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Activity Forums Avid Media Composer 16mm film workflow?

  • 16mm film workflow?

    Posted by Tyler Furtado on February 13, 2011 at 10:49 pm

    Hello

    I’m currently working on a senior thesis with a crew of around 20 people and I am the editor. However I’m just a junior at this state school in the Film Production program so I know a little but might come across a little lost so bare with me. I have decided to edit on Avid but have some questions about the workflow of going from 16mm film to Avid Media Composer 5.

    We shot the film on both an Arriflex and a CP-16 with 16mm film and 4:3 aspect ratio. I wasn’t involved in the requests for processing and transfers which I’m starting to think I really should have been. What I have been given is 2 quicktime files in 16:9 aspect ratio with the following specs:

    Dimensions: 1920 x 1080
    Codecs: Apple ProRes 422 (HQ)
    Color Profile: HD (1-1-1)

    I still have more footage to come but am not sure if they put in the request for it yet.

    I obviously have discovered that I have pillar boxed images which I would love to find a workaround for if at all possible without losing any of the frame or resolution. But I am also looking to find what the best workflow for this is, especially when it comes to importing or exporting. I cut together a teaser and don’t think I lost too much quality but it’s hard to tell. Maybe seeing it can help give more info and get me more answers.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwt5FBhJC6E

    Thank you to anyone who can help me out.

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    Hector Berrebi replied 15 years, 6 months ago 2 Members · 1 Reply
  • 1 Reply
  • Hector Berrebi

    February 16, 2011 at 2:07 am

    hi Tyler

    ” obviously have discovered that I have pillar boxed images which I would love to find a workaround for if at all possible without losing any of the frame or resolution”

    if you shot 4/3 and framed 4/3 (not sure why would the DP do that) and you didn’t use any sort of anamorphic lens, then you have to stay 4/3, or reframe in post, consequently losing picture, eventually resolution.

    as there are no large 4/3 formats, you will have to go pillarbox for projection purposes, or down convert to SD (and in that case if more footage is on the way maybe ask for it as prores SD from the start)

    however, it is more probable you would eventually want to go letterbox, lose part of your image but get a better, more cinematic look to it. did you ask if it was framed this way on purpose?

    you will have to process all your files through some other application (AE maybe) to get them to the right size and aspect ratio, or just edit this way, and do it at the end, on your final sequence only

    if it looks right to you, you can do it in avid too, i don’t think its the best tool for it (resizing).

    if you do decide to letterbox, and picked the center crop option, the lab could maybe blow it a bit up and give you the files already cropped and save you the need to digitally resize

    Or, you could go down to 720P with freedom to reframe without resolution loss.

    goodluck

    Hector Berrebi
    Schibber Group
    prePost Consulting

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