Final Cut Pro 3 Editing Workshop (2nd Edition) [Paperback]

Tom Wolsky (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1578201187 | ISBN-13: 978-1578201181 | Publication Date: July 2002 | Edition: 2

Final Cut Pro 4 Editing Essentials complements Apple's software documentation with a series of tutorials that teach readers the rudiments of editing with FCP 4. All of the necessary materials, including raw video footage and sequences, detailed instructions, tips, and principles taught in film schools, guide the reader to a working knowledge of the art and technique of editing. The companion DVD includes raw video material for the reader to use with the tutorials.

Final Cut Pro 3 Editing Workshop goes beyond the mechanics of Final Cut Pro with a tutorial guide to the art and technique of editing. This comprehensive series of editing lessons gives you a working knowledge of the principles and methods taught in film schools.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I have been reading Tom's posts at 2-pop for years and I have learned a great deal from him at the Boards. He always writes clearly, his instructions are detailed and thorough." -- Ken Stone, Final Cut Pro guide, 2-pop.com

"If you want to learn editing with Final Cut Pro, look no further ... [Wolsky] has proven himself an excellent teacher." -- Phil Gibson, executive director, Digital Media Academy, Stanford University

"In Tom's hands, the subject becomes a look into the process of professional editing and project management as well." -- Ron & Kathlyn Lindeboom, Creativecow.net

"It takes a pro to teach Final Cut Pro, and Tom Wolsky delivers ... Every editor needs this book." -- Jim Heid, "Mac Focus" columnist, Los Angeles Times

A superb way to learn today the new media tools we'll be using to communicate tomorrow. -- Jack Smith, media consultant and former ABC News correspondent

About the Author

Tom Wolsky is an honors graduate of the London School of Film Technique with nearly 40 years of professional experience spanning film, tape, and digital production. Tom operates an independent studio, South Coast Productions. He also teaches for Apple Computer and for the Digital Media Academy and serves as a forum leader on creativecow.net

Product Details

• Paperback: 598 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 2 edition (July 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578201187
• ISBN-13: 978-1578201181
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,521,337 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not for button pushers- a pro course for newcomers!, September 9, 2002

By 

Loren S. Miller "www.neotrondesign.com" (Boston, NY, LA, SF) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Final Cut Pro 3 Editing Workshop (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

I'm a working professional editor. I read Tom's first edition. I was blown away by the expert mix of how-to and why edits work which can only come from a veteran master editor who is also a teacher. This is the book that gives you everything needed to learn the application and the principles of editing form, structure, pacing, music-- wisdom you don't get from a dry software-only book. Tom layers in all the FCP operations-- appearing just where they should! It's an exceedingly robust work. You can spend well-structured time with it, as I did, practice the designed edit exercises with the supplied CD along with your keyboard chops from the included KeyGuide™. Both editing skill and software know-how come together here in a dawning experience. In my view, it's either this, or a semester in film school containing separate classes on editing theory, editing practice, and a solid FCP course to boot!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Are You a Newbie? Get this book!, September 30, 2002

By 

"videomaven" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Final Cut Pro 3 Editing Workshop (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

Wow! I can't say enough good things about this book. It's maybe the best instructional book I've ever read. I'm relatively new to video and editing and I needed a lot of basic information, a lot of explanations of the terminology, and I really liked the little tips and sidebars that gave in-depth background information on a subject, like timecode and why people like me (using consumer cameras) should prestripe their tapes before shooting. That alone probably was worth the price of the book! I also liked the way he tells you why you should or should not do it one way or the other. That really helps to keep the beginner from being overwhelmed by FCP's complexity.
The author's writing style is extremely gentle and even humerous, he's obviously one of the top gurus on the subject but he totally avoids sounding like an arrogant know-it-all. And the way the book is laid out, it's like taking a good course, the information just flows at exactly the right pace. The included CD with the tutorial media and projects was very helpful to me, to learn some of the trickier stuff, like using the trim edit window and the best way to create titles in Photoshop and bring them in. I even tried the "Brady Bunch open" and now I can animate and set keyframes. I noticed that all the other reviewers seemed to be professionals or instructors and I just wanted to say that from the perspective of someone just starting out, without a lot of previous video editing experience (just iMovie) this is definitely the book to get. And, you can even ask the author questions on several of the FCP forums and he personally answers them! Amazing.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you have FCP, you must have this book., April 9, 2003

By 

Russ Murphy (Harriman, Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Final Cut Pro 3 Editing Workshop (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

When I think about this book, I inevitably end up thinking about where I'd be without it: Lost. Last year when I first got FCP I tried to read the revised, but still cumbersome 1000+ page compellation of instruction booklets. Needless to say, I got about 20 pages into: What's new in FCP? Before I made the conclusion that I'd need help. First, I tried going on forums (2pop.com amongst others) with minimal success. Finally, I came across this book, after a last ditch effort to try another instruction book. When the book came in about a week later, I was extremely surprised about how easy it was to read. It was like he was a mind reader, every question I had he answered.

In a nutshell: I'd probably still be trying to figure out how to overwrite a clip or, at best, be learning the transitions if not for this book. If you're a beginner and you're looking for the right book to guide you along the narrow path that is FCP, seek no longer; this is the solution you've been waiting for.