Film prints in theaters

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by BozQ

Star Wars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bE9f...ature=youtu.be

[saprano]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

My friend, you would not do well in the RED forum.

I'm sure I wouldn't because i hate the look of movies shot with that camera. I'll take an average 2K 35mm film over anything shot with RED.

[saprano]

Originally Posted by BozQ

I remember many years ago, when I first bought Star Wars Episode III on DVD, I felt unsettled watching it.

The image was crystal clear (for DVDs) at the time, but I felt detached. It took me a while to realize that digital cinematography and direct digital production was "too perfect" for my liking.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not here to bash digital production out right. I'm thankful for digital filmmaking technology. The significantly lower production costs mean more aspiring independent filmmakers are able to scale greater Heights in their story telling. Without technology, I wouldn't be studying and learning film production in school. It was only a dream for me to shoot anything on film. But I had to make do with DV tapes. Still, without technology, I probably wouldn't be here discussing in this forum. Although I have decided not to pursue this career path, I have never regretted learning and found a whole new level of appreciation for movies.

But film production is something I fear only very few directors and cinematographers will aggressively push for now.

Sometimes it's the simple imperfections of film productions that create that sense of escapism while watching a movie. Take the opening crawl for Star Wars. Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith scrolled so perfectly while the older movies had these little wobbles due to an untuned film perforations. Then there's film grain, specks, dusts and colour reproduction is something digital can only emulate. Perhaps, we have Blu-ray to blame as well. Who could forget the early days when ignorant consumers would ask why is the video so grainy or why are the black bars still there.

I know I'm ranting and whining here. And I don't expect everyone or anyone to agree with me. I'm powerless to this change any more than how animated features are computer generated and no longer hand drawn or global warming from happening. It is happening, right? Right? Never mind.

My two cents. I'm out, for now.

Beautiful post. That's exactly how I feel too. There's something real about film that makes movies so much better. It's like you can feel it. Film looks like real life. Real life doesn't look clear and perfect.

I also agree on the hand drawn animation. The quality of animation is not as good as it use to be. There are some old classics that look better than anything released today.

We can't do anything about these changes. All we can do is sit here and take it. Doesn't mean we have to support it though.

[Flatnate]

I truly appreciate film, in fact I almost won an auction for old 16mm Ampro Stylist projector on eBay for Christmas.

I still think film still has a ton of advantages but I'll say one thing. The dynamic range on some of the newer digital cameras is getting way better and closing the gap in terms of some of the perceived quality. I still miss the look of the film grain. Some people liken it to digital noise but I just don't see it that way. Prometheus was shot on the Red Epic and that has some serious eye candy in some scenes. I'm not too quick to completely dismiss digital based on the Star Wars prequels. Resolution and dynamic range is quickly improving. But yeah the loss of film hurts.

[BozQ]

During this Black Friday, I purchased The Master even though it wasn't on sale. But I couldn't resist after learning it was filmed mostly in 65mm and some 35mm. And boy did the 8K/6K scan turned out beautiful.

Perhaps I'm growing fatigued by all these big budget CGI filled movies, like Pacific Rim and The Hobbit.

I was watching a short documentary online for The Hobbit and gee whiz, was the whole movie almost shot on green screen? Pointing the camera at Martin Freeman's face and Peter Jackson go "the dragon is looking at you"

I think it's time I scale back a little and appreciate the simpler films. The Master didn't just feature stunning video, but the efforts made to tell a story through strong acting, practical sets, great photography and lightning felt like a breath of fresh air.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying all movies are CGI. It's partly my fault for not paying attention to films such as these and it's about time I took a break from big budget movies. At least until next summer when the Marvel Phase 2 movies roll in.

P. S. Not sure if anyone notice this. But I only use the word "film" only if I know it was filmed with film. Digitally, I use the word "shot". Just saying.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Flatnate

But yeah the loss of film hurts.

Not too badly if one kept all the old Kodachrome transparencies derived from my Dad (and I) capturing on film, our family throughout my formative years with his Nikon camera, the Kodak carousel slide projector (860H autofocus) and vintage Da-Lite screen, all of which…..

I’ll be showing to my visiting relatives after Christmas dinner tomorrow. Most of the slides have never been viewed as Dad and I never did get around to putting them all in the carousels…..something of which I completed as a personal project for my family just in time, today.

P.S.
I’ve got a couple of extra lamps…just in case.

