I am currently in the final stages of post production on a feature that was shot 2.35 anamorphic. The primary film work has been successfully completed and we are at the stage of effecting the various transfers from IP to HD (2.35/1.78 and 1.33). My question has to do with a color timing anomaly I'm experiencing in this process. As I'm sure everyone has experienced, in answer printing there will occasionally be a partial flash of varying color or density in the first frame of a new shot. It's an artefact caused by the timing valves not quite fully adjusting from the previous shots' values. In my past experience working with flat negatives (mostly 1.85) this anomaly is largely masked by the relatively generous frame line. In other words, the color and density error takes place in non-image parts of the frame. In this 2.35 anamorphic picture there is virtually no frame line beyond the splice itself so, although you may get the benefit of maximizing film real estate, all the evils of the splice and the aforementioned color timing flashes are painfully apparent.
In a projection environment at real time these problems are hard to see. You really have to know what you're looking for. However, on video, and in particular during the non-real time critical analysis that video masters are now subject to by international distributors, these problem jump out by the dozen. I?m wondering if anyone else has had to deal with these peculiar anamorphic issues of quality control. Are there particular types of registered optical printers that would eliminate these color flashes? Am I simply applying 21st century video standards to a 20th century film technology? Any constructive thoughts are welcomed.
