Training

LA Folks -

There are several training sites listed in the LA area.


1. Does anyone have experience with one or more of them?
2. How does Apple certified training compare to others and self-paced videos?
3. Where can I find training that incorporates technique and not just how-to, as in real life productivity knowledge?

Thank you,

Frank

> 1. Does anyone have experience with one or more of them?

Several LAFCPUG consultants and regulars teach at Moviola, such as the excellent Andrew Balis.

> 2. How does Apple certified training compare to others and self-paced videos?

It's my opinion that Apple-certified trainers only passed a test. It doesn't make them good teachers, necessarily. It's a very personal thing. However, I'd also say that you should have access to your own editing setup as well as a compatible source for footage and/or a camera. You can learn the operations in Final Cut Pro, but unless you keep it up by doing real editing projects (one big one with 120 hours of footage is not as good as 12 small ones with 25 minutes of footage apiece), you won't really learn how to use FCP.

> 3. Where can I find training that incorporates technique and not just how-to, as in real life
> productivity knowledge?

One way is to find an editor to intern/assist for. Taking a class never hurts, though you need to supplement that by real experience in the trenches. For example, once you've completed a class, take on a student film for free. Dealing with real editing issues and creative needs will sharpen you up more than any class or tutorial. Also, I don't think I'm just speaking for myself when I say that most of our techniques come from when we leave the warm embrace of a knowledgeable instructor -- when we're actually working on our own.


www.derekmok.com

Also some very fine FCP instructors at Video Symphony: Larry Jordan, Christine Steele and myself. We've all presented at LAFCPUG meetings. :-)

Kevin Monahan
Social Support Lead, DV Products
Adobe
Adobe After Effects
Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro Community Blog
Follow Me on Twitter!

And... don't forget Diana Weynand.

She wrote the book (literally) "Final Cut Pro for Avid Editors".

mark

Quote
Also some very fine FCP instructors at Video Symphony: Larry Jordan, Christine Steele and myself. We've all presented at LAFCPUG meetings. :-)

And if you don't learn anything from these 3 (which you will) I guarantee you will go away laughing and in a great mood.

------------------------
Dean

"When I see you floating down the gutter I'll give you a bottle of wine."
Captain Beefheart, Trout Mask Replica.

Not to toot my my own horn- ok- I guess I will. I am the lead instructor (Apple certified) at Moviola and we specialize in teaching all ends of the spectrum- from those new to editing in general, to seasoned editors that want to learn a new system (i.e. Avid to FCP). We work with students from the major studios and TV stations, Film Independent, the Editor's Guild and many others. I'm proud of the level of instruction we give. We start with the Apple curriculum but also look beyond it to those real world issues that we often face in post production. I personally also imbue ideas through lecture and excercise that helps open people's eyes to how we can approach making creating decisions- and what makes a good cut for the given situation, and not just rely on button pushing to teach the software. We are also definitely gearing up to teaching Color classes, updating hardware and other resources so we're ready to go when Apple gives the go-ahead.

Hope this helps. Its also not to downplay Kevin's remarks about Video Symphony. Kevin was one of my FCP heroes when I was learning FCP, and I learned a lot from him- as well as I have deep respect for the other instructors there as well.

Sincerely,

Andrew Balis
Final Cut Pro Workflow Specialist
Lead Final Cut Pro Instructor
www.moviola.com
323-467-3107

in 2001 I won a raffle at lafcpug, for a 3 day class with Balis at Moviola, have been editing ever since It was a lifesaver for me..

Thaks LAFCPUG and Balis...