Q&A: What software and equipment is best to start off with for editing films and animation?

Question by David T: What software and equipment is best to start off with for editing films and animation?
My goal is to become a movie director and/or animator. I have used Pinnacle Studios 9.0 for some time, editing scenes that I captured on my old Sony Handycam Vision. However, my camera does not allow for great filming, and my movie making software does not have the special effects I am looking for, i.e. gunshots, explosions, etc. I plan to spend around $ 8,000 on equipment to start me off on serious filming. I am only sixteen, but I want to have experience for when I go to film school, or wherever I go in life. I plan to buy a new computer along with the software. Can anyone tell me specifically what would be good for editing/animating? What computer and camcorder would be best for someone on my budget? And what software should I look for? I have a few ideas, like an Alienware Area-51 m9750, a JVC Everio GZ-HD7, Adobe After Effects and Flash, but I need advice. Please help. Thanks.

Best answer:

Answer by Vig90
Forget the JVC GZ. Get a Canon HV20 cuz it shoots 24p!!! Check out camcorderinfo.com for camera test specs!! After Effects is good for animation but not a great editing program. Check out Boris programs as well for 3d animation. Get Avid Xpress w/ Mojo or FCP. I would get a HP Xeon workstation or Apple g5 – forget a laptop. You will need lots of ram (2-4gb) & a great video card. Before you buy any programs, check out the requirements they need to run efficiently (both CPU specs & video card). It will difficult to learn these programs on your own but good luck. You might wanna put that money towards a school instead of buying cuz every 6 months everything gets replaced and within 2 years everything you buy today will be well on its way to being obsolite. Email me if you have any questions.

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