Personal Computers for Film Courses
Most courses in Film and Media require students to submit written work on paper, use the web for research, and receive or submit course materials via e-mail or the web. There is a small Computer Lab at the Department, with iMac computers available to students for these and other purposes. These tasks can also be handled at home by a wide variety of personal computers with a basic printer and Internet connection.
In addition, all work in video production courses is shot and edited in digital format, and projects shot on 16mm film are transferred to digital video for post-production. In fact, Queen's Film and Media was one of the first film schools in the world to offer "non-linear" computer video editing to students, in 1994. For FILM 250 and subsequent video production courses, Canon XH-A1 high-definition HDV cameras are available for shooting, and Apple computers with Final Cut Pro are available for post-production. An initial familiarity with the Macintosh operating system can therefore be an asset to a student. We suggest that if Film students are planning to purchase a computer, they consider a Macintosh-based Apple system.
As of fall 2009, the white 13-inch MacBook laptop no longer includes the Firewire port necessary for HDV editing.
The aluminum MacBook Pro laptops have a Firewire 800 port which can be used (with an adapter) for editing video from HDV tape, and a built in reader for SD storage cards which are used in some tapeless consumer video cameras. Other Firewire 800-equipped Apple computers include the inexpensive Mac Mini which requires a separate monitor, and the all-in-one iMac desktop systems.
We suggest considering adding options including 4 GB of RAM, 250 GB or larger hard drive and the Apple Care extended warranty. A Mini DisplayPort monitor adapter allows connecting a second VGA or DVI monitor for an extended desktop, or making classroom presentations on a video projector. The pre-installed iMovie software can be used for basic editing. Unfortunately, Apple has just discontinued Final Cut Pro, and replaced it with Final Cut Pro X, which is not compatible with our HDV-based workflow, so 2011-2012 will be a transitional year in our editing rooms.
It should be noted that students are increasingly making use of video editing even in non-production courses, to assemble video clips for classroom presentation. A laptop can be brought into the Department to be used with the VCR and monitoring equipment in the editing rooms. At home the computer can be connected to a student's own video camera for input and output.
Apple products are available at stores including Altair Electronics in Kingston, and educational prices are available online from the Apple Store for Education.
The Windows operating system is now also very capable of running video editing appications, so if a student has a PC with a FireWire port (IEEE 1394 or "i.link") for connecting an HDV camera, and is familiar with installing and configuring Windows software, it may be quite feasible to use the PC for editing.
See also Film & Video Production Facilities.
Go to FILM 250 Course Materials.
