Requests
All requests should be sent to postproduction@emerson.edu
Please note that DCP creation is only guaranteed for VMA Thesis screenings. All other requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Acceptable Submission Formats
In order to achieve the highest quality DCP, we will need a copy of your film using an uncompressed codec. Please export using one of the following formats:
Quicktime - Apple ProRes 422 or Apple ProRes 4444 (.mov) - Mac
DNxHR HQX or DNxHR 444 (.mxf) - PC
Standard Resolutions for DCPs
DCPs are limited to the "standard" resolutions of digital cinematic projection. Theses standards are as follows:
1998 x 1080 (1.85:1 - 2K Flat)
2048 x 858 (2.39:1 - 2K Scope)
3996 x 2160 (1.85:1 - 4K Flat)
4096 x 1716 (2.39:1 - 4K Scope)
*16:9 and 4:3 films should be submitted without any pillarboxing (no black bars). The post team needs to know the exact resolution of your film without these bars. The resulting DCP will be windowed (pillarboxed or letterboxed) during the DCP process but it will be labeled with the film's true aspect ratio for projectionists to accommodate, if possible.
Audio Mixing
Unless otherwise requested, your DCP will be encoded with stereo audio.
If you have mixed in 5.1 surround, please let us know and deliver six corresponding mono audio tracks labeled C, L, Ls, R, Rs, and LFE. Contact the post team if you have questions about this.
Necessary Information
Please provide the post team with the following information about your film
Film Title
Resolution
Aspect Ratio
Frame Rate
Audio Language
Captions Language (if applicable)
Submissions
We are currently accepting files over Google Drive. Please share the uploaded file with postproduction@emerson.edu
If you are a student on the Boston campus, you can schedule a time to deliver your file in person with a post manager. This is typically faster than delivering on Google Drive.
Delivery
The encoded DCP will be shared with you via Google Drive. If you are in need of a Linux-format file, please contact the post team for more information.
Important Reminder
Due to the nature of projection technology, viewing a film on a projector will differ noticeably from watching the same film on a backlit OLED display, such as those in the DPL suites. Projectors are designed to be bright enough to fill large screening spaces, which often results in elevated black levels and less shadow detail compared to OLED displays. This is a common characteristic of digital film exhibition, and many filmmakers create multiple versions of their films tailored for different platforms (theatrical screenings, online platforms, streaming services, etc.).
If your film is intended primarily for projection, we recommend taking full advantage of the projector’s brightness. Specifically, ensure your highlights peak close to 100 on the color correction waveform to achieve the strongest possible contrast. Additionally, consider setting your project's working color space to Gamma 2.4, which is better suited for dark-room projection environments.
Contacts
For more information, please contact the Post team:
postproduction@emerson.edu will contact our entire team, or reach out individually: