Moving into Post World

I recently moved into post production world as an assistant editor for a HD feature, basically for the credit and some stipend. Like a starting in production work, you got to start somewhere, and I'm learning a lot of things about my Final Cut Pro HD that I didn't realized. My Powerbook didn't get this much workout since I began editing my reel three months ago, before finishing my scripts. (Yeah, I have a lot of stuff on my plate-can you blame me?)

For last week, I have logged 27 DVCPro tapes-took 8 hours, digitized them-14 hours, and synching sound-40 hours. Since it's a feature, there a lot of footage, not to mention many other elements that are to be included when the editor finish with the first cut, like title, end credit, mattes, SFX, ADR, music, and all important sound post production. The total footage took nearly all of 350 Gig external LaCie drive, captured in full HD resolution. My Powerbook G4 couldn't handle that resolution natively so that I had to render the footage before I can properly view the slates to synch audio. My 1 1/2 year old Powerbook was already showing its age. *Sob& Regardless, the voice of AC calling out "marker!" was my siren call for the throughout the grueling 4 days march of synching sound.

I saved couple of scenes for my reel and practice editing, which promptly filled my 150 Gig LaCie external drive. I already have a list of editing books to acquire after I'm finished with FCP & DVD SP tutorial books. Since this is the first footage that I didn't worked on its production, nor don't know the flow of the story by simply reading the script, I can at least judge the scenes and the performances from the objective perspective as an editor with fresh eyes. This will be an interesting exercise to view and cut a footage where I had no involvement, and objectively try to present the best visual flow of the story as an audience.

Update: Unfortunately, all my work has been naught as the editor realized he should've pulldown first before I synched the sound. He's working on Cinema Tool and I will be re-synching the footage again. Bummer. It's my first time working HD footage on FCP, so every step is learning experience.

Update 2: I found a cool FCP site called, Key Stone's Final Cut Pro, where he talks more intimiately about 24p in Final Cut Pro HD and the DVX 100, and the workaround for pulldown process with Cinema Tool.

Update 3: A lot of people works on FCP yet I'm surprised to find that many aren't knowlegable or experienced with HD stuff...