Simulating 1980s tube camcorder look with DVX

[MicCheckOne]

Okay everybody, take a break from pursuing that ever-elusive "film look" and lend me your expertise on creating another highly recognizable (albeit best-left-forgotten) visual style.

We are shooting an indie feature on the DVX, and at one point we want to fake an awful 1980s infomercial / promotional video. We considered trolling eBay and Craigslist for real 3-tube video cameras from the 1980s, but since functional models are still fetching between $50 and $500 (can you believe that?), and since we are living in the digital age, we figured there has to be a way to simulate the desaturated, blurry, trailing, streaking, ghosting video of yesteryear using today's technology.

Does anyone have real experience simulating this look with the DVX, editing on FCP? Obviously, we will start by shooting at 480i/60 (NTSC) for that sweet low-res interlaced look. But beyond that, how can we degrade the footage to match that glorious 3-tube camera output?

Whether it's a combination of digital filters, or more organic methods like repeatedly dubbing the DV footage to generation after generation of VHS tape, I'd love to hear what worked for you!

(And for anyone too young to remember the "look" I'm talking about, the most recent use of this type of footage can be seen in the SNL Digital Short Body Fuzion.)

Thanks, everybody.

 

[Joshua Provost]

There's a lot you can do in the camera to achieve this. Shoot in 60i, obviously. Use the NORMAL matrix, so colors aren't oversaturated. Turn the Color scene file setting down to further desaturate. Use Chroma Phase and Color Temp to mess with the color to taste. Use a low contrast gamma, like CINELIKE_D. Maybe raise the master pedestal to weaken the blacks. Final touch may be to use a slower than 1/60 shutter, if it'll go to 1/30, that might be a good trick. It should smear a bit on movement.

Another aspect of the look is the high-key lighting, looks real bright and no shadows anywhere.

Or you can just shoot flat and do most of that in post. You might use a Ghosting plug-in to add streaking.

 

[MicCheckOne]

Great recommendations, Joshua. I will have to do some experimenting with the camera's settings, for sure. Thanks for your input.