This is a very n00bish type question, but I was wondering how hard/expensive it is to get a "reasonable" transfer from film to HD these days, let's say for a small studio (or even amateur).

The reason I ask is because I often get overseas DVDs, and despite being original releases, they often almost look like they're from S-VHS sources. (And no, these aren't bootlegs.) I've had hours of old 1970s super 8 film converted to DVD (for 3-digit $) with better results than DVDs of some Chinese feature films from Chinese studios.

Is this purely a cost issue? How many orders of magnitude difference is it to get an HD (vs DVD) transfer of reasonable quality?

Most likely used prints that are worse. I've seen a lot of releases prints being used. Also have to account for additional optical processed subtitles? Which may degrade the image even more. Also some just dont care enough when doing the telecine.

All new movies shot on film are scanned in digitally the same day, therefore when released on DVD they should look great. The problem occurs with older movies. Some of them require quite substantial restoration. Usually the more popular the movie the more likely the source print is in good shape and more care is taken when it is converted digitally.

[QUOTE=BuGsArEtAsTy]This is a very n00bish type question, but I was wondering how hard/expensive it is to get a "reasonable" transfer from film to HD these days, let's say for a small studio (or even amateur).

Good question.

Hard to answer.

HD film-to-tape telecine / datacine transfers [ as opposed to film SCANS which are more $$$ ] are in the $ 1000 to $ 1500 per HOUR range in major markets like LA and NY -- maybe half that in the regional markets.

The rate can be lower if the work is done UNSUPERVISED -- most
HD dailies are done this way overnight.

Note that the "per hour" cost is NOT the running time of the film but rather the total time it takes to color-correct the film . . . . and even from a timed interpositive print this will usually take at least twice the
running time of the film.

Keep in mind that there are three steps to get to the DVD or HD-DVD.

1 -- the actual film print
2 -- the film-to-tape / data trasnfer
3 -- the compression encode.

I have heard an average minimum figure of $ 10,000 to do all three.

If the film needs any FILM restoration at all then all bets are off on the cost. . . and most bad DVD masters comes from bad film elements.

Sadly, this is where the studios "cheap up"

Sorry.

No easy answers.


-30-

Keep in mind that there are three steps to get to the DVD or HD-DVD.

1 -- the actual film print
2 -- the film-to-tape / data trasnfer
3 -- the compression encode.

I have heard an average minimum figure of $ 10,000 to do all three.


Thats a useful figure. So indie / small movies would need about 1,000 to 2,000 copies sold (assuming $10 to $5 margin) to break even.

Yes, thanks. That IS a very useful number. 5-digit $ is a fair chunk of change for a small studio.

An example of one such poor quality DVD is The Road Home (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0235060/). My (legal) Chinese copy of it was released by Beauty Culture Communication (http://www.beauty128.com/), and I got it simply because it was the only one I could get locally. I can only assume that my version was done from a very late generation print, with a quick and dirty (ie. cheap) transfer. I assume the Columbia / Tristar DVD version of it looks 10 times better.

I do note though that my copy of Yi Yi (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0244316/) from Fox Lorber is even worse, albeit partially for other reasons.