morten
Well-known member
A project I've just been hired to do has led me to some interesting realizations. Because I am notoriously longwinded and can't help but write endless explanations I'll post my conclusions and requests right here in the top of the post so that lazy people and dyslectics like myself can avoid having to read through everything to get the point. (none of it will make any sense unless you read the whole post tho):
Conclusion
It seems aparent to me that the emergence of cheap NLE systems and equipment and cookiecutter programs such as iMovie and Windows Movie Maker has led to a severe degradation in the quality of finished videos and movies, not because the ideas of the people behind the movies are bad but because they lack the knowledge and expertise to execute their ideas in a manner which makes them enjoyable for the viewing audience. In short, due to a severe lack of knowledge and an overflow of superflous chatter it is next to impossible for a novice to end up with an acceptable end product when experimenting with video editing.
To counter this unfortunate evolution can we (the DVXuser community) create a standards check list / work list for film makers that sums up dos and don'ts on everything from editing to colour correction to audio to mastering to compression?
That was the conclusion. Now for the whole story. It has three Acts.
Act 1: An Enticing Proposition
Last week I was approached with a proposition I just couldn't refuse. A company that is putting on a film festival was in dire need of some help putting all the submitted films into a standardized format and presenting them to the viewing audience. The catch? All the film makers were novices and the main event was to take place just a little over one week later (October 21st to be exact). Still, the prospect of being in charge of the whole event and at the same time showcasing some of my work was way too much to say no to.
In short the project includes four elements:
1. Create graphics and transitions pluss ads for sponsors.
2. Create slide shows with production photos and other elements
3. package the 8 movies submitted to run in sequence with ads in between
4. Create a DVD with menus, behind the scenes etc for sale after the event
Act 2: Reality Sinks In
So, a couple of days later I receive copies of all eight movies plus a whole pile of other material. But it turns out the festival didn't stipulate what format the movies should be submitted in so they come in a variety of different ones: MiniDV, DVD, avi, mov and .dv . It only takes a few hours to realize that this is not a good thing. Each movie has it's own problems:
Movie 1: On MiniDV. Audio is overcompressed and completely screwed up. Not only is part of it so hot it's like listening to someone talking through Jimi Hendrix's amp but they shot the whole thing with one on-camera directional mic which leads to some absurd situations like a conversation where half of it is completely drowned out by an idling car while the other half has no ambient sound at all.
Movie 2. On MiniDV. Audio is so weak it peaks at -20 (door slaming). With the audio cranked to audible levels there is so much noise it's like watching a movie in a waterfall.
Movie 3. On MiniDV. Not properly colour corrected. From scene to scene the clip switches from yellow to red to purple and back. no consistency.
Movie 4. On MiniDV. Cuts between scenes have incomprehensible one-and-a-half second pauses of black making you think it's over every time there is a scene change. Not really a problem - just bad editing I guess.
Movie 5. On finalized DVD. Exported from iMovie with a cookiecutter menu (one button: Play !??!?!?). Because it's a finalized DVD I can't import it to Premiere.
Movie 6. .avi file on DVD. Instructions say "Shot in 24p with HD camera". Turns out it is shot in widescreen 24p with an XL2 (so no HD) and is not exported properly. After conversion it works ok.
Movie 7. .mov file on DVD. Massive compression (internet quality)
Movie 8. .dv file exported from iMovie. Bad file (crashes about 2/3 into the movie) and carries no proper audio.
Phone calls are made to the editors of movie 5, 7 and 8. All agree to provide new versions.
Movie 5 (the finalized DVD) is resubmitted in ultracompressed format. I request a new copy, this time on tape. the two others are now in editable quality.
Act 3: A New Light
As I'm writing this I'm taking a break from audio mastering the movies to the point where they at least have roughly the same levels. Turns out the movie that gives me most problems is the one with massively overcompressed audio. can't fix something that's already broken I guess.
My realization is that all of these problems are caused by one thing: Lack of knowledge and understanding of the basics of video formats and broadcast. Even though a couple of the movies have impressive editing they have horrible audio and are not exported correctly. But I believe at lest some of these can be remedied by providing a simple checklist for new editors that is non-intimidating and fun
So when I'm finished with this project I will suggest the film festival post strict submission guidelines for next year (all movies on MiniDV, no experimental audio mastering, bars and tone for 30 secs off the top etc etc). But instead of hashing up a list myself I figured it would probably be a good idea to get more people involved. There is no way I am the only one who has encountered this type of problem before.
