Picture Profile Settings-Film Noir Look Advice?

[kubalsky]

Hi Ex1 users,

Im playin around with my Ex Picture profile settings at the moment and I want to set one of the six picture profile settings to a Film Noir, Twilight Zone, Outer Limits black and white setting- or as close to that classic look as possible. I know there are things I can do in Final Cut during post but I want to be able to set up shots according to a Noir Picture Profile.

Im going to do a film project using both controlled studio lighting as well as outdoor day and night shoots. If anyone has any advice on how to get a good High contrast Black and White look out of the Ex I would greatly apreciate it. Id even like to imitate that old trick they used on making day look like night. Check out the Outer Limits Episode" THe Dudlicate Man" as reference. Its an eery effect. Love that stuff!
Is anyone else interested in this kind of setting? It would be good if we could get a thread going on PP settings. A kind of swap meet for picture Profiles. Correct me if that kind of thread already exists.

Kubalsky.

[Elijah]

The "day for night" look you get through a "day for night" filter.
Noir look is hugely dependent on the play between light and darkness - especially the hard line where the two meet and try to overcome the other (good noir's are very metaphorical films and the look is very very much a key element of it).
Any kind of in cam setting that deepens the blacks and amps up the contrast is what you'd be looking for - I don't have an EX-1 so I cant' say exactly.
Hard key lights from unusual angles with little to no fill, camera angles from below, above or looking through things - that's noir.
good luck
elijah

[kubalsky]

Thanks for the tips. I do remember someone mentioning the "day for night" filter a while back. Im interested to see what I can tweak in the profile settings with extreme contrast with this camera. Ill try some things on the weekend and post some screen grabs if I get some good results.
kubalsky

[Elijah]

A pretty good B/W noir to watch for hints on the look would be Mildred Pierce because it's done half in a normal melodrama fashion and half in a noir fashion, so you can see the difference in style very clearly.

[thefilmaddict]

I created a black and white picture profile that you might like:

Matrix: High Sat/Level: -99
Gamma: CINE 3
Black: -11
Black Gamma: -10

You might want to shoot in color in the field and take out the chroma in post. You can't get it back if you hate the look later on.

[kubalsky]

I created a black and white picture profile that you might like:

Matrix: High Sat/Level: -99
Gamma: CINE 3
Black: -11
Black Gamma: -10

You might want to shoot in color in the field and take out the chroma in post. You can't get it back if you hate the look later on.

Thanks, ill dial those numbers in and check it out.
As for shooting color in the field, thats a good point, I could shoot color and use the
Noir PP as a rough Pre-post reference to flick over to when shooting, setting up light etc.

[kubalsky]

I just went out and set the camera to those settings and shot some stuff outside. Its mid summer here in australia, 3pm, bright, not a cloud in the sky, had to set the ND filter to 2. Heres a comparison of your noir setting and the camera default. Shot in HQ 1080 24p. I had to shrink the images to half size to upload. Gum trees look spooky in BW. Would like to know how to get a little more brightness in the white though. any ideas? Maybe ND off would help? cheers.

kubalsky

[Noel Evans]

kubalsky where do you live mate?

Whats your iris and shutter speed there?

I might be inclined to drop your blacks further in camera then open the iris a little more or drop back to nd1 to let more light in to achieve what your after. Careful not to blow it out though. I am talking generically here, non specific to EX.

[kubalsky]

noel, didnt take note of the iris, shutter speed was 1/96. Il try what suggested tomorrow as well as some other things. thanks.
Im living in Melbourne at the moment. Will be moving back to tokyo as of Feb 2nd where
I live most the time for work. Film is just a hobby at the moment but hoping to make some short films in tokyo this year. good meeting you.
kubalsky.

[thefilmaddict]

I agree with dropping the blacks or going with a more extreme gamma setting. You are working with a lot of light, so crushing the levels might really give you more pop and contrast.