Final Cut's Pros.

DIGITALFILM Tree Inc.; MOTION picture editing; MOTION pictures; COMPUTER software; MOTION picture industry

This article focuses on DigitalFilm Tree, a post-production and services firm based in West Hollywood, California, which uses Final Cut Pro since 1998. In its early days, the company provided its offline and online editing services to small independent films and student projects. However, as major filmmakers began using Final Cut Pro and DigitalFilm Tree in higher-profile productions--most notably Steven Soderbergh, with Full Frontal, and Roger Avary, with The Rules of Attraction--DigitalFilm Tree's belief that Final Cut Pro was capable of handling professional work began to spread. Two years ago, DigitalFilm Tree was hired to conform the broadcast video masters--the last editing stage, which yields a master tape--of the NBC comedy series Scrubs. It helped Scrubs move to an all-Final Cut Pro workflow in 2003. In 2003, DigitalFilm Tree capped off with work on the motion picture Cold Mountain, a contender in the upcoming Academy Awards.