Advice on One Hour Clip, Please at DVinfo.net

Phil Hanna · February 21st, 2011, 05:53 AM

Good Morning:
Saturday, I did a point and shoot for a client of a seminar. We turned the camera on and an hour and 8 minutes later, we turned off the EX-1. Now I have over 16GB of video that the client wants to put on a DVD.
First, I don't think that will fit on a DVD. Second, do I have to input this into FCP and export as QT movie?
He asked me to shoot the seminar then decided to do the DVD. This was certainly not in my fee and I have told him so. He has an on staff graphic person who is doing some movie conversion for the web for him. I don't know the platform or capabilities of the system, but I do know they use Mac. If I gave them the files directly off the card, they would have to have a program that could read the files and a system that could edit these files into a usable movie. My guess is at best they have iMovie. So, the questions are: Can the one hour completed movie be put on a standard DVD? If I gave them the materials to edit and transfer themselves, what would they have to have in house? Any other direction or suggestions you may have are welcomed and appreciated.
Thanks,
Phil

Vincent Oliver · February 21st, 2011, 06:38 AM

You won't have any trouble creating a 1 hour DVD that will be playable on any player. If your client wants the files transferred to a DVD disk, then you are right, the capacity is just 4.7gb. There are many authoring applications that will create your footage to the DVD format, do a google search. I use Encore for both DVD and BluRay authoring.

Patrick McLoad · February 21st, 2011, 09:22 AM

Phil, you don't mention the format...SD or HD? If SD, then Compressor can certainly compress a 1 hour show for DVD. Another option might be to split it into Part A and Part B.
If he wants footage only, I'd burn to BluRays and of course charge for it. Never fails that a client comes back and wants more than originally bargained. Is he gonna now sell these copies?

One hour seminar for web? The guy is nuts.

Patrick McLoad

Olof Ekbergh · February 21st, 2011, 12:40 PM

I would simply have them buy a HD or supply you with one. Put a copy of the whole card on it and give them a link to download the XDcam transfer app.

Here is a link:
Sony : XDCAM & XDCAM EX Software Downloads : United Kingdom

If they then can't handle it have them hire you to do the job. They do need the XDcam codecs, only available with FCP 6&7, to work on the files.

Philip Howells · February 23rd, 2011, 08:53 PM

Phil, with the greatest respect I'm devastated by the lack of accurate information you've received here.

Vincent is absolutely spot on.

I suggest the 16Gb of shot material has to be edited, if only to the point of a fade in at the beginning and a fade out at the end. Then it has to be authored which prepares it for a DVD - 60 minutes easily fits on a DVD at the highest quality regardless of whether it was shot HD or SD. If it was shot HD and the client wants to release an HD product it must be authored for Blu-ray.

It's as simple as that.

But on the creative side, Patrick is right, an hour seminar for the web?

Keith Dobie · February 24th, 2011, 10:18 PM

Hi Phil
This is a great opportunity! You get to learn how to make widescreen DVDs from your HD footage *and* get paid for it. Nothing better than when I client decides they want more.... easy upsell. I would make up a quote ASAP, get the job, and then figure out how to do it. As others have said, it's not that difficult, it just takes time. Once you've edited the seminar you can "send to Compressor" directly from FCP. You'll use Compressor to create the MPEG-2 video & Dolby AC3 audio files that are needed for burning a DVD. You can make them widescreen or "regular" full screen center-cut DVD, depending on what your footage is. Then you can create the DVD in DVD SP or in Toast or other simpler programs.
I've just done my first widescreen DVDs from HD footage shot on my EX1R. Very happy, looks terrific.

Dean Sensui · February 24th, 2011, 10:44 PM

"I would make up a quote ASAP, get the job, and then figure out how to do it. "

Keith... That reminds me of a commercial for FedEx.

A guy tells the client, "I can do that. I can do that. Yes, I can do that."

When the guy gets off the phone he says, "How do I do that?"

:-)

Vincent Oliver · February 25th, 2011, 03:00 AM

Always keep in mind that a good reputation can be lost if you fail to deliver. Have a plan B - just in case you have problems.

Phil Hanna · February 25th, 2011, 05:28 AM

Thanks to all of you for your sage and most helpful input. The job is done and the client is very happy. We have another shoot Tuesday. Plus, the client is buying lunch!

