Need help wiht negative transfer

Post by **Billbot** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 1:06 am

Hi all,

I'm going to be shooting a little film next weekend, and I'm shooting on negative stock for the first time.

I'll be using kodak s8 vision2 200t and some 500t.

I'm in California, USA, and I was thinking of either sending it to Yale film or Forde/Flying spot for processing and transfer. I will most likely go for the cheapest unsupervised rate.

Does anyone have an opinion as to which facility would be better? Are there any other options for transfer in the US that would be cheaper? I need basically a 2 week turn around at most.

Thanks!!

Captain Howdy · Post by **Captain Howdy** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 1:40 am

http://3516.com/ (debenham)

http://www.posthouse.com

spectra (down below the ad for smallformat to your left in the column)

Three to look at off the top of my wooden head.

Post by **Billbot** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 2:51 am

Maybe I should mention that I'm shooting at 24fps. I just realized that frame rate could be an issue at some of the transfer facilities.

Post by **carlweston** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 5:23 am

24 fps is not an issue at any professional facility.

Post by **steve hyde** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 8:12 pm

I suggest overexposing the film by up to a stop - then Flying Spot if you are mastering on DigiBeta or HD or CinePost if you are mastering on DVcam and want to save $$. Shoot in 400ft batches.

hope this helps,

Steve

Post by **Billbot** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 9:36 pm

Thanks Carl and Steve.

Ya, I think I'll checkout cinepost. I am trying to keep it all within one 400ft reel. The final project will be 3 minutes.

So, slightly overexposing will be better for grain? is there another reason for overexposing?

Post by **steve hyde** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 10:38 pm

Billbot wrote:Thanks Carl and Steve.

Ya, I think I'll checkout cinepost. I am trying to keep it all within one 400ft reel. The final project will be 3 minutes.

So, slightly overexposing will be better for grain? is there another reason for overexposing?

more shadow detail - a bit more latitude for xfer. Of course this is just my own bias - and non-professional opinion - keep in mind.

have fun

Steve

Post by **Will2** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 1:27 am

Billbot wrote:Ya, I think I'll checkout cinepost.?

I've had good experiences with them. Make sure you talk to them and let them know what you're looking for as far as tone & color.

Post by **Actor** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 9:39 am

Billbot wrote:So, slightly overexposing will be better for grain? is there another reason for overexposing?

200T lacks the filter notch (unless Kodak has corrected this recently) and most cameras will overexpose it one stop anyway unless. Unless you are using an external meter and setting aperture manually. What camera will you be using?

Look about an inch below the locator slot. If there is no notch then your camera will probably overexpose 200T by one stop. Tha last (and only) 200T I bought did not have the notch. SMPTE 166 says the notch should be there but Kodak chose not to notch according to SMPTE 166. Kodak and God know why.

Post by **Billbot** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 5:00 am

Actor wrote: What camera will you be using?

I will be using a Beaulieu 5008 and a 4008. Since those cameras have a manual speed knob, noching will not matter.

So any overexposure will be a matter of choice!

Sounds like detail in shadows and grain are the benefits of overexposing a stop.

Post by **DrkAngl** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 8:05 am

If you are in California you might want to try http://www.spectrafilmandvideo.com. They are generally cheaper than Yale with no censorship issues. I've done processing and transfers with them with results that are better than the norm. Most importantly, they are local, allowing you to supervise your session. You can always get better results when you supervise.

Post by **Billbot** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 1:48 am

Well, here's the followup:

I shot 7 rolls of 200t and 500t. I made a few rookie mistakes, such as under exposing, and having my daylight filer in for one shot.

I sent it to Forde and had them send it to CinePost in Atlanta. The CinePost people were cool on the phone and actually did my telecine the same day that they got it and fed-exed it to me so I could have it the next day. I paid for 1-2 day service, so that was sweet!

I don't have anything to compare it to, but the footage looked good and was quite clean. The film looked super stable and glitch free; with only some very minor dust and a couple of faint scratch lines.

I did think that the result that I got on the miniDV tape looked a bit soft, and not as vibrant as I was hoping to see; but again, I've only ever shot k40.

So for about 18 minutes of film on miniDV, I probably paid about $400 for film stock, ovenight fed-exing, processing, prep, transfer, and dv tape stock. I sent out my film for processing on a Monday, and had the miniDV in my hand on Friday morning.

I've finished editing the 3 minute version ( specifically for a contest ), and I am starting to work on my 'director's cut'. Having much fun.

Thanks to all who helped with ideas and advice.

Post by **mathis** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 3:40 pm

Why donÃ‚Â´t you post the result?

Post by **Billbot** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 12:17 am

Ok, here's a 320x240 mov file of my project.

http://www.astrostation.com/Astrostatio ... pgrade.mov

I'm going to post some links to DV res stills later today.

I made a few mistakes with exposure and sound. I tried to make the best of it.

Post by **Billbot** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 2:17 am

Stills:

http://www.astrostation.com/SUstill1.jpg
http://www.astrostation.com/SUstill4.jpg