DV Movies

Ghostboy · February 24, 2003, 04:23:55 AM

I started this topic in the 'Directors to add' thread, but that doesn't need to get any more sidetracked.

What are your favorite DV movies? Do you like DV, or hate it, and why?

Personally, I think its a great medium, and is perfect for some movies. I love shooting film, but I love DV too, especially since that's the format I learned everything in. It's such a great way to gain experience in filmmaking.

It's also interesting to see the HD 24p technology progress...it's pretty close to looking like film now, and I imagine it won't be too long before it's impossible to distinguish between the two. Most people I've talked to couldn't tell that Episode 2 or Spy Kids 2 weren't shot on film, and apparently the cameras that will be used for Episode 3 will be exponentially better than the current model (the Sony HDW-900).

So anyway...here are some movies that have benefitted from DV:
Dancer In The Dark
julien donkey-boy
Chuck & Buck
The Celebration
The Fast Runner
The Anniversary Party
Waking Life (although this doesn't really count, does it?)

On the other hand, Tadpole looks like crap. I think it helps to have a respect for DV before you shoot with it.

Redlum · February 24, 2003, 04:57:27 AM

I thought Tape was good for what it was. Especially considering the constraints the story put on shooting i.e. crummy motel room, mostly practical lighting. They managed to make some interesting shots.

Obviously as a filmmaker DV is great I just think its unfortunate that the person pioneering its use in mainstream films is George Lucas. Gives the format a bad name.

But PTA reminded me of the magic of film with his 'light passing through 24 frames per second' comments on the matter. Personally, that magic will always stem from holding parents camera negatives to light coming through a window as kid.

Ernie · February 24, 2003, 07:58:48 AM

24 Hour Party People was a cool DV movie.

At this point in time, I prefer film to DV I have to say. Like, what redlum was saying about the "magic" and all that. That's sort of why I love it I guess. It looks better to me too.

But on the other hand, I use a DV camera when I fuck around trying to make short films. I think it's fucking great too. It's easy and cheap for independent filmmakers. That's the most important thing to me now. I've said this before though, when I become a professional, I'll probably only use film unless DV improves visually. It's cool with the whole grainy, low budget look...but that's not how I want all my films to look, I know that for a fact. I couldn't care less how my short films look, I just want to try my hardest to write and direct because those are the important things and I have to make my mistakes now and get rid of all my bad ideas now so I won't have to worry about them in the future. My feature films...they have to look fucking perfect.

life_boy · February 24, 2003, 09:32:28 AM

I'm glad some people appreciate it, but I prefer film to DV. If I had the money to shoot on film, I would go for that over DV anything. But, until then, I will use my DV and make the best of it.

Duck Sauce · February 24, 2003, 10:18:02 AM

I can see the value of DV but I definetly prefer film in most cases. I was wrong by saying I hated DV, but it is just coming from "If I ever made a movie..." stand point. What is it about DV that isnt like film? Anybody know? I would like to see the 2160p24 format in the future and see if it compares at all to film. Hopefully they can do something so that it looks exactly like film only be cheaper to shoot. So really I am not against the concept of DV but I dont like the look.

The Celebration
Dancer in the Dark

Jeremy Blackman · February 24, 2003, 10:21:59 AM

Quote from: Duck SauceHopefully they can do something so that it looks exactly like film only be cheaper to shoot.

What is the new DV format called... the Sony format they used in Attack of the Clones?

Xixax · February 24, 2003, 10:32:08 AM

Wow. Anniversary Party was DV? That's got a pretty rich look. They must have used those Sony HDW-F900 cameras for that.

When I think of DV, I think of the look you get from the Canons. Anniversary Party was very rich, so they had to have used something else.

Ghostboy · February 24, 2003, 10:39:40 AM

No, the anniversary party was shot on normal DV, with a sony DSR-500. It looks great, doesn't it? That's what a good DP and color correction will get you. It's probably the best looking DV film.

Jeremy, the one AOTC was shot with is 24 frame high resolution, also known as 24p HD, 1080i, etc,. The camera they used is the Sony HDW-900, customized for Panavision lenses.

Xixax · February 24, 2003, 10:41:45 AM

Wow. That is encoraging. I suppose it's just a matter of time before it all goes that route considering that the quality continues to progress like that.

Jeremy Blackman · February 24, 2003, 10:47:55 AM

Quote from: GhostboyJeremy, the one AOTC was shot with is 24 frame high resolution, also known as 24p HD, 1080i, etc,. The camera they used is the Sony HDW-900, customized for Panavision lenses.

Ah yes thank you.. commonly known as HD DV, right? The quality is, in some ways, better than film, but it might be missing something... I don't know, I can't really tell from one movie (and it supposedly looks much better when actually projected digitally.. anyone have an experience with that?).

HD DV might be a good compromise between the film industry and filmmakers... anyone have strong opinions about this?

