Final Cut Pro got a shout out on CNN on Thursday. American Morning interviewed a couple of college students who were fired from their produce jobs at a grocery store after producing a parody rap video called “Produce Paradise” that showed the then-employed students licking produce and returning it to the shelf and urinating on product in the back room. It also shows them cutting up vegetables and rapping about their jobs. The creators were on CNN because besides being fired from their jobs, the A&P supermarket chain is suing them for $1,000,000. The FCP mention came when the CNN host commented on the editing and one of the students said he was a Mass Comm major and used Final Cut Pro. The controversy surrounds the firing and million-dollar lawsuit and it’s an interesting debate. Sure this is a parody video with some funny moments and great lyrics but they shot it in and on the property of (what I’m guessing) was a real A&P grocery store. Personally I think it’s funny but if I’m the CEO of A&P I don’t think I like the idea of even a parody of an employee pissing on an unpackaged product that might be then placed on store shelves. Of course it won’t be placed on store shelves but a company does have a right to protect their reputation and image. I think it comes back to the so-called “iGeneration” growing up online and seeing nothing wrong with sharing all aspects of their lives online. Of course that’s always the choice of the individual but when you have content such as that of “Produce Paradise” that includes other identifiable individuals, places and businesses then you have to be prepared to suffer the consequences when you place it online for millions to see. A million dollars seems like a bit much as the students have been fired. They are broke college students after all. But maybe by college they should have learned a bit about responsiblity and good judgement. Since one is a Mass Comm major, how about have them produce a corporate video on better employee judgment and behavior?

How’s the video? It’s cute, some nice lyrics. There are a few canned FCP edit effects as well. They need to work on lighting and shot composition a bit but at least it makes you laugh. Whatever the outcome they students are getting some exposure and links. And after all, it’s that what all of the Internet famous really want? Check out what all the controversy is about.

http://www.youtube.com/v/y5iDpxucNFE