ATTENTION ALL FRESHMEN  (updated August 1, 2011)

WE WILL HAVE FINAL CUT 7 STUDIO AVAILABLE AS OF 08/12/11 AT THE UNCSA CAMPUS BOOKSTORE.

   
One of the most important tools in filmmaking today is the computer. From the script stage, through pre-production planning, and for picture and sound editing, computer skills are essential to success. The University of North Carolina School of the Arts School of Filmmaking has developed a partnership with both Apple Computer, Inc. and Final Draft, Inc. to provide students with the best technology at the best prices available.

UNCSA School of Filmmaking requires incoming students to purchase four items:

1) MacBook Pro computer
2) Applecare warranty (to keep your computer working)
3) Final Cut 7 Studio software bundle for editing, DVD creation, motion graphics and soundtrack work ONLY AVAILABLE AT THE UNCSA BOOKSTORE ON 08/12/11
4) Final Draft screenwriting software.
 
To ease the financial strain a little, we have special educational discount prices on Apple products and Final Draft software!

MacBook Pro Computers and Applecare are available at the Apple Store for Education through a link below. A super discounted Final Cut Pro Studio Software is available through a separate link to the UNC Chapel Hill bookstore, link below. Final Draft Software is available directly from Final Draft, through a link below.

Apple MacBook Pro (with Applecare warranty) Purchase Requirement

Each incoming freshman is required to purchase an Apple MacBook Pro (unless a severe financial constraint absolutely will not allow). The 15" size is recommended to allow more window space for editing. The less expensive 13" MacBook can be used, but it is not optimal for Post Production.

Video files use lots of hard drive space, and hard drives can fail. It is highly recommended that all incoming freshmen purchase an external hard drive, with Firewire interface, for editing and backup purposes. This is not required.

If you are faculty/staff or an already enrolled student and have your campus email, please use these links:

Student, Faculty, and Staff Login

If you are an incoming student and do not yet have your campus email, use the following link:
 
Apple store without a student ID

Once you have entered our custom online Apple Store, select a MacBook Pro portable computer, then select any special options to customize your computer (or accept the pre-configured system, perfectly adequate for your work at UNCSA Film). Be sure and add AppleCare warranty to your checkout cart at the Apple Store!

Final Cut Studio Software Purchase Requirement

The MacBook Pros and MacBooks are NOT pre-bundled with screenwriting or editing software. You will need additional software: Final Cut Studio (Apple Computer) and Final Draft (from Final Draft, Inc., separate link below).
 
You should pay close attention to the fact that, this year, we are using Final Cut pro 7.  You can get this at the UNC Student Store at Chapel Hill.  While FCP X is very promising, it lacks key features for professionals.  This new version is built on an entirely new foundation and is essentially a new product.  It is highly probable that Apple will respond to the outcry of professional filmmakers and will, within the next year, make an updated version of FCP X that works for the professional community. The current version of FCP X will not be capable of processing your student films, given the parameters of the projects. It is also not capable of importing projects which were created on an earlier version of FCP. So make sure that you purchase Final Cut pro 7.

Final Cut Software WITHOUT an educational discount is $999. The advantage of the NON-ACADEMIC version is that you can upgrade at a discount price when a new version of the software is released in the future.

The ACADEMIC version Final Cut Studio is NOT ELIGIBLE FOR UPGRADES. You can purchase an Academic Version at the Apple Store for Education ($899) when you purchase your computer. However, we have arranged an additional discount through the UNC Chapel Hill Bookstore link below ($299 plus shipping).  UNC Chapel Hill Bookstore has received a list of incoming freshmen, and to get a discount you must be on that list. Click the following link to make a separate purchase of Final Cut Studio Academic from the UNC Chapel Hill Bookstore site:

Final Cut Studio through UNC Chapel Hill Bookstore

In the box which requests "UNC PID Number (or indicate school affiliation):" enter "UNCSA School of Filmmaking"

The UNCSA School of Filmmaking requires all incoming freshman to purchase Final Draft Screenwriting software. You can purchase this software for an educational discount of $129 from this link: http://www.finaldraft.com/solutions/educational.php