Theatrical distribution of JVC-HD100 footage? at DVinfo.net

Melvin Torrens · October 4th, 2006, 02:58 PM

Currently I have a JVC GY-HD101E and I'm about to make a feature that hopefully will be transfered to film for theatrical distribution. I wonder if my JVC will produce enough good quality for the cinemas.
Other options would be the Sony XDCAM HD PDW-330, 350 or Panasonic AJ-HDX900.

My questions are:
1. Will the JVC lower recording quality be an obstacle for the theatrical distribution?
2. Will the quality difference of the superior cameras justify the extra expense?
(The 330 costs around $16,000. The Panasonic and Sony around $26,000)

Barry Green · October 4th, 2006, 07:36 PM

DVX films like November and 9 Songs and Lonesome Jim and Murderball have all gotten theatrical releases (and Murderball got nominated for an Oscar.)

PD150 films like "Open Water" and "SuperSize Me" have had theatrical releases (and SSM was also nominated for an Oscar).

If your content's great, and a standard-def DVX could do it, then the JVC certainly should be able to deliver on its end of the bargain.

Bill Pryor · October 5th, 2006, 08:03 PM

I agree. "The King Is Alive" was shot with PD150s, and it's some of the best looking video I've ever seen transferred to film. "Spellbound" was shot with an XL1. "Chuck & Buck" was shot with a VX1000, as was Hal Hartley's amazing "The Book of Life" in 1999. "Tadpole" was shot with PD150s. Hell, look at "Dancer in the Dark," Lars Von Trier's Palme d' Or winner. The "real life" sequences were shot Digibeta, but all the really good stuff, the fantasy dance sequences were shot with PD100s. A hundred of them, in sync.

The JVC will give you better quality than any of the cameras used to shoot those films. Assuming you know how to use it, light and compose properly, and all that good stuff.

On the other hand, if somebody drops an F-350 or HDX900 in your lap at no additional cost over the JVC, go with either of them.

Philip Williams · October 5th, 2006, 09:34 PM

Bad lighting, poor camera moves and crummy audio will kill a feature far, far quicker than the camera choice. You get all that stuff right on and I doubt the HD100 will let you down.

www.philipwilliams.com

Melvin Torrens · October 6th, 2006, 03:05 AM

Thank you for your replies, I will stick with the HD100 and im sure it will do the job.

Yasser Kassana · October 6th, 2006, 04:18 AM

If you want to see something in the cinema shot with the JVC look no further than spain, Bigas Luna's latest flick, for the life of i can remember, but it's definitly shot on the jvc, and the french film director Claude Lelouch is also shooting a flick shot on the JVC as well. So big names attached to the JVC huh?

Bill Pryor · October 6th, 2006, 09:07 AM

I think more people use JVC's pro cameras in Europe than in the U.S. Seems to me that 720p is sort of becoming the European standard, while here it's going to be 1080.

Andrea Miller · October 6th, 2006, 04:53 PM

"Seems to me that 720p is sort of becoming the European standard, while here it's going to be 1080."

No, they choose 720p over 1080i, but they'll take 1080 when it's attached to a P. They don't prefer 720 over 1080, they prefer the letter p over the letter i.

Bill Pryor · October 6th, 2006, 06:57 PM

That makes sense.

October 4th, 2006, 02:58 PM	#1
Melvin Torrens Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Spain Posts: 46	Theatrical distribution of JVC-HD100 footage? Currently I have a JVC GY-HD101E and I'm about to make a feature that hopefully will be transfered to film for theatrical distribution. I wonder if my JVC will produce enough good quality for the cinemas. Other options would be the Sony XDCAM HD PDW-330, 350 or Panasonic AJ-HDX900. My questions are: 1. Will the JVC lower recording quality be an obstacle for the theatrical distribution? 2. Will the quality difference of the superior cameras justify the extra expense? (The 330 costs around $16,000. The Panasonic and Sony around $26,000)

October 6th, 2006, 04:53 PM	#8
Andrea Miller Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Munich Posts: 28	No "Seems to me that 720p is sort of becoming the European standard, while here it's going to be 1080." No, they choose 720p over 1080i, but they'll take 1080 when it's attached to a P. They don't prefer 720 over 1080, they prefer the letter p over the letter i.

October 4th, 2006, 07:36 PM	#2
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	DVX films like November and 9 Songs and Lonesome Jim and Murderball have all gotten theatrical releases (and Murderball got nominated for an Oscar.) PD150 films like "Open Water" and "SuperSize Me" have had theatrical releases (and SSM was also nominated for an Oscar). If your content's great, and a standard-def DVX could do it, then the JVC certainly should be able to deliver on its end of the bargain.

October 5th, 2006, 08:03 PM	#3
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I agree. "The King Is Alive" was shot with PD150s, and it's some of the best looking video I've ever seen transferred to film. "Spellbound" was shot with an XL1. "Chuck & Buck" was shot with a VX1000, as was Hal Hartley's amazing "The Book of Life" in 1999. "Tadpole" was shot with PD150s. Hell, look at "Dancer in the Dark," Lars Von Trier's Palme d' Or winner. The "real life" sequences were shot Digibeta, but all the really good stuff, the fantasy dance sequences were shot with PD100s. A hundred of them, in sync. The JVC will give you better quality than any of the cameras used to shoot those films. Assuming you know how to use it, light and compose properly, and all that good stuff. On the other hand, if somebody drops an F-350 or HDX900 in your lap at no additional cost over the JVC, go with either of them.

October 5th, 2006, 09:34 PM	#4
Philip Williams Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Snellville, Georgia Posts: 614	Bad lighting, poor camera moves and crummy audio will kill a feature far, far quicker than the camera choice. You get all that stuff right on and I doubt the HD100 will let you down. www.philipwilliams.com

October 6th, 2006, 03:05 AM	#5
Melvin Torrens Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Spain Posts: 46	Thank you for your replies, I will stick with the HD100 and im sure it will do the job.

October 6th, 2006, 04:18 AM	#6
Yasser Kassana Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UK Posts: 223	If you want to see something in the cinema shot with the JVC look no further than spain, Bigas Luna's latest flick, for the life of i can remember, but it's definitly shot on the jvc, and the french film director Claude Lelouch is also shooting a flick shot on the JVC as well. So big names attached to the JVC huh?

October 6th, 2006, 09:07 AM	#7
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I think more people use JVC's pro cameras in Europe than in the U.S. Seems to me that 720p is sort of becoming the European standard, while here it's going to be 1080.

October 6th, 2006, 06:57 PM	#9
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	That makes sense.