Lotr film stock at DVinfo.net

Mark Grgurev · February 29th, 2004, 12:10 AM

Has anyone ever ajusted the settings so the DVx100 lookes like the same film stock used in the Lord of the Rings. If so can you post a frame grab?

Ken Tanaka · February 29th, 2004, 12:19 AM

I've only seen brief clips of these films. But from what I've seen I would say that such color adjustments are done during some stage of post-production, not in a camera. I would also say that the DVX100's image adjustments are not really capable of those "looks".

The SDX900, the DVX100's big brother, is capable of approximating such in-camera color adjustments. I've seen it demonstrated. But it has a broader latitude and different color space than the DVX100.

But even so, it would be far more practical from a control and consistency perspective to do this in post.

Stephen van Vuuren · February 29th, 2004, 12:23 AM

LOTR had up to 9 unit of photography working at one time. The effects you are referring to are a combination of stock, lighting filters, lenses and extensive digital intermediate posting.

See American Cinematographer Archives for details.

Rob Belics · February 29th, 2004, 08:51 AM

iirc, those nine units were not working at the same location at the same time.

Stephen van Vuuren · February 29th, 2004, 10:13 AM

No, obviously not. Peter Jackson had a remote uplink switching system where he could see everything each unit was shooting. I think there were pics of it in the AC article.

Mark Grgurev · February 29th, 2004, 03:15 PM

The filmstock in Lord of the Rings seems brighter than other filmstocks there are a lot of highlights in daylight.

For exampe:

http://www.subreality.com/eomer/gallery/aragorn-03.jpg
http://www.laurelindorenan.com/Aragorn%20y%20Brego.jpg
http://www.laurelindorenan.com/AragornTTT.jpg
http://www.laurelindorenan.com/Faramir3.jpg
http://www.laurelindorenan.com/Eowyn%20Edoras.jpg
http://www.laurelindorenan.com/Sam%20y%20Frodo.jpg
http://www.laurelindorenan.com/Sam%20y%20FrodoTTT.jpg

Perhaps I'm not describing it correctly by saying there are a lot of highlights but it does seem to be brighter then other fillmstocks in natural light. I want to know if you can emmulate that look with the DVX100a.

Stephen van Vuuren · February 29th, 2004, 03:23 PM

You would have to do this in post as I think the lightness/glows in your highlight was probably done in post in LOTR as well. You can get a cheesy version of it with diffusion and other filters, but those often flatten contrast and don't retain the detail in the DV codec.

I would shoot cinegamma/cinematrix/fine detail, make VERY sure not to clip highlights at all, even to the point of underexposing by a 1 stop or so.

Then in post you want to retrieve detail from shadows (via gamma/levels/curves) without affect midtones. Then slightly blow out highlight and add subtle glow filter that allow you to adjuts parameters.

They key is this takes a lot of carefully shot footage since DV lacks the latitue of film and carefully done CC in post (preferably After Effect working in a 16 bit project.

Stephen van Vuuren · February 29th, 2004, 03:28 PM

See the articles here: http://www.theasc.com/magazine/index.htm

John Gaspain · March 9th, 2004, 04:52 AM

great link

February 29th, 2004, 12:10 AM	#1
Mark Grgurev Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Fairview,nj Posts: 137	Lotr film stock Has anyone ever ajusted the settings so the DVx100 lookes like the same film stock used in the Lord of the Rings. If so can you post a frame grab?

February 29th, 2004, 12:19 AM	#2
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	I've only seen brief clips of these films. But from what I've seen I would say that such color adjustments are done during some stage of post-production, not in a camera. I would also say that the DVX100's image adjustments are not really capable of those "looks". The SDX900, the DVX100's big brother, is capable of approximating such in-camera color adjustments. I've seen it demonstrated. But it has a broader latitude and different color space than the DVX100. But even so, it would be far more practical from a control and consistency perspective to do this in post. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

February 29th, 2004, 12:23 AM	#3
Stephen van Vuuren Space Hipster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,508	LOTR had up to 9 unit of photography working at one time. The effects you are referring to are a combination of stock, lighting filters, lenses and extensive digital intermediate posting. See American Cinematographer Archives for details. __________________ stephen v2 www.insaturnsrings.com

February 29th, 2004, 10:13 AM	#5
Stephen van Vuuren Space Hipster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,508	No, obviously not. Peter Jackson had a remote uplink switching system where he could see everything each unit was shooting. I think there were pics of it in the AC article. __________________ stephen v2 www.insaturnsrings.com

February 29th, 2004, 03:23 PM	#7
Stephen van Vuuren Space Hipster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,508	You would have to do this in post as I think the lightness/glows in your highlight was probably done in post in LOTR as well. You can get a cheesy version of it with diffusion and other filters, but those often flatten contrast and don't retain the detail in the DV codec. I would shoot cinegamma/cinematrix/fine detail, make VERY sure not to clip highlights at all, even to the point of underexposing by a 1 stop or so. Then in post you want to retrieve detail from shadows (via gamma/levels/curves) without affect midtones. Then slightly blow out highlight and add subtle glow filter that allow you to adjuts parameters. They key is this takes a lot of carefully shot footage since DV lacks the latitue of film and carefully done CC in post (preferably After Effect working in a 16 bit project. __________________ stephen v2 www.insaturnsrings.com

February 29th, 2004, 08:51 AM	#4
Rob Belics Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 581	iirc, those nine units were not working at the same location at the same time.

February 29th, 2004, 03:15 PM	#6
Mark Grgurev Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Fairview,nj Posts: 137	The filmstock in Lord of the Rings seems brighter than other filmstocks there are a lot of highlights in daylight. For exampe: http://www.subreality.com/eomer/gallery/aragorn-03.jpg http://www.laurelindorenan.com/Aragorn%20y%20Brego.jpg http://www.laurelindorenan.com/AragornTTT.jpg http://www.laurelindorenan.com/Faramir3.jpg http://www.laurelindorenan.com/Eowyn%20Edoras.jpg http://www.laurelindorenan.com/Sam%20y%20Frodo.jpg http://www.laurelindorenan.com/Sam%20y%20FrodoTTT.jpg Perhaps I'm not describing it correctly by saying there are a lot of highlights but it does seem to be brighter then other fillmstocks in natural light. I want to know if you can emmulate that look with the DVX100a.

February 29th, 2004, 03:28 PM	#8
Stephen van Vuuren Space Hipster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,508	See the articles here: http://www.theasc.com/magazine/index.htm __________________ stephen v2 www.insaturnsrings.com

March 9th, 2004, 04:52 AM	#9
John Gaspain Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: WA-USA Posts: 371	great link __________________ The glory of the World passes by.