Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Re: [MISP] contrast level of video productions


I think the frustrations that we are addressing here are the frustrations that distributors and theater owners have when trying to figure out how to take content that is produced and present it to a public who pay for an experience that they have have certain expectations. As a Producer you must decide the format that you will produce your project in and these days the minimal standard is 4k. NATO (the National Association of Theatrical Operators) put out standards for 4k digital theaters screen - 8000 that will be in place by the end of 2010. The ideal set up is a stadium seat venue where the projector is closer to the screen. Remember a 35mm print has 3 times the image quality of a 4k image, this is mitigated by bringing the projector closer but 35mm is still the standard. 

I watch films at the Film Museum, College of Santa Fe and Masonic Temple. The best image was the Masonic Temple and at each location I took a quick look at the projector. The Panasonic projector (most likely a rental) was the best (most expensive). Lets set our goals in great story telling and the technology will catch up, Producers will expect no less.


On Dec 10, 2008, at 10:20 AM, Digital Outreach Group wrote:

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Technical hurdles aside, I believe we should raise local indy filmmakers up instead of continually berating them for flaws.  Like Lance said, these are people operating on  entry-level prosumer equipment, many of them for the first time.  To me, this is a wonderful thing, that the equipment to tell a visual story is more accessible, so we can see new and fresher visions from someone who would otherwise not have the ability to access Panavision 35mm cameras or giant Avid workstations.  Our filmmakers, much like our local industry, are new to the craft, and will refine with time.  Our role as a community should be to positively enforce that they continue to tell stories and continue to improve their technical skill.  Knocking one another for minor things provides no gain for any of us.
 
 
From: NM Media Discussion List [mailto:MISP-L@unm.edu] On Behalf Of WS
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 22:56
To: MISP-L@LIST.UNM.EDU
Subject: Re: [MISP] contrast level of video productions
 
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Here's another point of view, this time from a film enthusiast instead of a film maker. I think I'm the kind of viewer that appreciates film makers who are serious about their craft.
 
I saw a total of 17 works at the Santa Fe Film Festival (which should have been named the Video Festival - actual films must have been few and far between, because I didn't see a single one). Over half of the pieces I saw turned out to be anything from disappointing to very unpleasant experiences for technical reasons alone: wrong aspect ratio, poor contrast ratio, bad framing, atrocious sound, you name it. 
 
I find it highly unlikely that any of these faults lay with the source material. More probably, the people who were recruited to run the equipment in the venues just weren't adequately equipped for the job. In every case, some fairly simple technical adjustments to the theater's equipment would have made a big difference in the viewing experience.
 
I recently returned from the Mill Valley Film Festival where I also saw quite a few films/videos. These kinds of problems happened very rarely there, and I'm guessing the festival producers made a point to have competent people operating the equipment. Same applies to the Montreal and Philadelphia festivals that I've attended.
 
If New Mexico wants to join the film big leagues, we need to get our presenters to start thinking about fidelity at least as much as the film makers do. No matter how much care goes into creation of the product, if it's not properly presented the audience and the film makers both get shortchanged.
 
Thanks for the opportunity to get this off my chest, and hope everyone has a great holiday season.
 
Werner Strobel
ABQ, NM
 
From: NM Media Discussion List [mailto:MISP-L@unm.edu] On Behalf Of Jim Terr
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 5:13 AM
To: MISP-L@LIST.UNM.EDU
Subject: [MISP] contrast level of video productions
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Hey folks - I think I have a bona fide "Discussion" topic here, for this discussion group!!
 
Background: I make it a point to attend all the screenings of local shorts I can, at the NM Film Festival & Expo, Duke City Shootout, etc., because as one of the many people who hope to make a feature some day, I want to keep up on who the local actors and production people are, etc.
 
Setting aside issues of writing, acting and even "production," I've noticed a big problem in BRIGHTNESS AND CONTRAST of many local productions, when projected in theaters for these programs, compared to higher-budget or "slicker" productions, from out of state or whatever. If not for that comparison. (I'd say it has to do with the projection, but I've noticed this in several venues, so have had much chance to compare and "contrast.") The "local" problem I see is relatively low contrast, and sometimes low brightness as well. Overall effect: dull.
 
I've noticed this problem particularly in many of the otherwise fine shorts put out by the NM Film Intensive. I'm wondering what the problem is here. Are these films typically edited at some single editing facility, whose monitors are perhaps not calibrated the same as monitors elsewhere? Are they perhaps cranked up a little in terms of contrast, so that the resulting videos are not sufficiently contrasty when shown elsewhere?
 
I've often noticed that most of my own footage, even when it looks good & bright on the camera and in capture, has to be jacked up in terms of contrast, when edited, to look good on my monitor, which is just my computer screen. But I do it, and the resulting videos always look to me sufficiently contrasty, when projected at these programs, relative to the best and highest-budgeted-looking stuff at these programs.  
 
So what's the deal here? Does anybody have any thoughts? I'd especially enjoy hearing from some of the old hands who know something about calibration, standardization, or whatever....
 
ON ANOTHER ISSUE, the perpetual quest to make a very low-budget but very good feature, I saw a film at the SF Film Festival which re-enforced my belief that you can make a great feature for under $100k. This was a California production called "RULE OF THREE", made for $50,000 as I understand it, with contributions of $5,000 each from each of the actors involved, their families, etc. The trailer (which doesn't quite capture it) is on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4T01XkpteY . I would love to bring the film and the filmmakers here for a discussion of how you pull off a film this good for $50k. (I think it has something to do with script and actors.)
 
            Jim Terr  www.JimTerr.com 
               Santa Fe, New Mexico USA
                   Tel. 505-989-9298  "275,000 YouTube views - and counting!"
 
hymiehymie (1 hour ago)
Great, engaging film - just saw it at the Santa Fe Film Festival. A "model" for what a good film you can make on a very low budget ($50k), with great actors, good shooting, and a compelling, well-written script that keeps you guessing. I have seen many films this year costing 100x more than this, that were not as interesting. Congratulations to all involved!! But the trailer? "A room full of doom"? That sounds more like Dr. Suess, and does not capture the hip creepiness of this film.
 
 
 
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