mac> hdiutil makehybrid -udf -udf-volume-name DVD_NAME -o MY_DVD.iso /path/to/VIDEO_TS/parent/folder

linux> mkisofs -dvd-video -o MY_DVD.iso /path/to/VIDEO_TS/parent/folder

windows> http://www.imgburn.com/

and that's how you turn a VIDEO_TS directory into a burnable .iso

thank you mr internet

--timball

Burn a playable DVD from a VIDEO_TS folder - Mac OS X Hints