American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 47

The filmmakers employed an underwater dolly to great effect, especially for a night sequence that follows a crab hustling along a reef.

Garcia and Christian Mourier to develop a series of custom gamma curves and scene files for the video operators to use. The low-contrast curves were varied to address different lighting conditions. To accommodate different sea coloring, Ros notably reduced and isolated the blue or green vectors in the F900 multi-matrix menu. He also tweaked the levels in the detail menu for murkier scenes. Ros and his team created two simple knobs on the underwater housing to apply this range of settings. One knob was for the ocean color, and the other for the scene’s contrast and visibility. Each knob had five settings, creating 25 possible combinations, or, as Ros says, “25 digital film stocks.” Matching HD to film, he continues, “had two components: preserving the highlights and getting maximum resolution when shooting, and reducing noise in post. In production, we strove to have the right gamma curve for the highlights, the right saturation for the sea, and the right setting in the detail menu, usually between -45 and -60, for the scene. “I knew that up-converting from HD to 4K in post would work if the images had little noise, but the thing we couldn’t correct for was the solarizing

effect, when you lose detail in the whites. So we always chose to protect the whites, even if it meant more noise. But when we didn’t have strong highlights in the image, we used curves that had less noise. That’s why we had several gamma curves.” Key for Ros was the constant communication between production and post, and the constant verification of the dailies by the cinematographers, the digital-imaging technicians (led by François Paturel) and the colorists. Ros also instituted a daily testing procedure
www.theasc.com

that accustomed the operators to evaluate the rendering of a test chart. “Above a certain threshold, around 2K, it’s not the number of pixels that matters, but the quality of your pixels,” he observes. “That’s why we did a lot of work on certain menus and, especially, why we diminished the level of noise. When you can get rid of the noise, each pixel is cleaner, and you can increase your MTF because you can then discern detail.” Def2shoot in Paris applied a proprietary noise-reduction process to the HD material and a degraining
May 2010 47


http://www.theasc.com

American Cinematographer - May 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - May 2010

American Cinematographer - May 2010
Contents
Editor’s Note
President’s Desk
Short Takes: ASC Heritage Award Winners
Production Slate: The Man Next Door • Academy Sci-Tech Awards
Armor Wars
Wonders of the Sea
Lost and Found Families
Dark Secrets
Deep Visual Roots
Post Focus: Restoring A Star Is Born
Tricks of the Trade
New Products & Services
International Marketplace
Classified Ads
Ad Index
Clubhouse News
ASC Close-Up: Fred Elmes
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - Intro
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - American Cinematographer - May 2010
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - Cover2
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 1
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 2
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - Contents
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 4
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 5
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 6
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 7
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - Editor’s Note
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 9
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - President’s Desk
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 11
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - Short Takes: ASC Heritage Award Winners
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 13
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 14
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 15
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 16
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 17
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - Production Slate: The Man Next Door • Academy Sci-Tech Awards
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 19
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 20
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 21
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 22
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 23
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - Armor Wars
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 25
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 26
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 27
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 28
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 29
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 30
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 31
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 32
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 33
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 34
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 35
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 36
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 37
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 38
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 39
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - Wonders of the Sea
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 41
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 42
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 43
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 44
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 45
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 46
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 47
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 48
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 49
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - Lost and Found Families
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 51
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 52
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 53
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 54
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 55
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - Dark Secrets
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 57
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 58
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 59
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 60
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 61
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 62
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 63
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 64
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 65
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 66
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 67
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 68
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 69
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 70
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 71
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - Post Focus: Restoring A Star Is Born
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 73
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - Tricks of the Trade
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 75
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - New Products & Services
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 77
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 78
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 79
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 80
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 81
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 82
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - 83
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - International Marketplace
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - Classified Ads
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - Ad Index
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - Clubhouse News
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - ASC Close-Up: Fred Elmes
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - Cover3
American Cinematographer - May 2010 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1218_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1118_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1018_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0918_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0818_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0718_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0618_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0518_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0418_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0318_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0218_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0118_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1217_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1117_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1017_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0917_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0817_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0717_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0617_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0517_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0417_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0317_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0217_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0117_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1216_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1116_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1016_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0916_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0816_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0716_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0616_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0516_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0416_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0316_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0216_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0116_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1215_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1115_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1015_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0915_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0815_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0715_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0615_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0515_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0415_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0315_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0215_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0115_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0914
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0814
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0714
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0614
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0514
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0414
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0314
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0913
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0813
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0713
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0613
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0513
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0413
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0313
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0110
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com