How is this "look" achieved?

[filmguy123]

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoID=2035425735

All of the footage seems to have this really smooth kind of look over it... maybe not as sharp.. can't describe it...? Is this in camera, post, or both?

Also, the color correction style; what technique is that? Like, what can you do in color correction to reproduce that kind of look(s)? It is distinct..

Similar to what I am talking about - the flashback segment in the forest of "no middle ground" from the spyfest; link here:

http://www.dvxfest.com/spyfest/loader.php?id=17408

I think this uses fast shutter speed, but I am talking about the look of the footage + the look of the color correction...

[TheMacB]

looks like they turned the saturation down, the contrast up, and tinted it green.

[ryan brown]

looks like they turned the saturation down, the contrast up, and tinted it green.

EXACTLY what I was going to say.

[filmguy123]

it seems more than just that...

what about the really... "smooth" look to it?

[David Jimerson]

I don't get what you mean by "smooth"? It looks like what you'd get by doing what the guys above said.

[VictorS]

I think the smooth appearance has to do with a soft fall-off into the blacks. You need to shoot it the right way, then crush the blacks at the right spot in each shot. Maybe some kind of a soft composite mode layer was applied that's only visible in the the fall-off.

[filmguy123]

I think the smooth appearance has to do with a soft fall-off into the blacks. You need to shoot it the right way, then crush the blacks at the right spot in each shot. Maybe some kind of a soft composite mode layer was applied that's only visible in the the fall-off.

OK, I have no idea what I'm talking about, but let's say this is correct. If so, I guess I was looking for a lot more detail on how they achieved the look. the "right way" and the "right spot" is pretty vague, and doesn't get me any closer to reproducing the effect... :)

[kgimedia]

Or you could hire the people that produced it!

[fevercity]

Sometimes 'Black Diffusion' (inside a Nattress Effect) works well for this. It doesn't just crush the blacks but softens down as it tapers out. I realize that last statement makes almost no sense whatsoever but try it in Nattress. Too much and it looks like you've got a too heavy Black Pro Mist filter on - the edges start to bloom out black. Just enough and it has a 'smoother' ramp than merely stomping on the blacks. Just a thought....

[filmguy123]

Or you could hire the people that produced it!

Unless I want to learn and be the person other people hire to produce it! :)

[filmguy123]

This video has is it, too:

http://www.redrockmicro.com/footage/HVX200/ian_dudley_coldhearted.mov

It uses the redrock micro, which creates a softer look.

So, maybe it's just the use of a diffusion or promist filter to create the effect on the HVX.....??

[Beat Takeshi]

Did you notice who scored the first link? :)

[Cheesesailor77]

Filmguy, unfortunately every shot will be different, so there's no way to give you a more specific answer than "right way/right spot"

We can say "Desaturate", but we can't tell you how much. We can say "Crush your blacks" but we can't give you specific value.

Everyone here will help out as much as they can, but most of the time you just gotta shoot and play with it until you get something you like.

I would suggest Desaturating, crushing ur blacks, and pulling to green ;)

[Jack Daniel Stanley]

desaturate, up the contrast or crush the backs
or
Use a bleach bypass filter
To get the blue or green, tint or try using color wheels to color the different levels, blacks, mids, whites, or lift, gamma, gain, you might try different shade of tint at different levels.
somewhere in here apply diffusion, experiment with white diffusion and white diffusion plus black diffusion, experiment with applying one first and then the other, so white then black or black then white. Experiment with the composite modes of the diffusion filter:add, multiply, screen overlay, etc. This is how they are getting the "smooth" look you want I think.The second vid you posted looks like it might have isolated the skin tones. If you are using FCP you can experiment using the Limit Effect option in the way color corrector to isolate the skin tones and desaturate everything else, and apply tint on top of that. Look at Bone Hand on my website for an example.

[filmguy123]

So diffusion - is that something I need a filter to do, like shooting with a filter over the lens, or can it be accomplished for the most part just the same in post? What are the best ways/filters/plug-ins/programs to apply this in? (on MAC)

[Jack Daniel Stanley]

In the examples you showed us, it's a post effect meant to emulate a filter you would put on your lens.

But the post effect has become as standard, if not more standard than the physical filter.

[filmguy123]

Oh great - so you mean, there is a post effect for diffusion that is standard instead of using this filter:

Black Diffusion FX (or something similiar?)

Has the pro-mist filter also been "replaced" by post work?

[Jack Daniel Stanley]

first, what software do you use to edit?

[Cheesesailor77]

MB Looks could be a good place start. Lots of drag and drop "looks" and then a pretty good interface t tweak if necessary.

[filmguy123]

Final Cut Pro 6. But I also have Master Collection CS3.

[Jack Daniel Stanley]

the new Magic Bullet Looks is very cool, it's actually a graphic interface, almost like a virtual camera where you apply filters to the camera etc.

a little cheaper with a great bleach bypass and white and black diffusion and much more is G Film or Nattress Film effects.

[dvpixl]

Jack, how do I limit skin tone? Can you show me?

thanks.

[ufuk aksoy]

I think this is not black diffusion but a blury layer thing. in premiere (Which I use) duplicate the film layer, give it a blur of 30, and opacity of 30 also (just play with it), and you should get a similar "smooth" look.

[snowleopard]

Great clues by all. Cool look, but I didn't like the clip at all. Flat story telling. Looked more like an exercise. Heck, maybe that's what it was on purpose?!? :-Dum(DBG):