasion there might be the perfect project for post production conversion. ...There are increased costs during prep, production, and post, depending on how you create the final 3D film.

NLE Changes and Creating Art Part 2

paul@forwardedit.com — 2010-04-11T19:17:26-07:00

The turnover was decidedly different and more cumbersome than a typical AVID/FCP show, though I would also say that if SMOKE was the usual route, eventually turnover would actually become simpler than the current standard route. ...In my experience it is installed in some post facilities in one or two rooms and is seen as the ultimate end game of editorial advancement. ...It wasn’t available on Mac till just recently and now it’s software only on Mac (like AVID, Autodesk is all about selling hardware to speed up your workflow.) ...But now, just in the last two weeks, I hear that the CS5 version of Premiere will be a game changer. ...You need a proper GPU and a 64 bit OS to run this new software to its maximum potential, even though it will run without the GPU, just not as fluidly. Many seers are putting forth the hypothesis that folks will jump the FCP ship, which hasn’t seen robust updates, for the PP ship, which is now catching up by leaps and bounds.

NLE Changes and Creating Art

paul@forwardedit.com — 2010-04-08T12:26:44-07:00

I’ve resisted writing about editing tech so far in this blog, even though it excites me beyond reason and is half the focus of FORWARD EDIT. ... Why are we so obsessed with software that is all fairly similar in what it does and even how it does it? ... Sync methods, how fast can you go, sorting trims, etc...but I don’t think such things occupied vast tracts of conversation time (if the Internet had existed then, would blogs have covered picture post much at all?) ...Rumors would have you believe that Apple doesn’t care about FCP at all anymore and is trying to sell it. ...I think it’s especially important that AVID released a software only version for the Mac last year. ...VIACOM last month ordered that all shows that are cut for any of its divisions (Paramount, MTV, Comedy Central), must be cut on AVID.

The Quality of Editing

paul@forwardedit.com — 2010-04-06T17:10:42-07:00

Youtube, Vimeo, FOD, and other websites are encouraging many to become writer/directors (not that most didn’t want to be in the first place!) During “real” post, the assistant and editor position merges into one, and VFX and audio skills are usually a given, at least at a basic level. ...And yet, to be really good at a particular skill or even inherent talent, most human beings must concentrate on one or two at a time. ...Of course much of the poor editing can be attributed to the fact that these vids are shot fast, without much thought to the story as a whole, and without much direction. ... The shorts that are directed and thought out and lit in some basic way are noticeably better than the rest. ... You have a few minutes and want a quick laugh...do you care that what you’re watching looks like crap or that the editing jars you every other cut?

DSLRs Part 2

paul@forwardedit.com — 2010-03-25T12:08:04-07:00

The most significant factor is to be very aware of all the different codec/codec option/frame rate choices and the transcoding possibilities/difficulties involved. ...The “raw” files were 1920x1080 @ 23.98 and we used Compressor to transcode them to ProRes 422 (HQ is my preference though this will add more time). ...For AVID (Mac or PC based) I’d suggest using Compressor to transcode to the Animation codec. ...As far as audio goes, we used a plugin called PluralEyes ($ but free for 30 days) to sync the externally recorded audio to the scratch track contained within the H264/ProRes files. ...You can also accomplish the above using Media Manager within FCP, but I’ve found that using Compressor is much more stable (FCP does crash/freeze on occasion when using MM to transcode.) To go straight from the raw files to an AVID file within a Mac AVID flow, use MPEG Streamclip to transcode.

3D Debate Continued

paul@forwardedit.com — 2010-03-23T15:06:42-07:00

Since I last commented about 3D and its permanence, artistry, and the like, an amazing number of filmmakers, producers, studios have all convinced themselves that 3D is indeed, THE FUTURE. ... Last year, I toured a facility in Burbank that helped pioneer this process, and was mildly impressed. The sports footage they showed me was fairly well integrated, but I can also imagine what happens during a rush process. ... Certainly, if I plunk down my largish wad of cold hard cash at a theater, I want really good 3D. Preferably, for me, I want 3D that doesn’t call attention to itself; I just want it to enhance the terrific movie I’m watching, as an epic soundtrack would. ...http://www.movieline.com/2010/03/michael-bay-avatar-producer-ensnared-in-great-3d-conversion-battle-of-2010.php

