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Final Cut Pro – why do they keep asking me!?
I’ve been editing with Adobe Premiere for some time. Life wouldn’t be the same for me without After Effects as well. It seems to achieve everything I need.
Suddenly I’ve been hit with creative folks and potential clients asking whether I used Final Cut Pro. A studio is promising to throw me some work, but only on FCP. There’s also a possibility that a filmmaker will want me to edit their project on FCP ONLY. I usually feel awkward because my answer will be “no, I use Premiere” and I sound like a jackass that doesn’t know their stuff.
So basically, I’m feeling pressure from the industry to go this route and make a substantial purchase and learn the new OS along with FCP; though I can pick it up quickly.
Am I giving-in to **fit in** like this? If it means dinero, I suspect yes. Or should I stand strong and say I’m content with what I have (a blazing PC that handles anything along with Premiere)? If I insist on Premiere I could loose the opportunity.
Please share your thoughts.
Best-
Frank -
20 Replies
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I use both Macs and PCs. I also use FCP, Premiere Pro and Avid. Why? Because if I can get a job on one or the other, what do I care, it’s the job that is important to me not the tool that gets it done.
For those that disagree, that is quite okay but you can hold out on principle — or you can make the compromise for principal.
I have never understood the concept of tools and platforms as religious icons or issues of principle. They are just tools, the more tools you know how to use, the more valuable you are to yourself and your family — and your company.
That’s my two cents,
Ron Lindeboom
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I hate to say it, but if a client shows up, looks at your reel, likes what you do, then procedes to tell you what tools you should use to make theirs happen, that’s asking for a “get lost” reply. It would be like telling you local mechanic what brand of tools he should be using to fix your car.
I understand the economics in play here, but you just can’t please everybody.
If you can afford a basic FCP system, go for it, you will only further opportunities, but unless the client if bringing you footage or timeline from FCP, their comment tells me you should probably be running away…
Vince
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Both Ron and Vincent are right. If you can afford to, having more then one system is a good thing, especially if it can land you more business.
That being said, so many non-technical people just know the name Final Cut and expect everyone cuts with it. I know FCP, but I own a system with just PPro. When clients call and ask what I cut with, (which happens very rarely) I tell them PPro. And if they seemed worried that it’s not FCP, like Vincent said – I point them to my reel…if they liked that, they should be happy with what I can do for them because that was all done with Adobe tools.
I had one client (from a local production company) tell me that he’d throw more work my way if I had FCP. I told him sorry, but I didn’t want to invest in a new Mac. Well, after some time, he now throws work my way anyways because he knows I’m good with my own toolset, and at the end of the day it’s the quality of the finished product that counts.
Knowing FCP and PPro, there isn’t anything I can’t do with PPro that I can with FCP (with the exception of a few things most don’t ask for or need – i.e. OMF support). But as I said, it never hurts to have some more tools if you can afford it.
I’d tell these people what you have now, and ask why they need to cut on FCP – what is your system lacking that they need.
—Eric
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I really appreciate the input, everyone. It’s helped and it makes much sense.
Agreed, that if one’s budget permits, owning a FCP system would be good as well; having more tools available if needed.
Good to hear Premiere users standing strong too – “look at the reel” – absolutely. It’s been fun to see the diehard Mac people pause and watch their gears turning when they find out “no macs were harmed during the production of this film.”
Since mac Intel cpu rebirth it’s made them all excited to know their babies are back in the game. And I’ve seen a sense of “if I use FCP I’m closer to the film industry in some way.” But those of us already using Premiere have enjoyed either buying strong, affordable workstations or building their own systems, as well as the stability of XP for several years, as well as strong integration with After Effects, etc. Is this right? I’m seeing an admiration from some mac editors that I am proficient with AE. They humbly admit that Motion and LiveType is all they have. Maybe they don’t know AE is available to them now?
RealTime solutions are another aspect that can warp the way people/clients perceive a platform/tool. I recall a local company investing much in a FCP rig – press release and everything. While visiting this smaller studio and sitting nearby during an edit session, the red-line of rendering was prevalent throughout the project. Maybe an inefficient editor perhaps. But they eventually had to tell the client that it would be another 20 minutes to output the project for viewing. Today, this studio has weeds growing through cracks in their parking lot, a big hole in their sign, and it’s terribly quiet – they let their editor go and their system sits on their floor gathering dust. This was humbling – I do feel for them in some way.
