Gearing Up: Indie Feature in NYC shot on HVX200!

4

44_film

New member
hey everyone-

so we are gearing up to shoot an indie feature film on a modest but legitimate budget in sunset park, brooklyn, on the hvx200 with a mini35 adapter. the film is a gritty, urban crime drama based on real events. it is a full feature and we'll be shooting for about 3 1/2 weeks. we are currently in the middle of preproduction and will be shooting by april. we'll be editing the film on an avid xpress pro hd system.

we are putting as much money on the screen as possible...so the hvx200 offers a pretty good solution. i was wondering if anyone has any tips/tricks/suggestions regarding the p2 setup with avid xpress pro?

i know that there hasn't been a whole lot done with this setup yet and we're basically testing a fairly new system...but i've received a ton of help from these boards in the past. that being said...i will post up as much info as the schedule allows regarding our initial tests and actual production/post to try and keep everyone who is interested updated.

we have also started a mailing list to keep folks in the loop. this camera and avid could provide a pretty amazing and affordable way to produce some incredible HD results at a bargain price! keep your fingers crossed! and thanks for the advice!


thanks everybody!

yoshi
new york, ny

email: 44film@inkshotpictures.com
 
Hi Yoshi,

Sounds like fun. Ping me a private message. I know someone at Avid who may be able to help.

Please keep us posted on your adventure, sounds great.

Best,

Jan
 
Dear Jan,

I'm in almost the same position as yoshi (only scheduled for a little later date) and would also be interested in the same exact information. Please let me know...

Thanks!

Yuval.
 
hi there

i am kavitha from india (Hyderabad). I am planing to make a feature film with hvx200, format DVCPRO HD. I am planning to use firestore instead of p2 card. now what I would like to know is, is firestore records the above data uncompressed as p2 card does (which records uncomressed data 1GB per min).

In post production, If I use Avid expresspro HD 5.2 to edit, do I need to use any capturing card to transfer data from firestore to system(CPU)?

look forward for valuable information

thanks

kavitha
 
Last edited:
raghurocks said:
hi there

, is firestore records the above data uncompressed as p2 card does (which records uncomressed data 1GB per min).

In post production, If I use Avid expresspro HD 5.2 to edit, do I need to use any capturing card to transfer data from firestore to system(CPU)?


kavitha
Click to expand...

Firestore records the same as P2 card, but the Firestore is not out yet.

No capture card is necessary, just hook the Firestore up to your computer and transfer the files over to your editing harddrive.
 
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Which mini 35,, adapter will you use. Is this one of the "attach a Nikon/Canon/Sigma/Olympus lense to your video camera" deals?

Gunleik
 
hello gunleik-
i'm not sure which adapter we are going to utilize at this point. we are planning on contacting a few of the manufacturers this week. if anyone out there has a distinct recommendation we'd love to hear the advice.

we have heard some information about different adapters and who likes which...but i haven't seen a good deal of technical data on any of them yet. unfortunately i just haven't had the time to talk with the dp and get his opinion on what he'd like to use.

i have had some friends in atlanta that shot on a p+s technik mini 35 and produced some incredible results with that camera.

i'll post more info after i chat with the dp. thanks!

yoshi
 
I have shot with the red rock adapter - it is great and we consider it for our hvx feature we are starting to film in march - but it also takes a bit of finessing and adds time to each shot so we decided to go without it for the feature.

My advice is make sure your visual concept requires it before comitting to it - especially for a low budget feature.

