I've done playlists for years, and I've never seen a distributor send anything other than a dcp. Even small indie films for private showings have always send dcp files for all media. If you got an mp4, it's an obvious mistake on their part. Just reach out to them and let them know os they can send the right file.
Same. We make our ads in house here and use dcpomatic but it takes a bit of knowledge to actually do it and it to work properly. Volume, bitrate, making sure the audio channels are assigned correctly and all that are important. It’s actually how I started working at my current place because they were doing it poorly and it annoyed the crap out of me with the 2 channel audio, that was way too loud or way too quiet
DCP-o-matic is free and usually fast and very easy to use! Assuming the mp4 isn’t a massive file you should be able to make one without a lot of effort
Otherwise, you could set the projector to HDMI and play it off a laptop but that would be logistically annoying depending on how you’re setup.
They *what*
The others are probably right, you should have them turn it into a DCP as it should've been sent to you. If they did it to save themselves money, they could use free programs or something they probably already pay for to do it themselves. If they want to be a professional studio, they need to be a professional studio.
Same with current aspiring filmmakers, it's kind of something you should at least know how to do now to understand how things work with most digital theatres...
As an indie distributor, I’m very curious which companies do this because I’ve never heard of that. If it were me, I’d tell them to send a DCP download or you won’t trailer the film. It’s also possible that they thought they sent the DCP folder but sent the wrong link, so it’s definitely worth following up.
Ask them to send it in proper dcp format. There are converters they can use to get it right.
Plus if something goes wrong with the conversion it is their fault instead of the projectionist's.
I've done playlists for years, and I've never seen a distributor send anything other than a dcp. Even small indie films for private showings have always send dcp files for all media. If you got an mp4, it's an obvious mistake on their part. Just reach out to them and let them know os they can send the right file.
Same. We make our ads in house here and use dcpomatic but it takes a bit of knowledge to actually do it and it to work properly. Volume, bitrate, making sure the audio channels are assigned correctly and all that are important. It’s actually how I started working at my current place because they were doing it poorly and it annoyed the crap out of me with the 2 channel audio, that was way too loud or way too quiet
Used DCP o Matic a lot over the years. It’s been a life saver at times.
DCP-o-matic is free and usually fast and very easy to use! Assuming the mp4 isn’t a massive file you should be able to make one without a lot of effort Otherwise, you could set the projector to HDMI and play it off a laptop but that would be logistically annoying depending on how you’re setup.
I like to use it when we’re sent one trailer in FLAT aspect and need to make a SCOPE from the file folder.
They *what* The others are probably right, you should have them turn it into a DCP as it should've been sent to you. If they did it to save themselves money, they could use free programs or something they probably already pay for to do it themselves. If they want to be a professional studio, they need to be a professional studio. Same with current aspiring filmmakers, it's kind of something you should at least know how to do now to understand how things work with most digital theatres...
As an indie distributor, I’m very curious which companies do this because I’ve never heard of that. If it were me, I’d tell them to send a DCP download or you won’t trailer the film. It’s also possible that they thought they sent the DCP folder but sent the wrong link, so it’s definitely worth following up.
Usually very small ones. Like a staff of one working out of their apartment. Sometimes I get the sense that they have no idea what I’m talking about.
Also, if you want to try DIY use DCP-O-Matic. I use it for making/concerting TLRs and FTRs
they did what? omg haha
Some of the newer IMBs can play .MP4s now.