Shotting a reality show comedy Need help!

[RobbieD]

Will be shooting a reality show sitcom in the next while and I have a few questions with regards to settings...

Will be doing interviews with the cast like it's a documentary but it's a fake interview...actors are in character relating to the show. I think this should look different from the main show. If you have seen Curb your Enthusiasm, The Office, Trailer Park Boys you will understand this concept.

Should I shoot the sitcom footage in 24P, 30P or 60i
Should I shoot the interviews with the cast in 24P, 30P or 60i

If I choose to use 24P and 60i in the same show how should I edit this? Can it all be edited in a 60i timeline or does it have to be in a 24P timeline?

Just would like one part to look very film like and the other very video (reality feel) just not sure which one should be which. The interview would look good shot very professional in film look but then the sitcom is looking like video. If you shoot the interviews 60i and the sitcom 24P the sitcom will look very film like and the interviews will look cheaply shoot.

Where does 30P fit in this?

[Kirk Gillock]

I would use 24p for the actual show and 30p/60i for the interviews. Kind of Real World style. I know that's all shot on video, but the confession booth is a lower quality video camera so it has a different look.

I am not sure about the technical aspects of editing mixed frame rates. I am sure it can be done.

Good luck!
P.K. Gillock

[milverdu]

If I were you, I would run a test with the 3 settings and see which one works better. my preference 24p for interviews and 30p or 60i for sitcom.
if you edit in FCP you shouldn't have a problem edditing on a 60i timeline, IMHO.
good luck

[Barry_S]

I agree with P.K,'s advice. Interviews are always going to have an ENG sort of look because of the content as much as the format. Also, because there is very little movement by the subject--the effect of 24p would be lessened. So, I'd also go with 60i for the interviews and 24p for the sitcom parts.

If you shoot 24p normal (F5) a 3:2 pulldown is automatically added to give you the NTSC 29.97 frame rate. Any NLE will treat the footage as standard NTSC 29.97--just make sure you specify a normal NTSC 29.97 timeline. So 60i and 24p footage can be freely intermixed without any technical issues. As for 30p, it has a bit of a hybrid look, so it's up to you to decide if you want to use it. However, if you're going for two distinct looks, you should probably stick with 60i and 24p.

[RobbieD]

Ok but I have a dumb question. On the settings dial is f1 to f4 all 30P?

I have always shot on f5 24P so not sure the difference between 30P and 60i. All I know is I want a huge difference between the actual edited show with laugh track and the interviews....

Also, I was thinking of shooting the interviews widescreen (with black bars at the top and bottom) and the show in full screen. Will look good if interviews are shot in 24P

One last question:

What is the difference between 24P and 24P Advanced? For my application so I use 24P? Don't think it will ever be blown up on film just need the best use for TV use incase NBC or another big network wanted to pick it up.

Thanks all.

[Barry_S]

I'll also second the advice to run some tests if you can. Your prefeernces may be very different after you see some test footage intercut.

[RobbieD]

Barry,

"However, if you're going for two distinct looks, you should probably stick with 60i and 24p."

What is the best dial setting for 60i or how do I know I"m shooting 60i? *In the dial settings I only see when it's 24P so not sure if F1-F4 are all 30P or 60i or what??

I would appreciate how to know when I'm shooting 60i or 30P. I have 24 down ;)

Very new to this and I would like to take your suggestion with using both 24P for interviews and 60i for show so please help me understand on the DVX when I"m in the 60i mode.

Again thanks for your time.

[Barry_S]

Robbie--

F1-F4 are all variations of 60i settings. F1 is the standard 60i scene file, so you could start with that.

[RobbieD]

Barry,

So how do you shoot 30P? Not that I need it for this project just would be good to know...

Also, should the 24P footage be F6 or F5 as a default to start with?

Thanks again.

[Barry_S]

For 30p, you need to go into one of the scene files and change the frame rate. The process is pretty simple and is outlined in the manual. For 24p normal footage you should use F5.

[RobbieD]

Ok but stay away from 24P Advanced?

[RobbieD]

If I am going to be shooting both, 60i for interviews and 24P for the sitcom how should it be edited? In a 60i timeline or keep everthing in a 24P timeline.

I think I'm starting to get this ;)

[Barry_S]

Yes, stay away from 24P Advanced (F6). It adds a 2:3:3:2 pulldown that is *meant* to be removed for editing on a 24P timeline. Use a standard NTSC framerate timeline which your editor may list as 29.97 fps or 60i. Got it?

[RobbieD]

Everything is now 100%

Thanks for everything. I think I understand it all now.

[Barry_S]

Cool. :)

[milverdu]

good luck.

post some grabs if possible ;D

[uhrgl]

Barry, what do you mean by "ENG?"

[magicdavek]

Electronic News Gathering

Are we going to get to see clips of this?