If you want some more info about our experience let me know
 
What´s about intercutting material filmed with a 35-mm adapter with "native" 1/3" material. Is it possible or does it differ too much?
If this was possible you could safe a lot of time just using the adapter where it´s needed as in dialogues FE.
 
u certainly could not intercut within a scene since the quality of the image is so different - the adapter will make a softer image so it will be very obvious

what you could do is segment out a part of the production to use it in - like in Traffic where everything in mexico is yellow and washinton is blue
 
That´s an interesting suggestion. Though it might look quite "conceptual". But if it works with the story it would be OK. The DOF became my main concern working with a 1/3" camera. I don´t really care THAT much about resolution and noise. In my job I use a 2/3" Panny and you can soften the background with it - it´s definitely not 35mm but it works. And at the same time you can work FAST. And time ist money, maybe a lot of money if you are making a feature movie.
 
good points! it would have to work narratively...but could save a bunch of $$$. fortunately for us we have the crew and time to really make use of the adapter. right now it's mostly a question of what gives us the best picture and impedes production the least. thanks for the thoughts on this!

yoshi
 
The Redrock adapter works great, but in a feature it would only be used for certain shots and not through the whole film. I wouldn't use it for any wide shots unless there was a lack of space. The purpose of it is to give a short depth of field, so closeups, two actors talking etc is where it comes into its own. The HVX lens is probably wide enough for most shots so there would be no need to stick a Nikon 14mm on the M2 unless of course space is a problem. But using such wide lenses of course takes away the depth of field, which is mostly what the M2 is about.
 
IMHO - you should not be mixing m2 shots and non m2 shots in one scene - for example you cant take a wide then cut to a CU with the M2. It is much softer looking (probably more filmic) but will look as though it is shot with a different camera
 
Jan_Crittenden said:
As I said, you need to send me a private message.
Click to expand...
Or you could share with the group what you learn since that's what public forums are for. People get annoyed with "I know someone/something but won't tell you." It's the Internet. No one is quite that special. :)
 
i'm pretty sure that jan wasn't trying to be exclusive...but rather offer an avenue to answer some specific tech questions without spreading someone's private address all over the web. as i move into testing out the p2 integration with the avid system i will post up any problems/discoveries i make so that we can all learn from them. and i'll definitely share any good tips i get from avid. thanks!

yoshi
 
44_film said:
hey everyone-

so we are gearing up to shoot an indie feature film on a modest but legitimate budget in sunset park, brooklyn, on the hvx200 with a mini35 adapter. the film is a gritty, urban crime drama based on real events. it is a full feature and we'll be shooting for about 3 1/2 weeks. we are currently in the middle of preproduction and will be shooting by april. we'll be editing the film on an avid xpress pro hd system.

we are putting as much money on the screen as possible...so the hvx200 offers a pretty good solution. i was wondering if anyone has any tips/tricks/suggestions regarding the p2 setup with avid xpress pro?

i know that there hasn't been a whole lot done with this setup yet and we're basically testing a fairly new system...but i've received a ton of help from these boards in the past. that being said...i will post up as much info as the schedule allows regarding our initial tests and actual production/post to try and keep everyone who is interested updated.

we have also started a mailing list to keep folks in the loop. this camera and avid could provide a pretty amazing and affordable way to produce some incredible HD results at a bargain price! keep your fingers crossed! and thanks for the advice!


thanks everybody!

yoshi
new york, ny

email: 44film@inkshotpictures.com
Click to expand...

Do not go Avid way and than you are screwed. You must run high end Avid app to get it right. That's the rule with Avid. All other "lower" Avid apps are just a big bluff behind Avid brand. So go Apple Final Cut Studio and try to get in a truck with your project.

SJUSER
----------------

http://www.sanjinjukic.com/index_m2_tests.html

http://www.sanjinjukic.com/index_panasonicHD_P2.html
 
raghurocks said:
hi there

I am planning to use firestore instead of p2 card. now what I would like to know is, is firestore records the above data uncompressed as p2 card does (which records uncomressed data 1GB per min).

In post production, If I use Avid expresspro HD 5.2 to edit, do I need to use any capturing card to transfer data from firestore to system(CPU)?
Click to expand...

Both solutions record compressed data. DVCPROHD is a compressed format. You don't need a capturing card since the data is already digital and stored in P2 or Firestore. You just transfer the data to the computer. Check the article section of this site for more on the workflow and post any questions to HVX200 > Technical.
 
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