Stage 4: Step printing

 Step printing test

Lending the technique from Wong Kar wai "Chungking Express" and "Happy Together", we experimented with step printing to capture the similar crowded and distressing feel. 

What is step printing?

• Step printing is duplication of film frame, so that there are around 12fps or lower, as the same frame is copy-pasted next to each other into tradtional 24fps. 
• This achieves a blurry, "fast pacing" yet "slowed down" look for the film, as action is repeated and our eyes process the incontinuity by linking the motion blur of each still picture together

(Step printing "map")

(Traditional film with 1/48 shutter speed)

Source: www.austinschmidt.com

• This is different from slow motion as slow motion use "over cranking" (shooting in higher fps then reduce fps down post production)
• However, it can introduce a lot of strobe, noise and uncomfort for audience if overdone

Why did we choose to step printing in our product?

            Zon Zon was the first one to mention this term to us, and I personally had never heard of this term in effect, and worried for the complication of it. Turns out, it is quite easy to achieve, as it's only heavier on the post production level than shooting. Random motion of camera movement and various takes and angles would fabricate a unorganised, detached style of this effect. Some would suggest a tracking one take would make the scene more realistic and dynamic, but we we're able to experiment that as our street is really crowded and tracking at highspeed with a tripod is too heavy for us to handle. 

• Step printing showcases the emotion of the main character
• Step printing showcases the bustling environment that is glaring to look at
• Step printing showcases the dynamic, creative breakout of the pacing 

How did we do it?

        The main editors of step printing are Zon Zon and Rene, by using Da Vinci Resolve. This effect is achieved by:

• Posterize time - This effect locks the layer into a fixed frame rate, making each frame more "choppy/janky" as the fps lower. 
• With the standard 24fps, this effect in Davinci Resolve repeats some selected frame to appear x3, x4 or x5 time to overwrite the real followed frame (similar frame after frame create continuous motion) + (x2 is supposedly 12fps, making 1 frame repeat 2 time and so forth). Thus, the result frame is more disconnected.
• The global blend then overlay the Frame Repeat with the original frame rate, making it look like an after effects, dolly and dreamlike.
• Echo Trail effect - After locking the posterize time for a more janky look, this effect add trail and blur to blend the motion. This creates artificial trail for the image, and controlling the degree of said trail. 

        And this is the end result. Rene and Zon said this is the result of multiple youtube video, freehand adjustment and fine tune later than having a preset fps that they were aiming for. 

 

          Looking at the footage, I love the glaring and atmosphere of it, but wishing the color more interesting and diverse, was less green and black to have more dimension and depth to the footage. This could due to the fact that we color graded the footage before step printing, so that the color after step printed is more exaggerated and less intriguing than stand-alone frame that got manual color grading care. This mix-up is the opportunity cost that we had to endure as we wanted to edit sound and final color grading at the same time (having 3 seperate editors and seperate software), so step printing was pushed the soonest we could. 

             🌱Needless to say, I'm proud of our work and especially Rene and Zon effort to learn and acquire new skills along the way.