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Not too badly if one kept all the old Kodachrome transparencies derived from my Dad (and I) capturing on film, our family throughout my formative years with his Nikon camera, the Kodak carousel slide projector (860H autofocus) and vintage Da-Lite screen, all of which…..

I’ll be showing to my visiting relatives after Christmas dinner tomorrow. Most of the slides have never been viewed as Dad and I never did get around to putting them all in the carousels…..something of which I completed as a personal project for my family just in time, today.

P.S.
I’ve got a couple of extra lamps…just in case.

That must be something very special for you. I know your family will enjoy it!

[Flatnate]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Not too badly if one kept all the old Kodachrome transparencies derived from my Dad (and I) capturing on film, our family throughout my formative years with his Nikon camera, the Kodak carousel slide projector (860H autofocus) and vintage Da-Lite screen, all of which…..

I’ll be showing to my visiting relatives after Christmas dinner tomorrow. Most of the slides have never been viewed as Dad and I never did get around to putting them all in the carousels…..something of which I completed as a personal project for my family just in time, today.

P.S.
I’ve got a couple of extra lamps…just in case.

I too will be partaking in Holiday vintage film awesomeness! My wifes grandma shot rolls of Super8 Kodachrome 40 over the years. She has sent much of it to a local guy with a telecine who transfers it to DVD (of course she saves the film too). Anyway, she hasn't sent it all off yet. So we usually sit down after dinner and screen an hour or two on the old Bell and Howell while she takes notes of where, when, and who is on each reel before sending it off to the telecine guy. Favorite part of the holidays.

Side note, she got a camcorder in the late 80's, and you can tell the quality took a significant drop, even after going through the telecine to television. Also the film camera forced grandma to pick her shots better on those old reels, so they were usually more direct, concise, better framed on the action. You could just let that camcorder kind of roll and the content suffered too.

[MrsMiniver]

Originally Posted by saprano

Beautiful post. That's exactly how I feel too. There's something real about film that makes movies so much better. It's like you can feel it. Film looks like real life. Real life doesn't look clear and perfect.

I also agree on the hand drawn animation. The quality of animation is not as good as it use to be. There are some old classics that look better than anything released today.

We can't do anything about these changes. All we can do is sit here and take it. Doesn't mean we have to support it though.

I agree, there is something really cool about 35mm. The print was made, it was shipped out, put together and shown and the projectionist has to be careful with it. There was a magic to 35mm that is not present with digital cinema.

[Trekkie313]

IMAX needs to stop being greedy by letting every theater chain in America use their name and shitty 2K projectors.


IMAX isn't truly IMAX without actual film, the definition is beyond many theater grade projectors.

[MrsMiniver]

Originally Posted by Trekkie313

IMAX needs to stop being greedy by letting every theater chain in America use their name and shitty 2K projectors.


IMAX isn't truly IMAX without actual film, the definition is beyond many theater grade projectors.

Give me.a break, I am so sick and tired of people *****ing about IMAX moving over to diigtal. Get over it.

[Trekkie313]

Originally Posted by MrsMiniver

Give me.a break, I am so sick and tired of people *****ing about IMAX moving over to diigtal. Get over it.

So an inferior format is progress?

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Flatnate

I too will be partaking in Holiday vintage film awesomeness! My wifes grandma shot rolls of Super8 Kodachrome 40 over the years. She has sent much of it to a local guy with a telecine who transfers it to DVD (of course she saves the film too). Anyway, she hasn't sent it all off yet. So we usually sit down after dinner and screen an hour or two on the old Bell and Howell while she takes notes of where, when, and who is on each reel before sending it off to the telecine guy. Favorite part of the holidays.

It was grand.

Depending on the slide, for example, the emotions expressed by the viewing audience ranged from cool (Dad proposing to my Mom a couple years before I was even conceived, Mom with other nurses and kids in the children’s ward of a local hospital with the original Popeye (voice), Harry Welch, who had come to visit dressed up as Popeye) to (a pic of me as a little tike standing in the crib in the backyard with a top on but no bottom to hide my ‘credentials’) to tear-creating reminiscences of past family get-togethers, special occasions, trips to foreign countries, etc.

I would encourage everyone, even though they shoot with digital these days, to take as many pics of your life experiences as you can because although they may seem boring or inconvenient at the time, some day you and yours will look back on them as true pearls and the greatest thing you could ever ‘collect’.

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

It was grand.

