Question 1

What is a Digital Cinema Package (DCP)?

Accepted Answer

A Digital Cinema Package, or a DCP, is the industry standard delivery format for theatrical film exhibition. It is designed for peak reliability and interoperability so motion pictures can playback flawlessly in all cinemas.

A DCP groups a collection of assets (video, audio, metadata, and sometimes timed text) into a folder that, when authored correctly by a DCP service provider, cinema playback servers will recognize as a single program to be queued for playback.

Question 2

Can I just make my own DCP?

Accepted Answer

You sure can. DCP authoring systems and software have flooded the market to make the format more accessible than ever (ahem, DOM). Matt likens making your own DCP to doing maintenance on your own car. If you’re smart, patient, careful, and scrappy you can eventually learn to perform any type of car maintenance yourself. But if you need to be sure the vehicle won’t break down on you later and that the job gets done in a timely manner, it's best to hire an experienced DCP service, err, automotive service technician.

Question 3

Will Matt talk to the venue on my behalf?

Accepted Answer

Of course! Matt can coordinate directly with the cinema to ensure he authors the perfect DCP for both your source file format and their cinema playback environment.

Question 4

What format should I deliver my source file in?

Accepted Answer

Matt can pretty much make any source file format work, but he recommends sending a 10-bit ProRes 422 HQ or higher .mov file in your film's native frame rate and frame size.

Question 5

What audio formats does Matt support?

Accepted Answer

If a cinema can play the audio format, Matt can author it. 2.0, 5.1, and 7.1 are the most commonly requested but Matt has provided DCP authoring for object-based IAB audio tracks, 3.1 audio tracks, and other exotic formats.

Question 6

I want to screen my film at multiple festivals and cinemas. Will I need more than one DCP?

Accepted Answer

You won’t need more than one DCP, but depending on your native source format and the capabilities of each cinema, you may want more than one to ensure your film plays back ideally at every screening.

For example, if your native source format is 2K or below in resolution, runs at 24 fps, with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, and 5.1 sound, there’s likely no need for authoring more than one DCP, as those formats are supported at nearly all cinemas.

If your film’s source format deviates from these type of universally supported attributes, as part of his DCP authoring service, Matt will work to determine what your target cinemas support and outline to you the pros and cons of going with a single “lowest common denominator” DCP or multiple DCPs authored specifically for the supported formats of each cinema.

Question 7

Can I playback my final DCP at home?

Accepted Answer

Not exactly, unless you have professional cinema equipment in your house that supports the DCP format. If you’re insistent on playing it back at home in some form, Matt can walk you through some “hacky” work arounds to emulate actual DCP playback as part of his DCP service.

Question 8

Can Matt accept physical delivery of my source file?

Accepted Answer

Yes, feel free to mail a hard drive.

Question 9

Will Matt send me the DCP output on a hard drive?

Accepted Answer

No, Matt only supports digital DCP delivery.

DCPs by Matt

Frequently Asked Questions