RESOURCES

Tutorials
www.youtube.com
www.google.com
http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/resources/
www.creativecow.net
Total Training dvd series. Somewhat pricey, but thorough.
www.lynda.com: Industry tutorials, subscription price. Think of it as lower-cost online schooling without a degree.

Audio
FCP audio
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/audio_essentials_fcp_4.html

Three Point Lighting:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-point_lighting
Video:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/641615/three_point_lighting/

Final Cut Pro (FCP)
FCP audio filters
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/basic_audio_filter_tutoria.html

Apple’s FCP resource page:
http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/resources/

Pixel Aspect ratios (semi-advanced, included as an introduction)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixel_aspect_ratio

On Story Structure:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Story_arc
- http://www.documentarydoctor.com/media/prescriptions/prescriptions_02_articlescolumns.html

Texts
In the Blink of an Eye by Walter Murch
Book on editing, written by a prominent Hollywood editor.

Directing the Documentary by Michael Rabiger
Great resource on all facets of documentary production. Technical, story, and production tips.

The Hero With a Thousand Faces and/or The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell
Perhaps the world’s most famous recent mythologist. Good texts for understanding story archs.

Screenwriting books by Syd Field
http://www.sydfield.com/products.htm

BEFORE YOU BEGIN RECORDING WITH YOUR CAMERA

Night before::
- Make sure batteries are charged
- Set camera record settings
- Do a recording test, make sure you can play back your files. If you are not working with a monitor on set, take the time NOW to make sure your files look good on a monitor. Record, drop them onto a hard drive, and view (if you are shooting a digital format as on an SD card).

Day of::
Make sure your camera file record settings are in order (note that you will have to WB and set up lighting the day of, unless you have scouted and done tests beforehand::
- Set lines of resolution/ frame size ex. 1920 x 1080
- Choose your frame rate (frames per second aka FPS)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frame_rate
- Format your card if you are recording digitally.
- Make sure your gain if off or set to Low (L) if you don’t need it!
- Determine whether or not you need to utilize your ND filter options (usually used for shooting outside in bright conditions).
- Determine lighting source(s). Set up lights if needed.
- Determine if the iris will be set to manual or auto. Set iris.
- White Balance
- Determine if the focus will be set to manual or auto. (Manual recommended). Pull focus.

Set up your audio if you haven’t done so yet.

You are now ready to shoot