DCP Mastering

WHAT IS A DCP?

DCP mastering is the means of delivering your film in Digital Cinema Package (DCP) - this format ensures the best playback quality at film festivals and cinemas. 

       I offer professional DCP creation services for both short films and feature-length productions at highly competitive rates. 

About Me & My Experience

I began my career as a DCP Masterer at Deluxe Digital Cinema, one of the top DCP mastering houses in the industry.  

During my time there, I mastered and versioned major Hollywood blockbusters, including The Hobbit, Rush, Skyfall, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  

With this extensive industry experience, I have helped numerous independent filmmakers bring their work to the big screen, ensuring the highest quality playback for festival shorts, feature-length documentaries, dramas, and TV show screenings. 

What is DCP Creation? 

DCP (Digital Cinema Package) is the industry-standard format used by cinemas and film festivals worldwide. This process involves converting your master video file into a DCP-compliant format, ensuring optimal playback quality and compatibility with cinema projectors. 

The DCP format has strict criteria and naming so that it ensures universal compatibility across different projectors and playback servers.  

DCPs also allow for versioning, so if you wish to send a version with subtitles, this additional version can be sent via email as it references the OV (original version) picture and sound. 

DCP Creation pricing

Short Film (up to 10 minutes) – £50
Short Film (up to 30 minutes) – £100
Feature Film (up to 60 minutes) – £150
Feature Film (up to 90 minutes) – £200
Feature Film (up to 3 hours) – Contact me for a quote 
Subtitled Version File - £15
Encryption of DCP - £40
KDMs for Encrypted DCP - first set included, additional £10 per KDM.

These prices include 2K DCP creation for digital delivery. If you require a 4K DCP, please contact me for pricing and further discussion.

Important Information!  

Before proceeding, please check with the festival or cinema projectionist to confirm their delivery requirements, this includes file delivery method (Hard Drive or File Transfer).  Providing this information as early as possible helps avoid last-minute issues that could prevent your film from being screened. 

Delivery Options - Digital Delivery (No Additional Charge)

Your DCP will be provided as a ZIP file via a cloud service. This is the most cost-effective method and is widely accepted by festivals and cinemas. 
However, DCP files are large (often over 150GB), so expect long upload times.  

Hard Drive Delivery - If you require your DCP on a hard drive, the following options are available:  
EXFAT-formatted drive (recommended for most cinemas) – £40 per drive (includes formatting, file transfer, and verification).
EXT3-formatted drive (for older cinema servers) – £50 per drive.
Hard Drive Supplied by Us – min £40. (depending on length of film)
Supply your own hard drive – No extra cost (excluding postage).
Postage & packaging – £9 per drive (Special Delivery) + £4 for materials.
Optional tough plastic case (Peli-style) – £22. 

File Requirements 

To create your DCP, I need the following details:
Frame Rate - 24fps (25fps is also supported)
Aspect ratio (e.g., 1.85:1, 2.39:1)    
Audio mapping (Stereo or 5.1 Surround)  

Video Master File  – I recommend Apple ProRes 422 HQ or Avid DNxHR HQ, but I can work with most high-quality formats. 
Audio Master File - I will accept WAV stems for Stereo and 5.1 - you can also supply in the video master file 

If your film requires subtitles, this can be either burnt-in subtitles or via VF DCP . 
There is an additional cost for this service. 

Turnaround Time Standard DCP creation is completed within 4 days (subject to availability).
Please notify me in advance if you need a faster turnaround.  

If you plan to add subtitles later, let me know so I can retain the necessary project files for future updates.  


For inquiries or to start your DCP creation, please contact me today!

Need Help?

I know from experience that DCP creation can be technical and daunting! However if you have any questions, I’m more than happy to discuss it over email or phone.

[email protected]
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