Film Festival DeliverablesFilm Festival Deliverablesrunning a festival or submitting to a festival..running a festival or submitting to a festival..

What you need to know....What you need to know....

What is coveredWhat is covered

The typical media formats you expect today. (Tapes, files, The typical media formats you expect today. (Tapes, files, film, DCP)film, DCP)

How to run a festival cost effectivelyHow to run a festival cost effectively

What a film producer needs to knowWhat a film producer needs to know(How to take advantage of digital)(How to take advantage of digital)

What a film festival producer needs to knowWhat a film festival producer needs to know(Best practices for the digital age)(Best practices for the digital age)

Typical media formatsTypical media formatsFilm - Outdated, no longer preferredFilm - Outdated, no longer preferred

DCP (Digital Cinema Package) - preferred but limited to 24fps for DCP (Digital Cinema Package) - preferred but limited to 24fps for Interop DCPs which is the only widely supported DCP typeInterop DCPs which is the only widely supported DCP type(Note: SMPTE DCP support is coming this year (we hope))(Note: SMPTE DCP support is coming this year (we hope))

Tapes (HD and SD, SR/HD/Digibeta-cam, HDV) - Still in common use Tapes (HD and SD, SR/HD/Digibeta-cam, HDV) - Still in common use especially when non 24fps content is involved (Fading fast)especially when non 24fps content is involved (Fading fast)

BluRay’s and DVDs common again for non 24fps content (Quality??)BluRay’s and DVDs common again for non 24fps content (Quality??)

eCinema (Non DCP media files) - Via USB thumb drive, HardDrive or eCinema (Non DCP media files) - Via USB thumb drive, HardDrive or Internet in a plethora of formats from MPEG2, H264, ProRes etc)Internet in a plethora of formats from MPEG2, H264, ProRes etc)Other then DCP, this would be the best method. (4:2:2 in 8/10bit)Other then DCP, this would be the best method. (4:2:2 in 8/10bit)

IP or Internet delivery possible with eCinemaIP or Internet delivery possible with eCinema

Doing a Festival cost effectivelyDoing a Festival cost effectivelyAsk for DCPs. Try to utilise a location that plays SMPTE Ask for DCPs. Try to utilise a location that plays SMPTE DCP’sDCP’s

Otherwise prioritise content,eCinema, BluRay/DVD, Tape (If Otherwise prioritise content,eCinema, BluRay/DVD, Tape (If available)available)

Play all media files from a single platform, Windows Laptop.Play all media files from a single platform, Windows Laptop.

dcpPlayer - DCPs (Inc SMPTE any frame rates)dcpPlayer - DCPs (Inc SMPTE any frame rates)BluRay Drive and software - Any BluRay or DVDBluRay Drive and software - Any BluRay or DVDeCinema files any format - VLC media player will play alleCinema files any format - VLC media player will play all

i7 Laptop with BluRay, dcpPlayer and VLC softwarei7 Laptop with BluRay, dcpPlayer and VLC software

Projector and Audio optionsProjector and Audio options

What a film producer should aim What a film producer should aim forfor

Will always need to make BluRay and DVDs for promotionWill always need to make BluRay and DVDs for promotion

DCP still BEST for in Cinema display. Best quality, similar or DCP still BEST for in Cinema display. Best quality, similar or better then 4:4:4 12 bit (Highest quality ProRes equivalent)better then 4:4:4 12 bit (Highest quality ProRes equivalent)

How to get to DCP?How to get to DCP?

What to Supply (Video files,audio files and subtitles)What to Supply (Video files,audio files and subtitles)

Colour Management difficult. Talk to EncoderColour Management difficult. Talk to Encoder

Remember DCPs are 1998x1080 or 2048x858, master to suiteRemember DCPs are 1998x1080 or 2048x858, master to suite

Is Encryption needed? If so, becomes much more difficult ($$Is Encryption needed? If so, becomes much more difficult ($$$)$)

What a film producer should aim What a film producer should aim forfor(When doing it on the cheap)(When doing it on the cheap)

eCinema networks in different regions.eCinema networks in different regions.For example Australia, New Zealand, India and Nepal.For example Australia, New Zealand, India and Nepal.

eCinema cheaper to make and distribute then DCP.eCinema cheaper to make and distribute then DCP.(Smaller files, small USB-Hard Drives, small enough to (Smaller files, small USB-Hard Drives, small enough to download)download)

In some regions, eCinema is the only way. In some regions, eCinema is the only way. For example, non-English, mainly Local content regions.For example, non-English, mainly Local content regions.

eCinema can archive 4:2:2 (8 or 10bit) Quality, better then eCinema can archive 4:2:2 (8 or 10bit) Quality, better then BluRay.BluRay.

eCinema files can be downloaded over Internet (DCI to big)eCinema files can be downloaded over Internet (DCI to big)

How to get a DCP, eCinema, How to get a DCP, eCinema, BluRayBluRay

Open source tools are available but do not recommend to Open source tools are available but do not recommend to use them unless you really know what your doinguse them unless you really know what your doing

Avoid using bedroom encodersAvoid using bedroom encoders

If possible go to a specialised DCP encoding facilityIf possible go to a specialised DCP encoding facility

