This document provides instructions for a simple video editing project in Final Cut Pro X called the Circus Wagon Project. The goal is to get familiar with FCPX's interface in under 40 slides. Instructions include importing footage, making cuts and applying effects to clips, adding transitions between clips, and exporting as a QuickTime movie. The project is meant to be functional but does not need to look polished as it will likely not be shown to others.

1. Final Cut Pro X
The Circus Wagon Project: Be
Functional in Under 40 Slides
Jon Corippo - Apple Distinguished Educator

2. Demystifying the Remarkably Simple Interface

3. Why the Circus Wagon Project?
This will not be a
pretty video;
You will not likely
ever show it to
ANYONE

4. For this project:
FORGET STORY
This is straight cutting

5. Start up Final Cut Pro X

6. Make a new project

7. Use these settings
1080 is too big for most
student projects

8. Click to Import Media

9. Import some footy with
your iSight camera
(super easy)

10. Record for about 45 seconds, then hit stop

11. Find the clip here

12. Name it
Check these boxes!
Don’t Optimize
It sounds good,
but it’s a bad
idea for school
GIANT FILES

13. Your clip will appear in the
Event Viewer
We’ll be dropping the entire clip
into the timeline for this activity:
drag it OR Expert Tip= Hit“E”
Future Trick: I,O, E =
In point, out point, enter to timeline

14. We like 720p for school stuff

15. One clip in the timeline
Try this outCorrect clip parameters

16. An iMovie moment

17. iMovie OPTION: Send an iMovie Project in FCPX

18. The iMovie project appears in the FCPX Libraries

19. Your iMovie project opens in the timeline!
Including all the CUTS and LAYERS

20. Back to Final Cut!

21. To enter cut mode: B for Blade
To exit cut mode: A for Select

22. Use“B for Blade”to make about 15 cuts
Make them roughly symmetrical

23. Effects
Drag on effect on top
of each
clip, one per clip is
enough
Effects Icon
Experiment!
No worries
Final Cut Pro X has 210 base effects

24. You should see things
like this when you
have applied effects to
various clips

25. Find the Transition tab
Transitions
Final Cut Pro X has dozens of
customizable Transitions
Simply drag random
Transitions between
each clip!

26. Make sure each clip has a Transition

27. Find the Titles tab
Titles
Final Cut Pro X has over 50 default Title options
New skill: Drag the Title ABOVE the clip in
question

28. Add a Title to each clip
What to type? The Title of the Effect used!

29. Change the Text
Double click on the Title
in the Viewer
Select the TEXT option,
type in your text
What to type? Add the Title of the Effect used on the clip.

30. Hit the space bar
or
Use the Controls
to watch your creation

31. To Export:
Click the swoopy share icon
This will pop up

32. Pick this Option
It will make a nice little
Quicktime Movie

33. Yours looks different?:
Click on add Destination!

34. Quicktime Movie File Size
Click here

35. Final Cut Pro X
NOW, GO OUT AND CREATE!!

36. Favorite Plugins:
Free Paid Paid
Prograph
Protimer
Graduated Lens Filters
Advanced Masking Tools

37. Charter Director - Minarets High School • Minarets Charter HS
Apple Distinguished Educator
Google Certified Teacher
CUE Presenter 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013
Creator, CUEMACUL RoadTrip 2012
Madera Country Teacher of the Year (2010)
Central Valley Computer Educator of the Year (2010)
“Best of CUE” Presenter
Creator of “Rock Star Teacher Camps”
Creator of “CUE” education strand at MacWorld 2010
Credentials:
Jon Corippo
Assistant Superintendent
Mariposa County Office of Ed
Mistercorippo.com
jcorippo@gmail.com @jcorippo
Apple Distinguished Educator