Letus Extreme to be used in FEATURE FILM!

[Ryan E. Walters]

First some background-

Earlier this I was highered to DP the feature film A / S / L (http://www.aslthemovie.com). We decided to shoot it on the Varicam along with the P&S Technic and a set of Zeiss super speed cinema lenses. Well we are well into the editing of the film, and now it is time to go back and get a couple of pick up shots- probably about 2 days worth. Due to budget constraints, renting the Varicam package that we had is out of the question.

Which brings us to this week-
So earlier this week I shot a series of test shots with the Letus Extreme to see if it would intercut with the Varicam Footage that had already been shot.

Tonight-
I just got back from a meeting where using a 1080p projector in the theater of the post house we compared the footage and learned a lot. I shot a bunch of different settings to see which would work for each scene, and I was impressed with how well the footage cut together. So the descision has been made that the pickup shots for the film will be shot with the Letus Extreme. :)

[ecking]

Which camera are you guys using the letus on?

[Ryan E. Walters]

Which camera are you guys using the letus on?

We are using it on the HVX200.

[Luis Caffesse]

I shot a bunch of different settings to see which would work for each scene, and I was impressed with how well the footage cut together.


Ryan - did you learn anything specific from your tests as to how to optimize the camera one way or another when using the adapter?
(ie for sharpness, or contrast, or...whatever you were looking for)

Just curious - as I'm planning on doing some scene file testing with the Letus very soon.

[rawfa]

Ryan, that is supa cool! It would be awesome to actually see the scene where you intercut footage from both cameras to see how noticable it is.

[Ryan E. Walters]

Ryan - did you learn anything specific from your tests as to how to optimize the camera one way or another when using the adapter?
(ie for sharpness, or contrast, or...whatever you were looking for)

Just curious - as I'm planning on doing some scene file testing with the Letus very soon.

He, he, he... I thought someone might ask. I was thinkning about adding a post to my blog to this effect. I think that I probably will do so, so that I can do into more depth.

Basically the test results concluded that to match the computer screen shots we had I need to use Gamma: BPress, and Matrix: Cinelike, and to match the exterior shots I need to use Gamma: BPress, and Matrix: Normal.

However, I have been experimenting along with Jerry Turner (DVXuser: fixitinpost) to come up with settings that will give the most RAW image possible so that the grading can be optimized in post. Jerry wrote a great article regarding the detail level on his blog- http://www.etchantdigital.com/studentandindie/index.html .

[Ryan E. Walters]

Ryan, that is supa cool! It would be awesome to actually see the scene where you intercut footage from both cameras to see how noticable it is.

When I have some to share I will. The tests that I did where just of a computer screen, and then of an exterior shot. They just showed the basic setup that would be used, the content of the shots did not make sense with the film as they were just tests to see if it could be done.

If I am able to get a sample sequence form the editor after we shoot the pickup scenes, I will post them. We should be shooting the pickup scenes in the next month. :)

[Luis Caffesse]

Thanks for the link - looking forward to your own write up as well.
:thumbsup:

[Ryan E. Walters]

Thanks for the link - looking forward to your own write up as well.
:thumbsup:

You can also check out this link, as I started a thread regarding a workflow with FCS. The book, DV Rebels got Jerry and I thinking about optimizing the camera setup for post work- it is a good read.

Here is the link:
http://rebelsguide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=816