Super 16 Offline/Online workflow question

[Shane Ross]

[mikeymoves] “Guys, forgive me on my seemingly basic questions, but when you do a best-lite (is that the same as a telecine?), do you”

That IS a telecine…it is one type of telecine.

[mikeymoves] “do you do only circled takes? “

I…guess. Yes, you could do that to save money, but you are really cheating the film out of best possible performances. Yes, the director could have seen something that was great in that shot, but there was a GREAT reaction on a non-circled take. But, if there are LOTS of circle takes, good. It has been my experience with low budget films that they shoot 8 takes, and circle 2 takes.

But yeah, that workflow sounds solid.

[Aaron Neitz]

So this sounds like your first film job? A best-lite is *all* the film you shot put to tape. The colorist at the dailies house runs through the film briefly, making quick adjustments to the transfer, enough so things are basically natural color and an even exposure. this is just rough picture which is intended only to get your edit done. Then you go back with an EDL to the telecine guy and spend a couple days making a beautiful color grading.

If you already have a HDCAM SR workflow, which you mentioned, go ahead and get your dailies done best-lite to SR, digitize and edit at DVCPRO-HD, and then for online you can batch capture at 4:4:4 from the SR and then get a tape-to-tape color grading, or you can go back to the 16 and get a fresh transfer from the ground up.

[Mikeymoves]

Yes, this would be my first film job where someone isn’t basically holding my hand!!

[Samuel Frazier]

With my two film shorts I’ve only ever done a bit of a different workflow. We spend a little (just a little) more time with the best light transfer. Mostly it is to make things match each other, but there are definitely parts that you shot with a certain light or color in mind and we try to get close to that in our telecine. I’ve never actually gone back in with an edl and my friend who shot the feature didn’t either.
I’m sure Cinefilm would have liked our money, but no one even mentioned it to me! Oh well, peopple have only commented on how beautiful the film looks so I guess something is working okay.
Anyway, Mikey, just keep in mind that HD dailies will probably cost you a lot more money than SD. AT my lab it was twice the price I believe. Also, if you’re going back in later with your edl then your dailies wouldn’t matter so much I wouldn’t think.