IMovie HD 6 to Apple TV workflow plz help!

Question

Hello all, I could really use some help here and I'm at my wits end.
I am unsuccessfully able to get Camcorder video from a sony HDR-HC3 Hi-Def 1080i (records on HDV) camcorder to look like HD camcorder footage on my Apple TV. I guess that's the simplest way of breaking it down.
I am familiar with video editing. I have all the software (and hardware- Elgato Turbo HD.264), and will buy whatever else I need to make this work, but I just can't do it.
Whatever video I export to AppleTV no matter how much I process it (in JES Deinterlaceer, iMovie 6, iMovie 09, Final Cut Pro, ad infinitum....) I CAN NOT get the resultant video to look like 'Camcorder footage' on my Apple TV.
ie...if I were to plug my camcorder directly into my TV, the interlacing, fields, whatever...makes the video look a certain 'way' (Like a camcorder plugged into a TV)...when I play back my edited footage through AppleTV it looks 'different'...like it was shot on film. The interlacing is all gone or something.
If you are familiar with the issue I am describing can you PLEASE help me with the proper workflow I need to establish to get 720p interlaced 'camcorder like' footage from my Apple TV. Or is it even possible?
Thank you so much in advance.
Brian

Answer 1

Ok..here are some files to help demonstrate the problem I am encountering.
access my iDisk here: https://public.me.com/testpilot58d
*RC Stuff.mov* is the footage from my camcorder in iMovie.
When I export it to HD 720p setting using turbo.264 HD, the resultant file is *RC Stuff.mp4*. This file is beautiful...perfect...crisp...looks just like my HD camcorder. It is 1280x720 progressive (Apple TV spec), avg bitrate 4,907 kbps (Apple TV spec) but it is 59.940 fps (NOT to spec) size 3.2mb
When I choose the "Apple TV" output option, I get file *RC Stuff.m4v*. It is flat, not crisp, doesn't "popp" on either my iMac or when viewed on Apple TV. It too is 1280x720 progressive, avg bitrate of 3,438 and 29.970 fps. I changed output size to 1280x720 in the Apple TV preset and it still looks flat and crappy.
So....who can get me from point A to point B? How do I need to process RC Stuff.mov to that it will LOOK like RC Stuff. mp4 but is compatible with Apple TV specs and looks as good on a HDMI LCD flat screen TV? How do I deinterlace/what field order, etc to cut the frame rate in half and still look sharp and crisp?
Thank you anyone in advance!