Cabinet

I have this video I edited, but the cabinet is open. Is there any way to close or get rid of the cabinet? Here is the link .

That's a bit too big to really rotoscope out properly without a ton of money.

I'd use a shape mask (Slice X from Coremelt) to isolate the cabinets, and other background close to it, and darken that up. Then on the outside of the mask lighten up the talent/foreground. This is a very classic color grading trick. If the audience is focused on her enough, it won't matter. But I doubt you'll get a really acceptable rotoscope of that cabinet closed.

You could create a sill from a previous shot with the camera in the same position, use a shape mask (Slice X again) to isolate the cabinets closed, then composite that on top of the current clip to cover only the cabinets. Feather the shape mask edges slightly, too.

The biggest problem you'll have is when the camera moves or her arm crosses the area.

If it was essential, and static, I'd create an closed door using layers built up from the closed drawer above in Pixelmator, Photoshop etc. Then composite it on top of the video n FCPX.

But with the camera movements Motion or After Effects would be better suited than the previous combinations. Camera tracking the new door in place would be pretty easy with either, and rotoscoping the arm looks straight forward enough, the Motion "Shape" behaviour "Track Points" might even get it done automatically.

But the compositing side of things wouldn't be so straight forward as there are light changes and shadows pass over the area.

Personally I would leave it as it is and be aware of it in future.

Thanks!

Since the opening shot where she introduces the show has the cabinet (we call them cupboards) is closed, why not use that clip?

Create a mask around the closed door section with a feather as Ben suggests, then overlay the previous clip. Hmm.. now that I look further on in the vid, you must be talking about the larger cupboard behind her below the stove, not the white one off her right shoulder, since that's the only one her arm moves in front of.

Personally, for me, your image looks very video-like & flat, whereby everything is in focus & fairly evenly lit, so what I would do is place a very slight vignette on the entire frame, lighting her up in the middle & drawing our attention where it needs to be. Creating a slight vignette by framing your center with a very subtle blur around the edges, or desaturation, could also work well.

The white cupboard door opens inexplicably as we go away to look at the title sequence, but it's not really inexplicable, this is a busy kitchen. Things are going on, we're engaged, so draw us in further with a vignette spotlight effect. Speaking of lighting, your center frame flares brighter at about 1.20, making it a bit hot. You've also got a lot of white & another flare reflection coming off the counter in front of the sink. Vignetting will take care of all of this, as well as draw any attention away from open cupboards, cabinets or anything else.

This would be an excellent time to use this wonderful free vignetting & spotlighting effect generously supplied by fellow member PTfigg.

PS - Even though I've never tried eating squirrels I'd expect that ironically they'd be best when stuffed with nuts.

I had thought you meant behind, and to her left. I never noticed the white one.

Now that I watch it again, and analyze every instance of that door, no, forget it. Too many angle and lighting/shadow changes for doing a composite to be worth the time it is going to take.

Use the color grading trick of masking the talent, brighten up the inside of the mask a tad bit, darken the outside a bit. People may notice but won't pay attention. It really isn't that big of a deal.

In general, I'd balance the contrast a tiny bit (use the waveform monitor), and boost the saturation of the mids just a tad tee-ninesy amount. Even without touching the saturation, just a contrast adjust will make this video really pop a good deal. It'll give you a lot of depth. Used with the masking technique I'm advocating here, you'd have a pretty nice image on your hands.

I doubt you're going to be able to correct that and make it look natural without a tremendous amount of trouble. It may be best to leave it as it is, as much as that probably irritates you. I agree that a soft vignette on the frame will reduce the perception of the problem, but any potential remedy may end up being more noticeable than the original issue.

Just as a quick test, show that video to 10 people that are not editors or otherwise in this field and ask their opinion (without pointing out the issue to them). I'll bet at least 9 out of 10 wont even notice.

Good luck, and Merry Christmas !