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...And that my friends, is how you layout specs. Simple enough for anyone to read and understand, yet concrete enough to minimize interpretation variances. Lo

...And that my friends, is how you layout specs. Simple enough for anyone to read and understand, yet concrete enough to minimize interpretation variances. Love that change log.

gcb0 9y ago
not really. this how you do not do it. I'm particularly bugged by their list of approved cameras. it's silly. exclude most of the interesting cameras in the market for 4k now. my bet is that they are receiving so much submissions, and actually buying all of them, that I guess the company, or a few clever individuals, saw the "consulting" or equipment renting/financing potential and will try to monetize on selling cookie cutter packages.
- Analemma_ 9y ago
  They did say that additional cameras could be approved on a case-by-case basis. And anyway, professional shoots and productions aren't hobbyists. They don't want "interesting" cameras, they want proven, reliable cameras.
- modfodder 9y ago
  What cameras would you prefer shooting on that isn't listed? I'm not seeing anything that I'd prefer to shoot on (other than film). Cameras like the Sony A7s or the Panasonic GH5 are great for the low budget film, but if Netflix green lights your project, you can afford much better cameras. Unless the project calls for really small and unobtrusive cameras, in which case Netflix would most likely approve the use of whatever camera best fits the project.
  - martinbalsam 9y ago
    I would say that the Arri Alexa SXT is a better camera than most of the cameras listed there.
    - modfodder 9y ago
      That's valid. And kinda surprised it's not listed. Any other cameras that would make sense to be on the list?
    - frankchn 9y ago
      I suspect the Arri Alexas are not on the list because they do not have "a true 4K sensor (equal to or greater than 4096 photosites wide)." The SXT has a 3404 x 2202 resolution when used in open-gate format.
      - fgandiya 9y ago
        Yeah, that's their reason https://backlothelp.netflix.com/hc/en-us/articles/229498668-Can-I-shoot-on-the-ARRI-Alexa-Amira- https://backlothelp.netflix.com/hc/en-us/articles/229498668-...
    - nbm 9y ago
      The Alexa SXT doesn't match the first requirement - a true 4K sensor. It has a 3424x2202 sensor.
  - gcb0 9y ago
    The projects i am involved are only being paid $1mi by Netflix for long feature. It is hardly money that takes you out of low budget line. Granted, it is "free" 1mi since they still keep box office and rights.... If you are not filming in a place where equipment rental is free like the US, GH5's become very inviting as your second (and third) camera.
    - modfodder 9y ago
      Is this for projects funded (at least partially) by Netflix before production? Would love to hear more about your experiences (both with Netflix and general filmmaking outside the US).
- objclxt 9y ago
  > I guess the company, or a few clever individuals, saw the "consulting" or equipment renting/financing potential Not really, at that level everyone in Hollywood is renting their cameras anyway. Indeed, one of them cameras on that list (the Panavision DXL) is only available to rent, you can't buy it.
- zenburn 9y ago
  They said this how you lay out specs, not this is which cameras you use
joshuak 9y ago
No. This is exactly not how to layout specs. Specs should limit themselves in scope to the deliverables not the mechanisms that produced those deliverables. It is reasonable to say you want a painting that is 4 x 8 and fits on your wall. But dictating that all paintings must be painted with Kolinsky Sable brushes is unreasonable. 4k 10-bit log EXR ACES deliverables, sure thing. But please don't tell Roger Deakins he can't use that camera[1]. http://nofilmschool.com/2012/09/roger-deakins-talking-about-the-arri-alexa-at-ibc http://nofilmschool.com/2012/09/roger-deakins-talking-about-...
- CamperBob2 9y ago
  You were modded down to goatse.cx territory, but I agree. This spec is a recipe for conformity, not creativity. Never mind Deakins, can you imagine handing it to Lars von Trier or Robert Rodriguez?

...And that my friends, is how you layout specs. Simple enough for anyone to read and understand, yet concrete enough to minimize interpretation variances. Love that change log.

gcb0 9y ago

not really. this how you do not do it. I'm particularly bugged by their list of approved cameras. it's silly. exclude most of the interesting cameras in the market for 4k now. my bet is that they are receiving so much submissions, and actually buying all of them, that I guess the company, or a few clever individuals, saw the "consulting" or equipment renting/financing potential and will try to monetize on selling cookie cutter packages.

Analemma_ 9y ago
They did say that additional cameras could be approved on a case-by-case basis. And anyway, professional shoots and productions aren't hobbyists. They don't want "interesting" cameras, they want proven, reliable cameras.
modfodder 9y ago
What cameras would you prefer shooting on that isn't listed? I'm not seeing anything that I'd prefer to shoot on (other than film). Cameras like the Sony A7s or the Panasonic GH5 are great for the low budget film, but if Netflix green lights your project, you can afford much better cameras. Unless the project calls for really small and unobtrusive cameras, in which case Netflix would most likely approve the use of whatever camera best fits the project.
- martinbalsam 9y ago
  I would say that the Arri Alexa SXT is a better camera than most of the cameras listed there.
  - modfodder 9y ago
    That's valid. And kinda surprised it's not listed. Any other cameras that would make sense to be on the list?
  - frankchn 9y ago
    I suspect the Arri Alexas are not on the list because they do not have "a true 4K sensor (equal to or greater than 4096 photosites wide)." The SXT has a 3404 x 2202 resolution when used in open-gate format.
    - fgandiya 9y ago
      Yeah, that's their reason https://backlothelp.netflix.com/hc/en-us/articles/229498668-Can-I-shoot-on-the-ARRI-Alexa-Amira- https://backlothelp.netflix.com/hc/en-us/articles/229498668-...
  - nbm 9y ago
    The Alexa SXT doesn't match the first requirement - a true 4K sensor. It has a 3424x2202 sensor.
- gcb0 9y ago
  The projects i am involved are only being paid $1mi by Netflix for long feature. It is hardly money that takes you out of low budget line. Granted, it is "free" 1mi since they still keep box office and rights.... If you are not filming in a place where equipment rental is free like the US, GH5's become very inviting as your second (and third) camera.
  - modfodder 9y ago
    Is this for projects funded (at least partially) by Netflix before production? Would love to hear more about your experiences (both with Netflix and general filmmaking outside the US).
objclxt 9y ago
> I guess the company, or a few clever individuals, saw the "consulting" or equipment renting/financing potential Not really, at that level everyone in Hollywood is renting their cameras anyway. Indeed, one of them cameras on that list (the Panavision DXL) is only available to rent, you can't buy it.
zenburn 9y ago
They said this how you lay out specs, not this is which cameras you use

joshuak 9y ago

No. This is exactly not how to layout specs. Specs should limit themselves in scope to the deliverables not the mechanisms that produced those deliverables. It is reasonable to say you want a painting that is 4 x 8 and fits on your wall. But dictating that all paintings must be painted with Kolinsky Sable brushes is unreasonable. 4k 10-bit log EXR ACES deliverables, sure thing. But please don't tell Roger Deakins he can't use that camera[1]. http://nofilmschool.com/2012/09/roger-deakins-talking-about-the-arri-alexa-at-ibc http://nofilmschool.com/2012/09/roger-deakins-talking-about-...

CamperBob2 9y ago
You were modded down to goatse.cx territory, but I agree. This spec is a recipe for conformity, not creativity. Never mind Deakins, can you imagine handing it to Lars von Trier or Robert Rodriguez?