my first DVX footage

G

gossamer

Active member
Okay, here is a shot of my first footage with my new DVX100a. This is part of an interview for an infomercial i'm doing for a client. I'm very happy with the results.

url]


I used two Lowell Tota lights for key and fill (filled into a foamcore). The only thing I don't like about the light is the slight shine on his forehead. We used a bit of neutral makeup to knock it down but it still was hot. I've learned to skrim the light down more to avoid this. But, as i was a one-man show (lights, camera, sound, makeup, editor - all except interviewing) i did the best i could.

The "talent" is the owner of a local foundation repair company. He is an immigrant from Germany and has a thick German accent which comes across well and is very "exotic" for folks here in Kansas City, Missouri.

The infomercial is for his foundation repair business. We're going for a documentary style, and i'm trying to get the marketing guy to see the value in producing something not salesy, but with a story to it. Something like a typical three-act structure.

I did a preliminary edit for the client to use in a tradeshow display this weekend. Overall I'm really happy with the footage and content. The guy is very natural with the camera in an interview setting.

So please, take your shots, tell me what i did wrong and what i could have done better. I've been a musician and audio engineer for a decade so I've got pretty thick skin. I'm hoping for some good ol' honest feedback on the image quality and any ideas you might have to improve the product.

My next project is a documentary i'm putting together, so i'm kinda looking to make improvements in anticipation of that.

thanks for all your help up til now.
 
Re: my first DVX footage

The spot is 15 mins, it's a HUGE file. We may edit down to a shorter version for the client's website and HOST on their site. I'm rebuilding and just don't have the real estate to host a 15-minute spot on mine. I've been toying around with riding the fader on the color balance.

His interview was pretty red, the others are less so. I'll see about pulling some other grabs and posting them later.
 
Re: my first DVX footage

Got the red out

I rolled the red midtone off about 30% and that helped CONSIDERABLY. Thanks for your feedback. I've got an issue with jaggies now. On the computer everything looks fine, but when I burned a DVD (using iDVD) and watched it on my TV the rights side of his face and the right side of the chair have jaggedish lines, almost wavering, on TV. The problem isn't there on the computer, but is there on TV.

I shot in 30p. Maybe i should have shot in 60i? Might this be an interlacing problem?
 
Re: my first DVX footage

Hi Gossamer,

I agree with the "red" feedback. The shot looks way too warm for my tastes.

As for the "jaggies" you described, they're probably not an interlace thing at all, especially if you shot 30p. It could be caused by your Mpeg compression settings. Also, high color contrasts, especially with reds, can cause some stair stepping from the DV format. I'm wondering, though, if it might be because you shot thick instead of thin. Maybe you've got just a little too much horizontal resolution for your television monitor. It's hard to say without seeing what you're seeing.
 
Re: my first DVX footage

yeah post a few more frame grabs maybe.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top