Category Archives: Movies/TV

Feb 4 2012

FCP X Does Care about Professional Filmmakers

As noted in this article by HD MAgazine:

That isn’t really the point, though. It’s a beta, and it will work one day soon. What’s important is that many people have claimed that Apple are abandoning the ‘professional’ market – yet surely broadcast I/O is only useful to professionals? I’m sure it’s not trivial to include this support in the software, which demonstrates a willingness on Apple’s part to address the concerns of those working in broadcast and other ‘high-end’ post-production.

As I’ve figured all along, Apple is taking there time, whenever possible, to build incremental improvements into the all-new FCP X. This way, they choose to build the best way to perform any task giving FCP X a state-of-the-art user interface and quality performance. This takes time. It’s will take time to see all the missing professional tools return to X, but when they do, they will undoubtedly rival the tools of Avid and Premiere.

It’s just like when Apple incrementally adds features and seemingly basic functions to their iOS devices. Sometimes they are late to the party. Cut, Copy, and Paste functions weren’t in the iPhone for a long time. Many critics just figured that Apple was stupid and without sense. “Of course we all want Copy and Paste. Apple’s developers are idiots,” so the criticism went. But when Steve Jobs demonstrated the Copy and Paste tools they implemented to the iPhone (again, seemingly late to the party) it was apparent that Apple took their time to introduce these tools till they found the best user experience possible to implement these functions.

It is important to Apple that the functions their devices and apps do are as thought-through as possible. This I respect, and hope Apple will continue to be so thoughtful and progressive.

Feb 2 2012

Smart Video Converter (Free) Review

It might not be the prettiest app for the desktop, but who wants to spend lots of time admiring a video converter anyway?  Besides, I’d trade “pretty” for a “smart” app any day.

Smart Video Converter was there for me in my time of need.  As a video professional on a tight budget, I went looking online for a reliable video converter that would turn WMV files into something usable for Final Cut Pro X. What I found were a bunch of pricey apps that would do the trick, but, like I said, I’m on a budget, and the project needs to be turned around quickly.

The best prices to be found for converter apps were on the Mac App Store by far.  I looked into some apps that were available online, and I’m sure they would be more than adequate. But that’s the thing: I only need a video converter to be adequate. Video conversion isn’t the end; it is the means to an end in my video production workflow. So I don’t want to spend much — if anything — on an app that will perform only one task that suits my needs.

Smart Video Converter is free, and just about the only free option. See as how there was the price point, it seemed the right app for the job.

In no time at all you can figure this app out. I noticed that on two exports the app hasn’t completed the conversion I gave it, and I’m not sure why. However, these instance appear to be unusual. The other six conversions I’ve asked of it have worked without missing a beat; as long as you setup the conversion process correctly to start, you’ll get a reliable conversion. And, as I said, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure the app out.

There is one other limitation I’ve encountered though: not all the formats you can convert to will deliver the same quality. For instance, I originally wanted .MOV files, but these conversions were not as a good quality as .MP4 I processed using Smart Video Converter. Who knows why.

The important thing is that the files that I of have — MP4s — do the trick.

Jan 31 2012

Yeehaw! Good FCP X Update at Last

Update: Something else pretty important that was announced is 7toX: the tool that transforms FCP 7 projects into FCP X projects. This I honestly wasn’t expecting we would ever see. But not only have has this third party delivered this tool, but another tool called Xto7 that does the same thing in reverse!

We finally are getting the quintessential updates that we all have been dreaming of.

Here are the specified changes from the App Store's Update Page.

What’s notable for me is:

  • Multicam Editing
  • Advanced Chroma Keying
  • Edit Layered Photoshop Graphics

These are three tools that had better live up to the requests. Well, I shouldn’t be too critical. As it is, I’m one of FCP X’s biggest fans. But these features/tools which I used on a frequent basis in FCP 7 have been sorely missed with FCP X.

Now there should be much rejoicing, and possibly less moans and groans from the independent and broadcast filmmaking circles.

Nov 14 2011

Final Cut Pro X is Growing in Favor with God and Editors

Click image to see original article

Ben Balser just released a tutorial for X. Grant you, he has his product invested in Apple’s new editor, so he is going to like it and promote the professionalism of editors using FCP X. One might question whether he has a serious bias towards Apple’s product because of his considerable investment in it.

Even so, this isn’t to say he is biased. I like what he says in the quotes from this article as he’s taken the time to wrap his mind around the paradigm shift Apple introduced in FCP X. He’s got his head in the game — unlike many pundits that have lashed out at X without giving it thoughtful consideration. Ben notes there are simply significant traits to X that are not conducive for consumers. And the recent free update Apple released fixing various bugs and what-not had everything to do with addressing professional editors concerns — not the whimsies of soccer moms.

