What frame size should I ask for if movie was shot in 2:39?

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What frame size should I ask for if movie was shot in 2:39?

Hi All,

I just received Day 01 of dailies and the image that was transcoded is "squished". The movie was shot 2:39, 23.976 - however the Frame Size I currently have to edit with is 1024x768 (which translates to 1:33). Does anyone have any suggestions as to what frame rate I can suggest to the person transcoding the images that will maintain the 2:39 aspect ratio, keep the file small (but a nice resolution for a large monitor). Also, the file was transcoded to Apple Pro Res (LT), I think a Proxy could be fine too, right? Thanks so much for any help!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.7), FCP 7.0.3, Processor 2.8 GHz Intel

Posted on Sep 25, 2015 8:57 AM

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Answer 1

Bempa Author

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Sep 25, 2015 10:16 AM in response to Bempa

I figured it out! The frame size should be 1920x803 -it looks great!

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Answer 2

Meg The Dog

Level 6

13,826 points

Sep 25, 2015 11:06 AM in response to Bempa

Before you go to far down this road -

Click on a source clip in the FCP Browser and, once selected, type Command + 9 to see the item properties for the clip.

Either report the item properties here, or take a screen shot and post the that screen shot here.

Create a new (empty) sequence and drag a source clip into it. You will be prompted to match the source clip settings. Say yes.

Now click anywhere on the timeline and type Command + 0 {zero} to see the Sequence Settings.

Either report those settings here, or take a screen shot and post that screen shot here.

MtD

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Answer 3

Bempa Author

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Sep 25, 2015 11:56 AM in response to Meg The Dog

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Answer 4

Bempa Author

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Sep 25, 2015 12:31 PM in response to Bempa

Now something really weird is happening when I play back from the timeline - when I select External Video "All Frames" to view full frame in both my monitor and my computer - my image is the correct ratio when paused, but when I hit the space bar to play, it reformats and fills the whole frame (it's not necessarily squished in appearance, but there is no top and bottom black framing for the 2:39 look).

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Answer 5

Meg The Dog

Level 6

13,826 points

Sep 25, 2015 2:47 PM in response to Bempa

If you are editing in ProRes Proxy, I assume you are generating an EDL to be conformed elsewhere?

You need to meet with your Post Supervisor and figure out how to proceed.

FCP-7 does not like to edit in non-standard frame sizes. Other NLEs, such as Premiere Pro will.

If it were me, and I still wanted to edit in FCP-7, I would edit the material letterboxed in a 1920x1080 frame.

If the end deliverable needs to be the 1920 x 803 size, you can crop to that to remove the letterboxing when exporting the timeline via Compressor.

Your Post Supervisor should be involved and give you guidance in all this, as it may have large consequences depending on how the finish is going to be done.

MtD

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Answer 6

Bempa Author

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Sep 25, 2015 2:57 PM in response to Meg The Dog

I will be editing in the ProRes Proxy, thus far. It is just an offline edit and we will use an EDL to conform at a later date.

If all of this is offline, is it really crucial that my frame size be exactly what my final product will be (usually it isn't, right?). If it looks correct (like 2:39) then can't it work for the offline edit?
My only dilemma right now is that, although my image looks great (2:39 letter boxed) in the Browser and the Canvas - as soon as I go to

View-All Frames- and press "Play" - it re-sizes itself and fills the entire frame (and it looks a little squished).
Then, when I press stop, it resizes itself with letterbox - how can I fix this? Anyone know?

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