Evaluating Rushes

[sam_camera]

Hi Roger,

I've just seen the first rushes from a short I'm shooting at the moment and not sure what to make of them.

So far I've seen a DVD of a transfer to HDCAM (poss one light?) and it is, as expected, a bit flat and milky with wishy washy colours. All I can say is that I think there's a good range of detail in the shadows, mid tones and highlights. Playing with the controls on my TV does help the image so I'm fairly confident that there's scope for grading. And I can sort of tell that the focus is OK but wouldn't stake my life on it.

My main concern here is to get the director to understand that 'the look' of the film is not in these rushes but (I think) it can be.

How do you judge rushes when they come to you on a less than ideal format? And how do you ensure that production understand that what they are looking at is not necessarily the end result?

Thanks, Sam

[Roger]

I don't judge picture quality from a DVD, though I will admit to getting depressed whenever I watch dailies that way. I usually carry a Locpro portable projector and print selected takes on film.

[Jackson_Gango]

How much did you buy that for?
Are there ones for 16mm?

[Roger]

I have one rented through the production. I would imagine they are quite expensive to buy. I think there is a 16mm version but you could check through Arriflex.

[sam_camera]

How do you choose the selected takes? An example from each scene? Difficult shots? Say for example in 'No Country...' the night scenes of the drug deal.

And do you stick to one set of printer lights throughout a production?

I'm still unsure of how good/bad my rushes are in terms of was my exposure OK or has the telecine flattered me. The director is happy though with what he sees on DVD so that's something.

[Roger]

I choose more at the beginning of a production but just a take or two from different scenes until I get complete confidence in my exposures. I want to know that I can take it to the edge on a scene like the one you mention from 'No Country...'.
No, I am not someone who sticks with one printer light. I used to have timed dailies when they were all on film but I still ask the lab to give me printer lights of each scene as if they were still printing film.