The Film Maker's Handbook

PREFACE

1. Introduction to Digital and Film Systems
Digital Video Systems • The Video Format • What Is Compression? • Comparing Video Formats • High Definition Digital Formats • Digital Cinematography Systems • Standard Definition Digital Formats • Standard Definition Analog Formats • Recording to Memory Cards, Drives, and Discs • Sound Recording for Video • Video Editing • Film Systems • Comparing Film Formats • Sound Recording for Film • Film Editing • Shooting Digital Versus Shooting Film

2. Before You Begin Production
Getting Your Movie Off the Ground • Formats for the Big Screen and the Small(er) Screen • The “Look” of the Movie • The Impact of Sensor Size and Film Gauge • Color and Sensitivity to Light • Sharpness and Focus • Aspect Ratio Choices • Frame Rate and Scanning Choices • Choosing a Camera • Planning Your Workflow • Managing Data in Production and Post • The Importance of Sound • Coping with Technology

3. The Video Camcorder
Initial Settings • Viewfinder and Monitor Setup • Picture Controls • Recording to Cards, Drives, and Optical Discs • Types of Media • Managing Data on the Shoot • Recording to Digital Tape • Operating the Camcorder • Batteries and Power Supplies • Camera Sensitivity • Other Camera Features

4. The Lens
Focal Length and Perspective • The Light-Gathering Power of the Lens • Focusing the Image • Choosing a Zoom Lens • Prime Lenses • Close Focusing • Lens Quality and Condition • The Lens Mount • Lens Seating Problems • Care of the Lens

5. The Video Image
Forming the Video Image • The Digital Video Camera’s Response to Light • Understanding and Controlling Contrast • What Is Gamma? • Gamma Options When Shooting • Video Color Systems • Some Image Manipulations and Artifacts • Video Monitors and Projectors • Timecode • Digital Video Recording—How It Works • Pixels and Resolution • Working with Digital Data • Digital Connections • Hard Drive Storage • RAIDs • File Formats and Data Exchange • Digital Compression • Compression Methods • A Few Common Codecs

6. The Film Camera
The Film Gate and Shutter • Camera Speed and Motors • Viewing Systems • The Reflex Viewfinder • Camera Film Capacity • Other Camera Features • Camera Tests and Maintenance.

7. The Film Image
Properties of the Film Stock • Contrast of the Image • Sharpness • Choosing a Raw Stock • Packaging, Handling, and Purchasing • The Light Meter and Exposure Control • Light Meters • Taking Readings • Exposure and Film Stocks • The Film Lab During Production • Screening the Rushes

8. Color and Filters
Color • Color Temperature • Filters • Matte Boxes and Lens Shades

9. Shooting the Movie
The Goals of Production • Composition and Shot Selection • The Moving Camera • Style and Direction • Dramatic Films • Documentaries • Preparing for Production • Preparing the Script and Approach • Scheduling and Planning • Organizing the Production • The Equipment Package • In Production • Logging • Supporting the Camera • Slow Motion, Fast Motion, and Judder • Slow Motion • Fast Motion • Judder or Strobing • Shooting TVs and Video Monitors • Shooting in 3D

10. Sound Recording Systems
Sound • How Audio Is Recorded • Analog Audio Recording • Digital Audio Recording • Types of Audio Recorders • Digital Audio Recorders • Audio in the Video Camera • The Analog Tape Recorder • The Microphone • Audio Connections

11. Sound Recording Techniques
Preparing for a Shoot • Gathering Gear • The Sound Recordist’s Role • Recording Technique • Setting the Recording Level • Music, Narration, and Effects • Other Recording Issues • Recording Double System for Video and Film • “Syncing Audio and Picture • Operating a Double-System Recorder

12. Lighting
Light • Lighting Equipment • Bulbs • Types of Lighting Instruments • Lighting Technique • Lighting Styles • Positioning Lights • Controlling Lighting Contrast • Lighting and Color • Special Lighting Effects • Location Lighting

13. Picture and Dialogue Editing
Some Film Theory • Approaches to Editing • Dialogue Editing • The Editing Process • Titles

14. Editing Digital Video
Components of a Nonlinear Editing System • How the NLE Plays and Edits Media • Postproduction Workflow • What Format or Resolution to Edit In? • Importing and Organizing Your Material • Importing Files • Capturing from Tape • Creating and Editing Sequences • Basic Sound Editing • Working with Double-System Sound • Basic Video Effects • Titles, Graphics, and Stills • Mixing and Converting Formats • Working with 24p and Pulldown • Editing 24p Footage • Finishing and Output • Managing Media • Exporting a File • Output to Tape • Creating a DVD or Blu-ray • Creating a Digital Cinema Package • Color Correction • Tape Editing • The EDL and Online Editing

15. Sound Editing and Mixing
The Sound Editing Process • Sound Editing Tools • Sound Editing Technique • Music • Some Sound Editing Issues • Preparing for the Mix • The Sound Mix • Level and Dynamic Range • Frequency Range and EQ • Other Sound Processing • Mix Formats • Deliverables

16. Working with Film in Postproduction
Overview of Film-Video Transfers • Some Film-Digital Workflows • Film-to-Digital Transfer Devices • Telecine Options and Controls • Recording Format and Scanning Options • Image Control • Audio Options • Film Transfer Data • Booking a Transfer • Editing Film Digitally • Preparing to Edit • Editing Considerations for Traditional Film Finish • When You’re Done with the Offline Edit • From Digital to Film • Preparing for the Digital-to-Film Transfer • Traditional Film Conforming and Blowups • Preparing the Original for Printing • Blowups • Making Film Prints • Printing Basics • Answer Prints • Intermediates • Release Prints • Sound for Film Prints • Analog Optical Tracks • Digital Sound Tracks • Film Projection

17. Producing and Distributing the Movie
Developing the Project • Funding Sources • Budgets • Business Arrangements • Legal and Copyright Issues • Protecting Your Work • Releases for Real People, Places, and Things • Using Copyrighted Material • Distribution and Marketing • A Last Word

APPENDICES

1. Adjusting a Video Monitor
2. Data Rates and Storage Needs for Various Digital Formats
3. Depth of Field Tables
4. Hyperfocal Distance Table
5. Angle of View in Different Formats

Bibliography
Websites
Index