Pro color grading workflow or finishing workflow?

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Nik Manning

Well-known member
Trying to figure out the best workflow to edit a hdv movie and take it to be color corrected at a post house. I don't know what they charge but I am assuming it is around $250 hr. Anyone used any color grading facilities in LA that they recommend for a good price? This is the workflow I am considering.

1. Shoot on hdv or P2 edit it in its native format
2. Then either export as DVCPROHD or HDCAM or whatever someone else recommends.
3. Take the tape or hardrive with final movie to a post house to have it color graded. Should I add titles before or after it is color graded? How many hours should this take? I am assuming 5-6 hours for 90 minute movie, but I could be way off. Hopefully not more than 8-10 hours. I don't plan on getting to crazy.
4. Export back to HDCAM when finished.

The only thing is that this would be 3 levels of compression. It was shoot compressed, I edited it and then compressed it again, then they color corrected it and compressed it again. Has anyone ever did it this way? Should I export it from my editing program uncompressed? How large would that file be uncompressed or sheer codec at 1080p24? uncompressed just seems like a hassle, but I could be wrong. Any info appreciated. Thanks
 
Wrong! Why export to DVCPROHD? Keep everything native, nothing to export.
1/ shoot
2/offline (edit) res not important.
3/create EDL
4/ bring uncompressed video with offline (with burn-in TC of course) and EDL to Post House
with your FCP project.
5/ Online EDL / Color Correct/grade
6/ Layoff

What did they teach you at the FCP certification course?

Color Grading should be done last. $250 an hour is very low for professional Color Grading.
 
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DaVinci 2k can run around 650 an hour here in Minneapolis...

The only place I've been to in LA is digital domain and they have *I believe..* 2 suites but not sure on rates

good luck
 
SomewhereinLA said:
Wrong! Why export to DVCPROHD? Keep everything native, nothing to export.
1/ shoot
2/offline (edit) res not important.
3/create EDL
4/ bring uncompressed video with offline (with burn-in TC of course) and EDL to Post House
with your FCP project.
5/ Online EDL / Color Correct/grade
6/ Layoff

What did they teach you at the FCP certification course?

Color Grading should be done last. $250 an hour is very low for professional Color Grading.
Click to expand...

Thanks never thought of the EDL thing. MAN $250 is low? I am going to learn that pronto. :)
What are the 3 top color grading systems the post houses use?
At the FCP certification they just taught me how to edit.
 
DaVinci is the king. Every professional house has this. Then from there you have Avid Symphony....and in FCP land, Final Touch.

Filmlook, MatchFrame, Technicolor, Laser Pacific, RIOT, Encore, The Post Group...all DaVinci places I have used in the past. $500/hour on average...
 
Thanks Shane. Is there no middle ground? Does anyone know any lustre houses or final touch houses and what they charge per hour? How much does Autodesk Lustre cost EDIT: I just found the price $120,000! I don't need to name drop about where it was done I just would like a talented colorist to color correct my projects. Thanks
 
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