DSLR Links | Fresh Today!

paul@forwardedit.com — 2010-03-19T16:25:08-07:00

Finally, the EOS MOVIE Plugin-E1 for Final Cut Pro. ...Canon late Monday posted its promised 2.0.3 firmware for the EOS 5D Mark II. The upgrade is tailored to videographers and lets them record at 1080p24 to match traditional movie theater frame rates. The 1080p30 mode has also been tuned to 29.97 frames per second to stay in sync with NTSC-based TV, and it's now possible to shoot in aperture or shutter priority modes to achieve shallow depth of field or high speed without full manual control. http://tinyurl.com/479wb6 (updated to V 2.0.4 for stability) ...http://blog.planet5d.com/2010/03/ron-howard-using-canon-hybrid-dslrs/

DSLR | Toy or Tool?

paul@forwardedit.com — 2010-03-16T14:31:56-07:00

There was a considerable amount of debate between the DP, AC, and editor (closely followed by the director) as to whether the post workflow for this camera was stable enough to quickly finish the scenes that were being shot. ...To be frank, even though I follow the post flow thru each step of prep/production/actual post, and have devoted considerable time to digital acquisition, I hadn’t yet studied these new hybrid photo and (HD) video system cameras. ... Most of these SLR cameras (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-lens_reflex_camera) use an H264 codec to write their HD media files. ... Also, whereas an SLR’s physical setup is great for capturing stills with, would it work for capturing video (I could picture a DP with his eyes stuck close to an LCD screen or viewfinder while the small camera is tracking and an AC tries to pull focus)? ... Already, it was clear that to shoot professional video, one would have to record separate sound, and sync each take manually. ...Of course some Canon primes and other lenses--these are probably 65% of the reason to use a DSLR vs. another film/vid camera.

Academy Awards...The Numbers

paul@forwardedit.com — 2010-02-25T11:38:30-08:00

Interesting stuff...are the Oscars worth it? Do they mean something? How are editors that have won been affected? (Courtesy http://www.businesspundit.com).

TV's Golden Age

paul@forwardedit.com — 2010-02-17T11:11:19-08:00

There are many industry insiders as well as critics, culture “experts”, and others that maintain that the Golden Age of TV occurred during the (pick one) a) 1950s, b) 1980s, or c) 1960s. ... Certainly, great work appeared on the then little square box during those time periods, as it has at all times if one searched carefully enough. ...And I’m sure there are more that I’m forgetting or have ended their runs. The key ingredients that bind these shows together are razor sharp writing, cinematic photography and editing, building and continuing stories, and superb acting. When I watch these shows, I feel like I’m watching parts of films, or even at times, entire features. Cable has created so many niches, that it’s possible to have great filmed entertainment alongside the lesser, mass consumed stuff.

Rian Johnson

paul@forwardedit.com — 2010-02-08T22:44:18-08:00

Bloom embarks upon a romance and tries to make it real, which goes against the con’s storyline that his brother is directing. ...We want Bloom to live genuinely, Stephen to tell the ultimate story and ensure his brother’s happiness, and Penelope to keep maturing as a modern post-heiress, jack-of-all-trades. ...The design ensures that the story lives in a world that is today and yet at the same time rings of the ’20s, ’30s, and ’50s simultaneously. At one point the cast travels from the US to Europe on a ship that looks like one of the shallow keeled steamboats that traveled up and down the Nile in the ’30s. For one, preposterous that we allow ourselves to believe that this boat is even capable of crossing the Atlantic, and then that such a ship would even exist today. We are entranced even further by the color design, as everything/everyone lives in shades of elegant, intense grays on this ocean crossing: beautiful!

Fun with HD

paul@forwardedit.com — 2010-02-03T13:55:04-08:00

GoPro HD - Skimboarding In A Storm! from Patrick Lawler on Vimeo.

...Amazing GoPro HD camera for a couple hundred bucks + talented DP=this. ... Shot near San Luis Obispo, my hometown for nearly 10 years.

