cinema mode on camera

[MrStevie]

My mini dv camera has a cinema mode which adds black bars at the top and bottom of the frame to approximate a widescreen look. Now, I know it isn't widescreen, but it does give a more rectangular aspect ratio which I would like to use. My concern, though, is that if I sent my film to festivals (inc. online ones), they wouldn't like it - perhaps it would cause problems if they tried to screen it, or they would think it was amateurish.

Appreciate hearing what you folks think,

Stevie.

[The Cavity]

Well, that depends. Are they "anamorphic" or is it just regular cinema mode?

Anamorphic means a squeezed image during playback on a regular screen and a 1.85:1 or 1.78:1 aspect ratio on tv.

Regular cinema mode is just black bars at the top and bottom, which cut off some of the image.

If you are shooting anamorphic, you have a much better chance of acceptance.

------------------