We Are The Walking Dead (Mini-Series) FANedit

[jerryshadoe]

I agree with you completely that it would be odd if he "reads" it before the entire title appears

I showed it to a couple of my neighbors and my wife, and everyone actually liked Rick saying the title so I guess I will include that in the final version. I just need to figure out the exact timing of when he should start saying it as I think that the title is not on-screen long enough for him to "read" it after it's completely on-screen. But I may be wrong, it's just something I have to figure out.

Anyway, I managed to resolve the issue with the virus on my machine and it is now completely gone

I just muxed an AC3 encoded 5.1 English track with the "master" 1080p video so that I can watch it and make sure that everything encoded properly and that the custom grain levels I applied look right. Once I have previewed it, I will encode an SD copy of the film which I will use to help me make the English subtitles (first off, I'll need an SD encode anyway, and it will be easier for my computer to play the SD video instead of the full HD 1080p video when I'm creating the subtitles in Subtitle Workshop.)

Once I have finished the English subtitles and finish re-timing Rick "reading" the title, I will start working on all foreign language tracks. I'm pretty sure that I can identify most of the places where dialog cuts out wrong and be able to fix it myself. I will still need native speakers to verify it and help me translate the English subtitles (which I will provide for a timecoded reference) As soon as I have the SD copy encoded, I will make the video available to those that can help and I will provide a rough cut of all languages as separate files that the people helping can mux themselves (unless this is a problem and I need to mux it, which is fine as well) The audio will be only the center channel for verification as after it's verified to be ok, I will start creating the custom 5.1 mixes for all the foreign languages. I still have to watch the movie with all channels in-tact, EXCEPT the center, to see where there is dialog bleed-over into other channels (I already know that part of Glen talking to Rick in the tank the first time and some of the computer talking at the CDC bleeds into those other channels)

Then, once everything has been verified and all audio/subtitle tracks are created I am nearly done. Just need to create the menus/cover and disc art and author the actual disc. We are almost there...

Thanx to all that have helped me and all of those that have been following the progress of this project; all your help is helping make this a lot more solid of a release. Can't wait to finish this so that I can start working on the second film. I'm sure some of you have some ideas/suggestions for things to include/exclude in the second film and I am very open to hearing it all AFTER I start my initial editing as I don't want my concept to be "tainted" with other people's ideas. I want to cut the film together based on what I think will work for the storyline I want to present and then have a discussion about how to improve it from there

Now, back to work...

[jedeitor]

I agree that the "work system" with the next movies must be the same as this one. You make a first cut and then we watch it and try to improve it from there, but it basically will be your vision, as that's what all this is about.

About the title, if Rick hasn't enough time to read it once it's on the screen, maybe you could extend the title screen some more frames. But that would mean to recode everything again... forget it. Maybe it just fits, check it out.

You could also alter the speed of the phrase a little but preserving the pitch.

[jerryshadoe]

Ok, so I just got done watching the 1080p encode and have, both, good news and bad news.

The bad news is that I will have to encode the video, not one but, two more times. Why?! There are so many different cuts and splices in my project that Vegas is having a hard time keeping up with the work-load. There are three different instances where the video encoded either very pixelated (which it didn't do before certain re-cuts and I think it might be due to the TYPE of frame that the cuts were made at-those with the technical knowledge here will know what I'm talking about) and/or there are a couple of cropping issue with the cropping being a f*cking frame off. This ONLY happens when I try to encode the project into an AVC (bluray compliant) file BUT does NOT happened when I render the project into a lossless AVI. So, I have to pull out one of the spare 4TB HDDs and render the project losslessly, then from that encode render the actual "master" 1080p AVC file for the bluray release. Here, because there is no compression, I am only limited by the speed of the CPU and HDD, so I will start the encode after I finish this post and by the time I wake up tomorrow and start working on this again, it should be done. Then, because all of the grain and everything else is already layered onto the video, plus the fact that it will be from a single continuous file, the encode should be done in less than 24 hours There are also 6 very minor audio issues, including the title, that need to be fixed.

