True, film-like 16:9

[nitrofour]

http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/ironman/large_trailer.html

How would one achieve that ratio with an HVX? Can it be done with accessories or must it be a mix of accessories and post? I know that wide angle converters simply give you more screen-space, but obviously they don't extend your ratio more horizontally.

[THoff]

Well, that's not 16:9, that probably 2.35:1 (Panavision).

Unless you can actually deliver 2.35:1, I would not try to shoot it natively through an anamorphic adapter. If you are outputting a web video, just frame the shot (put tape over your monitor) and crop in post.

[nitrofour]

Thanks, THoff

So is taping/cropping what DVX100/HVX200 filmmakers do when they get their movie on the big screen (indie theaters)?

[John Froton]

First consider that 16x9 is a display size for HD video and that theatrical display sizes often have a wider display aspect ration than 16x9. 16x9 is a 1.78 to 1 ratio where popular US and UK 35mm film is displayed at a 1.85 to 1 ratio and Panavision at 2.35 to 1. There are film formats that even go much wider than that.

Probably the easiest way to get the HVX to output 1.85 to 1 widescreen footage is to simply letterbox the footage or create a NLE project at the 1.85 to 1 aspect ratio and import the the HVX footage in, resize to fill the screen (while cropping the top and bottom acordingly). Keep in mind that with 35mm film, the aspect ratio of the raw film footage is more like 4x3 and then the image is cropped to produce widescreen output.

With 35mm film, you can do this because of the level of quality that film provides. With HD video, you can get away with doing this (cropping) to a certain degree but you do not want to degrade too much because the image source quality is not on par with film.

[TheMusician]

If they know that the final output is going to be for film and they want it in 2.35:1, then they will likely use an anamorphic adapter when shooting and stretch it out in post. I am not positive, but I think you get more vertical resolution this way because you are using the full height of the sensor which would be better for film transfer. But for web delivery or DVD, I don't think you will see much difference with anamorphic vs crop. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

[nitrofour]

The tape idea is good, I like. Question is, how would you know how much to tape? haha... and then... you say to crop it in post, do you know if PP offers that feature? I know I can break down all frames and batch it in photoshop then export to PP but that seems like a lot of work. Thanks, again..

[THoff]

Print out a 2.35:1 target and focus on it, then tape the LCD.

I don't use PP, but I'm sure it will crop once you stuff the P2 material down it's uncooperative throat.

[Christopher Barry]

haha (PP). :D

[majormorgan]

Can you set in PP for the canvas to be 2.35:1 and then place your footage on stage but keeping the aspect ratio as 16x9? That way you can then for each shot postion the frame if it looks better slightly lower or higher because your original 16x9 frame is taller than 2.35:1.

For special effects, even when a film is 2.35:1 they tend to shoot background plates as full frame with the area masked safe on just the monitor for framing. This then gives greater flexibility in post even if they farm it out to 2.35:1 in an anamorphic print. They can then have the picture higher or lower than they shot.

ta,

Richard M
The Major

[dregenthal]

I may have this wrong but I think you would set your project to whatever your native format is. Shoot (as was suggested above) with the tape at the bottom & top of your mattebox/lens hood AS A SHOOTING GUIDE, then mask it in the Premiere project.

An easy way to do this is use the Premier Pro titles; there is one that is set for 16x9 (which you can easily adjust ro 2.35:1 or whatever), then just lay it in on the "V2" line (or whichever is top) and it will mask out your footage. All this presumes you are planning to burn this to CD/DVD or stick it up on the web in some sort of standard format.

Best.

[nitrofour]

Interesting responses from everyone, thanks guys.

[John Froton]

I may have this wrong but I think you would set your project to whatever your native format is. Shoot (as was suggested above) with the tape at the bottom & top of your mattebox/lens hood AS A SHOOTING GUIDE, then mask it in the Premiere project.

I think you're right. It would be best to set the project settings to match the native format. Then, if outputting to the web, crop (by adjusting pixel dimensions without conforming the footage) the output settings so that the video is not letterboxed, but is the actual aspect ratio desired, such as 2.35:1. Then the footage will be widescreen at your specific settings and NOT be letterboxed.

Edit - here is a helpful link with info about film aspect ratios
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspect_ratio_(image)#16:9_standard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspect_ratio_(image)#16:9_standard)