Need Festival Beta SP submission from HVX FCP HD timeline

[CareyB]

Well, I've shot first film with my HVX, edited it on FCP Studio on an HD timeline, and now I need to go from there to Beta SP for competitive screenings at the festivals. 99% of the festivals are screened in Beta SP or Digibeta (Sony sure has it all sewn up). The problem is getting from my beautiful HD timeline in something that can get it to SD to be recorded onto Beta SP tape. I'm outa my depth now.

Yeah, I've saved it as a DVPRO HD QT movie. Can even easily burn DVDs from there (using Toast 8), but I'm not finding anyone that can tell me how to export to something that will easily make it onto to Beta SP. Even the post houses are getting stumped. Found one that had me send it to them on a hard drive as my full HD QT movie only to tell me they got an error message saying they didn't have the right cedec to even play it, and just stopped there. It plays great on my G5 and MacBook laptop using QT Player ver 7.1.5. Originally had an error message on the laptop but I reinstalled QT Player and it's played like a champ since. Really shines on my HD LCD big screen even though I have to input it through the pc input at SD (still looks terrific).

I've sent out six DVDs to festivals now and those that want me in their public final competitions will want Beta SP or Digibeta screening format and I'm COMPLETELY STUMPED. Has anyone run into this situation yet? Any help would certainly be appreciated.

Thanks,

Carey

ps:

The HVX performed beautifully, shame the festival world is still in Sandard Def. Except the HD Fest in DC, and possibly Sundance which is requiring a HDCAM format for final screenings, though that's subject to change. Don't know who on Earth could do that for me. Then there's the Director's Fortnight, they require a 35mm print for the competition screenings, that's something like 5k in U.S. dollars for a 23 minute film like mine.

 

[AshG]

I do it all the time thru an AJA box. Not sure who you are approaching but it is pretty standard stuff.


ash =o)

 

[CareyB]

AJA Box

AJA Box

I do it all the time thru an AJA box. Not sure who you are approaching but it is pretty standard stuff.


ash =o)

Thanks, but I'm not familiar with the term.

Carey

 

[doccutter]

The universal codec is the animation codec, they should be able to read a QT file with the animation codec and output realtime to BetaSP. It will be large, but with few new compression artifacts.

 

[ozduc]

Thanks, but I'm not familiar with the term.

Carey

The AJA Io LA is an analog breakout box that you connect to the computer via a FW400 cable. You would need to drop the HD sequence into an 8 bit uncompressed sequence and render and then you could output to BetaSP via the AJA box connected up to the Beta deck via component cables and 2 or 4 channels (depending on what beta deck) of audio via XLR's. You could also lay it off to digibeta this way but those decks are about 4 or 5 times as much to rent.

http://www.aja.com/html/products_Io_IoLAD.html

 

[R Gale]

Before spending $$$ on an Aja board... and renting a deck...

Some post houses can take your quicktime file and easily go to any format.
I've used Plaster City Post in L.A. They use FCP, so that makes it easy. They made a digibeta and an HDCam copy of my short for festivals. Looks great!

shame the festival world is still in Sandard Def.

Not entirely...
They screened my short in HDCam at Cinequest San Jose Film fest,
and at the Beverly Hills Hi-Def Film Fest, in HDCam with a gorgeous Christie 2K projector.

 

[CareyB]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks everyone for your responses, they've been a great help. I'm going to make use of your advice right away. Going to print and save it too. Entered another fest yesterday, Woods Hole.

All my best,

Carey