Good facilities have DCI/eCinema players for testing and Good facilities have DCI/eCinema players for testing and quality checks but this would likely ad to the cost (Consider quality checks but this would likely ad to the cost (Consider this insurance. Can you risk sending out 50 BAD copies $$)this insurance. Can you risk sending out 50 BAD copies $$)

I cannot stress, if you can afford it, get your content I cannot stress, if you can afford it, get your content encoded by a company who knows what they are doing encoded by a company who knows what they are doing (Avoid problems and egg-on-your-face if it goes wrong or (Avoid problems and egg-on-your-face if it goes wrong or does not look 100%)does not look 100%)

What to supply an encoding What to supply an encoding facilityfacility

TIF image files in 16bit liner color spaceTIF image files in 16bit liner color space

Master quality codec files such as ProRes MOV filesMaster quality codec files such as ProRes MOV files

Typical colour space such as REC709 (Problematic area)Typical colour space such as REC709 (Problematic area)

DPX files are also typical buy make sure you tell the DPX files are also typical buy make sure you tell the encoder exactly how they are stored. (Colour space can be encoder exactly how they are stored. (Colour space can be linear or logarithmic)linear or logarithmic)

Audio files as separate stems meaning a mono 48Hz 24bit Audio files as separate stems meaning a mono 48Hz 24bit audio file per channel, typically 6 channels for 5.1 surroundaudio file per channel, typically 6 channels for 5.1 surround

TALK TO THE ENCODER and see what he can deal withTALK TO THE ENCODER and see what he can deal with

Color ManagementColor Management

This is a very difficult area and is easy to get wrongThis is a very difficult area and is easy to get wrong

Typically this is REC709 (If your doing the typical Video Typically this is REC709 (If your doing the typical Video workflow)workflow)

Especially important if doing DI using DPX and other more Especially important if doing DI using DPX and other more then 8bit color workflow.then 8bit color workflow.

If not sure, best to bring in Encoder company to look at If not sure, best to bring in Encoder company to look at your workflow as so they can work out the best methodyour workflow as so they can work out the best method

In general, a good editor or workflow consultant should In general, a good editor or workflow consultant should understand this (Tho I have seen many who do not)understand this (Tho I have seen many who do not)

Scope or FlatScope or Flat

the DCI standard for DCPs are to master to SCOPE or FLATthe DCI standard for DCPs are to master to SCOPE or FLAT

SCOPE = (2K) 2048x858 or (4K) 4096x1716 (2.39:1)SCOPE = (2K) 2048x858 or (4K) 4096x1716 (2.39:1)

FLAT = (2K) 1998x1080 or (4K) 3996x2160 (1.85:1)FLAT = (2K) 1998x1080 or (4K) 3996x2160 (1.85:1)

FLAT Similar to HD 1920x1080FLAT Similar to HD 1920x1080

Common workflow is to use typical HD workflow then do Common workflow is to use typical HD workflow then do resize of 1920->1998, loose small amount of top and resize of 1920->1998, loose small amount of top and bottombottom

Any resize has quality issues, you should be aware of this Any resize has quality issues, you should be aware of this (Ie Avatar used 1920x1080, did you notice)(Ie Avatar used 1920x1080, did you notice)

Encryption needed??Encryption needed??We all want to protect our contentWe all want to protect our content

DCI supports encryption that requires a KDM or key to be DCI supports encryption that requires a KDM or key to be generated for every screen you could possibly want to show generated for every screen you could possibly want to show the DCPthe DCP

THIS IS EXPENSIVE - Every key cost $$ to produceTHIS IS EXPENSIVE - Every key cost $$ to produce

Must go to specialised key management companies like Must go to specialised key management companies like Technicolor or Deluxe (And others)Technicolor or Deluxe (And others)

THIS IS EXPENSIVE and you should only consider this if you THIS IS EXPENSIVE and you should only consider this if you have a high profile independent feature or better, otherwise it have a high profile independent feature or better, otherwise it is probably unjustifiedis probably unjustified

eCinema can also support encryption but this is usually a eCinema can also support encryption but this is usually a proprietary solution based on the region and distribution proprietary solution based on the region and distribution companiescompanies

Festival Producers, whats best for Festival Producers, whats best for youyou

SMPTE-DCPs are now the way to goSMPTE-DCPs are now the way to go

SMPTE-DCPs can be made at all frame ratesSMPTE-DCPs can be made at all frame rates

tools such as dcpPlayer can be used to preview/quality tools such as dcpPlayer can be used to preview/quality control the content without the need to rent a cinemacontrol the content without the need to rent a cinema

All Cinemas doing festivals are Digital now, just need to All Cinemas doing festivals are Digital now, just need to make sure they are upgraded to SMPTE-DCP make sure they are upgraded to SMPTE-DCP

Cinema Owners take note, get SMPTE-DCP upgrades ASAP, Cinema Owners take note, get SMPTE-DCP upgrades ASAP, available now but check how compatible your equipment is available now but check how compatible your equipment is with all frame rates (May need to purchase up-to-date with all frame rates (May need to purchase up-to-date player/projector)player/projector)

Thanks for watching Thanks for watching CineTechGeekCineTechGeekJames GardinerJames Gardiner

www.cinetechgeek.comwww.cinetechgeek.com