Seinfeld/Amex short films (shot on XL1) to air on NBC this week at DVinfo.net

Charles Papert · May 18th, 2004, 12:13 AM

This Thursday the 20th, NBC will air a special between 8:44 and 9 p.m. including the currently viewable Jerry Seinfeld/Superman mini-movie and premiering the second installment, as well as the behind-the-scenes documentary. It's a notable event because the whole thing is one big infotainment commercial for American Express, and it's 15 minutes of primetime ("Must-see TV", no less).

The spots were shot on the XL1s using the Mini35 adaptor last fall. They were intended for the web, so the DV format was considered acceptable at the time--who knew that broadcast TV was in the works? It will be interesting to see how the format holds up under this level of scrutiny.

Folks who have been around this board a while may remember that I was the camera operator on these, and in fact wrote an article especially for the Watchdog on the shoot (which will hopefully be back up shortly).

I'm actually off to Florida tomorrow to shoot some more spots with the exact same setup, with the same DP. I'll post some thoughts on that shoot when I return.

Kevin Burnfield · May 18th, 2004, 05:46 AM

Thanks for the heads up, C.P. !

I'll be anxious to check them out.

Do you have any idea or can you find out if there was any post-production work done on the video?

K. Forman · May 18th, 2004, 06:12 AM

Where are you going to be Charles? I'm on the spacecoast, and would gladly buy you a beer and burger!

Charles Papert · May 18th, 2004, 08:37 AM

Kevin:

Well, there was tons of Flash work done to create Superman, but outside of that it doesn't look like the image itself was particularly polished up. In fact, the DP and I are surprised at how little color correction seems to have been done overall, the image looks much as we shot it (we took pains to make it looks as good as possible on set, but I expected to see some gamma adjustment).

Keith:

Will be in Ft. Lauderdale, which looks to be 2-3 hours away, right?

K. Forman · May 18th, 2004, 09:21 AM

Charles- If you are heading south on I-95, you'll pass right by me. Lauderdale is about two hours south.

Rob Lohman · May 19th, 2004, 02:13 AM

Is that 8.44 PM west-coast time?

James R. Leong · May 21st, 2004, 02:13 PM

Here they are on the Net

http://www.jerry.digisle.tv/room.html

Charles Papert · May 21st, 2004, 04:08 PM

Folks, for further discussion on this lets all go here:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17353&perpage=15&pagenumber=1

And the article I wrote is back up here:

http://www.dvinfo.net/canon/articles/article84.php

May 18th, 2004, 12:13 AM	#1
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Seinfeld/Amex short films (shot on XL1) to air on NBC this week This Thursday the 20th, NBC will air a special between 8:44 and 9 p.m. including the currently viewable Jerry Seinfeld/Superman mini-movie and premiering the second installment, as well as the behind-the-scenes documentary. It's a notable event because the whole thing is one big infotainment commercial for American Express, and it's 15 minutes of primetime ("Must-see TV", no less). The spots were shot on the XL1s using the Mini35 adaptor last fall. They were intended for the web, so the DV format was considered acceptable at the time--who knew that broadcast TV was in the works? It will be interesting to see how the format holds up under this level of scrutiny. Folks who have been around this board a while may remember that I was the camera operator on these, and in fact wrote an article especially for the Watchdog on the shoot (which will hopefully be back up shortly). I'm actually off to Florida tomorrow to shoot some more spots with the exact same setup, with the same DP. I'll post some thoughts on that shoot when I return. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

May 18th, 2004, 06:12 AM	#3
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	Where are you going to be Charles? I'm on the spacecoast, and would gladly buy you a beer and burger! __________________ www.SmokeWagonLeather.us

May 18th, 2004, 08:37 AM	#4
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Kevin: Well, there was tons of Flash work done to create Superman, but outside of that it doesn't look like the image itself was particularly polished up. In fact, the DP and I are surprised at how little color correction seems to have been done overall, the image looks much as we shot it (we took pains to make it looks as good as possible on set, but I expected to see some gamma adjustment). Keith: Will be in Ft. Lauderdale, which looks to be 2-3 hours away, right? __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

May 18th, 2004, 09:21 AM	#5
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	Charles- If you are heading south on I-95, you'll pass right by me. Lauderdale is about two hours south. __________________ www.SmokeWagonLeather.us

May 19th, 2004, 02:13 AM	#6
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Is that 8.44 PM west-coast time? __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

May 18th, 2004, 05:46 AM	#2
Kevin Burnfield Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Princeton, NJ Posts: 363	Thanks for the heads up, C.P. ! I'll be anxious to check them out. Do you have any idea or can you find out if there was any post-production work done on the video?

May 21st, 2004, 02:13 PM	#7
James R. Leong Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Canada Posts: 81	Seinfeld/ Superman Here they are on the Net http://www.jerry.digisle.tv/room.html

May 21st, 2004, 04:08 PM	#8
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Folks, for further discussion on this lets all go here: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17353&perpage=15&pagenumber=1 And the article I wrote is back up here: http://www.dvinfo.net/canon/articles/article84.php __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com