One-Stop Film Management
Not only are the PowerBook G4 laptops giving students hands-on instruction in editing, they’re soon to become the focal point of the entire filmmaking program. In addition to Final Cut Pro, each laptop purchased through NCSA will arrive with almost every software tool a budding filmmaker could want.

“Our educational bundle will include applications for budgeting, scheduling, and screenwriting,” says Pollock, “so the laptops won’t just be used by film and sound editors. They’ll be important for the students who want to be producers, directors, cinematographers, and production designers. Actually, students can manage an entire feature film from their desktop!”

Developing Tomorrow’s Stars
NCSA’s faculty is comprised of working film professionals. In a typical year, over 80 percent of the school’s graduates also land spots at top production houses and studios throughout the country. All agree that knowledge of Final Cut Pro and other Apple technologies is a must for success in the industry.

“One of our grads, Steve Phares, is now at Digital Film Tree in L.A,” says Detweiler. “He did the testing on the Final Cut Pro systems for Digital Film Tree’s ‘post’ staff. That team, in turned, served as technical advisors for Walter Murch, winner of three Academy Awards for film and sound editing (for such films as “The English Patient” and “Apocalypse Now”), and currently editing “Cold Mountain.” Steve is also listed as one of three authors on Digital Film Tree’s training manuals, “Cinema Tools for Final Cut Pro” and “Cinema Tools for Final Cut Pro 101.” The fact that he’s only two years out of our school validates our choice of Final Cut Pro as our editing platform of choice, and the great experience we’ve had with it.”

“Everything we hear from our grads says that their Final Cut Pro experience is getting them jobs,” says Pollock. “I came out of the film industry, as did most of our faculty, and we all worked on Macs. Our professional experience tells us that you’d better be familiar with the Mac platform and programs if you’re going to get a job in the industry. And Final Cut Pro has really helped our students be among the best film school graduates out there.

“Even though we’re a small school, Apple has really responded to our need,” Pollock finishes. “They saw the potential of the one-to-one laptop initiative to help us. For us, that’s the ideal kind of corporate/school partnership we want to be engaged in.”