How to make a change list in Final Cut?

February 6, 2006 1:52 PM

Final Cut Pro help: I'm taking over temporarily as assistant editor on a movie while the original assistant editor is off doing something else. I've been asked to make change lists between different versions of the movie using Final Cut Pro.

Near as I'm aware, the only way to make change lists in Final Cut Pro is using CinemaTools. So there are two problems.

1. The movie was shot on minidv. Can I still use CinemaTools to make the change list, even though it's intended for use with film?
2. The original assistant never made a CinemaTools database, which is required for making CinemaTools Cut Lists and Change Lists.

So I need to know, what can I do here to get a change list made? Is there some other way to make change lists for minidv projects that doesn't involve CinemaTools? If not, what will I need in order to go in there, make a new CinemaTools database, and then make the Cut lists and Change Lists? Is it even possible at this point? The movie is basically at screening stage. Ideally, I'd like to be able to say to the editor "Meet me in the cutting room, and have someone bring us a list of the tapes used, the type of camera, etc..." or whatever other info I'd need to get this done.

posted by shmegegge to media & arts (4 comments total)

Shmegegge,

Can you give me any idea of why you'd want a change list?

Traditionally, a change list is used in film after an initial cut to have the editor help reconform the film from a 3 light transfer for screening. I mean, it's meant after a film conform, and has no place in a DV workflow.

If it's just a list of reels, that's easy.

Also worth noting is an XML 'editor' that works hand in hand with FCP for nonlinear node based editing.
posted by filmgeek at 7:33 PM on February 6, 2006

filmgeek:

thanks for responding. What you just said is what I'm wondering, too. What I'm being told is that the change list is for the audio guy, because there were some changes made that wants to keep track of. I don't know why he needs it.

Near as I can tell, what he's asking for is essentially just a file that describes the difference between the audio edl for an earlier version and the audio edl for the latest locked sequence.
posted by shmegegge at 9:17 PM on February 6, 2006

That's bizarre.

Since you're temporary, couldn't the original asst. editor be of some help here?

Does he need a new OMF?

Generally, any audio changes that are needle drop based music, often need to have paperwork filled out right for the new music costs.
posted by filmgeek at 10:55 PM on February 6, 2006

I think what he's trying to do is avoid unnecessary extra work. Basically, he did the audio for the preveious version, and then some unplanned changes needed to be made, and now he needs to figure out precisely where and how to change his already mixed version to accomodate those changes, so that he doesn't have to do the whole thing over again from scratch.
posted by shmegegge at 9:54 AM on February 7, 2006