Behind the Scenes: 9 Film Software Editors Used in Hollywood

Hollywood movies look the way they do thanks to the editing process. Editing software allows the editing team to exercise their creative skills behind the scenes. They help directors to fulfill their artistic vision for a movie. Choosing the right editing software can help with the success of a movie. Here are nine examples of editing software in use in Hollywood.

1. Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro is part of the Apple ecosystem and is optimized for Mac Pro. It has some advanced features like 360-degree VR support and a magnetic timeline. The editing tools are intuitive for those familiar with Macs. This software is often the next step for users who have outgrown iMovie. One of the popular Hollywood movies edited with Final Cut Pro is “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”. Some developers supply software for Mac as a compressed disk image. When trying to open it an error message may appear saying the disk image could not be opened and this can leave you puzzled. The disc image file could be corrupted, the disk image not recognized, or mountable file systems could be missing. Guides are available to help if you want to know how to open a disc image file on Mac.

2. Adobe Premiere Pro

This top video editing software integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud apps. The integrated product suite comes with editing features capable of handling:

• video
• audio
• graphics
• titles
• color correction 

Artificial intelligence enables it to pick up and balance the light around the faces of actors. The interface is user-friendly and there are helpful tutorials available. A popular Hollywood movie edited with Adobe Premiere Pro is “Gone Girl”.

3. DaVinci Resolve 17

This video production software is popular for its top-quality tools for non-linear editing and color grading. Some of its features include multi-cam editing for 16 cameras and automatic image stabilization. It has facial recognition technology and a range of collaboration tools. Multiple editors can work together in real time on the same timeline. A visual effects section has a 3D workspace with powerful tools. There is a free version of this software. A movie edited on DaVinci Resolve is “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”.

4. Avid Media Composer

This professional video editor is a Hollywood favorite and was the first non-linear editing (NLE) software. It is designed for large projects and helps editors to easily handle complex timelines and scenes. It was an expensive option but its prices have dropped in recent years. Features include color grading and frame-accurate editing. It has some great tools for collaboration and support for different resolutions. “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” is a recent movie edited with Avid. 

5. Lightworks

Lightworks has a free version and can be used on macOS and Windows. The intuitive user interface makes it a good choice for beginner editors. The free version has some great editing features but restricts the output format. With the Pro version users can export videos in 4K and it supports many formats. Some of the features include color correction, real-time effects, and multicam editing. “The Wolf of Wall Street” is one of the movies that benefited from it.

6. Vegas Pro

Vegas Pro is a great editing program for frame-to-frame editing and has a clear timeline. It comes in various versions and is compatible with many plugins. Some of its features include color correction, multicam editing, and subtitles. It has a user-friendly and customizable interface. The movie “Bred in the Bone” was one where Vegas Pro was used.

7. Pixar’s RenderMan

Pixar’s RenderMan is movie-maker software suitable for live action and 3D animation. Its flexibility can’t be matched in rendering 3D movie productions. The advanced production tools create high-end animations and visual effects. They speed up workflows without sacrificing quality. The camera delivers artificial images that simulate real-world photos. A Hollywood movie edited using this software is “Beauty and the Beast”.

8. Houdini

Houdini helps to create automated and repeatable effects for movies, TV, game development, virtual reality, etc. Major VFX companies use this software. It uses a node-based workflow and allows editors to explore different iterations of animations and effects. It has been used to create effects in movies like “Frozen”.

9. Boris FX Macha Pro

This is great editing software for animated graphics. It makes screen replacement easy and it’s possible to track movement effortlessly. Other features include 3D camera solving and lens calibration. The program has been used in movies like “Iron Man”.

Conclusion

Hollywood filmmakers understand what works and what doesn’t when making movies. They often have a talented team of editors and choosing the right editing software to use can make a difference to the end result. Each of the above editing software has its pros and cons. The final choice often depends largely on the demands of a specific project. But the sure thing here is that with these outstanding tools, you can take your editing work to the next level without much effort.