Frank
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I’d just ask (nicely) if there is a reason the client actually needs FCP; sometimes for interoperability they do. I usually say that FCP (or AVID) is great, but I have tools that work better for me and my particular situation. Doing short animation, most of my finishing is actually in Combustion, tho’ I do capture and cut a bit with Premiere.
-jeff
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Hi there…
I have been all over the spectrum when it comes to this issue.
Passionate and attached to a platform only to watch it evaporate (almost twice).
Then completely agnostic and concerned with the craft alone regardless of the tools in front of me.
I had been very angry at Apple for quite a while, as I watched them take the tools and technology developed for over a decade in the industry and practically give them away as a way to sell computers…in addition to taking the rest of the market down with it. As many have found, however, it has been a necessity for me to learn (and in my case teach) FCP.
(….steps down from soap box…..)
I will still fall on the side of the fact you’ve got to pay the bills, and knowing more things makes you more vaulable, not less. I’d stop short of investing in a system for a job, however, if you have plenty of other work coming in. Put it on the to do list. Apple does hold the hot hand right now.
A big question is, what does your client expect to leave with at the end of a project? An edited master tape, an output file or a project file and media set they can take with them?
If you’re not working on a platform that the client can walk away with usable assets, then this is a legitmate case for a client not wanting to give you a job, regardless of talent.When it comes to film I have no idea what the Adobe pipeline is. But “film” is a pretty confusing term these days…..direct to DVD, offline for a negative cut, or digital print back to celluloid….FCP and avid have pretty known pipelines for getting to all destinations….as much as I love Premiere…..I’m not sure I could say the same…not that it can’t be done…but how much depth and support indutry wide do you have in doing it?
The other reason cleints demand FCP (or Avid) or anything…is that to them it’s a known quantity…..clients hate getting 85% thru a project to find out that my system “doesn’t do that.” On the other hand if people are asking for FCP but can’t tell you why……then let your reel do the talking.
My .02….
hope it helps….
Alex
Alex Udell
Editing, Motion Graphics, and Visual FX
See My Current Reel
visit the combustion exchange ftp
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Great point, Alex, thanks. I agree.
Well, it’s come to the critical decision and I must admit I’m a touch worried. Why? Because I’ve been on the Premiere/PC side for many years.
It’s clear beyond a doubt that I would enjoy the transition – and from a mere 15 minutes with FCP on my outdated laptop, I can see the intuitive nature of FCP over Premiere. Some things are thrilling when I discover them.
My apprehension lies with the unknown; will I encounter errors that are entirely new? Will I be able to over come them like I’ve over come PC/Premiere problems?
A quick (and slightly embarrassing) example; a recent trip to the Mac Store showed me that the base model MacPro was showing rendering errors in FCP when adding blurs to HD footage. It said the graphics card was not sufficient for the clip. It’s obvious to me that it needs a professional card, but I haven’t seen errors like this with Premiere. Perhaps I’m accustomed to the lack of intelligence with the system. At least FCP was telling me the problem?Any calm notions for the transition are greatly appreciated.
(And I’m aware that down-the-line I’ll have to invest in professional hardware upgrades for the video card.)
Frank
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Frank,
If you gain from it business wise, go for it. But the whole discussion seems rather senseless. It is like the client hires a carpenter (you) to build a new veranda for his house, but he only wants to hire you if you use a hammer of brand B, whereas you are used to working with brand A. Shouldn’t the client be more focussed on the quality and longevity of the veranda?
Harm Millaard
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I like checks. When in Europe, I also like cheques.
Anything that I can do to shorten the distance between me and getting the deal is okay in my book.
My son is a general building contractor, he actually builds houses and doesn’t just use his trade as a metaphor. He has many different hammers and uses them all: jack hammers, power hammers, air guns, claw hammers, ballpeen (sp?), sledges and more. Depending on what he’s doing, he reaches for the right tool. Yes, the goal is to build a house but any artist that uses more than one tool has options that a one-size-fits-all mentality just can’t make available to a client or to themselves.
Different strokes for different folks — or not.
Ron Lindeboom
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Harm; what isn’t senseless is the advice I’ve gained from professionals who are making similar financial decisions. This is solidifying my choice and for that, I’m very grateful. I hope to contribute what I can when the opportunity arises.
Best-
Frank
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