Feature?

[Yammeryammeryammer]

Hello,

Micaso and I were just debating something regarding feature filmmaking on DV. From an independent film making perspective, isn't shooting DV not such a good idea because it is not a marketable medium and features usually involve a larger budget. Has anyone ever shot a feature length project on DV just for fun/learning experience? Or a feature length project on any medium?

[miker]

i think DV is a great format for shooting on if the distribution medium is going to be DVD rather than film.

we'll see.

i have a feature length in preproduction which is going to be produced entirely on 'prosumer' grade equipment and mastered to DVD

i think it's only a matter of time before someone succeeds with this route. hopefully, it'll be me ;-)

[sn-films]

Miker - Sorry to say that you will not be a pioneer.

In the US, there are two major video rental chains that carry movies that were shot on video... Hollywood Video and Blockbuster, although they may not even realize what they actually have on their shelves. Go to your local video store and start checking out the really bizarre/cheesey movies in the "Horror" section that you've never seen advertised on TV. Many of these (more than you think!) have been shot on video.

Labels such as "Brain Damage", "Full Moon", "Tempe Entertainment", "Key East", etc. have been marketing shot-on-video movies for years. As far as I know, all Brain Damage movies were shot on video, and Full Moon and Tempe rently abandoned shooting on film in order to keep the production costs down. Companies like MTI have even started carrying some shot-on-video productions from 3rd party producers.

Point is, yes there is a market for movies shot on video. Yes they're out there. Yes, people are watching them.

Anyway, sorry to disappoint Miker. The Polonia Brother's released "Feeders" in 1996. Although barely watchable IMO, to my knowledge this was the first shot-on-video movie to make it into video stores. If anyone knows of anything that predates "Feeders", let me know. Thanks.

[miker]

depends on your definition of success, or perhaps more accurately what you aspire to do. i haven't been to a video rental shop for some 10 years.

james cameron went from pirahna II to titanic.

those guys who did blair witch went from that to, um, well? what? a cruelly bad sequel?

i want to go from Crooked Features to Sagacity. i have vision.

[Actor]

The guys who did The Blair Witch Project had nothing to do with the sequel, although they did get a writing credit (characters created by) and I presume they picked up some cash.

[peter_g]

star wars episode II:attack of the clones was shot on a dv camera using a 35mm lense. The resolution was something like 1400X1400 and film, while technically not having resolution is comparable to about 2000X2000

I did'nt notice the difference though.

[vt220]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#DDDDDD"><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Peter_G:
star wars episode II:attack of the clones was shot on a dv camera using a 35mm lense.
</font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

the camera used to shoot that movie had nothing to do with DV.

anyway...

i've never shot a feature on DV, just interviews and stuff for low-end corporate movies.

i'd like to try the p+s technik mini35 adaptor with my XL-1 on a feature/short film though. seems like a cool kludge. i wouldn't use it if the project was going back to film though.

[sn-films]

Perhaps I should have clarified... DV has proven itself in the straight-to-tape market. DV converted to film still looks like @$$. Hi-Def... well, it has its possibilities. However, as mentioned earlier in the thread, DV looks good on DVD. If its shot "professionally" (lighting, good camera work, etc.), and has a good story to it, there is an audience that will want to watch it. Miker, best of luck with your feature.

For the record, I guess I fall into the "schlock-lovers" category. I'll watch anything as long as its shot well and there's a decent story to it.

[Yammeryammeryammer]

Yes. Well it isn't so much a question of a better format or not, but has anyone on this board other than Miker and myself shot a feature project on DV if for nothing else than the experience of working with that length of running time and script?

[Generic Skinhead]

Didnt notice the difference?!?!?!

Attack of the clones looks like a video game. I was looking for a fukin joypad in the cinema. Anyway its hi-def not dv.

As for a feature, I see the value in what you're doing yammer, but I'd rather come up with a short im totally satisfied with first.