Wrap It Up.

Hey guys. So just to give you a little summary of what I've been doing these past few weeks, I've been finding out information about online/video editing for my JN 315 class. It's been cool so far. Learned alot things I didn't know and look forward to knowing more about computer programs in the future. But since I've been looking closely at Final Cut Pro, I've learned how much the editing software can do for so many types of editing. FCP is used in the newsroom for editing web sites, it's used in broadcast news for logging tapes and making commercials, it's used by independent film makers and for high profile productions, like hit TV show, Everybody Hates Chris. So, I've learned that non-linear editing is essential to how we get our news and information. Journalists can also use FCP for digital storytelling, which it the bomb! As you can tell, I love digital storytelling.

Anyway, through the reading I've done and the conversations I had with James, I think I've gotten closer to being a convergent media journalist. Yay! Pretty sweet, huh? I know what everybody's saying about newspapers and how they're dying and what not, but I don't think journalism is dead, it's going through a rebirth, and with that rebirth comes new avenues for telling stories and getting news across, like Final Cut Pro.

It's been fun, y'all.

Giggle Time!

Most hilarious video I've seen in a while. Has nothing to do with FCP, but I imagine you could play with it... a must see.




Did you not die laughing after that?! lol

My Interview with Rolltide.com Editor, James Ziegelbauer

Hey folks. Since I'm really trying to figure our how video editing works, I asked a few questions to James Ziegelbauer, one of the leading video editors for UA and rolltide.com. After all, he does have a pretty good grasp about editing since he shoots and edits most of the content seen on those gigantic scoreboards in the stadium. :) Aside from having an awesome last name--which, by the way sounds like it would be a great German alcoholic beverage..hehe--James is a really cool dude who agreed to answer some of my questions about how he does it.

1. Give me a sense of what you do and what your role is for Crimson Tide Productions.

A: My role in crimson tide productions is the video editor for the big screens at the stadium, coliseum, foster, baseball, softball, and the soccer complex. I also handle the average day to day projects that get sent to us such as highlights and commercials for each sport.

2. If you could, take me through the process of editing a video.

A: Editing a video can be very simple or complicated depending on the content. You would first start by capturing and digitizing your footage from either tape/film or what we use and what the industry standard is becoming which is a P2 card. A P2 card is a solid state card that normally holds up to 64 gigs of footage, these cards are very expensive and are an important aspect to editing and workflow because it will digitize your footage as you shoot it, and the only process to the computer is simply transferring the footage to your computer editing software. You would then want to lay your main video footage down on the sequence timeline and add footage or cut footage accordingly to it. Once finished through editing you would export your final product to a DVD or digital video file.

3. As you know, technology is changing at a rapid pace. What are you all doing to keep up? Is there any new equipment you all are using to shoot/layout things with? Has the economic downturn effected the way you all shoot and edit?

A: Technology is definitely an issue when it comes to editing and video production. Everyone is trying to stay with the newest equipment or software. Software pretty much updates on an annual basis so we usually have to update or computers on an annual basis when it comes to software. Equipment on the other hand is more of an availability thing. We would be able to update or buy newer equipment when we have the resources to do so. We normally keep the equipment we currently use and update accordingly or add equipment accordingly. The economic downturn doesn't necessarily change the way we work, it just changes how we are able to keep up to date with the newer equipment and software that is released on a constant basis.

4. You told me that Final Cut Pro is the main program you all use to edit your projects. What are the advantages of using that program opposed to the linear programs used before? Are there any disadvantages in using Final Cut Pro? Is Final Cut Pro the only program you all use?

A: I don't believe Final cut pro has any disadvantages to linear editing, as far as I can tell there are only advantages. Linear editing is one of the slowest and most tedious processes when it comes to editing video. Non-linear editing with FCP allows the user to work faster and more efficiently by allowing the user to create specific cuts in their project the would not normally be able to have in linear editing. Non-linear editing basically allows the user to be more creative with their final product that what linear editing would allow. When it comes to editing FCP is a very inexpensive editing software when compared to other editing giants like AVID. Final cut allows the user to achieve the same product that a hollywood movie would allow at a more cost effect price.

5. What do you think are some of the biggest differences in shooting sports and news pieces?

A: Biggest difference in shooting sports and news pieces is that sports is more fast paced and quicker cuts when editing compared to daily news pieces.

6. How long does it usually take to edit one of your production pieces or does the time vary?

A: The length of a project when it comes to editing does vary when it comes to the specificity of the project as well. Mainly the length of the final product is the ultimate factor. Other factors include effects and transitions between clips.

