The Editing of “Courageous” Part One

Last October, I had the rare opportunity to edit a feature film called “Courageous,” which is in theaters now. “Courageous” was the number one new movie the weekend it opened (September 30th) and the number four movie over all and it’s stayed in the top six for the last three weeks, with its per-theater box office at the number one spot for two weeks, and still at number 2.

You can download the trailer here.

This article and the follow up will discuss the entire workflow of getting the R3D files from the camera, archiving them, transcoding them, organizing the files, making editing decisions with the director, and eventually, delivering the edit and raw files to PostWorks in NY and following the entire on-line post-production workflow getting the RED files and a Final Cut Pro 7 sequence up on the big screen in over 1,200 theaters nationwide.

Color Correction Practice Game

I found a very cool little site that tests your ability to match a specific color based on hue, saturation and brightness. At first, I thought it was just kind of cute, but the more I played it, the more valuable I felt it was to improving your skills as a colorist. Trying to see and match colors is critical to a colorist. Also, as I played numerous iterations of the game, I realized that my eyes must have a specific deficiency in a hue range that is just on the magenta side of red. I was getting perfect and very good scores all the way around the color wheel, but in that specific area I was rarely getting very good scores.

“Courageous” Part Two: on-line

The first part of this article dealt with the capture, transcode, preparation and off-line edit of the feature film, “Courageous,” for which I was one of three editors. In this article I’ll discuss the on-line process which primarily took place at PostWorks New York.

The main personnel involved with the on-line editing were Post production Supervisor, Clarke Gallivan, on-line editor George Bunce, colorist Scot Olive, and Joe Beirne, head of all things technical at PostWorks.

FCP X Mission Control Parody

When astronauts had a problem out in space, you heard the familiar “Houston, we have a problem” radio call. With FCP X, the problem is in Cupertino. What if Steve Jobs was running NASA?

This story was inspired by Oliver Peters and the following really cool web site.

http://360vr.com/2011/06/22-discovery-flight-deck-opf_6236/index.html

Proof that FCP X is really just iMovie - directly from Apple

If you still have doubts that FCP X is really just iMovie on steroids - and the fact that the first thing it asks to import from IS iMovie and that’s not enough of a clue - then take a very close look at the launch screen for FCP X.

PluralEyes for Avid

PluralEyes has really made a name for itself with editors as the DSLR workflows have been explored more and more. PluralEyes is a software solution that allows you to automatically sync up the separate audio and video files from, say, a 5D Mark II DSLR with an audio file from a handheld digital recorder, like the ZOOM. 

Single Chip Camera Evaluation

At the request of Zacuto in Chicago, Bob Primes, ASC led a group of over 100 intrepid volunteers and ASC colleagues in the creation of The Single Chip Camera Evaluation. Basically, a well-planned and fairly comprehensive shootout between the Arri Alexa, Sony F35, RED MX, Phantom Flex, WeissCam, Sony F3, Panny AF100. Canon 5D, 1D, 7D, Nikon D7000 and Kodak 5213 film.

Are you ready for FCP X?

Rumors are flying that Apple will be using the Vegas Supermeet to announce the next version of Final Cut Pro. Supposedly, Apple will be taking over the entire event for their announcement, canceling all other sponsors, including AJA, Avid, Canon, BlackMagic, Autodesk and others, who were set to give presentations.

I am waiting for some confirmations from inside sources at various companies but some of the “proof” that is public so far:

Daniel Berube, a co-producer of the event with Michael Horton, has rushed back to Vegas early from LA due to changes at Supermeet.

UPDATE: Philip Bloom just confirmed with me that Canon has canceled his appearance at the Supermeet, though he still may present (possibly as a guest of Apple.) At present he doesn’t know if he will speak or not. Canon was told last night that Apple has demanded ALL “lecturn” or stage time exclusively. Some sponsors who were not using presenters may continue to sponsor the Vegas event, but none of them will be presenting on the stage. I can’t imagine any news that would warrant this kind of “take-over” other than to announce and demonstrate the next full version of Final Cut Pro and possibly an entirely newly designed FCS4.

Frank Capria mentioned on the Avid-L2 that Avid would find another venue to present director Kevin Smith, who was scheduled to present at Supermeet.

(UPDATE: Avid confirmed that Supermeet (Michael Horton) told them last night that their sponsorship had been canceled. According to Avid, “Apple doesn’t want anyone to have stage time but them.”)

(UPDATE: Avid will be hosting Kevin Smith at other venues during NAB, for more information:
http://community.avid.com/forums/p/95640/547333.aspx#547333)

AJA offered a “no comment” on their Supermeet sponsorship and referred all questions to Michael Horton (who runs Supermeet). AJA has their own party that night at a different location, so it probably doesn’t affect their plans too much.

Black Magic also gave me a no comment, though they acknowledged that something was happening with their Supermeet sponsorship.

I’m still waiting to hear from Michael Horton and Black Magic.

UPDATE: 8:44pm, April 5th) The Supermeet website recently changed, dropping all previously mentioned presenters and mentioning a “very special guest” with a “sneak peak at something very special.” This basically confirms most of the rumors.  (http://www.supermeet.com/)

UPDATE: Here is the statement I just received from Autodesk (6:15pm Central time, April 5):
Autodesk will not be presenting on the main stage at Las Vegas SuperMeet during NAB, but will be participating in the SuperMeet Digital Showcase. For more information on the SuperMeet event, please contact the FCPUG organizers. During NAB, there will be numerous opportunities to see Smoke in action, both through customers presentations and Autodesk demonstrations on the Autodesk tradeshow booth SL2120. We are also providing free hands-on Smoke training in the North Hall on Monday & Tuesday.

UPDATE: Black Magic Design has confirmed that they - and actually most of the sponsors - are STILL sponsors of the Supermeet. The main thing that changed with the addition of the Apple announcements is that the STAGE presenters have been changed. BMD is excited to be giving away over $20,000 of prizes at the event.

Stay Tuned for more!!! Keep checking back for updates or add me to your RSS feed.

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