That's it. anyone interested?
mor10
Conclusion
It seems aparent to me that the emergence of cheap NLE systems and equipment and cookiecutter programs such as iMovie and Windows Movie Maker has led to a severe degradation in the quality of finished videos and movies, not because the ideas of the people behind the movies are bad but because they lack the knowledge and expertise to execute their ideas in a manner which makes them enjoyable for the viewing audience. In short, due to a severe lack of knowledge and an overflow of superflous chatter it is next to impossible for a novice to end up with an acceptable end product when experimenting with video editing.
To counter this unfortunate evolution can we (the DVXuser community) create a standards check list / work list for film makers that sums up dos and don'ts on everything from editing to colour correction to audio to mastering to compression?
That was the conclusion. Now for the whole story. It has three Acts.
Act 1: An Enticing Proposition
Last week I was approached with a proposition I just couldn't refuse. A company that is putting on a film festival was in dire need of some help putting all the submitted films into a standardized format and presenting them to the viewing audience. The catch? All the film makers were novices and the main event was to take place just a little over one week later (October 21st to be exact). Still, the prospect of being in charge of the whole event and at the same time showcasing some of my work was way too much to say no to.
In short the project includes four elements:
1. Create graphics and transitions pluss ads for sponsors.
2. Create slide shows with production photos and other elements
3. package the 8 movies submitted to run in sequence with ads in between
4. Create a DVD with menus, behind the scenes etc for sale after the event
Act 2: Reality Sinks In
So, a couple of days later I receive copies of all eight movies plus a whole pile of other material. But it turns out the festival didn't stipulate what format the movies should be submitted in so they come in a variety of different ones: MiniDV, DVD, avi, mov and .dv . It only takes a few hours to realize that this is not a good thing. Each movie has it's own problems:
Movie 1: On MiniDV. Audio is overcompressed and completely screwed up. Not only is part of it so hot it's like listening to someone talking through Jimi Hendrix's amp but they shot the whole thing with one on-camera directional mic which leads to some absurd situations like a conversation where half of it is completely drowned out by an idling car while the other half has no ambient sound at all.
Movie 2. On MiniDV. Audio is so weak it peaks at -20 (door slaming). With the audio cranked to audible levels there is so much noise it's like watching a movie in a waterfall.
Movie 3. On MiniDV. Not properly colour corrected. From scene to scene the clip switches from yellow to red to purple and back. no consistency.
Movie 4. On MiniDV. Cuts between scenes have incomprehensible one-and-a-half second pauses of black making you think it's over every time there is a scene change. Not really a problem - just bad editing I guess.
Movie 5. On finalized DVD. Exported from iMovie with a cookiecutter menu (one button: Play !??!?!?). Because it's a finalized DVD I can't import it to Premiere.
Movie 6. .avi file on DVD. Instructions say "Shot in 24p with HD camera". Turns out it is shot in widescreen 24p with an XL2 (so no HD) and is not exported properly. After conversion it works ok.
Movie 7. .mov file on DVD. Massive compression (internet quality)
Movie 8. .dv file exported from iMovie. Bad file (crashes about 2/3 into the movie) and carries no proper audio.
Phone calls are made to the editors of movie 5, 7 and 8. All agree to provide new versions.
Movie 5 (the finalized DVD) is resubmitted in ultracompressed format. I request a new copy, this time on tape. the two others are now in editable quality.
Act 3: A New Light
As I'm writing this I'm taking a break from audio mastering the movies to the point where they at least have roughly the same levels. Turns out the movie that gives me most problems is the one with massively overcompressed audio. can't fix something that's already broken I guess.
My realization is that all of these problems are caused by one thing: Lack of knowledge and understanding of the basics of video formats and broadcast. Even though a couple of the movies have impressive editing they have horrible audio and are not exported correctly. But I believe at lest some of these can be remedied by providing a simple checklist for new editors that is non-intimidating and fun
So when I'm finished with this project I will suggest the film festival post strict submission guidelines for next year (all movies on MiniDV, no experimental audio mastering, bars and tone for 30 secs off the top etc etc). But instead of hashing up a list myself I figured it would probably be a good idea to get more people involved. There is no way I am the only one who has encountered this type of problem before.
That's it. anyone interested?
mor10