7. What are some projects that you and the CTP team are working on right now?

A: We are currently working on newer intro videos and elements to our videos as well as new design and themes every year for each sport. We are currently working on a commercial for Preisters Pecans and the videos to be displayed during the Iron Bowl game this friday.

Thanks again for your help James! Peace out.

Digital Stories and Things.

This is something journalists can do with Final Cut Pro (or Final Cut Express) that could really enhance storytelling abilities. I took a class about making digital stories...best class ever. We looked at this site, storycenter.org for inspiration most of the time. I have so many tools that I can use for reporting features or any type of story now. Here's a story I did about my track buddies for the class. It was long, but pretty insightful. It's like 10 minuets long. Obviously I need to work on cutting down on the video clips I use, but I'm learning. Check it.

The Climb: A Conversation with the UA Women's Track Team from UA, Telecommunication and Film on Vimeo.

How'd I do?

Check It.

So I saw this video on Youtube and I thought it went well with what I've been talking about for a few weeks now, which is Final Cut Pro. It made me giggle. Hopefully it will make you do the same.

TCF, meet FCP.

Alright. So, now that I've gone through how FCP is used in the newsroom, I wanted to see how the editing software effect independent filmmakers as well as big time production teams. I found this article on flimmakermagazine.com about Jame Stuart, a random up and coming movie maker who walked his readers through how he used Final Cut for his latest short film. It's a pretty long piece with techy words that no one understands outside of his editing world, but he pretty much praises FCP for being so consumer friendly and cost efficient. He does bring up a really interesting information about the upgrades made to the program over the 6 year period.(Apple has upgraded FCP yet again, like they've done with everything else.) The program has become more convenient for advanced filmmakers, becoming less accessible to the average consumer who just want to put videos up on YouTube. But, Apple has offered Final Cut Express to people wanting to get their feet wet with editing without having to understand all the advanced stuff that comes with Final Cut Studio.


FCP has become the "it" software for big time filmmakers and small time filmmakers. I didn't know this until I looked it up on the Apple website, but the directors and producers of Everybody Hates Chris uses FCP to shoot all their episodes. Pretty neat. Check out the video here.

Chopped & Screwed: Linear vs Non-Linear Editing in the Newsroom

Hey y'all. Videomaker.com gives a few points on what the pros and cons are of linear editing and non-linear editing. I've worked with both types of editing and I like each one equally...well, maybe I liked placing clips on a timeline better than running back and forth for tapes.lol Anyway, the magazine just talks about how everyone is making the switch to non-linear editing and how lame and behind the times everyone else is for sticking to linear editing.lol Just joking. They say that although there are nothing but advantages to gain from non-linear editing, they stick behind linear editing for providing the basics at next to nothing. (1,000 isn't cheap in my book..not right now at least.) With linear editing, its a one step process and you don't have to go back an continually make edits. At WVUA, they use linear editing with tapes. It was tedious and took a long time, but I felt more involved in the editing process.I felt like a DJ turning records! (Quietly, I want to be a DJ when I grow up..) With non-linear editing programs like FCP, all you're doing is dragging and dropping files onto a timeline. Pretty interesting stuff.












This is any editing bay similar to the ones used at WVUA.












This is a more up-to-date editing bay.

Looky Here.

Ay, I found this interesting article on AJR.com about community journalism. This coffee shop in Freehold, New Jersey has doubled as a newsroom. Pretty cool, huh? The site, Freehold InJersey is one of 14 Gannett-owned community news blogs across the state. This site is the first of its kind because the news blog is run right from Zebu Forno, the coffee shop. There's only on paid staff member, and that's Editor Colleen Curry. She has about 15 volunteers that work with her regularly. Some of them are high school kids, which I would think this type of platform would attract them the most to journalism. The regular volunteers as well as citizens within the community get a chance to come in and report what's happening around them and what's important to them. But, the editor does have the right to take down anything on the blog that she deems unacceptable.(Hmm.. debatable much? I think so...*one raised eyebrow*) I definitely think this is a step in the right direction though. Dr. Wilson Lowery thinks so too! He's quoted in the story on how beneficial this can be toward teaching his master's degree students about community journalism. I wonder if this type of forum would work in Tuscaloosa. I think it could be a positive thing. Check the article out when you gotta minute. It's called Cappuccino and Citizen Journalism.

Greetings.

Hey everybody! Welcome to my blog! I hope that you'll get something from my pretty scribbles.