Broadcast Distribution

Iskandar

Iskandar

Active member
Sorry if the topic has been already covered...

As you know I just entered the world of DVX (with a 100B).

On May 2006 I m going to Shiretoko (northern japan) to shoot a documentary about the nature and the people of that land.

This is my very 1st time in shooting something for 3rd partie and... I do not know how to output the final cut.

I guess I m going to shoot and render in a safe 4:3 ratio and so deliver the final product.

My question is: how to deliver to a TV channel a documentary?

MPG2 DVD?
Printed to a MiniDV tape?

In what resolution?

Is 4:3 a safe choice?
Better to have a 16:9 (to be letterboxed if the broadcaster is a 4:3 channel?)

is there a known rule about this issue?


Any help is very appreciated!
 
Iskandar, this is a question you should ask the folks who hired you. Don't worry that they will think of you as inexperienced; rather, they will be grateful that you are anticipating their needs and trying to provide them with exactly what they want.

In general, the answer to your question depends on who hired you:

(A) Were you hired by a network producer or independent production company that is putting together the documentary for a network, and all you have to do is provide the raw footage? In that case, definitely ask the producer how they want the footage delivered.

(B) Are you producing the entire documentary for the network? Then the network should provide you with documentation of their production guidelines. Every network has its own unique requirements for how they want the final product delivered. In the states, they typically want the final edited show delivered on a Beta tape, and you need to find a company that can convert your final edit to Beta for you. Along with the tape, they also want a "Production Bible" that includes the tape logs, transcripts, final script, talent and location releases, etc., etc. The production guidelines will outline all of the technical and delivery requirements as well as everything that your bible should include.

The bottom line is, whether you are merely providing the raw footage or an edited, scripted final show, the most important thing you can do on this project -- aside from getting the best possible footage -- is communicate with your client all along the way. Ask all of these questions upfront, and then you can be proactive rather than having to react on the backend to a problem that could have been avoided through effective communication. Believe me, your client will appreciate that as much as they will appreciate the actual footage. You are not only selling and delivering your skills as a DP -- you are also selling yourself as a service provider, so be sure to provide good service...

I hope that helps. Best of luck!
 
I definately agree with MsManhattan. It depends on the peopl in charge of the final trasmission. Asking is a logical thing to do and will not reflect on you negatively. i used to put my final product on Beta but some stations use other forms. It really depends on where this product will land. Dont worry about asking THIS question. Now if you ask "hey whats this wheely thing here on the lens?" then you may have problems.
 
if you're worried about sounding "inexperienced" just ask for a spec sheet detailing their "broadcast specs". i just prepped a documentary for PBS. they have very specific requirements. after making everythng broadcast legal against a waveform monitor, delivery was made on a digibeta with a stereo comp on channels 1 and 2. ive never heard of a final online master being delivered on dvd as an mpeg2 file. as for 4x3 vs 16x9, ask your producer.
 
usually broadcast companies ask for it to be on DVCAM. You put 30 seconds to a minute of bars and signals then 5 seconds of black then your program also at the end.
 
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