Hardware / Software for cinema release

[andrewgerm]

Hi all

Tried a search, but didn't turn up anything of use. And 'cinema' is used all over the web.

I am currently in pre-production for a short release, with possible cinema to follow. As this is the first 'beginning to end' project I'll be working on, we are looking to keep costs down, and do as much as possible with current resources. The hopes are to shoot HD, and when / if needed, print to film for cinema.

Would an HD suffice? I would guess a 3 CCD 1080p would be the min? We have thought of hiring a Red.
Current NLE software we use is Vegas Movie Studio Platinum Pro Pack 9.0b (which has movie studio, but not the pro version). This running on Vista Ultimate 64 (GeForce GTS 8800 and XFi Elite Pro) several TB of HDD space.

Would we manage with the footage, and would the rendered project be of a high enough quality to print to film?

Any help / advice or place to start would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[filmboss80]

Here's a place to start your research:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_cinematography

You may feel like you're saving money shooting video, but consider the high cost of digital intermediate services. (And you'd better check with those houses doing 2k or 4k DI before your start. They will let you know the specs they require.)

I SERIOUSLY doubt Vegas Movie Studio is going to deliver what you need. Most cutters I'm familiar with who edit for digital intermediates use Final Cut Pro.

[edDV]

Are you asking for the cheapest way to do it?

You will be renting a pro cinema grade camera for the final shoot (hierarcy from SD DVX-100 to Panavision modded Sonys or Thomsons) but you can use a prosumer camcorder for rehearsals and test edits. If this is a documentary shoot, a prosumer cam like a HVX-200 may be enough.

It all depends on your script, quality expectations and budget. FCP or Vegas Pro can handle a low budget project. You will need to hire a digital film tech guru to set you up. If you try to do it yourself, you won't have time to shoot the movie.

[andrewgerm]

@Fimboss Thank you for the link. Going to take some time to read through all that, and refer back to other material I have. DI here is extremely expensive, so if the final budget is not going to allow, then we'll have to rethink a lot of things. There are a few places near here doing DI, so once we know little more in the coming week about any releases, we can check with those places. The hope is for a cinema release.

@edDV Not necessarily the cheapest, but perhaps a good balance. A thought was to hire a Red, if budget allows. We don't have the pro version of Vegas so using the files from a Red won't be possible without an upgrade (at the moment, cost is prohibitive) We had hoped to edit / shoot all the 'behind the scenes' ourselves at least.

Any links or tips from anyone greatly appreciated. Much research ahead.