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Avid Trips – Filename Recovery
Posted by Kim in Avid Trips, Misc, Post on April 2nd, 2010
I’ve decided to post some tips/tricks (Trips!) I’ve found to be really useful in working with Avid and as an Assistant Editor that will both remind me later down the road and hopefully help out someone desperately searching for answers late at night online.
Two Ways to Recover Your Original Source Clip Filenames:
If you’ve changed your clip names in Avid, and didn’t copy the column over into another column like “Take” or “Comments” for reference later, you may have already noticed the problems that arise from this seemingly innocent act.
For my current project, there are hundreds of archive clips that all need to retain their original archive clip ID in order to find the clip again and order masters from the archive companies. Having not always kept the original name somewhere in a column of the bin, I’m wondering “How the hell do I know what clip is what without having to open each up and visually reference based on the backed up media?”
1. Reveal File
Though you have changed the clip name in the bin, the MXF file Avid created on the import retains the original clip name in the first part of the MXF file name. Reveal File shows you the exact file on whichever hard drive you loaded it to.
Copy and paste just the obvious clip name part of the file (and not the other Avid generated numbers and letters) back into the Avid in a column like “Comment”, in order to export an EDL with that info in it.
But just so you know, the Avid does cut off the character count of your filename after what appears to be around 18 characters and then just ignores the rest. So I would still cross reference it with the backed up media if your filenames are longer than that.
2. Use FilmScribe and show column “UNC Path”
If you backed up your media, and imported it from where you backed it up from, FilmScribe (another option above EDL in the output menu) will tell you the file path from the imported file, which ultimately ends with the filename.
ex.: G:\Loaded\GettyImages\8jd9fle9.jpg
Copy and paste that last part into the Avid somewhere useful. And/or just give the archive person the FilmScribe printout/file/link. (Though I’d recommend keeping that information that you’ve just worked on relocating somewhere in the bin as well)
If the original location from where the file was imported was changed or deleted or moved somewhere else, I’m not sure if it still retains that information. You could always use the reveal file method instead.
However, both methods are a pain in the ass, so now that you’ve learned it’s a bad idea to get rid of the original clip names all together, don’t do it again! I’m making a habit of putting that info into the “Take” column, which wasn’t being used in our project. Maybe make your own column called “Clip Name” so that there isn’t much of a chance someone accidentally changes the column’s info on you. Then make sure to remind everyone on the project who may load something without you knowing, to keep up the same protocol.
2009 ACE Eddie Awards Nominations and Winners
While we’re at it, here are the nominees for the American Cinema Editors
(ACE) Eddie Awards. The winners, which were announced on Valentine’s Day, are in bold.
BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (DRAMATIC):
- Avatar – Stephen Rivkin, A.C.E., John Refua, A.C.E. & James Cameron, A.C.E.
- District 9 – Julian Clarke
- The Hurt Locker – Bob Murawski & Chris Innis
- Star Trek – Maryann Brandon, A.C.E. & Mary Jo Markey, A.C.E.
- Up in the Air – Dana Glauberman, A.C.E.
BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (COMEDY OR MUSICAL):
- 500 Days of Summer – Alan Edward Bell
- The Hangover – Debra Neil-Fisher, A.C.E.
- Julie & Julia – Richard Marks, A.C.E.
- A Serious Man – Roderick Jaynes
- It’s Complicated – Joe Hutshing, A.C.E. & David Moritz Read the rest of this entry »
Best Editing and/or Best Picture
I compiled a list of every Best Editing Academy Award winner by year along side the Best Picture winners to see 1) Just a list of all the Best Editing winners all lined up, and 2) Which films won Best Editing and NOT Best Picture as well. I plan to watch them all or at least start with those that won Best Editing and not Best Picture first. I doubt I’ll go all the way down to the 1934 winner, but maybe just as far as the award seems currently relevant. That’s probably somewhere around the early 60s with some exceptions lower. Mary Poppins seems very modern to me.
So, in case anyone else is interested in a list laid out and easy to reference, here it is. (There is also a column, if Best Picture and Best Editor winners don’t match, for whether the Best Picture winner was even nominated for Best Editing).
Royalty Free and Free!
I’m never super thrilled when it comes to the audio mixing portion of the editing process. It’s not really my thing. So certainly, already finding the whole process to be a challenge, I’m never going put the time in to record my own sound effects for every thing you hear in every project we do. Most of that is already recorded by someone who knows what they’re doing. And most of the time, that costs a lot of money to obtain. Especially if you want a decent selection.
But there are several sites out there that offer royalty free sound effects for people to download for free. Here are a couple I use regularly. Read the rest of this entry »
An Apple A Day… Makes Me Dislike Apple Some More
Posted by Kim in Commentary, Post on July 27th, 2009
Reviews and commentary are out about the new FCP release and from reading what they have to say, I’m not thrilled. Actually, I couldn’t care less. How do people keep the faith in this program when all Apple ever does (When they ever do anything for Final Cut) is release things that are “Just like [blank program] does it!”? Sure, it has some new additions now and then, but with so many seemingly obvious features missing that are covered by other programs, usually the largely more used Avid, why would you even keep buying and using Final Cut? Especially since they weren’t even at NAB. They’ve shown they don’t really give a crap about video editing.
Maybe if they renamed it iVideoEditingProgram, it would have more attention by the developers. Rename plugins to “apps” and suddenly people will care!
“Bartender Wars.” The cause of, and solution to all of life’s problems.
I started up working on Bartender Wars again after the break between the pilot and the second episode shoot.
You’d be surprised how much more willing people are to play along once they’re wasted.
Watch it on FLN starting October 10th!
Newfangled Post Production Demo Reel
My previous reel was geared more toward the Pixar Standard for demo reels. I think it ends up being slightly less impressive to those who want a song and glitz. I actually think the Pixar way is more practical for showing you can edit, rather than showing you can edit a demo reel with clips to short to gather what the technique was. I tried to find a mid ground with slightly longer clips so you get the idea, and it fits to the music.
Some new animations, new clips from shorts, and a whole bunch more examples of color correction.
Ta Da!
10 Ways to Get Cheap/Free Labor for Your Shoot Without Being a Mooch
Posted by David in Commentary, Post, Production on August 18th, 2009
I love Craigslist. From a filmmaker’s standpoint it’s a great place to find people, buy and sell gear, and keep yourself in the know about local productions. However, being a free service it’s become overrun with moochers looking for free labor, skilled crew positions and even their gear. This has begun spilling over into the larger industry job boards (such as Mandy.com) and is simply put poisoning the well of jobs for recent graduates and low-level professionals. Read the rest of this entry »
cheap/DIY, indie, jobs, Production, shortfilms
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