reasonable request?

P

powerdog

Veteran
I've agreed to TRY to edit a 12-min. video that's been re-edited annually since 1996. The client can track down the various people/companies that have worked on it, and we have a DVD of the most recent version.

Unfortunately client doesn't know any of the technical specs, so I may find out that it was created in Vegas, Premiere Pro, or some other PC or Mac monstrosity.

This is LOW, LOW budget, so I can't invest in anything like Auto Duck. (Maybe the most recent editor has something like that...don't know.) Anyway, the idea is that next time, I'll do a new video from scratch with a decent budget.

I"m planning to tell her that, best case would be getting an FCP project file and all connected media files.

Next best would be a best-quality 640x480 Quicktime file. I think just about all the editing systems can export this.

Am I missing anything here? Thanks.
 
Sure any media you can get a hold of is better than no media- but what's the question?

-Noah
 
Whether I'm missing any options for editable files, if it wasn't done in FCP. They've got all sorts of composites and special effects in there that they want to get rid of...like one photo superimposed on another. I can't use only one of the photos if it's all one QT file.
 
Wow, that does not sound like fun.

Question(s) - what type of video is this? Is it a fundraising / marketing video? Training video? Are they wanting you to update the video they've been using since 1996 (...), but keep it basically the same, or do they want you to create something "new" with decades old source material?

If you can get your hands on the original tapes, then I would say create something new with it and edit it in FCP.

I've now done two "new" videos for a non-profit using the same footage that is now 3-5 years old. I've combined it with new interviews and music and graphics and by now I almost think of that archive footage as my own, and the non-profit thinks I walk on water (and perhaps one day they'll pay me a commensurate fee for such miracles).

If they want the same video with changes, then the easiest thing may be NoahK's advice to get ahold of the source media, if possible, and just re-create the thing in FCP.
 
A lot of unanswered questions right now, regarding what's available for the project. I finally told them to just ask what the last person used for editing, and whether the source media are available. That should tell me what my options are.

It's a feel-good video to be shown at an alumni reunion. Mostly editing of existing material, but they're also hoping I'll add a few new clips to the end. And this all needs to be done by the 3rd week of May, while I'm juggling other projects. They better get me some answers soon!!
 
The next clue in this mystery:

My client was handed a mini-DVD tape that, she was told, has some of the DVD's footage on it. No other info provided.

If I throw it into my DVX and attempt a capture to FCP, what are the chances it'll work? I don't want to raise her hopes too much.
 
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