Shoot 16:9, Protect 4:3

PerroneFord

PerroneFord

Deals in Lead
Alright,

So this is new to me. I've shot 4:3, and I've shot 16:9, but I've got a shoot next week where I need both out of one shoot. And I have two choices.

1. I can run two cameras

2. I can shoot on one camera and protect for 4:3


This is made a lot easier in that it's just a 1-up head and shoulders shoot. Not even an interview, just a "pitch". My camera offers guides on-screen for 4:3. The question comes to framing.

Is there a simple guide to doing this? If I compose with a slightly off center 4:3 shot, I am going to leave a lot of room behind the subject in 16:9, and if I move them to the edge of 4:3, it's going to look pretty strange in 4:3 but just fine in 16:9.

I'd appreciate thought from those who've had to do this. Certainly some of you shooting commercials or narrative for TV have had to deal with this. Or even those shooting film who know you'll be pan-and-scanned.

So let's hear it! :)
 
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Shooting 16:9 and protecting the 4:3 area within is (and has been for decades) the standard way to tackle this situtation.

Make sure that what you shoot works for both, and then tweak the composition in favor of your primary audience.


- Mikko ... has a 4:3 safe 16:9 avatar.
 
If you REALLY want to control costs (sometimes at the expense of the creative), frame it for a "center extraction" of the 4x3. That is very common, but the 4x3, as described, needs to be in the center. We do this for commercials all the time because often the station will do the SD 4x3 themselves. For example, ESPN mandates it. You deliver 16x9 High Def and they use the Center Extraction of the 4x3 for all SD uses.
 
cyclone said:
If you REALLY want to control costs (sometimes at the expense of the creative), frame it for a "center extraction" of the 4x3. That is very common, but the 4x3, as described, needs to be in the center. We do this for commercials all the time because often the station will do the SD 4x3 themselves. For example, ESPN mandates it. You deliver 16x9 High Def and they use the Center Extraction of the 4x3 for all SD uses.
Click to expand...

Yes, this was another thought I had. It's just a lot more work in post. For a quick commercial, it's no big deal. But I am currently working on another project which is about an hour's worth of extracting 720 from a 1080 recording, and it's no picnic. I will be coming home from THIS project with nearly 7 hours of finished footage. I wouldn't want to try to create 4:3 from that on my own. Probably take a month!

Thanks for the thoughts everyone.
 
What are you shooting on? If it's the DVX, I'd shoot 4:3 and just keep the 16:9 frame in mind. Only to letterbox it in post. If you're shooting on the HVX, I'd do the opposite. Shoot 16:9 and keep a 4:3 frame in mind.
 
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