Walter Biscardi
Forum Replies Created
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[keith wright] “I didn’t rename any of the camera media or alter the file structures of the original 7D folders. I only renamed clips once they were imported into FCP, which doesn’t, as far as I know, change the original file name, only the clip name in FCP (if I reveal the file it’s still the original file name from the 7D)”
Ok, Final Cut Pro is referring to the clips in the CAPTURE SCRATCH folder, not your original clips in the 7D folders. So when you performed Log and Transfer, you are saying you changed the names of the clips in Final Cut Pro. So you should find a series of clips in your Capture Scratch with the same file names as what you see in FCP. THIS is what FCP is looking for.
So if you changed the names of all the clips when you performed Log and Transfer, you must now do the exact same thing with the exact same names but change the file format to ProRes HQ.
THIS is precisely why we never change the name of the clips when we use Log and Transfer, all the Clip Names in FCP are the same 000285XYZ naming structure from the cameras. Then we go into the Description column of the Browser and give it a descriptive name there. So if we ever need to bring back all the raw camera data, FCP automatically reconnects to the right files instantly. We’ve never had a problem using this method.
We DID have huge headaches trying to accomplish something very similar to what you’re doing now because we renamed everything as it came into FCP.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media -
[Matt Lyon] ”
I’ve found the software crashes if I try to capture from too many cards at once. Often, I’ve ended up doing my re-captures a few cards at a time.”That’s because you have the Automatic Remove Pull-Downs checked, which is default. Turn that OFF and you’ll be able to import dozens of cards at the same time. We ran into that same issue recently.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media -
In theory you should just be able to take all the clips offline and then re-import them from the original source cards / hard drives. They will come back in with the exact same names, unless you changed them, in which case you’ll need to rename everything EXACTLY the same.
This is one reason why we have taken the course of never re-naming the original clip names of anything brought in via any card / hard drive based camera. We put our “descriptive name” in the Description column of the Bin. So if for whatever reason we needed to reimport all the footage, the original camera names are intact.
I’m not sure why in your test it’s trying to find a volume that isn’t there. Basically when you take something offline, FCP will tell you that the media is offline and then ask you to locate the media. You would say “Cancel” and then go ahead and run the Log and Transfer procedure to bring all your media back in at ProRes HQ. After that’s done, you’ll do the Reconnect Media procedure again and the probably have to manually point FCP to the first clip. After that, it should reconnect all the media on its own.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media -
[Richard Krall] “And Walter, as a junior editor (me), that “a tad time-consuming” line is an understatement.”
You should be our Edit Assist working on documentaries with 200 to 300 hours of footage each. Talk about a tad bit time consuming…..
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media -
[Shane Ross] ” A tad time consuming? yes, but that’s editing.”
I love how many threads over the years we have had to put in something like that line.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media -
Levels should always be last.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media -
[Neil Hurwitz] “y. In addition I suggest that you find a health plan for your people and make them pay a percentage with before tax dollars and the other portion is tax deductable for you as well. A good bang for the buck.”
We have looked at those, but none work with our budget right now, particularly after opening this building.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media -
Yes the order does matter. FCP renders from the top down in the filter order. So what you want rendered last goes on the bottom.
With color correction I want my CC filter, Broadcast Safe, then Levels in that exact order so Levels renders last.
When applying blurs and other effects, you’ll see that the order of the effects changes what you see.
Do a color correction and then apply a blur to the scene. Now reverse the order of the filters. Does the look of the clip change? You can play with a lot of filters and you’ll see by simply changing the order of them, you change the look, especially when it comes to blurs.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media -
We are so going to try those Laser Burgers! Molly’s already wagging her tail…..
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media -
[Neil Hurwitz] “1. Do you pay a living wage to your employees?”
They seem to be quite happy and yes, I think the wages are quite fair. Our yearly raises are much higher than the industry norm. For example at CNN the yearly raises average 2%.