Cheers,

Phil

February 21st, 2011, 05:53 AM	#1
Phil Hanna Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Indian Rocks Beach, FL Posts: 165	Advice on One Hour Clip, Please Good Morning: Saturday, I did a point and shoot for a client of a seminar. We turned the camera on and an hour and 8 minutes later, we turned off the EX-1. Now I have over 16GB of video that the client wants to put on a DVD. First, I don't think that will fit on a DVD. Second, do I have to input this into FCP and export as QT movie? He asked me to shoot the seminar then decided to do the DVD. This was certainly not in my fee and I have told him so. He has an on staff graphic person who is doing some movie conversion for the web for him. I don't know the platform or capabilities of the system, but I do know they use Mac. If I gave them the files directly off the card, they would have to have a program that could read the files and a system that could edit these files into a usable movie. My guess is at best they have iMovie. So, the questions are: Can the one hour completed movie be put on a standard DVD? If I gave them the materials to edit and transfer themselves, what would they have to have in house? Any other direction or suggestions you may have are welcomed and appreciated. Thanks, Phil

February 21st, 2011, 06:38 AM	#2
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Re: Advice on One Hour Clip, Please You won't have any trouble creating a 1 hour DVD that will be playable on any player. If your client wants the files transferred to a DVD disk, then you are right, the capacity is just 4.7gb. There are many authoring applications that will create your footage to the DVD format, do a google search. I use Encore for both DVD and BluRay authoring. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

February 21st, 2011, 09:22 AM	#3
Patrick McLoad Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 52	Re: Advice on One Hour Clip, Please Phil, you don't mention the format...SD or HD? If SD, then Compressor can certainly compress a 1 hour show for DVD. Another option might be to split it into Part A and Part B. If he wants footage only, I'd burn to BluRays and of course charge for it. Never fails that a client comes back and wants more than originally bargained. Is he gonna now sell these copies? One hour seminar for web? The guy is nuts. Patrick McLoad

February 21st, 2011, 12:40 PM	#4
Olof Ekbergh Sponsor: Westside AV Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mount Washington Valley, NH, USA Posts: 1,365	Re: Advice on One Hour Clip, Please I would simply have them buy a HD or supply you with one. Put a copy of the whole card on it and give them a link to download the XDcam transfer app. Here is a link: Sony : XDCAM & XDCAM EX Software Downloads : United Kingdom If they then can't handle it have them hire you to do the job. They do need the XDcam codecs, only available with FCP 6&7, to work on the files. __________________ Olof Ekbergh • olof@WestsideAV.com Westside A V Studios • http://www.WestsideAVstore.com/

February 23rd, 2011, 08:53 PM	#5
Philip Howells Trustee Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 1,212	Re: Advice on One Hour Clip, Please Phil, with the greatest respect I'm devastated by the lack of accurate information you've received here. Vincent is absolutely spot on. I suggest the 16Gb of shot material has to be edited, if only to the point of a fade in at the beginning and a fade out at the end. Then it has to be authored which prepares it for a DVD - 60 minutes easily fits on a DVD at the highest quality regardless of whether it was shot HD or SD. If it was shot HD and the client wants to release an HD product it must be authored for Blu-ray. It's as simple as that. But on the creative side, Patrick is right, an hour seminar for the web?

February 24th, 2011, 10:18 PM	#6
Keith Dobie Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 172	Re: Advice on One Hour Clip, Please Hi Phil This is a great opportunity! You get to learn how to make widescreen DVDs from your HD footage and get paid for it. Nothing better than when I client decides they want more.... easy upsell. I would make up a quote ASAP, get the job, and then figure out how to do it. As others have said, it's not that difficult, it just takes time. Once you've edited the seminar you can "send to Compressor" directly from FCP. You'll use Compressor to create the MPEG-2 video & Dolby AC3 audio files that are needed for burning a DVD. You can make them widescreen or "regular" full screen center-cut DVD, depending on what your footage is. Then you can create the DVD in DVD SP or in Toast or other simpler programs. I've just done my first widescreen DVDs from HD footage shot on my EX1R. Very happy, looks terrific.

February 24th, 2011, 10:44 PM	#7
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	Re: Advice on One Hour Clip, Please "I would make up a quote ASAP, get the job, and then figure out how to do it. " Keith... That reminds me of a commercial for FedEx. A guy tells the client, "I can do that. I can do that. Yes, I can do that." When the guy gets off the phone he says, "How do I do that?" :-) __________________ Dean Sensui Exec Producer, Hawaii Goes Fishing

February 25th, 2011, 03:00 AM	#8
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Re: Advice on One Hour Clip, Please Always keep in mind that a good reputation can be lost if you fail to deliver. Have a plan B - just in case you have problems. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

February 25th, 2011, 05:28 AM	#9
Phil Hanna Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Indian Rocks Beach, FL Posts: 165	Re: Advice on One Hour Clip, Please Thanks to all of you for your sage and most helpful input. The job is done and the client is very happy. We have another shoot Tuesday. Plus, the client is buying lunch! Cheers, Phil