The Daytona method is an important part of the workflow we have here at Wenneker. It allows us to create many assets and be efficient with our shots. Generally we only start preparing the rushes for the online phase when we have an edit lock, though in practice this almost never is the case. However, this workflow is very modular and adding or removing shots is quite easy.

Here’s a step-by-step overview of how we go from rush to comp shot:

Create a vfx timeline

Create a timeline called prerenders_batch-01. Then import all edit timelines and start deleting the things you don’t need. This should leave you with only the shots that needs some form of VFX work (cleaning tracker markers, screen replacements etc). Having duplicates doesn’t matter, Davinci Resolve will take care of this. Furthermore, it is important that we remove every form of speed change or time remapping.

Tip: select the shot with the time remapping, press F and it will show the actual in- and out points. Drag this clip back into your prerender timeline and delete the old video.

Once your finished, export an XML to the Davinci folder:

/02_PROJECT_FILES/07_DAVINCI/02_TO-DAVINCI/01_PRERENDERS/yymmdd

Create a date folder, in case we have to create a new batch of prerenders:

<aside> 💡

Tip: already do a check if you see a similar shot. Maybe we can reuse 1 shot which also makes the edit more efficient.

</aside>

Import into Davinci

On the Edit page, right click in the bin, go to Timelines > Import > AFF/EDL/XML (or just press shift+command+i) and navigate to the folder where you exported the XML to, and import it. Leave all settings as is and click Ok.

Now we’re ready to create pretenders. Go to File > Mediamanagement and set the following settings:

• Handles: Amount of extra frame from what is strictly necessary. This is in case we need to adjust the edit a little afterwards.
• Video Settings: Highest settings so the grader has all the information he needs to do his job.
• Audio: We don’t need to sent audio out.

Once all settings have been set, select the prerender folder  (Project > 03_ASSETS > 04_PRERENDERS) and press start. As said before, davinci will handle all the duplicate files and even combine some clips.

Renaming the files

Next we have to rename the newly created prerenders following this format: