How to reduce without losing quality Premiere Pro (very big project)

[Ben25546385urgb]

Hi!

Pleased to say hello. I am going to send a film to festivals, but the festival website does not allow uploading videos larger than 21.5GB, which is a problem, because I am managing a file of 108Gb for 4k and 309GB for 5k.

How could I reduce it to 21.5GB while losing the minimum possible quality? I know I should use H.264, but I'm afraid to touch something else and lose quality.

Thanks so much.

[Ann Bens]

With all due respect, I think the jury will be more interested in the content of your film than the image quality.

Which codec did you use: post screenshot export settings.

[Ben25546385urgb]

I know that, Ann... but since it's a sci-fi movie and the visual effects are so important, I'd like them not to get lost along the way.

I Use: 4K H.264, High, 5.2, VBR 2 pass 200/250

[Ann Bens]

I attend film festivals and all depends on the equipment they use.

Might want to inquire about the bitrate: think it's way too high.

[Ben25546385urgb]

That's what I thought. How much should I lower it to reduce weight without losing quality? 50/100 maybe?

[Ann Bens]

That's what I thought. How much should I lower it to reduce weight without losing quality? 50/100 maybe?

By @Ben25546385urgb

You need to get the specifics from the people that organize the festival.

[R Neil Haugen]

For many festivals, you need to submit a DCP ... digital cinema package. They all seem to have different requirements which is an oft-discussed pain point of course.

But all of them have their spec sheets ... you need to get that deliverables list they have, and do what they say. Or ... get rejected.

Last ... most do expect an H.264/5 deliverable file, they won't take ProRes for instance. At limited bitrates too. In order to keep at their bitrates, quite often, submissions are rarely in 4k ... for anything. As many are in a more "cinema" aspect ratio, such as 1.85:1, or "cinemascope" 2.35":1, the files will be 2048x1106 for the first, and 2048x870 for "cinemascope".

Note, the max pixel number, the width, is equivalent to 2K DCI. "Full" 2k DCI is 2048x1080.

[Ben25546385urgb]

Hi Neil!

Yes, the DCP submission comes later, here (Spain) the festivals work through a platform where the feature film is uploaded and then sent for screening.

Because it is a film with many different visual effects I want to make sure that nothing is lost by sending it too compressed.

[R Neil Haugen]

Again, you must get their spec sheets, check the deliverables section. You either go by their specs and all other requirements, and get accepted ... or you don't, and they don't even look at it.

That spec sheet is not a discussion item. It is simply The Rule. Period.

[Ben25546385urgb]

I don't understand so much tension in the way of saying things. As I said from the beginning, the only specification for sending the project is that it weighs a maximum of 21.5GB. My question, from the beginning, is how to reduce the project without losing quality. I know I don't write very well in English, maybe that's it.

[Ann Bens]

No language barrier here:

Filesize is determined by duration x bitrate.

You cannot change the duration only the bitrate.

You need to drop the bitrate until you get below the 21 GB, even if this cost you some image quality.

You cannot have both hence the advice to get the festival rules from the organization.

[R Neil Haugen]

I've not heard of any 'festival' that didn't give specifics as to the files they can use. And I've heard of people submitting to both North American and European festivals, plus Australia/New Zealand and on and on ... so I'd be suprised if they didn't have a full specifics list.

[Ben25546385urgb]

This is how it works here, go to 'Festhome', that is the website where you can upload your feature film or short film to submit it to festivals. The specifications of each festival come later, but the first thing is to simply upload it to that platform, you can do it through Dropbox (max 5GB), YouTube, Vimeo or upload it directly to the platform (21.5GB).
I will try to reduce the bitrate.

[smrpix]

Here is a practical step by step that incorporates all the excellent advice given Ann and R. Neil.

Start with the h264 Preset Match Source -- Adaptive High Bitrate

Scroll down under the VIdeo section to where it says VBR, 1 pass

Change that to VBR, 2 pass

Now move the Target BItrate slider until the estimated file size matches or is just below the size you want your file to be.  (Estimated File Size appears in th lower right of the export window, just above the blue export button.)

Now move the Maximum Bitrate slider as high as it will go.

What you are doing with these settings is giving the encoder the chance to distribute the bitrate for best possible quality within the file while maintaining your file size limit.  (Fast noisy effects shots will be given more bitrate, for example, while a talking head shot will get less.)

In other words, you pretty much did everything right except for the target bitrate.  And I completely agree with Ann that festivals are looking for innovative story, not a VFX reel.

Best of luck.

[Ben25546385urgb]

Thank you so much smrpix,

That's exactly what I've done, I was just wondering if there might be another way, since I'm humble enough to think that I don't know everything and not get the wrong idea about the people I talk to, but that's exactly what I did. It is an issue that has not reached the United States. Around here we don't treat each other with condescension and before assuming that someone doesn't know something, we ask. I know it's something incredible for you.

Assuming, apart from all knowledge, that the film is simply effects is... well.
Thank you for your kind condescension.

[smrpix]

No condescension intended Ben.  Quite the opposite.  I was hoping to be encouraging.  I apologize if that didn't translate well.

Sincerely, best of luck with your festival submission.

[Ben25546385urgb]

Thank you so much.

Best.