Am I too OCD in my filmmaking?

[GuerrillaAngel]

Originally Posted by harmonica44

And a guy I know who know more about post-work showed me some neatvideo effects of removing noise. Removing noise give the actors a different look, and they look younger. I don't have any examples to show, they are on his computer, but he even says if you want your actors to look their age, don't use noise reduction program. Can I still do it, and maintain age?

Frankly, you need to ADD noise to the other clips in the scene to make it all match. Most people won't notice it and it's better than having those few mismatchs stand out.

[WalterB]

Originally Posted by GuerrillaAngel

Frankly, you need to ADD noise to the other clips in the scene to make it all match. Most people won't notice it and it's better than having those few mismatchs stand out.

True: adding noise can be a great solution!

[harmonica44]

Thanks, I tried GuerrillaAngel's advice on added noise before but it seems to be too noisy on black areas, particularly on shadows, in a dark scene. However maybe it's just me. I will add and post for opinions when I am finished.

Some of the shots are blurry. I tried reduce the minimum amount of shots, but some of them I have to use even though they are blurry. I tried cutting them quick and too a minimum. I'll add sharpness, which helps a bit, but does that mean I should add sharpness to the whole movie, to match as well?

[knightly]

So dial the noise back in the dark where you are adding noise... using a luma matte (deja vu!)...

[GuerrillaAngel]

H-44, here's another trick (I've mentioned this before) -- after you've matched grain as best as you can, add a third element to all the clips, for instance, a slight tint. This will tie the clips together and your illusion will be compete.

Good luck.

[WalterB]

Maybe finding a colorist is the way to go...?
(Even if it's just to match colors...)

Btw, if you sharping blurry parts to make them sharper and you sharpen in focus shots to make them even more sharp, you are not bridging the gap between the in and out of focus shots. Using logic can be helpfull now and then; even when you are not Vulcan.
(One soup has only five tomatoes, while the others have 8. Adding 3 helps to improve taste on the 5-tomatoessoup.
Should I add 3 to the rest as well? = > NO)

[harmonica44]

Okay thanks. I thought that I should only keep the blurry parts sharpened, the but sharpened shots look different, so I thought I had to do something to make them match. I have been trying to adjust the colors myself using curves as I was told but it doesn't really seem to match them as much. I need to learn to curve the light in the background, without the light in the foreground being effected. I will get a colorist for that.

[WalterB]

Sharpened blurry shots will alway look different than in focus shots, because sharpening is a different proces than focussing.
Sharpening will help to bridge the gap a bit, but it will hardly ever truely match in focus shots.

(But don't worry about that too much: you can get away with a lot :-) )

[GeorgiaHilton]

Originally Posted by GuerrillaAngel

Here's the thing . . . all these things are easily fixed in post. If they bother you, fix them. It'll cost you nothing.

ummm... yeah... not.

get it right when you shoot and leave post for making your film better, not for rescuing a lazy crew in production.


cheers
geo

Georgia Hilton MPE MPSE CAS
Film Doctors http://www.filmdoctors.com
HMM Production Company http://www.hmmproductions.com
HMM Location Truck http://www.editingtruck.com
CREDITS (partial) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0385255/resume
MEMBER: IATSE LOCAL 700

[harmonica44]

I didn't think it needed to be reshot until I got a new computer. The shots look out of focus on my new monitor compared to the old.

[GuerrillaAngel]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaHilton

ummm... yeah... not.

get it right when you shoot and leave post for making your film better, not for rescuing a lazy crew in production.

In most cases, no. In this case the answer is yes.

[GuerrillaAngel]

Originally Posted by harmonica44

I didn't think it needed to be reshot until I got a new computer. The shots look out of focus on my new monitor compared to the old.

Just do your best in post to match it and move on. Nobody here is going to fault you for not doing the best with what you have.

[knightly]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaHilton

ummm... yeah... not.

get it right when you shoot and leave post for making your film better, not for rescuing a lazy crew in production.

Or in this case; inexperienced, minimal crew...

[WalterB]

Originally Posted by knightly

Or in this case; inexperienced, minimal crew...

Plus trying to fix it in post with minimal experience in post...

[GuerrillaAngel]

Originally Posted by WalterB

Plus trying to fix it in post with minimal experience in post...

There is undo in post. Not so during production. There's no better way to become a great editor (and director) by getting over the learning curve so you can fix your production blunders in post!