Appendix 1

After the Film Is Finished: Distribution
like a mess. The fi rst frame of the new shot needs to be a new, complete frame. The person
designing the compression will also want to place markers at any place where a complete frame
will improve the look of the video. Any time the image changes abruptly—a snap pan, any
sudden movement by characters or the camera—it should receive a compression marker at the
beginning and end of the sudden change. Compression markers can be placed into the metadata
from Final Cut Pro during the edit, or it can be added in DVD compression design. Chapter
markers can also be added in the same way. Chapter markers can be used in the DVD menu for
navigation.
To add compression and chapter markers in Final Cut Pro:
• While in the timeline, add a marker (M key or marker menu).
• In the marker menu, select Edit Marker.
• Select Compression or Chapter.
The compression can also be designed and performed right in Final Cut Pro. Once all the markers
are in, export using compressor from the fi le menu. The compression is also designed by selecting
what kind of compression will be used to create what codec and many other options.
The same graphic designer who is designing the posters and other art will likely create title media
and graphics for menus and navigation. Photoshop fi les can be imported directly into DVD Studio
Pro and converted to navigation menus. Many of the same guidelines discussed in Chapter 8 on
digital titles will apply here, too.
There are two ways to deliver the fi nished DVD for DVD duplication:
• The fi nished fi les and DVD Studio Pro project can be delivered on a portable drive. They could
also be sent via FTP over the Internet.
• A prototype DVD can be delivered. The labels should be delivered on separate media, perhaps a
CD.
The duplicator will follow one of two workfl ows depending on his or her equipment and the number
of duplicates requested:
• For smaller orders of fewer than 500, the copies will be “burned” to blank media. These are usually
done on an automated system that burns the DVD and prints the label without any supervision.
These are slow and more expensive per copy, but there is no prep or setup, and it is therefore less
expensive on small orders.
• The project will be burned to a “glass master” and this will be used to make a stamping or casting
mold. The copies can now be mass-produced at very high speed and very low cost. However, the
glass mastering is rather expensive, making this system rarely used on small runs.
Glass-mastered DVDs also have the advantage of being much more stable and playable from all
DVD players. The burned DVDs can only be played on more tolerant players. Burned DVDs will
not play on about 15 percent of DVD players, including most portable players.
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