This cert qualifies me as an Apple Certified Pro for the ever popular film editing software, Final Cut Pro
Hi, Baron here.
I can hear the soft rumble of thunder and the splatter of rain on the windows. I’m serene and calm as I write this entry on my Mac. What I’m feeling now contrasts what I experienced this morning.
May 20th 2010 marks the day I took my Final Cut Pro exam and passed. If you’re thinking not bad for a veteran video editor, then consider the passing mark to become an Apple Certified Pro: a demanding 80%!
That seems a bit sadistic. To an extent it is, since this morning I was told that I was the only trainee who passed out of my class of 11… I kind of expected the exam to be very tough and I wasn’t totally wrong in my assumptions. It was VERY tough. The question remains; what kind of questions can faze an experienced video editor? My answer would be, ‘the kind that tests you for your training skills rather than your editing techniques.’
Diana Weynand's 'Professional Video Editing' is essential to passing the exam
As I sat in front of the PC at Guidance View (an official Apple Prometrics exam centre), I was thinking, ‘Bring it On!’ I kept wondering about the kind trick questions I was about to face. I had to go through a tutorial to familiarise myself with the exam interface. When I clicked ‘Start the Exam’, my heart was skipping beats.
Final Cut Pro is recongnised as an industry standard film/video editing software
The first page that faced me were disclaimers. Skipped all that and clicked ‘Proceed’ Next up was a questionnaire. ‘How long has it been since your last course’, ‘How long have you been an editor’ and the like… are they trying to gauge my depth of experience so they can arrange tougher questions? After all that, the ‘Start’ button again. So is this exam going to begin or not?!
The few sample questions I got off the internet helped a little. The book by Diana Weynand did its part too. Combined they could probably help you get maybe 60-70% depending heavily on how you read the book. Diana’s book is the official Apple Pro Training material. But to do it right requires a lot more than just being a seasoned video editor.
The trick is to approach your preparation like you’re studying to become a trainer. The trainer/lecturer has a syllabus to complete thus will go over everything. The editor will use tools specific to his work that help him get the job done. He would be using about 40% of the software’s features.
‘Which menu can you find the controls to view certain colour Markers?’ What is that?!
‘If you have a Motion Master in your viewer, which tab will you access to control its Drop Zones?’ Huh?!
‘Which part of the image will Auto Balance your White Balance setting?’ What, it’s automated now?!
‘What combination can be used to fit your clips in the sequence? Ctrl-Z, Opt-Z, Shft-Z, Cmd-Z’ Well it definitely isn’t Cmd-Z!!
‘Where can you find the Timecode Viewer?’ Er… on my LCD screen?!
Get it? Are there editors out there who care what modifier key will move a Marker on the Timeline? Only a trainer or lecturer will attempt to memorise each menu’s content. Editors just want to get the job done in the least time with the fastest method without compromising the story.
Read the collaboration between famed director Francis Coppola and oscar winner cinematographer/editor Walter Murch
The trick is to approach your preparation like you’re studying to become a trainer. The trainer/lecturer has a syllabus to complete thus will go over everything. The editor will use tools specific to his work that help him get the job done. He would be using about 40% of the software’s features.
I will make another blog entry to help candidates with the exam.
For questions that asks to ‘Select all that apply’ are the most deceptive… they seem easy enough, just click on whatever you think is right… Well, marks are deducted for any selected answers that are wrong. So if you think you can click away, think again!
Want to know how Final Cut Pro has become an integral part of the video/film and TV indusrty? Check out Final Cut Pro in Action
I thank my wife for her unyielding support. She’s been very understanding as I delegated video editing tasks to study. She was encouraging 2 years ago when we searched the country over for a place to take my exam. She always believed I would do well.
WolFang Digital also thank Louis Clovis from SwiftTech Asia. They sponsored my training and exam. Louis was fond to say, ‘Ah, you’ll pass with flying colours’. Thank you Louis, for your unyielding support.
Credit also goes to Lee Ching Ping, our trainer who flew all the way from Singapore to be with us. He did this despite knowing his son was recuperating in the hospital. Firm and knowledgeable, Ching Ping was Master Trainer for Apple and it was an honour for me to be under his tutelage.
My achievement gives me the qualification to offer Final Cut Pro courses. Coming up will be FCP Video Editing Course by an Apple Certified Pro at WolFang Digital!
