I have been working on short films for about two years now, and I am working on a script for a feature. I currently use a Sony VX-2100, and I was going to upgrade to something with native 16:9, and probably with 24 fps. I was wondering If I could stick with a standard definition camera (like a Canon Xl-2), or if I should go high definition for a feature? (The only reason it would be transferred to film was if it got into a well known festival and got distributed).
(I know that several films, like 28 days later, were shot on standard definition digital, but they had a panavision lens on it).
You can stick to SD to make a feature.
The bottom line for distributors is an excellent story, intersting characters,
good acting, good audio, , amazing lighting, top notch editing and creative
directing and photography. If you have all of that you can shoot on the XL2
without Panavision lenses or your VX-2100.
I've been asked often in the last year or so if I shot HD. I lied and told them
yes. My movies still sold because it looked good and had the lelments they
needed. But if you feel more comfortable using HD then you should choose that.
Here is a list of movies, shot on SD without lens adaptors that were released
in the theaters.
Inland Empire, Sony PD-150
Open Water, Sony PD-150
The Anniversary Party, Sony DSR-500
The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra, Canon XL-1
Pieces of April, Sony PD-150
Bamboozled, Sony VX 1000 PAL
Book Of Life, Sony VX1000 (NTSC)
The Celebration, Sony PC7 PAL
Chuck & Buck, Sony VX1000 PAL
The Cruise, Sony VX1000 NTSC
Dancer In The Dark, Sony PD 100 & Sony DXC D30WS PAL
Everything Put Together, Sony VX1000 PAL
Final, Canon XL-1 PAL
Chelsea Walls, Sony PD100 PAL
Full Frontal, Canon XL1s PAL
Hotel, Sony PD 100 & PD150 PAL
Julien Donkey Boy, Canon XL1 PAL
Time Code, Sony DSR-1
Supersize Me, Sony PD150
Lonesome Jim, Panasonic DVX 100
November, Panasonic DVX 100
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
I like the Panasonic DVX-100a for SD stuff and I liked it so much that I moved up to a HVX-200. There are plenty of features that still accept Digibeta for their screenings, so output to SD should work just fine.
If you do move to an HD workflow, make sure that you're prepared to rethink lighting, make-up, and costume design. It's a lot more revealing than you might think and it does change the way you'll light, make-up actors or design costumes.
David Schatanoff
D Studios Productions
David Schatanoff
D Studios Productions
Thanks for the replies, they helped a lot!
