Hello, I am possibly going to purchase a panasonic GS400 and I am wondering... If I do as much to the camera controls and lighting as possible towards a cinema film look----what would be the best software to finish the job of creating this film look? Or even if I just get a "single chip" handy DVcam, What software is geared toward turning any raw footage toward a film look? Or is this even possible??? Sorry if I've missed posts on this very item. Thanks so much!!!!

You would get a lot if you did a search. There are a lot of variables also. What platform are you working on, what NLE, etc. I use Final Cut Pro and use Nattres filters, www.nattress.com. Amazing stuff.

I don't have anything at the moment. You see, we are going to get a new computer, and I plan on getting a decent one to do digital video editing with a WindowsXP OS with a huge hard disk and powerful processor. I have done more research so far on just the digital video cameras and I think I have one chosen, and now I am starting to think about NLE software to get.
I plan on getting all this stuff with our tax return and I want to have everything picked out when the check gets here. I guess I will get some sort of bundled software. You see the more research I do on this stuff, the more "ambitious" I become. I just wanted a decent video camcorder to make home movies of my three year old and I started to discover what these cameras and software can really do. Now I want the best camcorder that I can afford and some powerful tools to edit with and I am actually thinking about making a independent film. (How did this Happen)
It is hard for me not to get excited about this stuff. Anyway, I was just wondering if there is indeed a program that just has a mode or effect to help achieve that film look most of us want. Thanks and sorry about the long reply.

60i to 24p conversion: Magic Bullet Suite (PC and Mac), DV Film Maker, are some programs that will convert to 24p. Magic Bullet Suite is plug-in for popular editing programs (doesn't include Vegas). Vegas (editing program) will also do 60i to 24p conversion but not as well.

Film gamma curves: An editing program like Vegas or Premiere Pro can do it.

Saturation boost: All editing programs can do this.

That's the easiest things you can do. Film-originated material will still look better, but those things will make video look a lot better. You could also get into color correction/enhancement which can really improve your images, but that takes time and you're probably better off focusing on the content of your films.

http://img226.exs.cx/img226/8646/0101zx.jpg

http://img226.exs.cx/img226/3410/0207sw.jpg

http://img226.exs.cx/img226/472/0307fu.jpg

some stuff I've been working on.

Great special effects Kyle, how did you get the squirrel to sit still long enough to apply make-up? He He, just a little DV info humor. :)

Kyle, would you mind divulging the details of your film look technique, aswell as what camera your on? I have a Panasonic GS120 and it's nowhere near as HiDef looking as yours (I assume your on a prosumer cam such as GL1 or maybe even XL1S/DVX100A?)