just read a post in video industry news about this movie shot with a canon XL2 and here is the trailer. I am probably the one with the least credentials here, but this looks alot like "film" to me. They did a great job. http://www.leaveittochance.info

Yeah, there's a thread on DV for the masses about that film already... It does look pretty good.

Hi;

I wouldn't say it looks like film I'd say it looks like a more appealing video! (to me at least) Strangely (for DV) it's that craned wide shot that really pulls off a "film moment" But most of it looks like what I'd expect from decently shot XL2 footage, a good thing.

Olly

Nice, but looks like video.

There's something that I'm guilty of, too, in the first shot of the "new" trailer: shaky dolly shots. Dead give-away that's it not a film-film.

I guess for the first time I am seeing how cinema-like a "video" can be. Maybe it's not because it was so much like actual "film" as it is a video that has some of the same quality "composition" that you would find at a movie on the silver screen. This is the first footage (as far as I know) of a full length feature that I have watched that was shot on MiniDigital Video. Pretty neat indeed.

I wouldn't see that movie either, but I'll tell you one thing -- that actress is hot! I thought the exteriors looked really impressive for video. That's tough to expose.

OK, is it me or are those outside shots (The first two with the two guys) greenscreened?

That would explain the exposure.

Aaron

There are still photos on the site showing them shooting exteriors using a gold reflector. The with the reflector appears to be standing in a shadow though. How's that work?

looks a LOT like video to me

Yea, I agree most of it looks like video as well. The best shots are the crane shots. Those are easily the best shots in that trailer and I'm betting are few and far between in the movie.

It looks alright, but I've seen better.

Yes. I agree with you guys. it does look like video most of the time. it looks good for a movie that would be shown in tv do.. that is.. cause it looks like a good video. The callenge is also when there gonna blow it up to 35mm if there gonna want to show it on a movie theatre... that would be hard.

I must be aquiring a more critical eye with this DVinfo net. I read the replys and looked again at the clip and I am starting to see what you are saying. I saw the camera shake a little on the dolly shot and the outside shot with the house in the background does look greenscreened. Most importantly though, it appears to be a well done video.

The best looking of the shots, for my money, is the one near the end with the two running outsid. The composition is nice and the colors are great.

From what I can tell and have been learning lately, once 24p is achieved, the next puzzle piece in having video look like film is having a shallow DOF (although it is debated which should come first).
The shots are well composed and well lit (except for the gold foreground, blue background shot), what remains is having that narrow focus to tell the viewer exactly what is important in the shot and what to be looking at. That's the only thing left here that cries video to me (apart from the shaky dolly).

For my next short, I'm going to try and see how well I can do this without buying or making one of those mini35 contraptions. It's possible with careful camera/actor placement combined with zoomed-in shots and fully open apertures.

It might be a while before I get a chance, though. I'll be sure to post a thread when I do.

-Chad
www.terpstar.com

yes, it definately does look like video... others mentioned the very well done crane shots, those were good.

I think that the could have pulled it off if they used shallower dof, especially indoors. But i dont know a whole lot about aceiving "film" look.

also, not related: they may be breaking some laws by having that green approved for all audiences thingy. they didnt say "by the MPAA," and I think the mpaa has trademarks on that text notice as well.. could be wrong

yes, it definately does look like video... others mentioned the very well done crane shots, those were good.

I think that the could have pulled it off if they used shallower dof, especially indoors. But i dont know a whole lot about aceiving "film" look.

The sharp image, the lack of dynamic range in blacks in darker scenes
and some colors tell me right away that's video.

Shallower DoF would help only if the above is achieved.
As you can see, even though this trailer is 24fps doesn't look like film.

Nevertheless, it's a great production.