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How to Make a DVCAM Look Like a Movie Camera

The DVCAM format was developed by the Sony corporation for their "prosumer" digital video cameras. DVCAM is almost identical to its more commonly used consumer counterpart, Mini DV. Both formats record digital video in standard definition, which features dimensions of 720 x 480. Furthermore, DVCAM primarily records video at 29.97 frames per second while utilizing interlaced fields, giving it a distinct video look. If you are looking to shoot on a DVCAM while achieving a film-like, movie camera look, there are a handful of tried and true tactics that can help you meet your goal.

Things You'll Need

  • Fast multi-core computer (PC or Mac)
  • Non-linear editing software
  • Video deinterlacing program
  • 24p video conversion software
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Instructions

    • 1

      Plan and frame your shots to look like contemporary Hollywood films. This is best done by utilizing camera angles and actor blocking that are commonly used in movies today.

    • 2

      Incorporate camera moves at different points. A well-timed dolly move or camera push-in can raise the production value of your video and help bring you closer to that elusive film-like feel.

    • 3

      Use a lighting setup. Being creative with your lighting, as opposed to simply relying on whatever light nature provides, will allow you to have much more control over the final look of your video.

    • 4

      Run your footage through a deinterlacing program in post production. The interlaced image is one of the hallmarks of video acquisition. It can cause interlace flicker in the image or show itself as of hundreds of small lines on the screen that appear in areas of high motion, both of which are distinctly not film-like. A good deinterlacing program will eliminate these problems and leave you with a smooth progressive scan image.

    • 5

      Run your footage through a good 24p conversion program. A large part of the elusive film look and feel is created by the fact that movie cameras film at 24 frames per second. DVCAM, as mentioned earlier, records at 29.97 frames per second, and therefore requires a 24p conversion program (such as Magic Bullet Suite or Film FX) to bring it closer to the look and feel of film.

    • 6

      Color correct your DVCAM footage. All Hollywood movies go through a color-correction process to apply a custom look to each project. Film naturally has a different gamma, higher contrast and richer colors than DVCAM video. By importing your footage into a color correction program, you can alter the contrast, hue and saturation, and also apply the customary film-like "S-curve" to your footage.

    • 7

      Edit utilizing a traditional Hollywood style. Since our brains are accustomed to certain shot sequences in movies, you can go a long way toward making your DVCAM footage look like a movie simply by editing together the final project in typical movie-like fashion.

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