Final Cut Pro's?

Jenny:

Our external hard drive is up and running! Don gave us some PTSD film footage to edit and put together and I definitely had a tricky time with the text, but it was a learning experience for sure. I forgot to view the text within the window it was supposed to be in, so I had to go back and resize and reposition the text to fit the window. Other than that, we got it done. Meagan definitely helped me out and taught me a lot of things with FCP.


Around 2 o'clock we went to the control room for rehearsal for Saturday's show. It doesn't seem like it will be too hard, but I'm still a little nervous for it. I learned how to use the DDR (digital data recorder) and we were able to figure out how tomorrow was going to go. I'm pretty excited for the show!

Meagan:

So this morning Jenny and I thought we had a magnificent plan. We are currently editing interviews for a PTSD program on our external hard drive. Well today was also supposed to be the day we buckle up and put our Final Cut Pro skills to the test. The original plan was to edit the Anderson footage into 3 “Shorts” while also editing the PTSD footage. Then came the problem… we can’t edit using two different computers and one external hard drive. Awwww shucks, yah killin me smalls! Tabitha said the PTSD editing took precedence, so Jenny worked on that until problem number two.  For about 2 or so hours we could not figure out how to “wrap the text” on the full screen graphics to make the project cohesive. After youtubing and googling… we were still lost puppies. The search and trial and error was pain staking work, but hey no pain no gain. Even though we still never figured it out until the next day, we did learn more about FCP with all the research we had done. So looks like it was a win-win in the end! Tick tock, tick tock, 2’oclock… and off to the TCC! Weeeeee.  Many of the interns volunteered to work at the live recording of a program called “America’s Armed Forces: Time for a Checkup” tomorrow.  I am assigned to work with the great Richard Jablonski running teleprompter for CNN’s JOHN KING (no big deal…), while Jenny is working with the equally great Don Godish as DDR operator.  Today was easy breezy but I’m nervous/excited about tomorrow. I practiced working the teleprompter a bit and my only other job is recording time. I’ve worked teleprompter before at UGA’s NewSource but this is a little different, and a much bigger deal. Fingers crossed tomorrow will go off without a hitch! Pressures on and I couldn’t be more excited! 8:30 am call time… bring it on. 

June 16, 2012

Jenny:

While my friends were up and getting ready to go on the river, I was putting on the business clothes for this morning's shoot. I came early just to make sure I knew exactly what I was to do and to see if they needed any extra help. I was able to meet John King and the crew that was working the cameras/audio. It was really cool being able to experience the behind the scenes aspect of the show and I look forward to more opportunities like this. The show went smoothly and there weren't any problems. I sat next to Don in the control room and observed how directing goes and it could definitely be something I'd be interested in! We were able to take pictures after the show was over and mingle with some of the guests.

Meagan:

Lights, camera, action... it's show time ladies and gentlemen! Today is the big day in the TCC main studio. When I arrived I went straight in to fire up my teleprompter, check my stop watches, oh... and get a glimpse of John King of course! The teleprompter was acting up a little but we smoothed out the issues rather quickly. At 9am we recorded the promos for the show and I was able to get a feel John King's prompter speed. Luckily, it was much easier than I anticipated! I loved being in the control room. There's something magic about being apart of how a show runs. I sat next to Richard Jablonski who was a huge part of the show's operations. He was so nice and laid back, that he made this awesome opportunity even better. By the end of the day we were pounding knuckles... now that's a sign of good teamwork! 

Well like I had hoped, the show went on without a hitch! The timing ended up being perfect and the panel answered each question in a concise and timely matter. I was planning for chaos but that definitely wasn't the case. After the show we went in the studio to take group pictures with John King. I'm glad I have the pictures to brag about my wonderful experience! I don't think many other internships give as many hands on opportunities like this, so I'm very grateful today. All I can think now is when we can do it again? 

It's funny that I know I am truly following my dreams when most people think I was "giving up" some of my weekend... but in my mind there is nothing else I'd rather be doing. 


June 18, 2012

Jenny:

So I don't think I've ever spent as much time behind a computer in one sitting than I had today. And I really hope I won't have to again. Meagan worked on my computer to do the PTSD interviews because we started the FCP version with my computer and hers didn't have the same version so they wouldn't be compatible to switch. So I was on a computer that didn't have Microsoft Word, so mainly today, I surfed the web going to random county sites to see if I could find any good or interesting story ideas. I jotted down a few and then would occasionally find myself wandering off. It was then that I'd take trips to the bathroom just to walk around. I was super tempted to run up and down the hallway a few times. Sitting down for long lengths of times is not exactly what I like to do. But, sometimes we have to do the boring stuff to get to the good stuff. Tomorrow we get to go to Sumter again and I can't wait!!

Meagan:

Ouchie-wah-wah. After editing from 9am to 5pm, I think my right arm is going to fall off. And after leaving my lunch at home today... if my arm doesn't fall off, I may eat it off. Today it was my turn to edit the PTSD interviews. Jenny and I split the project in half, so I tried to start and finish my portion today. However that was just wishful thinking with the amount of film there was to watch, edit, and trim up. The format of the interviews is a Q&A with a full screen graphic with text as the question and the interviewee on camera as the answer. The editing wasn't hard, just time consuming. The task was extremely beneficial though! When Jenny and I couldn't figure out how to make the text wrap, I emailed my professor and discovered a new way of making text on FCP. Instead of using the regular text, you use the 3D title... and it gives you WAY more customized options. I was able to solve the text wrapping problem and fit the text in the wire frame with no problem. Then my second learning curve was inserting the full screen graphic and making it fit the widescreen. I figured it out eventually and now I feel like I've learned even more shortcuts in FCP which will definitely come in handy!