[Nicholas Montgomery]

Just an idea, might want to check to see that the camera is not positioned in front of your particles object relative to the background.

Cinematographer / Editor
Synn Studios Inc.

[Nicholas Montgomery]

Thanks, guys. Much obliged.

Cinematographer / Editor
Synn Studios Inc.

[Nicholas Montgomery]

I followed the instructions laid out here (https://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9880430&#9880430) about how to convert a 23.98 video to 29.97 through Compressor. This is after trying to drop the 23.98 exported sequence back into FCP 6 onto a 29.97 sequence, which the program wouldn’t allow due to the difference in editing timebases.

After going through Compressor, it appears to me to be fine but the length of the clip remained the same. I was expecting it to come out shorter. Used Timecode Calculator to figure out that the clip was originally 4:12:23 and expected it to come out 3:22:11.

Am I doing something wrong?

Cinematographer / Editor
Synn Studios Inc.

[Nicholas Montgomery]

Shane
I must both thank you for your help and apologize. After some searching, I found that this question (as I kind of feared) has been asked many times before…and usually answered by you. That must be very annoying.

While I don’t need to hit a specific time, I’m now truly regretting how the project was set up. There are 5 nested sequences making up 5 separate video tracks. The video was originally cut by another editor in Sony Vegas. Each track (organized by the 5 separate scenes of the video interwoven with each other) were each exported and then sent over to me to “recut” in FCP, and each placed in their own sequence so I could do my job: color grading.

So now I need to go into each nested sequence, copy and paste the contents of them and bring them into a brand new 59.94 sequence, and slip them around until it syncs back up to the music.

God, I hope I learn a valuable lesson from all of this.

Thanks for the help, Shane.

Cinematographer / Editor
Synn Studios Inc.

[Nicholas Montgomery]

My footage is 23.98. So does that mean I’m stuck?

Cinematographer / Editor
Synn Studios Inc.

[Nicholas Montgomery]

Lord, I’m tired…
I had said non-drop frame when I actually meant drop frame.

Cinematographer / Editor
Synn Studios Inc.

[Nicholas Montgomery]

Here’s one attempt so far.

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

My initial plans were to preserve the eyes so try and alter them, make it appear as though a couple of eyes were peering through the mist under the hood. Kinda creepy.

It still looks off to me, but I’m not sure what it lacks. One thing I’m not quite sure to do is to make the smoke trail as the head moves around. Might try a displacement map.

Any feedback is GREATLY appreciated!

Cinematographer / Editor
Synn Studios Inc.

[Nicholas Montgomery]

Thanks for the replies!

Here is a clip of what I’ve got to work with.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6ROnXfZYNA

This shot is one of the more properly exposed shots, so it wasn’t difficult keying out the face.

I’ve been given a lot of creative freedom with it, so I’m using it as an excuse to do something cool and interesting.

Tried out something last night with it, am uploading it now and will post it as soon as it finishes.

Cinematographer / Editor
Synn Studios Inc.

[Nicholas Montgomery]

Kind of like that. Specifically, in one instance there’s three characters, two of them are “actually” there, one of them is just appearing there (a la “A Christmas Carol”) experiencing the scene as it played out earlier. He happens to be standing in between two people fighting, one thrusts his sword “through” the visiting party and into his opponent.

Cinematographer / Editor
Synn Studios Inc.

[Nicholas Montgomery]

All aspect ratios match, I haven’t been able to figure it out, so I’ve gotta move on.
Thanks for the help, guys. I’ll find another way around it.

Cinematographer / Editor
Synn Studios Inc.