DGA Monthly - Volume 6 - Issue 12 - December 2009 |A Special Projects Committee Event: Digital Production and Post for Directors and Team Members

On October 17, DGA members assembled in the Guild’s Los Angeles Theatre for the Special Projects Committee’s seminar, Digital Production for Directors and Director’s Team Members: Why it’s important to get it right and how to make sure your team gets it right.

Director Randal Kleiser (moderator), DI Workflow Supervisor Neil Smith, VFX Producer/Supervisor Sam Nicholson, Cinematographer/Director Kees Van Oostrum, Colorist Aaron Peak, and Cinematographer/Director Rodney Charters. - photo by Howard Wise - click image for larger view

The event assembled a panel of experts who each used real-world examples to illustrate various processes. Cinematographer/Director Kees Van Oostrum, (We Fight to Be Free) took on the topic The Director/Producers’s Perspective – Creativity and Technology, and discussed how to ensure the technology doesn’t hinder the creative process. Cinematographer/Director Rodney Charters (24) covered the subject of The DP’s Perspective – Choices, Choices, Choices, and gave a primer on which tool is best for the job. VFX Producer/VFX Supervisor Sam Nicholson, (Heroes) delivered The VFX Perspective – Green Screens and Beyond, where he discussed how to effectively manage the VFX workflow. Colorist Aaron Peak (Radio Free Albemuth) covered The Colorist’s Perspective – Where and When to Create the “Look,” and explained the process of coloring and finishing. DI Workflow Supervisor Neil Smith, (Religulous) took on the multiple topics of: Trends in Digital Filmmaking; The Workflow Perspective – Where is the digital negative? (managing the image and data pipeline); and Optimizing the ‘Acquisition + Workflow + Output’ Equation. Special Projects subcommittee chair Randal Kleiser (Lovewrecked, Red Riding Hood, Grease) served as moderator for the discussion and Q&A.