Another 16:9 to 4:3 conversion Issue

Question

Hello all, I've read all the posts but am still struggling with this issue.
I have a Canon HG10 and the format of the output is 1440x1080 (or as close to 16:9 as I can tell). I'm using Final Cut Express.
I do comedy, and I need to transfer this fancy-pants wide screen format to the more humble 4:3 for youtube and most regular players. Plus, for stand up - the widescreen just covers an awful lot of empty stage - all the action is in the middle.
What I'd like to do is simply go to the Motion tab after clicking the clip, and crop left and right to cut off the wings of the stage, that I don't need anyway. Trouble is, how do I do this in such a way that it is exactly the 4:3 ratio, I can eyeball it, but it seems this is not the way to do it. And even after doing it, when I play the clip it seems to bounce back to the regular size, so that doesn't seem to work.
If I deselect the "correct for aspect ratio" everyone suddenly looks like they came from the land of the ectomorphs - tall and skinny, although 4:3. But having people look funny is not the point, so that doesn't seem to work.
The other approach is people on these boards say "oh, just create a 4:3 sequence and drop the clip in it and it'll fix it". But here's the thing. Every time I create a sequence, it goes straight to 1440x1080, and when I click on the properties, there doesn't seem to be a way to adjust it. How on earth do I create a 4:3 sequence? I'm sure the machine is saving me from myself, but its frustrating.
On none of my clips is the anamorphic property clicked, but I don't think that should be an issue, should it? The more I'm getting into this the more confounded I'm becoming. Thanks for any light that anyone can shed on this.
Cheers
George

Answer 1

Thanks guys this has been fantastic help. So to summarize for others who come across this post and have an HG10 that the want to show in 4:3 - here are the steps.
1. Switch Easy Set Up to Apple Intermediate Codec
2. Go to Log and Transfer, and get the clip into Final Cut Express
3. Go back to Easy Setup and choose NTSC, then choose either DV-NTSC or DV-NTSC DV Converter (still playing around, haven't figured out the subtle differences yet)
4. You'll get an error message that says "Unable to locate the following external devices Apple Firewire NTSC. Just hit Continue to ignore the warning.
5. Create a sequence, double click on it and then drag the clip into it.
6. You'll get a warning that says "For best performance your sequence and external video should be set to the format of the clips you are editing". Click no, you want to leave the sequence in 4:3.
7. Go to the Canvas window and in the little square box above the picture [], choose the option Image and Wire-Frame
8. Grab one of the corners of the cyan colored wireframe and drag it out, so that the top of the frame matches the top of the original canvas, effectively cutting off the wings of the picture. When you go to the Motion tab on the Viewer it seems the scale is about 70 or so.
9. Export that sucker! You're done!
A big thanks to all you guys who saved my bacon, especially Tom and Michael. So very much appreciated - you rock. Very responsive, very helpful. I owe you a beer (or three) next time you are in San Francisco.
Cheers, Au Revoir
George