Action safe markers

[David Desio]

Hey guys,

Quick question for you. When monitoring for broadcast HD output, what aspect ratio do you set your action safe markers for? I did a shoot and almost got burned by the headroom. We fixed it in post but Im just curious.

[Stephen Williams]

Hey guys,

Quick question for you. When monitoring for broadcast HD output, what aspect ratio do you set your action safe markers for? I did a shoot and almost got burned by the headroom. We fixed it in post but Im just curious.

 

There is very little & sometimes zero cut off on a modern flat panel.

[David Desio]

Thanks for the reply. When I said that I almost got burned, it was a call from the director who was freaking because the head room dipped very close to the top of the action safe lines overlaid in After Effects. I asked if he'd tried it on an actual TV but at the time he had not. Never got any angry calls from the client and all of the spots have run on TV to I think Im safe, just wanted to know what you all do.

[Stephen Williams]

Thanks for the reply. When I said that I almost got burned, it was a call from the director who was freaking because the head room dipped very close to the top of the action safe lines overlaid in After Effects. I asked if he'd tried it on an actual TV but at the time he had not. Never got any angry calls from the client and all of the spots have run on TV to I think Im safe, just wanted to know what you all do.

 

TV's used to have a huge amount of cut off, so action safe was important. If the clip is used on the web there will ber zero cut off. In any case why should heads not be cut some of the time especially when bald!

[Brian Drysdale]

A friend of mine, who does a lot of operating on major UK dramas, often just put the top of head on the safe action area line, he didn't frame for headroom in the safe action area. Of course, with flat screen TV. it's not the same.