[Neil Hurwitz] “2. Do you provide health insurance? sick days? vacation pay?”
No health insurance unfortunately. We really want to, but it’s too expensive but that is the next goal for the company. As soon as a plan comes along that fits our budget, we will add it.
Each employee gets 15 Paid Personal Days. They can use that in any combination of sick days, vacation days, whatever. It’s the model used by a lot of businesses these days. Of course the number of days will increase as a person’s tenure grows with the company.
And of course all national holidays are paid as well so in reality I think everyone gets something like 22 paid days off.
[Neil Hurwitz] “4. Do you carry liability insurance? original negative insurance?”
We have more insurance that I know what to do with quite honestly. And we keep clones of all original materials off-site in case of a catastrophic issue. I also speak with my insurance agent at least twice a year to ensure that our plans are staying up to date and keeping up with what’s in the shop and employees.
[Neil Hurwitz] “5. Do you pay all your payroll taxes?”
Are you kidding? Of course. We have a great CPA who handles all the payroll for us and all taxes are paid on a regular basis. We don’t mess around with “creative accounting.”
Why wouldn’t you pay your taxes?
[Neil Hurwitz] “6. Do you use the abusive and Quasi-legal practice of Permalancers?”
I’ve never heard it phrased quite that way. I don’t hire people full-time unless I’m confident I have enough work to keep them employed for at least two years and preferrably long beyond that. For individual projects, yes, we’ll hire folks under contract for the length of the project. That’s how I worked for years before being able to open my own company.
So you would rather I hire folks full time and then fire them in 2 weeks or 2 months when a project ends? That’s not abusive to people? That’s silly.
I hire freelancers on an as need basis to round out the workflow. When the workflow reaches a certain point, then we go with a full time hire. I’m nearing the point right now actually of a full time hire as we’re about to bring one more edit suite on-line.
That’s one of the reasons why this building was designed with 9 edit suites. When we have the need to bring in a freelancer, I don’t have to throw them into a closet with an iMac. I have a professional room ready so the freelancer feels like they are part of our team and not just someone we threw in the corner to do a project. I can’t believe some of the situations I walk into when I visit other facilities. Beautiful rooms for the “main editors” and closets for the extra folks…
[Neil Hurwitz] “7. Do you pay overtime?”
Yep, but because we manage the workload, it’s rare for overtime to happen. All the folks work hourly so if they go beyond 40 hours in a given week, overtime kicks in.
Another option folks will do is to simply take some extra days off instead of getting paid the overtime. Work 8 extra hours, take Friday off instead.
Why wouldn’t I pay overtime? That would be quite rude, don’t you think? Ask people to get a project done on time for a client and then “oh by the way you’re not getting overtime.” I’d quit in a heartbeat if I heard that.
[Neil Hurwitz] “8. do you pay workers comp?”
I’d have to double check on that but I’m pretty certain we do.
You know you’re talking to someone who started out as an Editor. Worked my way to a position where I can offer other editors a nice job working with some really great producers in this field. Why would I NOT treat them well? I treat everyone exactly as I would like to be treated.
You know what folks tell me when they come here? I want to work with you! Why? Every edit suite has a high quality Mac Pro. A Flanders Scientific 17 or 24″ reference monitor. Dual 24″ computer monitors. An Anthro Edit Console. KRK Rokit 5 monitors. 40″ Panasonic HD Plasma Screen. 20″ iMac for the editor and Producer to use. And each edit suite is 11’x 14′ (i.e. roomy) In other words, I set up all my editors in suites that I like to work in. This place was designed BY an editor FOR an editor.
How do I keep the overhead low? By buying smart. That goes for the equipment that is purchased as I need it, rather than just to have it here in case someone wants to see it. That goes for the land / building and working inside this building every day for over 4 months to get it done and doing a lot of the work ourselves. That goes for adding all the small touches that make this place fun and not just a building that holds a bunch of equipment and personnel.
And I take care of my employees because the operation is nothing without them.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media