[Mike Smith]

Looks a little like a use of the time displacement effect in AE … https://helpx.adobe.com/en/after-effects/using/time-effects.html#time_displacement_effect

[Mike Smith]

It sounds like your glass is static. So your Photoshop layer should work. You’d just want to play, perhaps with opacity or blending modes … https://helpx.adobe.com/en/after-effects/using/blending-modes-layer-styles.html

[Mike Smith]

Yes they are different. You don’t say what your original footage is, but I’m guessing it’s not a quicktime file, as your ProRes will (very likely) be. QT color management can produce issues.

These might give you a bit more.

https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/technotes/tn2227/_index.html

There’s more at https://lesterbanks.com/2012/08/circumvent-qts-color-management-by-creating-quicktime-from-image-sequences-using-ffmpeg/

https://www.liftgammagain.com/forum/index.php?threads/crushed-blacks-in-qt-exports.987/

[Mike Smith]

One approach might be to edit native, render and colour correct at end.

If not editing directly using native footage, it might still be worth cutting directly your material ungraded – no After Effects first step – which should be realtime in PPro or FCPO7. and only goint to grading when you have a final cut (exceptionally, a few tricky shots where outcome is uncertain you might grade earlier.)

After Effects .. I guess the clue is in the title. Often it’s used after (or in a parallel thread to) the basic cutting, to add in effects ….

[Mike Smith]

You might wanty to look at BeautyBox https://digitalanarchy.com/beautyVID/main.html or Cosmo https://www.redgiant.com/products/all/cosmo/ or similar, though you could do lots of the same work more slowly by using built-in AE tools.

[Mike Smith]

That’s how youtube works.

You could make a playlist with your videos (even just one video), and link to that. Then of course you can update the playlist to reflect your re-uploaded video.

It’s always nice if you can get clients to sign off on a final version before you post to the world …

But vimeo looks good too. No doubt there are others.

[Mike Smith]

Is the kind of thing you are looking for …?
https://www.macprovideo.com/hub/after-effects/animating-with-sound-in-after-effects-part-1

or
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/ebberts_dan/audio_sync.php

[Mike Smith]

Have you talked to your college tutors about what they might think?

Pro kit is pricey, and even mid-range dslr / csc camera systems for video are going to be way out of your indicated price range.

To learn video, though, incorporates learning storytelling (script) and editing as well as photography / motion photography, sound, and, arguably, graphics and effects. Your tutors may have a view as to where to direct any spare time, effort and money in advance of starting.

Maybe writing a few scripts (free with OpenOffice) would offer a different starting point.

Maybe even sketching out simple animatics with a drawing app or something like https://motionartist.smithmicro.com/tour.html#features if you have a drawing app. Even a demo of something like Anime Studio might tell you something worthwhile … https://anime.smithmicro.com/anime-pro.html

I’m guessing you must have studied on a film-related course already …?

If your focus is on photography / image production, the best kit you can afford (or can nearly afford, with help) could be your target. You’ll want decent movie quality, and as much control of the camera (manual control) as you can afford.

If your interest is in the storytelling and you are going to be working with a small group of contacts or friends to explore narrative or other film making approaches, then any decent cheap camcorder that will let you get motion pictures easily (pictures your computer can edit) might server you well enough. That way, you could make short, experimental films with the emphasis on story or style rather than tech quality, and could try out your ideas and learn a bit through doing, before you start your course, … and have a few shorts to show too.

At the extremely limited but possible end while likely to be still useful later, something like the GoPro Hero might bave an interest. No zoom though, very tricky sound … hmmm. https://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/89562/Show.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PLA&utm_term=HERO3%20White%20Edition%20Action%20Camera&gclid=COjN2Of24bsCFRLMtAodVHkA9A

[Mike Smith]

Or you could custom roll your own, using a short (maybe a second, to taste) overlaid layer – solid, or adjustment layer, straddling the cut, then playing with opacity, blending mode, whatever – animating it if you like. Is it better than a cut, though …

[Mike Smith]

“crackling” gives me more of a sound impression than a visual damage impression.
What’s your ISO setting …?