Thursday, May 20, 2010

Software Training Problems and Solutions

Throughout this Academic Year, I've had serious problems working with 'Final Cut Pro'. Today (20th May 2010) My Teacher, Mike Johnston told me that I did not have an Aptitude for our Complicated Software: 'Celtx' and 'Final Cut Pro'.

The Clips that I have put below are Proof that I have Handled Challenges with Good Procedures. The Clips below Prove that I have had an Aptitude for taking on Multi Tasked Challenges. I took these Challenges Well because I was comfortable with the Procedures. Ive actually had Flying Lessons in Proper Small Planes since I was 13. In fact in 2008, On my Gap Year, I went to New Zealand and Australia and and had a couple of goes in a Boeing 737 Professional Flight Simulator that were open to the public.

There was a Camera at the back of both simulators. I got myself DVD's of both experiences. I later watched the DVD's on my Laptop and videoed parts of the DVD's for Youtube.







When I was in Wanaka New Zealand in 2008, I went up in a Tiger Moth with an Instructor. He sat in the Rear Cockpit and I sat in the front Cockpit. I had a small Digital Ixus 82 attached round my neck. I took some POV Footage while flying the plane.





I went skiing in Switzerland for New Year (2009 and few days of 2010). I made some POV Short Films while skiing. I had a Digital Ixus 82 attached round my neck. I held the Camera in one hand and the Poles in the other hand.










I found Mike's Statement, 'You Have No Aptitude for Complicated Software' somewhat UnFair in terms of 'Celtx'. Eventually I did get to grips with using 'Celtx' because I had written down some Procedures that I was able to follow. The Procedures allowed to use 'Celtx' to properly format my Scripts.

One day in October/November I was under Serious Time Pressure to complete a Deadline by using 'Celtx' to Properly Format one of my Scripts. I asked the Media/ Film Librarian in the Newton Park Library and he had Never Heard of 'Celtx', which I found Completely Surprising because, being the Media/ Film Librarian, he should have been well aware of the Media/Film Software we were using. By a Huge Stroke of Luck, there were a few guys from my 'Planning and Making a Film' Module and they helped me with some useful Procedures for using 'Celtx'.

In terms of the software, 'Final Cut Pro', Mike Johnston's statement is perfectly valid. When I made a film in 2007 for Alevel, we did use Final Cut Pro. I did try using it, but somehow, due to a sufficient lack of training, I made a Huge Mistake that took my partner about 6 hours to fix. Ever since then, I've had a Fear of using 'Final Cut Pro'.

For the 2 films I have been involved in making through out this module. I was not involved in using, 'Final Cut Pro'. For the first Film, that did not really matter because it was a bigger group and we each had assigned roles in that group. However, for the 2nd film, things were more complicated. We were making an Animation with a very small group (me, Adam, Bianne Mainly, but Ciaran assisted with the actual technical side of the actual shooting), so the roles were less defined. I would say that the Main Mistake I made during the production of the Animation was me showing a Lack of technical Input because of my Lack of Knowledge of 'Final Cut Pro'.

Since that I am doing the 'Mastering Film Module' next Academic Year, I have decided to Step Up my Organisation and Training of 'Final Cut Pro'. I have literally just ordered the book, "Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro 7". This book should considerably help me broaden my knowledge of 'Final Cut Pro', which hopefully will prevent these issues happening again.

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