Production

Our aim is to secure high brand recognition and the brand value that goes with it by adhering to consistent guidelines and design features.

Film sequences can of course be selected freely to suit the content involved. However, the stylistic features and color scheme of film sequences should fit in with MTU’s uniform visual style:

• The use of color filters is prohibited
• The film must be an authentic reproduction of the real situation, which means: the focus must normally be set to give the best definition to the component or process, or to the person in the case of portraits; no deliberate use of soft focus; no distorted perspectives
• Generally cool, premium-quality color schemes based on our corporate colors, “sky and metal”
• Clear contrasts created by bright, natural light conditions.
• Care must be taken to ensure that the film evokes a cool and technical atmosphere
• The metallic aspect of the depicted engines and components should be emphasized if possible

• Components should always be captured in full (i.e. not cut off in the shot, or not with just one section of the component visible). In interviews, no part of the person/people should be cut off
• Use of moving cameras wherever possible (no hand-held cameras). Dollies, jib arms, etc. can be used for this purpose. The main aim here is to give the shots a plasticity that deliberately sets them apart from “panned photographs”
• For audio recordings, a boom pole or one and/or several microphone(s) should always be used wherever possible.
• Professional equipment must be provided. No recordings should be made using low-quality devices such as cell phones, mini cameras, etc.
• To optimize the footage for use on all social media platforms, it should be captured, wherever possible, to allow the frames to be cropped to an aspect ratio of 1:1 in post-production. (See the section on social media for more information on this topic.)

To ensure that the material can be reused, i.e. combined with sequences from other films, the format requirements must be strictly adhered to for each production.

Since MTU’s corporate films are used not only in small presentations on a computer screen but also at events where they are shown predominantly on modern flat screens in full high-definition (HD) resolution, at least all film sequences should be produced in full HD quality (resolution: 1920x1080 pixels full HDTV output; 16:9 aspect ratio, PAL, 25p (progressive)).

Exceptions are permitted only after prior agreement.

Make sure that the video camera has a frame rate of at least 25 frames per second (25p). The camera should be capable of digitally recording the image signal and have a CMOS image sensor.

With regard to the codecs / recording formats, it is important to determine how color quantization will be done. Complex, one-off productions that can be used as they are for a long time to come (e.g. image film) should be recorded without color quantization (in 4:4:4 format).

For productions that will need to be updated on a regular basis (every two to three years), 4:2:2 color sampling is sufficient.

Summary of minimum technical requirements:

• Aspect ratio: 16:9
• Resolution: 1920x1080 pixels full HDTV output
• Frame rate: min. 25p
• Color resolution: 8 bit
• Data rate: 100 Mbit/s or at least 50 Mbit/s
• Image sensor: CMOS
• Color quantization: 4:4:4 or at least 4:2:2

In accordance with current standards, the following format is expected for the final movie output:

HDTV (full HD) video

• Codec: ProRes 4:4:4:4, incl. Alpha or at least ProRes 4:2:2
• Aspect ratio: 16:9
• Resolution: 1920x1080 progressive
• Frame rate: 25p
• Data rate: 100 Mbit/s or at least 50 Mbit/s

Alternatively, in accordance with the higher 4K standards

• UHD TV (4K) video
• Codec: ProRes 4444, incl. alpha channels
• Aspect ratio: 16:9
• Resolution: 3840x2160 progressive
• Frame rate: 25p
• Min. data rate: 1.1 Gb/s

Info.: All basic elements (Adobe After Effects or movie elements) are already deployed in UHD and have to be down-converted to the HD output format as needed.

Audio:

• Codec: AAC – 320 kbps
• Sampling rate: 48 kHz

Additional information:

If the footage is intended for use on Facebook or Twitter, please ensure that the frames can be cropped to 1:1 without any loss of detail.