What's the best way to get 16x9 in FCP3? I know I shouldn't touch the camera, but so far it's the only way i can figure out how to change the aspect ratio.

Any help would be greatly appriciated.

Do you mean you want to add a mask over the video to give it a 'widescreen' effect? If that's the case, here's what you do--

In your "Browser" window next to the timeline, click on 'Effects.' Scroll down to 'Video Filters' and click to open that folder. Scroll down to 'Matte' and click. Then scroll down to 'Widescreen.' From there, a window will open where you'll be able to manipulate the size of the matte you want to lay over the video. By default it is set at 1.66:1, but you can go up to 3.00:1 if you so desire.

I hope that helps.

GS

1.85:1- Flat format, Spiderman and Catch Me If You Can is in flat format

2.35:1- Scope format, Minority Report, Road to Perdition, The Two Towers, usually gives movie a lot more of an artistic feel

Since sometime in the 70's or 80's anamorphic has changed to 2.39:1 (The markings on DVD's are often wrong and some theaters still haven't upgraded their projection lenses). 1.66:1 is standard in many countries. Many american television productions are switching to 16x9 to prepare people for the HD switch. Vittorio Storaro often shoots a 2:1 frame (Since this is so uncommon I believe black bars are optically added to an anamorphic print).

Nota "Aspecterriffic!" Mono

Here's a good site all about widescreen. It should give you some good tips.

http://members.macconnect.com/users/b/ben/widescreen/index.html

Hope that helps and don't touch the camera unless you know what you're doing!