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Home: Video University Forums: Teaching Video Production:
Post Production Technique

X-akota
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Dec 12, 2003, 11:38 AM

Post #1 of 3 (1285 views)
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Post Production Technique	Can't Post

Hello,
I am a media student and I am trying to grasp a concept here, but I am finding it hard to quantify a description to post a question. I watch TV shows like 24, CSI, Law & Order, and the news and my own DV work. There is a definite picture attribute to TV shows not present in the news and my own DV. I've done lots of experimenting with lighting, 24P, etc., and I am coming up baffled. It's the lack of harshness present in the news broadcasts and my own work. I would imagine the TV stations use just as good quality for their broadcasts as do TV shows, ands their lighting is great, but there is a softer, more cinematic, more ethereal feel to the TV shows, like 24, CSI, etc. I even see it on TV commercials. I am guessing this must be something done in post, since TV news is live and they don't seem to care about it. Come to think of it, it's got to be a post issue. I've seen like "The Makings of..." where they show something being shot, even on video, not film, and they have a behind the scenes camera shooting the same scene as the camera used for the production, and side by side they have a definite difference in picture attribute. It's not picture quality, they are both good quality, one just has a softer, unreal look, while the other has a reality style, home video look. Is there anyone out there who does this sort of thing that can tell me what I am missing?
Please help,
Jason

X-Doug_Graham
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Dec 14, 2003, 1:42 PM

Post #2 of 3 (1278 views)
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Re: Post Production Technique	Can't Post

:I've seen like "The Makings of..." where they show something being shot, even on video, not film, and they have a behind the scenes camera shooting the same scene as the camera used for the production, and side by side they have a definite difference in picture attribute.
1. Most network TV shows are still shot on film, which has a softer look than video. It is also capable of handling a greater contrast range.
2. The TV shows that are shot on video are shot with very high end cameras and video formats, possibly HD. These cameras have much less electronic "sharpness" enhancement than the camcorders we have access to. This increased sharpness setting in the lower priced camcorders is responsible for a lot of the "harshness" of the image that you are describing.
You can add a softening filter to your camcorder, such as a Tiffen Black Pro Mist 1/2 or 1. On some camcorders, you can adjust the amount of electronic sharpening that's applied. You should also pay careful attention to lighting.
And/or you can do some things in post processing. These can range from tricks with your editing software to applying expensive stand-alone "film look" processing software.
See the link below for more info.
Regards,
Doug Graham

X-Tim_Carr
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Dec 27, 2003, 9:01 PM

Post #3 of 3 (1278 views)
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Re: Post Production Technique 3 Chip Cameras [In reply to]	Can't Post

Don't forget that in high end productions or at your local TV stations the video cameras that they use have 3ccd where the home camera has 1ccd. Charge Coupling device. or chips.