Any way to make DV look more like film?

[Craig Howard]

I love (hate) this question and have evolved a standard response to it.

What does film look like to you?

Once you determine that and define it for your self , maybe the answer will be obvious to you …or at least you can ask the question with a more specific request. eg

If I may point you in the right direction… messing with “slowing down everything 4% ” is not achieving anything as regards “film look”

Personally, I really enjoy shooting DV (when appropriate) with my Panasonic DVX 102a. It has its own “look” that I think is fantastic and I do not even consider “emulating” film with it because I am too busy exploring the possibilities and limitations of DV. I would admit though , that “film” is the basis of all my visual reference after 35 years of professional film making.

I shoot 35mm , 16mm, Video and DV (all over many years) and I try to get the best result for any given project from what I have to shoot with. I have also owned and run a Motion Picture film laboratory.

“Film Look” is a much overated term when it is un defined by the image maker.

Craig Howard
Shooter Film Company
Auckland
New Zealand

(Premiere Pro 1.5 / Matrox TRX100 XTreme Pro)

[Tclark]

There are a number of things to get you in the right direction. Obviously everybody is going to say lighting, camera moves, good script, etc…

What I think you are looking for has to do with post. Here are a few things that helped me out.

De-interlace or change the frame rate to 24p. I find that just de-interlacing works best for me. This is because it is a smoother look and also there is no frame blends on hard cuts that 24p conversion can cause. I use DVFilm Maker to de-interlace but there are a number of tools out there that other people like. I also use Magic Bullet Editors, which I love. It can do so many things that can help you in the “Look” department. It can do black or white diffusion and also give you damage tools like grain or scratches.

Another great thing you can do is change the gamma curve. DV is flat. Use your curves tool and give the master a slight “s” curve. You will notice it makes the darks deeper and it softens the highlights. It really helps on all footage of mine.

You will never get a total film look but you can definitely get rid of that “Soap Opera” look. Which really does make a huge difference.

[Steven L. gotz]

Assuming that you are already at 25 frames per second, reducing it to 24 is useless unless you are going out to film. Second, lighting and camera moves are a large part of it, as is creating a greater depth of field. Third, try moving the camera farther away and zoom in. That puts the background out of focus.

Fifth? Try some of the Magic Bullet effects if you feel the need to add film grain and emulate the people who shoot with film.

Just remember this one thing, if nothing else.

To make it look like film, shoot with film.

Steven
https://www.stevengotz.com

[Hector Melendez]

Craig, thanks for the answer!
I just wondering, what the heck is film look?? I have heard so many times that therm that I was wondering “what I’m missing?
What occupy my mind and efforts are how to bring to my customers the best possible quality .
Since I change my editing machine gear and get Premiere & Encore I’m very pleasant with the results…. but strange some “easy to do” tasks of my ScreenPlay editing gear.

[Craig Howard]

“What is film look” – thats the big question but different people think of it as different things. Some people think it is film scratches, some think it is motion strobe, some think it is bleach bypass, some think it is grain, letterboxing or gate weave etc etc… In your case you think it is better quality. All thoughts are fair enough but it helps if the question is more defined so an answer can be provided that is helpful.

Thats why I ask the question of them – “what is the film look to you?”

I think the beter question to ask is “how do I achieve a specific look?” eg the 24fps motion strobe effect associated with projected film or the look of xyz scene in xyz movie.

By the way – I have seen a lot of footage shot on 35mm film that does not have the end result looking like it was shot on film. Could have been shot on anything. Does this mean it did not have “the film look”?

Craig Howard
Shooter Film Company
Auckland
New Zealand

(Premiere Pro 1.5 / Matrox TRX100 XTreme Pro)

[Will Gaffney]

The specific look that I am trying to get is the “24fps motion stobe effect”. Sorry I wasn’t more specific, but I didnt really know how to explain it properly until now…