2009

Types of Programs
Program types include high-end commercial spots, high-end music videos, dramas,
made-for-TV movies, and miniseries.
Typical Acquisition Formats and Means of Ingest
The acquisition format is typically 16mm or 35mm film (or their Super 16mm and Super
35mm counterparts) via any one of a number of cameras. Before you can ingest film into
Final Cut Pro, it must be transferred to a video format, usually via a telecine (a machine
that converts film to a video signal, in real time) run by an experienced operator. In general,
there are three methods used to transfer film to tape: a one-light transfer, a best-light
transfer, or a safety transfer. Each has tradeoffs, and the method you use depends on
your budget. What this means for ingest is:
• One-light transfers, though cheapest, usually require a retransfer from the original
negative. You need to obtain a telecine log file with which to keep track of what source
film negative corresponds to which video clips using Cinema Tools. You have the option
to have the final color correction done by the telecine operator.
• Best-light and safety transfers, though more expensive, usually eliminate the need to
retransfer from the source negative. You have the option to grade your final program
using Color, or another third-party color correction environment, as part of your finishing
workflow.
• Telecined film is typically transferred to a high-end, tape-based format at SD or HD
resolutions.
• Typical video formats used include Digital Betacam, HDCAM, D-5, and HDCAM SR,
though you can specifically request other formats. You ingest using the Log and Capture
window in Final Cut Pro.
Quality-Control Guidelines
Because programs in this workflow are being delivered for broadcast, tight quality-control
standards usually apply. (Some networks have more stringent standards than others.)
Although video and audio standards vary by network, submitted programming is always
closely scrutinized, and quality-control violations may result in tape masters being rejected
by the network, incurring additional costs for the client. Always obtain the specific
quality-control (QC) guidelines before finishing any program intended for broadcast.
What this means is:
• You’ll use Color, or another high-end grading system, to color correct and legalize your
program using an appropriate broadcast monitor.
• You should obtain and follow the quality-control guidelines provided by the network
or your distributor as a guide in finishing the program.
20 Chapter 1 Developing a Post-Production Strategy