Digital Lightworks Frequently Asked Questions


1. When I use a "droplet" to convert my project, a quicktime file appears, but when I click it, it says "This is not a movie file." What gives?

A: When you use a droplet, and the file appears, it's actually in the process of being converted. Unfortunately, there's no status bar that tells you this. The longer your project, the longer it will take. A 10 minute video could take around 15+ minutes to finish. The important part is that you make sure you can play the video before burning it to a Data Disc.


2. What is a "data DVD" and how do I make one/get one?

A: A data disc means that we want your digital quicktime file and NOT an authored DVD. If you made the DVD in iDVD, you did it wrong. To make a data dvd, insert a blank DVD-R disc (available at places like Michigan Book and Supply, Best Buy, etc.) into a Mac computer. The Mac may prompt you and ask if you'd like to "Open the disc in Finder". You want to open the disc in finder, so click "ok". It will then appear in Finder as a blank disc, which you can drag your video file onto. After you drag the file onto the disc, click "Burn" in the upper right hand corner of the finder window (while the disc is selected). If your project will fit on a data CD, feel free to use that instead of DVD.

Just to reiterate, if your disc has a menu and plays in a DVD player, you did it wrong. We just want a copy of your digital video file.


3. I converted my project to H.264 and the drop in quality is really noticeable, what can I do?

A:  While most people who shot on miniDV are finding that H.264 works well, some people are expressing concerns, mainly those with transfers from film. If you are experiencing problems with H.264, you may export using the Apple Pro Res 422 HQ codec, which is also included in the "droplet" pack. Please email fvsa.info@umich.edu and let us know if you intend to use Apple Pro Res instead of H.264. If you cannot see a difference in quality, please use H.264 as it takes up less hard drive space.


4. What if my project isn't done by Wednesday at 5pm?

A:  You must put some sort of physical placeholder in the submission box by 5pm. An empty dvd or miniDV case will do. Please label it with your class number, title, and your name. If you don't put in a placeholder, we assume you won't be done for Lightworks.


5. I put a placeholder in the box, now what?

A:  FVSA board members will be stationed in the FVSA office (4345 Michigan Union 4th floor), from 10am to Noon on Friday the 18th to accept late submissions (that had placeholders by Wednesday). We will not be taking any projects after 12 Noon on Friday. Forget about running into Nat Sci last minute, it's unprofessional and disrespectful to your fellow students and audience members.

As some of you may be aware, the FVSA is attempting our first ever digital running of the Lightworks Festival. After conferring with media experts from ISS to the Duderstadt and doing testing in the Natural Science Auditorium, we have arrived at a set of formats.

• For those of you who shot videos on miniDV or are editing in DV, you will be using H.264 at best quality, and outputting in the resolution of your Final Cut Sequence.

• For those of you who shot on an HVX and are editing in DVCPRO HD, you will be using Apple Pro Res 422 (HQ) also putting out in the resolution of your Final Cut Sequence.

• 300 projects are still being shown on 16mm reels with their sound on miniDV tapes (please put holes in your leader and a signal in your miniDV tape to allow the projectionists to synch your sound).

For anyone worried about H.264: Yes it is a compression, but it is optimized for playback on a computer, while DV is optimized for playback on a Standard Def TV Screen. You should not see any noticeable drop in quality, and H.264 will actually look better when played back on a computer. It has been tested in Nat Sci and looks good.

Please no color bars or countdowns on Digital files. 5 seconds of black, before and after your project will suffice.


How to Export and Turn in your Project:

Attached to this email are 4 files, called "droplets." If you are uncomfortable exporting using Quicktime Compressor in Final Cut Pro, you may use these files on any campus computer with Final Cut Studio to easily convert to a Lightworks format.

Click here to Download Droplets

To use a droplet:
1. Download the "droplets" to the desktop.
2. In Final Cut Pro, with your project open go to File>Export>Quicktime Movie (using "current settings") and save it to the desktop.
3. If you are on a central campus or ISS computer, you will be using one of the droplets ending with "_FCP6". If you are at the Duderstadt Center on North Campus, you will be using one of the droplets ending with "_FCP7"
4. Drag your exported project from Final Cut onto the appropriate "droplet" and it will automatically generate a copy of your project in the correct format, placing it on the desktop.
NOTE: When naming your digital file, please put your course number first, followed by a dash and then your title (example: 301-My Awesome Movie.mov)

Turning in your project:

SAC 300 reels should be turned in to the crate in Argus Film Equipment, with miniDV sound taped to the INSIDE of the reel. Please label your reel with Title, makers, and course number.

Digital Submissions should be burned to a DVD-R DATA DISC and placed in the cardboard box in the Department of Screen Arts and Cultures Office (6th floor Haven Hall). Please label the DVD with your course number, title, makers, and any other relevant information. NOTE: When naming your digital file, please put your course number first, followed by a dash and then your title (example: 301-My Awesome Movie.mov)

For projects larger than will fit on a DVD, an FVSA Board member will be stationed in our Office (4345 Michigan Union 4th floor) on FRIDAY, the 18th from 10am to Noon and will be able to do a file transfer via hard drives. We would like to do it sooner than that, so if you have your project done early, please email fvsa.info@umich.edu to set up an appointment.


DUE DATES and PLACEHOLDERS:

To ensure your place in the festival, you must turn in your project OR a placeholder (a labelled and empty DVD case or reel), by 5pm on Wednesday Dec. 16th. If you fail to turn in a placeholder, we assume you no longer wish to be in the festival. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS THIS YEAR.

If you turn in a placeholder by Wednesday Dec. 16th at 5pm, then your actual project is due in the FVSA office (4345 Michigan Union 4th floor) NO LATER than 12 Noon on Friday Dec. 18th. An FVSA board member will be stationed in the office from 10am until 12 noon. AGAIN THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS


If you have any questions or concerns, please email: fvsa.info@umich.edu

Lightworks Electronic Submission for Spring 2010 will Open after Spring Break

The Lightworks Electronic Submission form will not be available until Submission Opens.

So you made it to www.um-fvsa.org, and you want to register your project for Lightworks via "Lightworks Electronic Submission", but you don't know how to do it?

It's actually quite simple. You see, in order to keep just anybody from registering for Lightworks, we make you register at um-fvsa.org first. Once you've done that, just login to um-fvsa.org, and magically *poof* a link will appear on the left hand side of the page, in the "Lightworks Menu," titled "Lightworks Electronic Submission."

If you're at all unsure about the information you should enter, remember to hover your mouse over the tool tips (we'll remind you that we don't like long synopsis in the "Brief Synopsis" field), or email us at:

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Click here to register an account at um-fvsa.org.