picture quality need help

[sexyswan]

I imported my footage from my minidv to imovie. the footage looks great on the computer ( had that profesional look, like bowling for columbine. when I export it to the camera again after editing, and play it through my VCR with the RCA hook up it looks like an amateur home movie. Like a bad news cast (like americas funniest home videos) Why is this and how can I get it so my movie looks like a feature film. Please help. My showing is in 2 weeks.[/b]

[WeenFan]

I loved Bowling for Columbine. It makes me want to move to Canada, especially after reading the book, "Give Me a Break," by John Stossel.

It would help others to answer your question if you specify what software you're using, your hardware capabilities, connections, file types, etc. Eh?

[dVdA]

Hey,

As above, could you post the following specifications:

Camera Make/Model
Computer (Model/Processor/RAM/OS)
Any additional capturing devices you're using

Can you plug the camera straight to your TV? I'm thinking maybe the video player's outputting VHS quality signals to your TV. DV is a ZILLION times better than VHS!!! Can you burn DVDs on your system? If you can, burn your film to DVD and watch it on a DVD player.

There's no short way to explain how to make DV look more 'film-like' - it will NEVER look like film, but you can make your movies look better than 'home videos' by:

In-Production
1. Using proper lighting (light it like you'd light it for a 35mm film camera)

2. Avoid rapid panning (esp. pan left - you'll get jagged 'edges' around objects)

3. Generally under-expose your shots by one/two stops (unless you know you don't want to) - this gives you some 'fake' depth of field on medium-to-long shots.

4. Don't use digital zoom (I keep my digital zoom switched off permanently!)

5. Adjust your white-balance depending on the lighting conditions / mood you want to create. If you do this well, you'll shave hours off post-production color correction!

6. Sound: This is the hardest part. I would avoid using the built-in mic on the camera, or using the 'mic' socket on the camera to record sound. I've used a minidisc recorder very successfully in the past. Use a boom if you can (Sennheiser K6 gun mic + pole is dirt cheap to rent). No matter how good your film 'looks' if the sound is crap the whole thing is crap.

Post-Production

1. Color correct (this is easier said than done - I have an editor who does it with me - if you have any editor/DP friends, this is where you buy them a pint!)

2. Sound: ADR (overdub) anything that doesn't sound 'perfect'. It's easier than you think! You need to have one GOOD mic though... does't have to be expensive, I use a Rode NT2 with a 'Gold Mike' preamp to do all the 'in house' stuff (total value £400). I rent a Sennheiser K6 gun mic and DAT recorder to do 'outside' recording.

3. I find that a little Gamma correction goes a long way to making shots look more 'vivid'.

There are probably other important things that I haven't mentioned. I hope I didn't come across as being patronizing - "you must do this and you must do that" etc., I'm just getting started with DV myself, and so far I've found that the things I listed above make a BIG difference.

Cheers,

dVdA