The good news is that the video looks fantastic. The custom grain levels that I applied from shot to shot really helped make the scenes "pop-out" more off the screen and now, mostly, the grain level is at a consistent level thorough the entire film. There are a couple of instances where the grain was super heavy on the original footage and there was little I could do to adjust it to the levels I have for the rest. Overall, because it's so rare, I don't think anyway will notice anyway

I checked the timing of the title and length of rick "reading" the title and there is actually enough there where I don't have to extend the video which would make it awkward due to the music ending when it does.

NOT the news I wanted to deliver, but I wanted to keep things "up-to-date" and felt that I should mention where I am with the project. I guess the one good thing that has come out of this taking so long is that I have LEARNED A LOT during this and think that the next films will come together faster as I already know what to avoid and have figured out certain tricks/techniques for moving things quicker and further

[spoRv]

A lossless "digital intermediate" is the best option, if you have spare HDD space, of course!
Then, use the x264 CLI is the best option to encode it in AVC, ready for the BD.

Experience teaches a lot; hope the next "generation" of project makers will learn something from this forum, to avoid to spend all the time we spent understanding the best way to do certain things!

[jerryshadoe]

@ Andrea - I am sticking to using Vegas for the encoding of the AVC file, as they are always bluray compliant and I am familiar with all of the settings in the program. I am also using Sony's DoStudioAuthoring app for the bluray authoring and the two programs work together very well. In subtitleworkshop there is an option to export to a DSA formatted subtitle file that helps me save time on customizing the subtitles

As far as the "newer generation" of project makers, I hope that by posting some of our "victories" and "defeats" it will help others figure out how to approach their own projects and that it helps them realize that if they have problems that they are not alone... plus there is a community here that can help with advice/suggestions/feedback/etc.

@ ALL - So I have been kinda busy with family stuff and didn't have much time to work on this until today. But...

I HAVE GREAT NEWS!!!

FINALLY!!!!!!

The 1080p "master" video is properly encoded and NO further editing or encoding will be necessary (besides, of course, the down-scaled editions, but that's easy stuff)

The 5.1 DTS-HDMA English "master" is encoded and NO further editing will be necessary...

I have about 40% of the English Hearing Impaired subtitles completed. Of course, I will provide "regular" subtitles too, but I felt that the H.I. subtitles are important and helps make this a more professional-looking release. It took me about 5 hours to do the 40%, so I think that by tomorrow tonight I should have those finished as well

This means that this coming week will be devoted to "assembling" the foreign language audio and subtitle tracks. To those that have offered to help, I will PM you with links as soon as I have something tangible to work with

For now, this is the end of my update and now it's time for bed...

[jedeitor]

Ok, we will wait then.

[jedeitor]

Jerry, for the second season I would like to try to "erase" burnt in credits in photoshop. Probably the result won't be useable but I least I want to try it. It would be nice to avoid those "zoomed in" scenes.

[jerryshadoe]

It would be as hard to get rid of those on-screen credits as it is to get rid of a tv-logo on some footage. The results are usually pretty bad and cropping is still the best way to go. You are welcome to try, but IMHO it would just be a waste of time. Besides, the cropped segments don't look bad and there are very few of them.

UPDATE: The English subtitles are now 90% done. When I wake up, I will finish them pretty quickly and then start working on syncing the foreign language tracks

Hopefully, within the next couple of weeks I can have everything put together and finally release this. I am still tinkering with the idea of a "commentary track" and whether I want to include one or not... Done right, it could be a cool extra feature

[jerryshadoe]

UPDATE: The English subtitles are finished
I just have to double-check them and make sure there is no time overlap but I think all is good. Will watch the film to verify and then I can start work on the foreign language tracks

side-note: wow, this is a popular thread! the second most-viewed on this forum. Thanx for all the support and interest in this project as it's extra motivation to continue on

[spoRv]

Well done, Jerry!!!