iCreate - UK (2020-04)

Final Cut Pro X

Create fake

CCTV-style

footage

T

V shows and movies feature scenes where

we view the video feed from surveillance

cameras. Invariably this footage has been

mocked up using post-production effects. As

well as telling a story these video sequences add

extra texture to the programme. Final Cut Pro X

is packed full of post-production effects that can

mimic the feed from a range of cameras. To make

footage look like the feed from a CCTV camera

you can overlay properties such as time and date,

as well as adding artefacts such as horizontal TV

screen scan lines. You can also use effects to turn

aerial footage into the feed from a military drone

by adding signal drop-out that suggests the drone

is being monitored from a distance. We can also

augment our surveillance using audio effects.

Enhance your clips by adding post-

production video effects

Video effects

Add and modify effects

You can use Final Cut’s post-production effects to make CCTV style footage

Download

available

15

Timeneeded

Developer

Apple, Inc

Difficulty

Transitions

The Clone Spin transition enables us to sweep

from one video feed to the next as if we were

watching a bank of security camera monitors.

Sound effects add extra authenticity to our

digitally enhanced video clips.

Shooting source footage

When shooting footage for a fake CCTV feed you’ll need to avoid the handheld

look. A tripod will give you a steady frame. If your security camera needs to

pan then mount your camcorder on a gimbal for smooth moves. Try and frame

the shot from a high angle to mimic a mounted CCTV lens’s location.

Knowledge base

Layers

Video effects produce different

looks according to how they are

stacked. By placing Water Pane

above the Security effect we

can have rain trickling down the

outside of the camera lens but

keep the overlay text ‘dry’.

Editable properties

Once you add an effect to a clip

you can change a range of effect

properties in the appropriate

panel of the Video Inspector. Here

you can change the date, time

and overlay label for your CCTV

camera feed.

Effects browser

Click here to summon the Effects

browser. You can search for video

effects by typing into the text field.

Alternatively narrow down your search

by clicking on a themed category such

as Looks or Nostalgia.