Visual effects are used in post-production to enhance films and achieve things that would be impossible to film directly. They range from simple speed adjustments to complex effects like aliens attacking. Editing is also vital in post-production, allowing editors to cut clips and rearrange footage. The document outlines the basic panels and functions of Final Cut editing software, including the browser to view footage, timeline to arrange clips, and canvas to view the edited video. It provides instructions for applying a letterbox effect to make films look more professional.

1. Visual Effects/Editing Guide
Laurence Hisee, Ben Davis

2. What are Visual Effects?
Visual effects are components of film production and are
generally used to enhance the quality of the item you are working
on. They can range from filter effects or down to small adjustments
like slowing down clips or speeding them up. All visual effects are
created during post production, as the majority of them are
actually artificial and are used to make things look better. The
purpose of visual effects is to achieve things that are either very
hard or impossible to film. For example, aliens attacking the earth is
an impossible occurrence to film so we use visual effects to do it.
An example of a software that is used for visual effects is Adobe
After Effects.

3. What is Editing
Editing is used in the post production process of film making
and is absolutely vital in making a successful film. Editing
softwares allow the editor to move, cut, adjust and alter any
clip that is put on the system, so when putting together a
film, things come together much easier when you are able
to move the clips and cut them down to the desired size.
The main thing that editing focuses on is taking an original
clip, which would involve the director speaking and the
actors listening, and then cutting that out, so they have the
bit that they need, rather than the bits that aren’t
necessary.

4. The Basics of Final Cut
To the left is a broken down image of
what the separate panels are in Final
Cut Express. The Browser is where you will
find all of your newly imported footage
and clips, you can then double click on
these to play them in the Viewer. The
viewer is where you can watch specific
clips. You can drag footage from the
browser onto the Timeline and then you
can slide them across to choose a time
of entry and exit. When you click play on
the Canvas it will play whatever is on the
timeline, so this panel will be used to
watch your actual edit.

5. 1 Advanced Technique
Although this is a beginners guide it is never too early to learn at least one
advanced technique. A technique I prefer to use in almost all of my films is
the Letterbox Effect, an effect used by all film makers, to make the film
more professional. So here is a step by step guide of how to do it on Final
Cut Express.
Open your Project. Focus on the Browser Panel

6. Click on the Effects Tab Click on the video filters tab

7. Click on the Border tab
Drag the Basic border selection onto your desired clip – Letterbox
will be added