Cecil · February 24, 2003, 11:00:27 AM

i think that since the dv look can be very different from the film look, it shouldnt be used as a way to replace film, it should be used only if the movie would benefit from that look over the film look.

yes there are ways to shoot dv and make it look like film, but thats expensive, and id rather shoot 16mm. i like to "shoot on the fly" and film still looks like film when you do, but dv will look like it does in "the celebration." but thats not a bad thing if thats the look you want.

dv is amazing.

Ghostboy · February 24, 2003, 11:02:25 AM

Technically, it's not DV, it's a completely different encoding process. But it is digital, and it is video, so some people will refer to it as DV.

Anyway, it does look a lot better projected digitally (via one of those DLP projectors that are slowly beginning to appear in theaters). Its gorgeous. When transferred to film, it does suffer, although the average audience member won't notice (the average audience member, I've learned, thinks that movies are all on video anyway). HD does look sharper and sometimes even more vibrant than film, but it lacks a lot of the richness, texture and saturation. It also depends on what you're shooting; cool color temperatures look much better than warm.

I think HD will keep getting better, and eventually it will be the production medium of choice for a lot of studios. There will still be directors who choose to use film, however, and that's definitely a good thing, I think.

Duck Sauce · February 24, 2003, 11:16:33 AM

Quote from: GhostboyTechnically, it's not DV, it's a completely different encoding process. But it is digital, and it is video, so some people will refer to it as DV.

So what I would be looking for is DF, or Digital Film? (MY IDEA GUYS)

SHAFTR · February 24, 2003, 11:47:33 AM

Wasn't Russian Ark shot on DV?

MacGuffin · February 24, 2003, 12:09:06 PM

91 INT. JACK'S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER

Jack, Floyd Gondolli and the Colonel sitting.

FLOYD
. . . so let's talk about the future.
So let's talk about what video means
to this industry -- and let's talk
about how all of us -- not one of us --
but all of us will profit. I've been doing
theater work in San Francisco and San Diego
for as long as you've been doing stag
and hardcore, Jack.

JACK
I know you're history, Floyd.

COLONEL
No one's doubting your history
or your credentials, Floyd.

FLOYD
Then why the resistance? I mean:
This industry is going to be turned
upside down soon enough --

JACK
Then why help it?

FLOYD
Why not be prepared? The money comes
from the Colonel, the talent comes from
you, Jack. I've got a connection to the
equipment and the mail order distribution,
not to mention those kids I got out there
who are hot-fuck-action to the max.
This is the future. Video tape tells the truth.

JACK
I have a stable of actors and actresses.
They're professionals. They're not
a bunch of fucking amateurs. They're
proven box office and they get people
in theaters (where films should be seen)
and they know how to fuck well --

FLOYD
That's right, Jack and by that
same token, you're the one with the
power here. The video revolution
is upon us -- and our role is critical.
We have an obligation to use our resources
and talent to help make it fly --

JACK
You come in here, at my party, tell me about
this and that -- tell me about the future,
tell me about -- video and amateurs and
all that -- well lemme tell you something now:
I will not shoot films on video and no
I will not loan out my actors who are
under contract to me. Period.

FLOYD
Wait a minute, Jack. I'm not a complicated man.
I like cinema. In particular, I like to
see fucking on film. I don't want to win
an Oscar and I don't want to re-invent the
wheel -- I enjoy simple pleasures like butter
in my ass and lollipops in my mouth.
That's me -- call me crazy, call me a pervert,
but this is something I enjoy. One other
small thing I want to do in this life is make
a dollar and a cent in this business -- I'm not
trying to hurt you. I'm trying to help you stay
one step ahead of the game --

JACK
We're repeating ourselves now, Floyd.

COLONEL
Jack, I think this is about cost and future --

JACK
The future is as bright as we make it --
it shouldn't be sacrificed for a few dollars
that can be saved shooting on video tape --
if it looks like shit and sounds like shit,
it probably is shit --

FLOYD
I think you're one gin past this conversation --

JACK
No . . . no. I'm crystal clear here.

COLONEL
Jack, please understand that this is
not an argument . . . this is a fact of --

JACK
. . . What . . . ?

COLONEL
This is not an argument, but a --

JACK
What are you saying?

COLONEL
What do you mean, Jack, c'mon --

JACK
Are you telling me that you're
working with this shit?

COLONEL
I think that there is a serious case
to be made for the price and the gamble
on the whole idea of a home video market --
Jack: Two, three years from now, everyone's
gonna be able to walk into their local
supermarket and buy or rent a videocassette --

JACK
True film fans won't watch that shit.
It doesn't look good and more importantly
it doesn't make sex look sexy.

COLONEL
It doesn't have to look good, Jack.
Film is just too damn expensive.
The theaters are already planning
converting to video projectors.

JACK
I haven't heard that.

FLOYD
It's true.

JACK
We've got ten minutes until the New
Year and I don't want it to start like this
so I'm leaving now. We will or we won't
continue this conversation some other time.

Jack leaves. Floyd looks to the Colonel. HOLD.

------------------------------------------------------------

Scotty: Hey, Kurt, are we do more coverage on this or...

Kurt: No, no. We just keep shooting. This is video. We shoot and shoot and then deal with it later.

DV Movies

Cecil