Final Cut Pro 3 and the Art of Filmmaking

Despite its intuitive interface, Final Cut Pro still requires craft and skill to use well. This full-color book provides a hands-on, practical guide to all aspects of editing digital movies, with an emphasis on the kinds of tips, tricks, and shortcuts that professionals rely on to quickly get polished results.

Whether you're approaching Final Cut Pro from a purely creative angle or from a more corporate perspective, whether you're an emerging filmmaker or a seasoned vet, Final Cut Pro 3 and the Art of Filmmaking gives you the insights, information, and lessons you'll need to complete tasks that film editors face every day, including:

• Mastering Final Cut Pro 3's new features, such as Voice Over, G4 Real-Time Effects, Titling, QuickView, and more
• Editing clips in the Timeline
• Creating transitions and complex overlays
• Adding effects, applying filters, and working with text
• Using the audio tools to make your film sound as good as it looks
• Readying your finished product for delivery—on the Internet, on videotape, or on DVD

In the course of this book, you'll learn shooting tips designed to help later in the edit room. You'll also hear from experienced editors on how they're using Final Cut Pro to capture the immediacy that digital video makes possible, while meeting the twin challenges of limited time and money.

Contents

Introduction

PART I GETTING STARTED
1 Setting Up Your Workstation
2 Getting to Know Final Cut Pro
3 Creating Your Footage
4 Logging Your Footage
5 Capturing Your Footage

PART II EDITING YOUR MOVIE
6 Working with Your Footage
7 Making Smart Edits
8 Adding Transitions

PART III ADDING SPECIAL EFFECTS
9 Adding Titles
10 Using Image Control
11 Manipulating the Image

PART IV ADVANCED TECHNIQUES
12 Compositing and Alpha Channels
13 Using Motion Controls
14 Creating Special Effects with Key Filters
15 Fine-Tuning Your Audio
16 Making Keyframes Work for You
17 Putting It All Together

PART V AFTER THE EDITING IS DONE
18 Managing Your Media
19 Printing to Video
20 Media Compression

GLOSSARY
Glossary of Terms
Index
Using the Companion DVD