Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Question about subtitles

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Posted by John Rizzo (Member # 1289) on 01-30-2014, 09:12 AM:

a filmmaker client of mine has been getting questions from various venues on how to turn off subtitles on his DCP (we made the dcp here in NY on a DVS FUZE they are not baked in) Now the DCP is in Berlin for the Berlin film Festival and they can't figure out how to tun them off. I also asked him to find out what server they are using.

any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Just got this info: will be screened with a Sony SRX-R515P projector, from a Sony server.

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 01-30-2014, 11:50 AM:

DCI subtitles are not meant to be switched off. It is part of the idea that the studio controls the visibility of subititles by issuing dedicated CPL/KDM combos with/without subtitles. Bear in mind that subtitles are not only used for full feature foreign language subtitling, but also for descriptions, alien language depictions, etc. You don't want these to be switched on or off at will. You need to issue another CPL without the subtitles included. Is this DCP encrypted?

- Carsten

Posted by John Rizzo (Member # 1289) on 01-30-2014, 12:05 PM:

No it is not encrypted

I was told that Subtitles can be turned on or off at will of the operator.

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 01-30-2014, 01:58 PM:

They WILL be switched on and off arbitrarily with reluctance of the operator if you use a DLP/Cinecanvas system. ;-)

You should be able to master a second DCP without subtitles and only send the metadata as a VF by email.

There may be tweaks available to some technicians to disable subtitles on DLP machines.

On the Sony, there is no such option. I did not even see it in the SMS config ini file.

- Carsten

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 01-30-2014, 02:06 PM:

Just out of curiousity what would happen if you simply deleted the subtitle files? Would it become unplayable if subtitles are called for and not found?

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 01-30-2014, 02:48 PM:

The DCP could not be validated and thus would not play at all because there is mandatory content missing.

- Carsten

Posted by John Rizzo (Member # 1289) on 01-30-2014, 05:41 PM:

On Dolby and Do re mi servers is the operator able to turn on and off a subtitle channel if the sub titles are not baked into the dcp and on a separate file.

Apparently on a Sony Server you can not?

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 01-30-2014, 05:58 PM:

quote: John Rizzo
On Dolby and Do re mi servers is the operator able to turn on and off a subtitle channel if the sub titles are not baked into the dcp and on a separate file.

You are right, this is possible during projector device setup on the Doremi in 'Device Manager'. This is part of installation setup, not daily operations, and the standard show operator has no access level to do it. I'm not even sure if a subtitled DCP will play with the subtitling disabled. Anyone?

But it's not possible on the Sony. Of course, there may be Sony staff/technicians who know how to do it. But it is not possible for operators or installers.

The correct and common way to do it is to issue a DCP package with and without subtitles.

- Carsten

Posted by Antti Nayha (Member # 4980) on 01-31-2014, 06:58 AM:

On a Barco, you can simply disable subtitles temporarily in the Communicator. It's under Diagnostics -> CineCanvas.

Now this might not be 100% reliable - I'm not sure if there can be something in the DCP or playlist that will somehow trigger an automatic re-enable - but I've done it for a few feature film screenings without problems.

Of course, I fully agree that the proper way to do it is to create a separate CPL to begin with.