Feature Film In Hong Kong

T

tapas_v

Member
Hey Im a film maker from india making a low-no budget Independent feature in hong kong. we're shooting for around 15 days on my DVX102BEN PAL. And i will be editing on my macbook pro 17" on final cut.

I have a few questions.hope some of you could help me out. I want to keep my options open and maybe if the film gets good response then convert to film. print it to film i mean. but for now it stays on dv to send to festivals and screen in digital theatres. here are my few questions.

1. wht settings? i want to shoot flat. so f5 or f6? (does f6 give probs when editing?)(24p or 24pa q)

2. 16:9 or 4:3?

3. audio, I will have a boom mike and 2 wireless seinheisser mikes. so boom for channel 1 or 2? and seinheisser for 2 & 3...does that sound good. i really need some advice on the audio.

4. I am using kino-flo for interiors and nothing really other than thermacoal for exteriors. so should i use tungsten or fluroscent for the lights interiors.

5. how do i keep the background out of focus with the subject in focus. what kind of a setting would i need.

6. slow motion. what settings for a slow mo.

7. i bought my dvx and macbook pro bcoz of this site...i love you guys...and whn im screening in the US> I shall invite all for screening and provide free in and out burgers...

thanks
love all
kanchi
 
1) test your camera on the 24p setting. If this is a PAL camera then that should be fine;

2) 16:9 definitely. Tansfer to NTSC/PAL anamorphic, DVD Pro 4 burn using the anamorphic option, which automatically letterbox if it's played on a 4:3 screen, or full 16:9 if on a wide screen.

3) you will need a production sound mixer (the hardware unit) - but you have three mics going into two channels. Something with phantom power if your boom mic needs it, a limiter and three inputs, going to two balanced outputs and into your camera. Actually, having a guy or two to tend to the audio would be worth its weight in gold, because if you have less than stellar audio on your shoot, you will end up by having to pay to replace it all. People usually will put up with a lot of bad picture before they will accept bad audio. If they can't hear properly, they'll stop watching almost immediately.

4) If you use tungsten and/or fluoros don't forget to white balance often. I like to shoot a color test chart and white whenever I change the camera setup to a new location/lighting situation, just to make sure, and obviously a minute of bars at the front of each new tape. Plus if the story allows, I like to mix up my light sources a lot in a feature film setting, makes things more interesting. But that's me, and I know that not many other people share my tastes.

5) the easiest way is to keep around 4-6ft between you and your subjects, and then a minimum of 12 ft between them and the nearest background element. If you can get 20ft or more behind them, and sit on the longer end of your zoon lens, then you should get close to the effect you've been looking for. A more sure-fire way of getting this effect is to use a 35mm lens adaptor box like a Letus or a Redrock M2, but this can be a pricy alternative.

6) none. just shoot regular speed and do the slo mo in post. Maybe some other folks would like to put in for varying shutter speeds? I'd say try them and see first. I personally prefer just to shoot the action normally and do the speed ramps etc in post.

7) now *that's* what I'm talkin' about!
 
emotepix said:
1)People usually will put up with a lot of bad picture before they will accept bad audio. If they can't hear properly, they'll stop watching almost immediately.
Click to expand...

They'll also stop watching immediately if your story doesn't move along at lightning speed, if your actors suck, if your extras suck, if your plot stalls for a moment, if the actors have high pitched voices and/or don't have strong looking jaw lines. Its funny how many things other than picture you can screw up before people will stop watchiing. Your right though audio is near the very top of the list.
 
gr8..Thanksss guyss...by 16:9. you mean squeeze mode right??
The mikes I am using are wireless 2 and 1 boom. I want to capture live sound as I cant go into dubbing later on. Are these mikes good enough?

Senheiser Wireless Mircophone System
Senheiser MKH 60P Mic

and would I need a nagra? Is that what you are trying to say. right now you sound too technical for me to understand.

Thanks again mathew and emotepix..i love you very veryy much
 
Yep, squeeze mode will automatically work on 4:3 and 16:9 TVs, as long as you burn the film to DVD for that.
 
also visual detail..thick or thin? whts the diff...what ive shot nw..doesnt luk all tht gr8 n i shot it wd visual detail thick
 
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