Not happy with withoutabox screener quality?/Festivals ask better copy if selected?

indietalker

indietalker

Active member
I have uploaded a copy to withoutabox/imdb and not so happy about the quality and trying to upload another copy to see it'll be better after it's been rendered by the site again

My questions are:
What is the purpose of the screener?
If it is the ultimate copy for the festivals it's quality not good enough to be shown at the festivals, I reckon.

Does that mean festivals are happy with this screener quality in general and they show it at festivals as it is or they actually ask a better copy if its selected to be screened at the festivals?

I appreciate your thoughts on that very much

Kind Regards
 
The screener version is for someone to watch the first thirty seconds of to decide if they're going to pass on your film or not.
 
Thank you for your prompt responses.
I'm kind of relieved on one hand, disgusted with the poor quality they provided compared to youtube or vimeo on the other hand
all the best to you
 
Since you upload your own film to IMDB for the WAB screener, if the quality is poor that's really up to you to fix. The film screeners I've uploaded before were of excellent quality.
 
Not last time I checked. No matter how you encode, they re-encode to a sub- SD resolution (I don't even think it's 854x480 if your movie is widescreen). Maybe they've changed that. . .I haven't looked at my screener in a long time.
 
I wish they could improvize their rendering settings and provide a better copy for the fest people
which reminds me that some festivals accept screeners from vimeo too.

Is there any festival comprehensive listing that accept vimeo uploads please?

By the way, imdb/withoutabox response was quick for my inquiry this time:
Your Secure Online Screener will NOT be used as the exhibition format. If your film is selected to screen, you will be asked to supply an accepted exhibition format. The category details page for each festival will list the accepted exhibition formats. In the event that you are not able to obtain an upload quality you are comfortable with, we suggest mailing DVDs directly to the festivals that you are applying to.

We recommend the following settings to optimize video quality on the IMDb site:

• File size: Less than 2GB

• Format: Flash Video (Codec: Sorenson or VP6 codec) or Quicktime
FLV videos using the H.263 video codec and the MP3 audio codec
MP4 videos using the H.264 video codec and the AAC audio codec

• We do not currently support HD video. You will be able to upload an HD video, but the file will NOT be displayed in HD.

• While you can upload an aspect ratio of UP to 16:9, (which will be displayed in letterbox), the system is currently able to support 4:3. For best viewing quality, we recommend the 4:3 aspect ratio.

If your file looks squeezed, please try re-encoding (or re-exporting) your film over again before uploading. What could be happening, is your file may have two aspect ratio specs. One of them, being false and throwing off our system.

***IMPORTANT***

Do NOT submit your Secure Online Screener to a festival until you have watched the upload in its entirety. To view your Secure Online Screener, select the "view" link directly below your project title from your Withoutabox account. Once in the project form, select the "Full Movies" link, and then click on your video.

Regards,
Withoutabox Support
The IMDb Help Desk
Click to expand...
 
You might have to break down and start submitting SD DVDs. They will be much better quality. It's already hard enough to get into fests as it is; don't want to make another mark against yourself by submitting a low quality screener, unless an individual fest says they prefer that format (some do, some prefer DVD, etc.). Some fests even let you do the dropbox (or similar service) thing with a high quality HD file. It's fest-specific.
 
Josh Bass said:
You might have to break down and start submitting SD DVDs. They will be much better quality. It's already hard enough to get into fests as it is; don't want to make another mark against yourself by submitting a low quality screener, unless an individual fest says they prefer that format (some do, some prefer DVD, etc.). Some fests even let you do the dropbox (or similar service) thing with a high quality HD file. It's fest-specific.
Click to expand...

I like very much some sort of fest list accepts without a "must go through withoutabox restriction" and do not charge any fee.
Interested in short film/ documentary categories, if anyone could point out such resource point

Kind Regards
 
My experience is that thats a losing battle...many fests are partnered with WAB at this point, including the ones that everyone wants to get their film into. Again, though, that doesnt mean you have to submit the digital screener. most WAB fests should take dvd or blu ray. Some even have a non-WAB submission option even though theyre partnered with WAB.
 
I think you have more chance with an online screener than sending in a dvd. dvd's can get lost or misplaced
with the screeners they can send the link around, you have a greater chance that more than one set of eyes might see it

plus - no one is going to give two figs about compression quality or whether its standard def or not. Thats not what they are looking for
 
Josh Bass said:
My experience is that thats a losing battle...many fests are partnered with WAB at this point, including the ones that everyone wants to get their film into. Again, though, that doesnt mean you have to submit the digital screener. most WAB fests should take dvd or blu ray. Some even have a non-WAB submission option even though theyre partnered with WAB.
Click to expand...
Thank you Josh,
That's good to know for a new starter like me.
I should create the "withoutabox FAQ Manual" with the wealth of information I get here compared to what withoutabox has
All the best
 
J Davis said:
I think you have more chance with an online screener than sending in a dvd. dvd's can get lost or misplaced
with the screeners they can send the link around, you have a greater chance that more than one set of eyes might see it

plus - no one is going to give two figs about compression quality or whether its standard def or not. Thats not what they are looking for
Click to expand...

Thank you J Davis,
I've just noticed your comment right now.
You have a valid point there too.
I might as well do both if allowed I guess : Send the DVD copy and or a vimeo link which would have better quality as well as the screener copy at imdb /withoutabox I guess

God, it gets involved more than I thought in the first place

all the best
 
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