Sony Pictures Hi-Def Center in Culver City is also doing tape to film transfers now.... and has a terrific seminar on it every other Monday.(posted 9060 days ago)They also have a brochure with everything spelled out. Reach them at:
Sony Pictures HD Center 10202 W. Washington Boulevard Capra 209 Culver City, CA 90232 (310)244-7433
They use the same Electron Beam Recorder transfer that 4MC uses, but, in addition, they run a program that blurs and smooths the 30 frame NTSC format with exceptional results. They advise against using the Progressive Scan feature of the XL-1, as it's not a true progressive scan and can be more trouble than help. Those cameras are due to market early next year.
They do, however, think that shooting PAL is a wonderful thing, if it makes sense for you. My advice is to give these guys a call and read all that they send you.
Their simple advice, in a nutshell: If your budget is tight, shoot video clean - no prog.scan, no 16:9 - and frame according to the format you think you'll wind up on (you'll lose top and bottom if your dream is output on film at 1:1.85). Post in video. Cut a trailer in video. TRANSFER the TRAILER to film using the process you will eventually use -- this to show investors, festivals, studios what the final product will look like. Show your film in video.... and if the content is there and people get excited about it -- let THEM pay for the big buck transfer when they buy it for release.
Never forget that the content is far more important than what a story is shot in. No one calls The Celebration a wannabe movie. It is a movie - a wonderful one. And it was shot, unapologetically, with a VX- 1000. These are wonderful times.
-- Jim Parriott