Blackmagic Forum

Hi, I am Mohan.
I am from Hyderabad, India.
I am nt a professional film maker. I love making films. So I myself planning to make a film . When i listen about black magic cinema camera. Then I felt ,its the best choice. So, Please lead me in a better way. The feature film length is around 180 minutes(2 and half an hour).
1 . Is black magic cinema camera needs external lens either normal,wide, or any? If it which is the best?
2 . How much memory of SSD need for 180 minutes feature film?
3 . Is apple OS with final cut pro enough for digital negative editing? if how much memory of servers need for editing?
4 . Shall we do post production at the cheapest rates for digital negative or footage of black magic cinema camera, if any tell?
5. Digital negative of black magic cinema camera needs blow up to 70 mm screens for exhibit(preview) to the audience in theaters?

Waiting for reply..

I'd strongly suggest you get some local support for this.

Your questions are so far off the mark that most don't even have answers as such...

There are a number of options:

Either start off with simpler technology and build up to using the sort of post workflows you'll need for a feature like this.

Or get somebody else to deal with the technincal side and you concentrate on the creative side.

I did nt get a proper guy in hyderabad dealing with Black magic cinema camera . many are addict to Red or arri. So I want to make at the very controlled budget. Script is over except technical help. I want to know much about technical side or else they might cheat me at the time f production. So, please try to lead me in a best way.

Pat Horridge wrote:I'd strongly suggest you get some local support for this.

Your questions are so far off the mark that most don't even have answers as such...

There are a number of options:

Either start off with simpler technology and build up to using the sort of post workflows you'll need for a feature like this.

Or get somebody else to deal with the technincal side and you concentrate on the creative side.

Yeah I agree with Pat.

I'll try to answer your questions however;
1. Yes you need external lenses. What lenses you need is up to you to decide. Have a look at some posts on this forum - there are a lot that talk about lenses.

2. You need at least 4 SSDS, preferably at least 256gb each, and a DIT operator to download and format the drives throughout the day.

3. A Macbook Pro with FCP should do the trick, yes. As much memory as you can get.

4. I don't understand your question, but the BMD is not a film camera, its digital so there is no negative as such in the literal sense.

5. Simple answer - no. Your question doesn't really make sense. But you wouldn't want to project a digital image on film really. In any case, if you did, it would likely be 35mm not 70 as that is usually used for Imax. It is a 2.5k camera. Most films are digitally mastered for 2k. You should be fine to project the digital image on a digital projector at HD or 2K resolution

Luke Armstrong wrote:4. I don't understand your question, but the BMD is not a film camera, its digital so there is no negative as such in the literal sense.

DNG = Digital Negative
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Negative

balckmagicexperiments wrote:4 . Shall we do post production at the cheapest rates for digital negative or footage of black magic cinema camera, if any tell?

Doesn't that depend on what the cheapest rates get you in terms of 'result' and then comparing that to what you find 'acceptable', 'good' or 'perfect'?

There's no way for us to tell what the 'cheapest rates' deliver, so it's really hard to be giving advice on what you should do for post production.

cschmeer wrote:

Luke Armstrong wrote:4. I don't understand your question, but the BMD is not a film camera, its digital so there is no negative as such in the literal sense.

DNG = Digital Negative
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Negative

As I said, "in the literal sense" - I know what DNG means. I'm trying to differentiate between celluloid and digital here.

Perhaps I misunderstood the original post, but it sounded to me like there is some confusion between digital format and celluloid in the post production workflow.

Luke you are a better man than I am trying to answer that loaded question

I teach Maya/After Effects at a basic level.

It kills me when a new student has no clue as to how these wonderful things get on the big screen

It's not actually celluloid anymore, but Luke is still a saint.

I know what I charge, but some people say "RED" before hiring a DP. Some people say "cheap" and then say "film." It doesn't work very well that way. Those people have a hard time. I'm sure the script is great, but, to the original poster: maybe you should build a relationship with those technical people first and do a few short films on DSLR before buying a bunch of gear you will never get repeatable, sustainable quality from due to lack of experience.

Making movies is hard. You may not need to spend a lot of money but that doesn't mean they don't cost SOMETHING: usually in stress.

shoot edit export.... apple final cut pro at 4444 pro res will do (2.5k). any apple up to date will work (mac pro). after final digital master take to film transfer house and have them make films for you.

thats it.

Well, "Extrememedia" told you the basic idea Pre-pro and post-production. Easier said than done.

But I extremely suggest you to obtain some knowledge as "Jason R. Johnston" said to comments above. Making something easier like 5 minutes short movies will give you a better idea of what it is need it.

Remember that in order to know how a color looks like you need to see it with your own eyes.

Plus: awesome lenses

8-16mm Sigma
http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-8-16mm-4-5- ... +hsm+canon

17-55mm canon
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-EF-S-17-55m ... +2.8+canon

70-200mm Canon
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-70-200mm-II ... on+mark+ii

With this lenses you can get away with almost anything.

Thanks for your question Mohan,

As you can see your questions have folks confused because you are asking questions that a filmmaker should not be asking folks outside of your production team. There are no blanket generic answers to your questions.

To directly answer your question.. Yes, the Blackmagic Cinema Camera can be used to shoot your film.. BUT.. before you run out and buy or rent any camera.. you need to have pre-production meetings with all the department heads you've hired for your film.. Do not buy or rent any cameras until you've talked to your Director of Photography/Cinematographer and he's had a chance to look at the technical needs of your film and your budget.. He will make recommendations for a camera package and media. Listen to this person.. they will make things way easier for you and get the result you are looking for.

Talk to your editor about the camera you're working with so he/she can best inform you about the workflow for offloading files and offer suggestions for storage, then of course the NLE. Then talk to your lighting folks.. set designers.. wardrobe.. etc..

If this sounds foreign or overwhelming, then perhaps you should find someone to produce/direct the film for you. Using an experienced professional will help make the production of your film far smoother than trying to learn on the job and do it yourself.

Extrememedia wrote:shoot edit export.... apple final cut pro at 4444 pro res will do (2.5k). any apple up to date will work (mac pro). after final digital master take to film transfer house and have them make films for you.

thats it.

That's great can I use that as a quote for my students and clients when they ask about Post Production?

There was me finding so many people, many with quite a bit of experience, having issues with frame rates and formats plus a list longer than your arm of complications and all along the process was so simple.
No mentionof course of making backups. DIT requirements. working direct at online quality (2K or more) or offline and then online. But maybe that's what makes it so simple?