Congrats!

paul@forwardedit.com — 2010-02-02T11:06:09-08:00

Congratulations to the Editing nominees: "Avatar" (20th Century Fox) Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron "District 9" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Julian Clarke "The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment) Bob Murawski and Chris Innis "Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company) Sally Menke "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" (Lionsgate) Joe Klotz

What's In A Name?

paul@forwardedit.com — 2010-02-01T16:07:59-08:00

So I set out to think of a name that would precisely and creatively communicate my intent for this site and at the same time provoke discussion, at least of the inner mind variety. {Of course, if you should choose to bring up this site with a, “last nite I was checking out some VIMEO vids, and I thought that I should probably see what was happening in post, so I hopped over to FORWARD EDIT for a second...what is FORWARD EDIT you say? ...Often the slogans were simplistic; sometimes they were single words strung together, not necessarily in the form of a sentence. ...Ultimately I wanted to distill the idea that this site promotes the supremacy of editing over all else. ... reminds me that editing and post is not static and that our job is to forward the art, craft, and technology of editing and finishing a motion picture, with the goal of fully realizing a director’s vision and creating a work of art, either of a highly commercial or purely poetic variety. ... If poetic, let’s still make sure it entertains, as well as encourages deep thought and provokes unsettling discussions.

New Decade, Part 2

paul@forwardedit.com — 2010-01-29T19:22:00-08:00

So, to be exact, 29 days into 2010...and still:  Sundance is about swag.  I’ve never made it to Sundance, even though I produced a short in Slamdance in 2009.  The ability to smell a book beats an E-Reader by a furlong. ...Do we live in 1986?  LOST last season starts Tuesday.

A Month Into 2010

paul@forwardedit.com — 2010-01-28T14:07:10-08:00

 It’s still not easier to find good food near post facilities.  Conan is enjoying a long vacation...relax, man.  Congress is, if possible, more broken.  Creating something from nothing is still very cool. CGI animation, a tasty meal indeed! ...Nothing new...it IS a desert after all.

Another Thriller

paul@forwardedit.com — 2010-01-26T20:40:55-08:00

In the past, I sat at work or home awaiting the magic hour when Steve (or his weak substitute) would stride forth and dazzle us all with the latest and greatest from Apple, formerly Apple Computer, now just Apple, Inc. I’d drink huge mugs of Green Mountain or SLO Roast Coffee and have 4 or 5 liveblogs open all at once and keep hitting refresh on each, in rotation or order of preference. ...(Now realize that I have been using Macs since OS 6 or 7 and loving the simple elegance of them and geeking out on magazine or newspaper articles announcing the newest and greatest and rushing down to whoever was carrying Apple products locally....remember this was before Apple stores! ... So to know what my favorite mega-company was up to, live, in the moment, real-time...well, that is enormous. ... And sometimes upgrades to the Macs just wouldn’t make sense or the upgrade to a product would completely miss the predictions and we’d have to wait yet another whole six months for the eagerly anticipated new feature. ...Something for which I can chuck my UVerse box out the door (but wait, I’d still need internet accessibility) or apps that ran only on the Tablet and had very good reasons to do so.

The Great 3D Debate

paul@forwardedit.com — 2010-01-21T12:11:53-08:00

Will audiences expect films like THE LAST STATION to someday be shot/presented in 3D? ...Consumers adopted it in droves and most content is being planned with an eventual HD release in mind. ... And of course film on VHS and even DVD was a horrific wound inflicted on filmmakers for years. So HD made sense and the evolving upgrade of the picture viewing experience will continue to go forward. ...Or, is there another “innovation” that will catch the public’s imagination instead of 3D? ... Films that allow each person to make true choices within the story, so that each person’s experience is personalized?

Blast Off

paul@forwardedit.com — 2010-01-20T14:51:00-08:00

A good day to reflect on top of mind kind of stuff. Career, the final LOST season, special elections... well, 2 out of 3 happy topics on a rainy day is pretty good. ...The kind that bounce off walls when they trim two frames or find the perfect song for a scene or just drink “too much” coffee. ...Some people might say no, you have to do one job only, pick one. I say why, when you enjoy it all and are good at it all? ... If you perform at 112% and can help tell the story that the director envisioned, then all is good with the world and you can go home at 2AM with a smile on your worn out mug!