Dragon 35mm Film Out - any advice?

[Robino_J]

I need to do a 35mm film out of 1 minute of Dragon footage.

In the spec sheets I got they mention: "Please specify COLORSPACE, metric of log or linear when submitting digital files. If you provide files in adifferent format please provide the information in which you wish us to convert to 10 bit Cineon files. Pleasemake sure all Titles are 1.85 or 2.35 Title Safe."

I will be shooting the sequence @ 24fps and doing color in Resolve to output 10-bit DPX sequence.

I'm used to working in resolve in REC709 - Is REC709 Linear? Would there be any advantage of delivery LOG DPXs for film out? Any other tips from some of you that might have done this before?

 

[Hal Long]

If you're doing a dpx out of resolve they should be able to take that. You probably should be coloring in DCI-p3 and not 709 though. Check with the house, they should be very helpful in setting your specs.

 

[Marc Wielage]

I need to do a 35mm film out of 1 minute of Dragon footage. In the spec sheets I got they mention: "Please specify COLORSPACE, metric of log or linear when submitting digital files. If you provide files in adifferent format please provide the information in which you wish us to convert to 10 bit Cineon files. Please make sure all Titles are 1.85 or 2.35 Title Safe."

Many companies can routinely convert from Rec709 color space to P3 film color space and a specific internegative and print stock. I would ask them to do a short test conversion with some samples of your material and then project it so you can see the results. Be warned that Rec709 material does not go through the process with 100% accuracy -- there are limits as to how close a print film can be from digital material, but they can get pretty close. Some of the top facilities that routinely do film digital intermediate work can do a side-by-side or "butterfly" comparison showing you the digital and film material back to back.

A lot will depend on the technical LUTs the company uses, as well as the type of laser film recorder they have (often Arrilaser, but there are others out there), as well as the film lab being used. Be warned there aren't a lot of film labs left, so your options are more limited now than they used to be. Call the company and have one of their technical representatives take you through the process and explain anything you don't understand.

 

[Robino_J]

Thanks for all the information guys. I'm doing business with Fotokem, I should get more details Monday.