New 2 Minute Video Shot With Z1

[steadicamsteel]

Hi Folks,

Just uploaded a recent project I shot for a client. Using the Sony Z1 (PAL) and was graded in post. Apologies for the size of the file (65Mb) but the quicktime codec retains the image quality really well. Almost forgot to say that the movie is presented in a seriously SUPERWIDE aspect, so when I was framing shots I had to remind myself the director was only interested in 1/3 of the image.

Not overly impressed with the grading but thats the feel the director wanted.

Anyways, go to the the link below and click on the recent projects page.

Comments and feedback always welcome.

www.steadicams.com

I'm the one in the red jacket.......doing my cameo appearance.

One last thing, the movie was shown on a giant 60ft wide screen and took over 36 hours to render the grading.

[myfriendimage]

Wow very impressive I love the sort of soft glow on everything makes it look so nice. The motion tracking on the text is really nice too. Good job keep up the good work? Was that a 3:1 aspect ratio its intense but gives it a very nice vast feeling.
By the way how did you do that sort of glow soft effect filter or post, if post what is it I must try it.

[steadicamsteel]

All the grading was done in post. The actual raw images were In my humble opinion much better looking but the director wanted that specific look with blown highlights and really crushed blacks.

We used after effects for the text motion tracking and a mix of FCP colour correction and the infamous Magic bullit.

[fpinho]

Hi,

very nice footage!!
What kind of grandient do you use? Any special setting in Z1 to get the "film look"?

[myfriendimage]

The only film look really possible is CineGamma and he probably used Cineframe 25

[steadicamsteel]

Actually, I didn't use the 'Cineframe 25' as I didn't like the look of it when I did some test shots, although I did use the 'Cinegamma' on the camcorder.

I used some grads (ND 1.2's which equates to 4 stops of a difference) in 2 or 3 of the shots where the camcorder's latitude just wasn't up for the task but most of the stuff was shot clean.

Because we shot HDV we made the decision very early on not to have any camera movement. As soon as you start moving the camera thats when the REAL limitations start showing on the HDV recording format.

[twocik23]

Wow that's very nice!!!

[identity]

WOW! That's some incredible footage! Thanks for sharing!

[gumonstro]

How was that CC? You talked about blown highlights and crushed blacks. Thought I can notice it, the image looked very soft and the colors too.

[omega]

This clip gave me happygasms.

[mynamesbuck]

Looks realy nice. I am yet to see any limitations with HDV when it comes to camera movement. Could some one point me to some footage displaying this. I am about to buy 2 ZP1's (pal top of the line sony hdv cameras) and want to know if i should still proceed.