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Freekode: Instructions

Disclaimer: Using this program to create a cut list requires you to be hands-on with your film. If the mere thought of getting dust, scratches or fingerprints on your work makes you uncomfortable, Freekode might not be the right solution for you.

Simplified Instructions

• 1.) Export an XML version of your film's Final Cut sequence (version 1)
• 2.) Place the XML file into the 'data' folder in the Freekode directory
• 3.) Run the program

Advanced Instructions

Shoot film.

Do it. Negative or reversal; it doesn't matter when running your project through Freekode (though shooting negative gives you more options to work with and will be the cheaper option when making a final print). No special preparation is needed at this point. You can record sync sound--with crystal-sync gear, unless you're brave--and shoot as you would for any other post-production workflow.

Process.

Send it to the lab or do it on your own. If you do hand-process your film, keep in mind that readable edge code values are essential to not only using this process, but to conforming your negatives at all.

Here's where to save some money: not having footage workprinted. Just get the negatives processed (This is the way most digitally edited 16mm productions are handled today, but you can save even more by forgoing a transfer done by a lab or transfer house when using Freekode. The advantage to actually getting workprints made, however, is the ability to test your cut list before even touching the negative.

Prepare your film.

This is the most labor intensive step in the process. Mark the head and tail of each roll and record the edge code values at both points. Use a sharpie, wax pencil, hole punch or any other method of marking the film permanently on a unique frame.

Manually recording the edge code is essential to what keeps Freekode accurate. The edge numbering appear on the edge of the film marking every 20 frames. It appears in three groups of four characters, the first group is alphanumeric and the last two are numeric only. Frames that fall between those marked with a dot are given a value from 1-19. A frame marked with a dot would be represented in the format: XXXX XXXX XXXX+00.

Examples:

Frames at both the head and tail of the roll with their corresponding video frames.

Transfer.

Use any method available to you. If you do the transfer on your own and with just the negative, you will have to invert your video and work a little color correction magic in order to make it look anything like a positive print would. Also: your projector will make a difference. If your projector is crystal synced or is otherwise in good operating order, a home transfer should withstand this process well. A lab transfer or one made with an Elmo projector designed for flicker-free video transfers will work without issue.

Capture.

Log and capture your rolls from head mark to tail mark as pictured in the image above. If the video shows a mark spread over multiple frames, include in your clip every frame it appears on.

Give each roll a unique name, one which is tied to the physical film reel, that will make it easy to identify in your cut list. This will name the video file "file_name.mov"

Edit.

Cut it the way you would any other project. Add sound. Remember that footage can't be reused unless you are willing to make duplicate of your negatives. Freekode does not make alerts about duplicate footage in the cutlist (just yet) so take care, when editing digitally, to prevent more than one instance of a unique frame being used. Watch for this in Final Cut by turning on Duplicate Frames in the menu of the Timeline window.

Export

Select the sequence you have edited and go to File > Export > XML Interchange. In the dialogue box that appears, select Version 1. ***At this current release, you need to open this file in a text editor, delete the first two lines and save the document. This will be addressed in the next release.***

Run

Name your XML file 'fcp.xml' and drop it into the data folder in the Freekode directory. Open the appliction 'Freekode' and your cut list will be generated. Save it to a .txt file by hitting 's'.

Troubleshooting

Freekode is a Processing sketch with freely available source code so feel free to open it up, take a look and make improvements. Testing is progressing slowly so any feedback or experience is of great value. Let us know, or ask any questions: sixteemillimeter 'at' riseup.net