Are movies still shot with actual film anymore?

[Blu-21]

I haven't really been keeping a close eye on modern theoretical releases and how they are shot or how they look stylistically, but are big budget Hollywood films still even shot on actual film these days? Or has everything gone digital? I know certain independent movies like Tree of Life are still shot traditionally with film, but is that the same for blockbusters?

It'll be a sad day when film dies. There really is something magical about it that digital photography just can't capture.

[vader4]

There are still movies shot in film (like The Dark Knight Rises or The Master), but their numbers are dwindling. Digital is cheaper and in a lot of cases preferred by the director, but big directors such as Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, and Paul Thomas Anderson shoot exclusively on film. There is a debate going on now for which is better and I learned what I know about it from a documentary called Side by Side which I would recommend to anyone who wants to know more about the subject. Hope this helps!

[Blu-21]

Originally Posted by vader4

There are still movies shot in film (like The Dark Knight Rises or The Master), but their numbers are dwindling. Digital is cheaper and in a lot of cases preferred by the director, but big directors such as Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, and Paul Thomas Anderson shoot exclusively on film. There is a debate going on now for which is better and I learned what I know about it from a documentary called Side by Side which I would recommend to anyone who wants to know more about the subject. Hope this helps!

Yeah I have heard about that documentary but haven't been able to find it anywhere. Would you know where I could watch it? I'm very interested to see it now, more so then before even.

[Shawn Elestren]

Most movies are still shot on 35mm, the dominance of digital is a myth.

[MarkJ801]

As far as low budget goes, it's almost exclusively digital now. But if it's big budget, they can afford it, so it's up to the director and dp to decide what they want to shoot on.

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by Shawn Watson

Most movies are still shot on 35mm, the dominance of digital is a myth.

True, but more and more movies are shot digitally now (Tron Legacy, Avatar, Skyfall, Argo, Looper, The Hobbit, etc). I prefer film, but thankfully digital is getting better and better all the time. If 4k cameras and workflow becomes the standard I would be very happy, although the best of both worlds would be a 4k DI and DCP (final finished file that you watch at a theater) from a 70mm source IMHO.

[Monkey]

And upping the standard to 48fps would be a huge improvement. It could head that way with The Hobbit leading the charge

Yes 48fps has been done prior but hopefully it catches on like fire now that the move to digital is on. Being digital means it is a lot more affordable to do 48fps over 24fps and a hell of a lot easier to manage (film reels were beg as it was at 24fps).

[Djtannv29]

Originally Posted by singhcr

True, but more and more movies are shot digitally now (Tron Legacy, Avatar, Skyfall, Argo, Looper, The Hobbit, etc). I prefer film, but thankfully digital is getting better and better all the time. If 4k cameras and workflow becomes the standard I would be very happy, although the best of both worlds would be a 4k DI and DCP (final finished file that you watch at a theater) from a 70mm source IMHO.

Looper was shot on film.

[vader4]

Originally Posted by Blu-21

Yeah I have heard about that documentary but haven't been able to find it anywhere. Would you know where I could watch it? I'm very interested to see it now, more so then before even.

I watched it on Xfinity on Demand for $7, it may or may not still be there though, if it's not then its only a matter of time before its on DVD.

[Atreyu]

Not sure about being shot on film, but I did recently read that Fox studios, by the end of next year, will stop distributing movies on film all together. All the other studios are expected to follow suit.

[Blu-21]

Originally Posted by Atreyu

Not sure about being shot on film, but I did recently read that Fox studios, by the end of next year, will stop distributing movies on film all together. All the other studios are expected to follow suit.

Source?

[WJWS Channel 13:Amity]

Originally Posted by Atreyu

Not sure about being shot on film, but I did recently read that Fox studios, by the end of next year, will stop distributing movies on film all together. All the other studios are expected to follow suit.

You are correct that they will stop Distributing movies via 35mm prints, however that doesnt mean stoping actually shooting on film.
it will just be converted to Digital for its exhibition

[Blu-21]

Originally Posted by vader4

I watched it on Xfinity on Demand for $7, it may or may not still be there though, if it's not then its only a matter of time before its on DVD.

Originally Posted by Hellraiserfan

Comes out next year around February on Blu-ray.

http://www.amazon.com/Side-Blu-ray-K...s=side+by+side

Thank you both for the info. Seeing that its just a documentary, I'll probably just pick up the DVD seeing as it'll most likely be cheaper.

[Hellraiserfan]

Originally Posted by Blu-21

Yeah I have heard about that documentary but haven't been able to find it anywhere. Would you know where I could watch it? I'm very interested to see it now, more so then before even.

Comes out next year around February on Blu-ray.

http://www.amazon.com/Side-Blu-ray-K...s=side+by+side

[growler]

"Movie Studios Are Forcing Hollywood to Abandon 35mm Film"

http://www.laweekly.com/2012-04-12/f...l-Hollywood/3/

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Shawn Watson

Most movies are still shot on 35mm, the dominance of digital is a myth.

Not true. This is correct:

Originally Posted by vader4

There are still movies shot in film (like The Dark Knight Rises or The Master), but their numbers are dwindling. Digital is cheaper and in a lot of cases preferred by the director, but big directors such as Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, and Paul Thomas Anderson shoot exclusively on film. There is a debate going on now for which is better and I learned what I know about it from a documentary called Side by Side which I would recommend to anyone who wants to know more about the subject. Hope this helps!

[IronWaffle]

The previously mentioned doc, Side By Side, features Scorsese, Nolan, Cameron and others. Worth checking out as a starting place.

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Something important to bear in mind --

shooting on film and distributing on film are two very different things.

You can shoot on film and distribute digitally, or you can shoot digitally and distribute on film.

Some directors and cinematographers continue to shoot with film b/c they either like the look or feel that some film formats still offer higher "resolution" than current digital standards.

Digital vs. film distribution depends on whether or not movie theaters have digital or film projectors. Up until two months ago, the Cinemark dollar theater near me still had film projectors, but they've since fully converted to digital. There are some small towns with movie houses still showing film prints, but they're all in the process of converting.

However, overseas is a different matter, and many countries are still in the process of switching from film to digital projection.

[MikeCL]

Movies that the theater gets will most likely be on a hard drive, Deluxe Digital sends them out to the theaters, The interesting part is the trailers are on hard drives as well, those get sent about weekly.

The only theater I know around here that still does film is the Avon theater.. man those film cans are about 46 lbs.