Digital Redefined

The DV Awards' Martin Rhodes sheds new light on digital movies

by Jennifer M. Wood | Published February 3, 2007

Martin Rhodes

For most people, the term "digital movie" implies only that a project was shot on a digital camera-without taking into account the post-production process. But for Martin Rhodes, founder of the biannual DV Awards, the term is not that specific. "I think you'd be hard pressed to find anybody out there who produces anything that isn't done digitally in some aspect," he says. As a result of this expanded definition, the works that are celebrated with the DV Awards include those shot on both film and video-but have been "touched" by digital technology in some way. Whether it's a music video or television commercial, short documentary or feature comedy, Rhodes' year-old competition is changing the way people view-and define-digital projects.

Here, Rhodes speaks with MM about the future of his competition and where he thinks the digital revolution will eventually lead us.

Jennifer Wood (MM): How did the idea for the DV Awards first come about?

Martin Rhodes (MR): I work at a production company. A few years ago, in one day, we had three people who came in with DV material they needed dubbed. We realized that there were very few venues for them to show this work, and thought that we would create one.

MM: While many people consider the digital medium only as it relates to shooting, you take post-production into account, as well. Can you talk about your definition of a "digital" film?

MR: That's a blurry definition that seems to be changing all the time. I think you'd be hard pressed to find anybody out there who produces anything that isn't done digitally in some aspect. The only exception I know of would be Steven Spielberg, who I understand still edits the old-fashioned way. Still, a lot of his films are touched up digitally with color correction and CGI.

Basically what we're saying is that "digital" touches everything. We're targeting people who are shooting on DV, but we're not excluding others. We've seen several 35mm works submitted that have been edited on Final Cut Pro. Really, we're jumping on the bandwagon of all this availability of low-cost editing equipment and desktop editing options.

MM: You mention digital editing as being a "low-cost" editing option. I think many people still often equate the terms "digital" and "low-budget." How accurate do you think this is, today?

MR: I don't think "digital" is "low-budget." It's the time, in my opinion, that is the determining factor [to use a digital option]. You can spend a small amount of time and not get very good results or you could spend a lot of time and get much better results, but you wouldn't necessarily be spending that much money. In my opinion, because of digital, you can get much better results-both technically and aesthetically-because it makes things much more affordable.

MM: In addition to feature films, you accept and judge television commercials, music videos, corporate and sports videos. Do you see one of these types of projects benefiting from the medium more than the others, or do you think that each type of project can benefit from the ease of digital medium equally?

MR: Oh yeah, I think it benefits just about everything. As far as television and video, it's not so much of a departure from what's been done in the past as it is for film and feature-length stuff-that's been the biggest departure.

MM: In the past 10 years, which aspect of moviemaking do you think has been the most dramatically affected by the so-called "digital revolution"?

MR: I guess editing. Because now the director can truly have his own cut. He can sit on his laptop and truly have a "director's cut." With programs like After Effects, there are incredible things that you can still do on a desktop and you can do your own limited effects.

We had a guy come in here to do a commercial all on Premiere and After Effects. And it was a pretty stunning little piece of work because he just went out and shot a few shots on Mini DV and he came in here, had it dubbed over and now it's running on the Sci Fi Channel.

MM: In the next 10 years, which areas of moviemaking do you see becoming even more affected by the digital innovation?

MR: I think it's going to continue into feature films-especially stuff that's shot for television. I think it's going to be almost all shot on HD or some digital format. I think there will be some people like Spielberg who still hold out on true film, but I think the majority of the stuff is going to be done digitally. On the low level right now, I think it's already made a big jump. Going into feature stuff, I think it will continue. A lot of those people don't change that easily, but I think the bean counters will dictate that.

MM: Where do you see the biggest need-or most room-for improvement of the digital technology, as far as the future is concerned?

MR: Probably, and I know they're going this route, in projection and digital cinemas. There are some fairly new movie theaters in my area, and I remember thinking-even a few years ago-that I was getting a better picture watching something at home on DVD that at the theater. So I think they're going to have to address that soon. And to be honest, I have not seen a true digital cinema yet. But I think that's going to happen.

MM: With the DV Awards, can you let know a little bit more about them: they take place twice a year, correct?

MR: Yes.

MM: And where and when do they happen?

MM: Well we don't have a film festival, per se, so we don't have any public screenings. It's more of a contest. We bring in people who are experts in their industry and have a lot of experience to do the judging.

MM: When did the event first start?

MR: Last fall, so we've had two Awards so far.

MM: Where are you hoping the DV Awards go in the future?

Right now, I'm looking at keeping it a judging event. It may grow to the point where screenings are a demand, but right now I'm not looking at that. Eventually, I would like to have all the films screened on the Internet, though we're probably a year or two away from that. But I would say if we do a screening, it will probably be something Web-based.

For more information, visit http://www.dvawards.com