Zac Hall, writing for 9to5mac:
it’s no secret that Final Cut Pro X, the overhauled follow up to Apple’s widely used video editing software, wasn’t exactly a hit with its users when the app was first released in 2011.
A comprehensive change in the way the software functioned and a lack of legacy features from the prior version gave the app a reputation for being “iMovie Pro” rather than a true professional desktop video editor. Soon after its launch, Apple addressed the flood of criticism with an FAQ site and a promise that more features would slowly become available in the new version.
Nearly four years later, the first Hollywood film edited in Final Cut Pro X is set to be released. To showcase the movie debut and FCPX’s role in the film, Apple has launched a microsite detailing the production.
Astonishing that there’s not been a single film edited with Final Cut Pro X to hit the theaters in the last four years.
From this USA Today article:
Focus directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa choose Final Cut for a simple reason: “We wanted to do the edit in a way that was quicker,” says Ficarra.
The move produced “a lot of eye rolling and sympathetic prayers,” he adds. But the negativity about FCPX was based on “old information,” and not informed, he says.
He says the speed of the new FCPX enabled the directors and editing team to be able to cut the film as they were shooting, instead of after production wrapped. “It’s a totally different way to look at the process.”
Maybe the likening of Final Cut Pro X to an iMovie Pro is a good thing:
Many editors called the new FCPX “iMovie Pro,” when it was released, and not ready for the big leagues, but Ficarra says he likes that FCPX is easier to use, and that it’s look and feel is akin to iMovie.
“We have a whole generation of kids learning on iMovie,” he says. “They’ll be familiar with this tool when they get into the real world.”
Here’s a link to Apple’s Final Cut Pro X Focus page.
I wonder how they did all the Sound Effects and scores?
final Cut X is a great piece of software.
It is actually astonishing that anyone would using FCPro X on any kind of professional level. Apple can be genius, though they are often willfully ignorant in most “professional” or even “enterprise” level endeavors.
When NeXT bought Apple, it was great news…. yes Apple had the money to buy NeXT and they did did buy, yet this is the best reverse buy ever – in any industry – that I can remember. Once Apple finally integrated an “industrial” and friendly OS into its hardware, they started building (at the same time, really) a server OS and they even had server hardware and when 10.3.3 came out – I think OS X could actually support just about everything – most importantly – if you had a good NeXT engineer, a real programmer or even a *nix admin (who is actually a real programmer) then you were in business.
It was (and is) all down hill after the iPhone and iOS came out – though I do think it was a good idea Apple build iOS off Darwin – it is unfortunately Apple feels the need to release a “major” system update ever year – to coincide with new iOS hardware…. very unfortunate – though I guess someone could write a book on that.
I am hopefully that 1068 part deus will sort things out – again – because 1068 was (is) the best OS X ever … and what’s up with ATV? I’m sure that’s not even a hobby – I’m sure that is more forgotten than the old 2013 Pro Mac Minis.
Music and Sound FX aren’t considered part of the traditional editorial process. Although some temp work is always done as a cut evolves, final audio work goes out to specialized audio pros using programs like ProTools or LogicPro X.
It’s not really a shock that this is the first film. After all the editors needed to learn the software in and out before they were ready to use it for an actual production. That’s at least a year of hard study and practice. And they wouldn’t select a film to edit with it until that was over. Preproduction, filming etc is several more months, sometimes over a year depending on the project. Then it has to be marketed etc.
I’m curious, how long have you been working as a professional feature film editor. It has to have been quite some time if you have such an expertise on what’s good or bad in terms of editing software.
And perhaps you could also illuminate us as to some of the titles you edited in that vast amount of time, what software you choose to use and your reasons for doing so.
I think it is funny that you think i am criticizing Final Cut Pro X. My main issue is that Apple hates to communicate on certain things and sometimes they are just as stupid as most other companies out there – or much, much worse. Apple does have a bad track record of not fully supporting its “hobbies” and for some reason these pro apps and hardware feel like they have been a hobby for Apple for some time.
I’m sure FCProX is great – for modern editing workflows. I’ve heard the original release was not stable, though, even for those cutting edge firms, though as i often say, cutting edge can often equal bleeding edge – which is no place for any kind of reliable product/job/contract.
Other companies have had very bad press issues – and it cost them – because they killed their main business. Just like a Quark and Quark Xpress – I haven’t check them in some time, but maybe they are on life support like AOL? Maybe AOL is doing better than Quark? Adobe is not necessarily much better – they get plenty wrong to, but when Quark was struggling to figure out IF it wanted to support its users in OS X, Adobe release an update to their modern page layout app … but I am getting way off topic.
My mini rant was very restrained. I do love many of the products Apple creates. I do believe they truly innovate. Mid level enterprise and mission critical workflow, however is not in Apple’s DNA. I don’t think this mattered (much) for DTP, since Apple’s products – even with OS 9 were mostly superior, buy they should and can do better for business level users and I guess they are trying to some extent – though that is mostly in iOS/iPhone type things – which is unfortunately that their focus is so slow and narrow (and also unfortunately they they feel they must release a major OS upgrade every frigg’n year – WTF!?).
As a regular user – FCProX/iMovieProX is great at a $300 price point and some support. For mission critical job or contract – I’m not sure I would trust it… with Apple’s dropping XRAID, XRAID’s replacement, Xserve and OS X Server (yes, you can buy a new copy – for cheap, but I would rather have full server support) and its failure to update the Mac Pros .. and/or give us a modular Mac “mini” Pro rubs a lot of people the wrong way.
I imagine Avid and others can learn from Apple’s mistakes and build on their better focused software … its probably a win/win, but some loyal Apple die hards feel like Apple has made its “PRO” community a small hobby. That is sad, so it is not very surprising at all that very few major movie productions have used FCPro X — even 4 years after the software was released. I mean only Microsoft is more retorted in attempting to through “Tiles” down everyone’s computer with Windows 8. I guess there will always be a stupider company out there (also see Quark and AOL) but I expect more from Apple. Fuck Apple for fucking shit up!
Also – you may want to check out other issues some pro users are having…
http://macperformanceguide.com/AppleCoreRot-intro.html
Yes – though the FCProX has been out for a long time. Yes a movie production cycle can last years… Apple could have and should have done much, much better with all their pro line and communicating that to their (former?) loyal customers.