Importing clips from DVD

scharme wrote on 4/25/2003, 9:04 AM

I want to use a clip from a Hollywood film in a project I'm making. I have a DVD drive on my computer. Is there a way to import a DVD clip into Video Factory? My alternative was to copy a VHS version of the film from my VCR into my video camera and importing that. I think I would get a crisper image from the DVD but I don't know how to do it.

Comments

JohnnyRoy wrote on 4/25/2003, 9:53 AM

<disclaimer>
While you did not ask about the legality of such a task, I feel compelled to at least alert you to the fact that copying a commercial DVD to include in another original work is illegal. While you may have the right to make a backup of a DVD for viewing under some fair use act, you are not licensed to include parts of the DVD in another authored work even if it’s a home video. This may seem silly to some, and I’m no lawyer, but I believe those are the rules. As artists (and if you are a videographer you are creating a new work of art and therefore are an artist) we cross the line when we include others artist’s video, music, or other copyrighted work in our own without their legal permission. Just felt I had to say that.
</disclaimer>

You can use SmartRipper to copy the VOB files to your hard drive and then use DVD2AVI to convert them to AVI files, which can be included in your VF project. I believe you can even set the in and out points in DVD 2AVI so you just convert the pieces you need. I would recommend visiting www.dvdrhelp.com which has many how to guides on DVD ripping.

~jr

scharme wrote on 5/16/2003, 5:28 PM

In this case I actually have permission from the movie studio to copy a clip. Since it's expensive to have their lap process a clip for me, I chose to just copy. They said OK.