"Director's Cut" in FCP/DVDSP

[LarsCA]

OK, so I think this might be too hard to do, but I'll ask anyway.

I'm working on a wedding video where I'd like to do a "director's cut" version as well as a "theatrical release" (corny titles, I know). Basically what I want to do is to have one version of the wedding where everything is included: the whole ceremony, the full length toasts, money dance and all of that. Then I'd also like to do one version where all is included but shortened down a lot. Not a highlights montage, but rather a version with shortened down toasts and so on. Also, in the shorter version I'd like to substitute the full length ceremony with a shorter musical montage version. It's sort of like on DVDs you rent or buy where there are two different endings and you can choose which one you'd like to watch.

To do this, will I need to lay down two different sequences from FCP - one full length (A) and one short (B) - and have them as completely separate versions from the DVDSP menu, or can I somehow tell DVDSP to chose track B for certain parts in the full length (A) version to make it a short one (B)?

If I'm not making myself clear, please let me know and I'll try to elaborate.

[Dee Boz]

To do this, will I need to lay down two different sequences from FCP - one full length (A) and one short (B) - and have them as completely separate versions from the DVDSP menu, or can I somehow tell DVDSP to chose track B for certain parts in the full length (A) version to make it a short one (B)?

If I'm not making myself clear, please let me know and I'll try to elaborate.

You can definitely tell DVDSP to jump to certain other parts of the program once it reaches the end of a chapter. Select a chapter marker within the DVDSP timelien and select teh "End Jump" and tell it where yo uwant it to go after that chapter is over. Just make sure yo uhave plenty of chapter markers at key points and you can have it do whatever yo uwant.

Make sense?

[RatVega]

OK, so I think this might be too hard to do, but I'll ask anyway.

I'm working on a wedding video where I'd like to do a "director's cut" version as well as a "theatrical release" (corny titles, I know). Basically what I want to do is to have one version of the wedding where everything is included: the whole ceremony, the full length toasts, money dance and all of that. Then I'd also like to do one version where all is included but shortened down a lot. Not a highlights montage, but rather a version with shortened down toasts and so on. Also, in the shorter version I'd like to substitute the full length ceremony with a shorter musical montage version. It's sort of like on DVDs you rent or buy where there are two different endings and you can choose which one you'd like to watch.

To do this, will I need to lay down two different sequences from FCP - one full length (A) and one short (B) - and have them as completely separate versions from the DVDSP menu, or can I somehow tell DVDSP to chose track B for certain parts in the full length (A) version to make it a short one (B)?

If I'm not making myself clear, please let me know and I'll try to elaborate.

There are several ways to get this done depending on your goals:

To simply cut parts of the long version out, adding chapter markers in the FCP timeline and exporting them in your output is probably the best/easiest method. You can then make a Story in DVDSP to create the short version.

If the clip is already exported from FCP, you can mark it with chapter markers in the DVDSP track, but these markers are only available on GOP boundaries, GOP boundaries are typically every 15 frames (roughly every half second) so unless you have a lot of "fade to black" punctuation you'll have continuity issues.

If you need to include unique footage in the "Director's Cut" you have the trickiest scenario; for this you'll want to plan ahead and build the movie in discrete sequences with the constructs of DVDSP Stories in mind or simply make to full output clips. Two full clips may pose a problem with overall size on the DVD.

[LarsCA]

Thanks for your answers. Since I have no clue how story works (I can barely make a simple DVDSP) I understand that this is too advanced for me at this point. I'll have to revisit the subject later when I've had more time learning the program. I think I might be able to create the "end jump to here" version, but to substitute clips within the track seems a bit too advanced for a poor schmuck like me.

I appreciate the answers and at least now I know it can be done - just not by me at this point on the learning curve. :dance1:

[RatVega]

Thanks for your answers. Since I have no clue how story works (I can barely make a simple DVDSP) I understand that this is too advanced for me at this point. I'll have to revisit the subject later when I've had more time learning the program. I think I might be able to create the "end jump to here" version, but to substitute clips within the track seems a bit too advanced for a poor schmuck like me.

I appreciate the answers and at least now I know it can be done - just not by me at this point on the learning curve. :dance1:

Don't be too easily discouraged! Yes, you could always make a short version in FCP if you have room on the DVD.

Stories are really pretty easy. If your movie is pretty much "seamless" then you'll need to add chapter marks in the FCP timeline. If the movie was built "modular" then encoding the modules individually will solve the GOP problems in DVDSP.

A Story is nothing more than a re-interpretation of a DVDSP track that uses the chapter marks to change the sequencing and allow exactly what you're talking about. I use Stories to get scene selections (First Dance, Bouquet Toss, etc.) in wedding movies all the time.

Irrespective of what you do on this project, you'll be happy to know that a "definitive" tutorial on authoring with DVDSP will be available shortly from Ripple Training. The content is comprehensive and easy to understand, and the editing and graphics are excellent... :innocent: (more people should hire that guy...)