Festival Letterbox Projection question
by Timothy Anderson
on
Jun 3, 2008 at 10:01:15 pm
Hello,
I have sent a letterboxed DigiBeta and MiniDV screening copy to two film festivals where my short film is screening. However, how should I instruct the festivals to project each of the tapes? In 4:3 or 16:9? Which would look better? I realize if letterbox (being 4:3) is projected in 16:9 it will stretch the image to fit the screen, but will it look poorly or will I lose any of the image?
On the other side, if I have them project in 4:3, I realize everything will look okay, but will there be giant empty space on either side of the frame as a cinema screen is 1:1.85 and 4:3 certainly doesn't fill that?
Re: Festival Letterbox Projection question by Chris Bové on Jun 4, 2008 at 5:41:45 pm
Film fests want their presentations to look good. As they say, if the "butts in the seats" like being there, they'll pay to do so again next year. Thus the screeners at fest organizations know aspect ratios and will either contact you to make changes for them, or have the hardware means of performing conversions themselves. Many fests restrict entries by having manditory format submission guidelines. If the one you're speaking of didn't share one with you then I'd leave it in their hands.
I've never heard of a fest organization that would intentionally side-cut anything. What you might see happen is they would reduce the projected size, thus having the sides of the screen not being used. I've even seen smaller festivals that only have 4x3 screens, so it's actually the wide formats that get hosed.
If you're worried about it enough, I'm sure you can contact them.
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`(=)`/...Pixel Monkey
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A picture says 1000 words. Editors give them meaning.
