Letterbox?

[chlsy8]

I was told that it is better to have a letterbox (blackbar on the top and bottom) before finalizing the movie to make it look more like a film, is that true?

I shot my film in 16:9 HD video and now I think I will have some composition problems if I letterbox it.

 

[Chris Tempel]

If you're planning to crop your video to different aspect ratio (don't letterbox, crop it instead), you should shoot it with the crop in mind. On the Canon DSLRs, Magic Lantern makes this easy by displaying a guide where the crop will be. If you didn't plan for it, don't do it.

 

[Sweetie]

What are you planning on doing with your movie? If you're going to put it onto DVD/Bluray or even vod letterboxing is just silly.

Unless someone really wants you to deliver it using letterbox, I suggest don't do it. Leave it in 16:9 format.

 

[MileCreations]

Basically nothing is 4:3 nowadays (letterboxed 16:9 is 4:3) unless they mean letterboxing to make it even wider, something like 2.35:1

 

[jax_rox]

For clarification:

16:9 footage is pillarboxed when turned into 4:3.

To letterbox would be to make 1.78:1 (16:9) wider - perhaps to cut it down to 1.85:1 or 2.39:1.

You should crop, rather than letterbox, and you should have shot the movie with the crop in mind. It doesn't necessarily make it look any more like a 'film', especially if you haven't framed specifically for it.

 

[chlsy8]

thanks guys. was thinking to get 1.85:1 but now after I read your posts, 16:9 seems quite common in festivals

 

[MileCreations]

For clarification:

16:9 footage is pillarboxed when turned into 4:3.

To letterbox would be to make 1.78:1 (16:9) wider - perhaps to cut it down to 1.85:1 or 2.39:1.

You should crop, rather than letterbox, and you should have shot the movie with the crop in mind. It doesn't necessarily make it look any more like a 'film', especially if you haven't framed specifically for it.

Oops I forgot there were two different terms, thanks for picking that up jax