08 Reasons to Shoot HD in 08

by Tom Miller

1) HD Looks Great! - Let’s face it, HD is gorgeous! And with a crew who knows its nuances - how to light and shoot it - it can be stunning. The greater latitude and resolution gives good DP’s a much broader pallet. And the 16x9 aspect ratio provides a more cinematic canvas. And we all know if your footage looks great, you look great!

2) HD Has Gotten Easier - Much easier - From budgeting through distribution, many of the unknowns that once mystified HD have cleared.  Rates are more fixed, formats have settled, and HD postproduction has gotten much more straightforward. If you’re new to it, call in an experienced DP, and/or a good editor, to help guide you through the process.

3) HD Costs are Down - And Value is Up - Years ago shooting and posting in HD was often more than double the cost of shooting in SD. But equipment costs have come down, and competition has gone up. So call around and you’ll find that fully equipped HD crews, and HD edit suites, have settled into very reasonable rates. However, like with any kind of production the cheapest vendors are seldom the best. So shop around to find the balance that represents the best value - and as always ask for credits, references and reels!

4) HD Crosses all Genres of Production - It’s no longer just the domain of features, high-end television programs, and commercials that used to shoot film. More and more programs are being shot and posted in HD - including corporate marketing and training films.

5) Your Clients and Viewers Want it - We’ve finally reached the point where the equipment manufacturers are no longer driving the demand for HD. Now it’s coming from the clients and the viewers who see it every day, and want it for their productions.

For Steve Schumacher, a producer for American Family Insurance, it’s a no brainer:  “We started shooting and projecting HD for all our major staging events. Our audiences really noticed the difference. People are getting use to seeing HD at home and are getting accustomed to its clarity.  We now acquire footage in HD as much as possible.”

6) HD is a Great Place to Start - no matter where the finished program goes. Even if you plan to post in SD, or are producing for the web, shooting in HD makes more and more sense. First of all, next to film it’s the best looking format out there to originate on. And you can see that, wherever it ends up - on the web, on TV, even on SD DVD’s. But perhaps more importantly, with everything heading to digital and HD, shooting in HD is not only a smarter “future proofing” investment for you and your clients, its rapidly becoming a necessity.

7) HD is Fun! - It’s fun to tell interesting stories with a talented cast and crew. Of course this is true in any format, but there really is something special about doing it with the best tools available!

8) HD Still Gives you an Edge - Even though it’s more prolific, HD still represents the cutting edge in production. This means we’re at that rare junction where you can still be on the forefront without needing a degree in engineering. In other words, as the HD bandwagon moves into 2008, now may be the best time to get on board!