Of course, this is just one article that’s extolling FCP X. There are many others. Such positive articles are just not heard of as much as the quarreling forums of rabid independent editors that are drawing a crowd for blasting Apple products. Disliking something about Apple is ever in vogue. Well, I hope to be above such simple-minded trendiness, and find out for myself what FCP X is really made of.

Starting tomorrow, I’m aiming to produce my first video ever in X. It’ll be put to professional use from day one in my workflow. Do I expect to encounter some bumps along the way? I’d be a fool if I didn’t. I will soon see just what to make of the FCP backlash, and whether X is or isn’t as professional as everyone is debating. I’ll keep you posted!

Jul 15 2011

Opinion: Transformers 3

Transformers: Dark of the Moon is one of the few pop-culture driven movies that I wanted to see in theaters. I knew the special effects would be mind-blowing, as the previous two were. I usually enjoy the character of Sam Witwicky and some of the more intelligent Autobots. Still, part of me knew that I would not “like” the film before I saw it to review for Movieology. But why?

Since I had not previously had to think critically about the other two Transformers films, I enjoyed them as, for the most part, mindless joyrides of visual stimuli. Sure, I’m not a fan of the poor taste in objectifying women, crude humor, and outlandish plot contrivances, but there was still something to had in the films. They were amazing displays of imaginative creatures from deep reaches of the universe. Transformers’ transformations are some of the most creative ideas in kids’ action/adventures of the 20th century.

So why did I know that Transformers 3 simply wouldn’t be an objectively good film? I couldn’t say, honestly, till I had finished and was leaving the theater. The answer is simple: Michael Bay (the director) leaves the worldview of the movie inconsistent and wanting fulfillment. The post-modern caricatures don’t do justice for the film’s own worldview, in that by the end the heros rely on each other and their social norms. The chaos and random quality of the Transformers’ movie universe that escuses all forms of “don’t rely on culture” in the end has to appease a culture-driven audience.

If Bay wanted to write and direct a credible and compelling story, he would have, but that was not his goal. He has consistently dished out popcorn action, special effects, and confusing awkward/inappropriate humor in the place of good storytelling.

Mar 14 2011

Movieology Update: Up to Episode 7!

We review movies from a worldview perspective. Most reviews scrutinize the artistry or entertainment value. Some others review the content for family-friendliness. We’re here for the adults and older youth that want to understand movies better and learn what they can from their entertainment.

Movies are a modern form of visual literature, as it were. They have messages in them that play out popular worldviews like Christianity, existentialism, postmodernism, and universalism. We study the movies for what the values are they represent and how the worldviews compete with one another in the movies.

And along the way we’ve made it an engaging show that strikes the fancy of many people. If you would, I’d love to know what you think of it. You can comment here and tell me what you think. Thanks!

Feb 8 2011

This Storyteller Favors Adultery

Movies and books are never devoid of worldviews. Some worldviews are so potent in films that audiences deem such movies as propaganda—having little artistic taste. Usually, it is religious filmmakers that are associated with the propaganda pieces. The non-religious populace tends to be more clever with the art of storytelling, weaving their worldviews subtly into the background.

Ironic that it should be this way. If Christians understood and implemented the storytelling methods in God’s Word, I don’t think their stories would fit into a propaganda pigeon-hole. Historical events and parables as they are communicated in the Bible are great examples of Storytelling 101 from God’s point of view. Few Christians adopt the Bible’s storytelling characteristics in films. Continue reading →

Feb 7 2011

Moving the Movieology Set

So we built a set in the second floor of the American Vision suite, then it became necessary to use the room with the set of offices. We had only made test footage with that set and one promotional video. And now we’re in the process of recreating that set in what used to be a messy storage room. It’s taking a lot of elbow grease, but we’re getting there.

Jan 15 2011

My Review: The Message Behind the Movie

Movie watchers mostly watch to be entertained. Still, we in the audience realise that movies are complex creations of ideas that aren’t just entertainment, but relevant. Thousands of people are employed to make films. These people consider all aspects of a story to translate philosophical ideas into audience appealing stories.

In other words, movies are made to sell tickets. If they are going to sell tickets, the stories in movies must be compelling to us in the audience. Moviemakers need to relate fictional stories to ideas we relate to in the real world. What people believe about reality is mixed into movie magic to reflect ultimate truths. Continue reading →