Depending on the slide, for example, the emotions expressed by the viewing audience ranged from cool (Dad proposing to my Mom a couple years before I was even conceived, Mom with other nurses and kids in the children’s ward of a local hospital with the original Popeye (voice), Harry Welch, who had come to visit dressed up as Popeye) to (a pic of me as a little tike standing in the crib in the backyard with a top on but no bottom to hide my ‘credentials’) to tear-creating reminiscences of past family get-togethers, special occasions, trips to foreign countries, etc.

I would encourage everyone, even though they shoot with digital these days, to take as many pics of your life experiences as you can because although they may seem boring or inconvenient at the time, some day you and yours will look back on them as true pearls and the greatest thing you could ever ‘collect’.

I totally agree.

However, film is not quite dead yet. Costco,Walgreens and Walmart's Fujifilm send out service still process film at a decent price, not to mention the dozens of camera shops around the Minneapolis/St. Paul area at least. My dad went to India recently and brought me back a roll of Fuji 400 film as a gift. I was taking pictures of many things to get a feel for the camera and on a whim I took a picture of my parents. When I got it developed and looked at the prints, I really liked that picture. Some photos just have that timeless feel to them, even though they weren't formally dressed or anything. I got it mounted and placed it next to the picture of them while they were dating in the late 1970s on their dresser. When I surprised them with it, they really cherished the photo and how much time had passed between the two photos. They are much older now, but they still have smiles on their faces.

I got some Fuji Velvia slide film that is still in demand and will be shooting slides from now on. These pictures are indeed precious!

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Flatnate

I too will be partaking in Holiday vintage film awesomeness! My wifes grandma shot rolls of Super8 Kodachrome 40 over the years. She has sent much of it to a local guy with a telecine who transfers it to DVD (of course she saves the film too). Anyway, she hasn't sent it all off yet. So we usually sit down after dinner and screen an hour or two on the old Bell and Howell while she takes notes of where, when, and who is on each reel before sending it off to the telecine guy. Favorite part of the holidays.

I still have (and occasionally use to exhibit the old motion stuff to family) my Bauer T600 projector. So, how did the holiday show go?

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by singhcr

...and will be shooting slides from now on. These pictures are indeed precious!

As well as handwritten (rather than typed) letters from loved ones. More visceral.

[Flatnate]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I still have (and occasionally use to exhibit the old motion stuff to family) my Bauer T600 projector. So, how did the holiday show go?

Well the holidays went well as you can see!

You know, my wifes Grandma still uses one of these truly silver pop-up screens on a tripod for home movies. I've always wondered how these super8 films would look on a matte white screen. Was the silver coating designed for the type of film and bulb in that old Bell and Howell, or was it just to maximize the limited light output of those old little projectors?

Looking forward to doing more. Something magical about cranking that thing up that you just don't get with my JVC digital projector.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Flatnate

Well the holidays went well as you can see!...

Good to hear , as I was wondering how it went.

Celluloid commercial -

Post Oscar Best Picture thought….
shot on film, 12 Years a Slave - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2024544/...ef_=tt_dt_spec

Looking ahead to next month, although not yet detailed in the Cinematographic Process of the spec listed on imdb as I type this (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2209764/...ef_=tt_dt_spec)

Transcendence was not only shot on film but……received a photochemical finish.

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by singhcr

I totally agree.

However, film is not quite dead yet. Costco,Walgreens and Walmart's Fujifilm send out service still process film at a decent price, not to mention the dozens of camera shops around the Minneapolis/St. Paul area at least. My dad went to India recently and brought me back a roll of Fuji 400 film as a gift. I was taking pictures of many things to get a feel for the camera and on a whim I took a picture of my parents. When I got it developed and looked at the prints, I really liked that picture. Some photos just have that timeless feel to them, even though they weren't formally dressed or anything. I got it mounted and placed it next to the picture of them while they were dating in the late 1970s on their dresser. When I surprised them with it, they really cherished the photo and how much time had passed between the two photos. They are much older now, but they still have smiles on their faces.

I got some Fuji Velvia slide film that is still in demand and will be shooting slides from now on. These pictures are indeed precious!

I love film also and still occasionally shoot with an old Nikon F3HP and even a 1950s TLR Rollei, but film is on life support. And are you processing the chrome yourself?

Kodak still film is now sold via Kodak Alaris, which is basically the British Kodak pension fund. They're now down to ten emulsions and no slide film:
Black & White: BW400CN, TMax 100 and 400, Tri-X Pro 400.
Amateur Color: Kodak Gold 200 (GB), Kodak Ultra Max 400 (GC).
Pro Negative: Extar 100, Porta 160, 400 and 800.

Looks like Fuji is down to 8 emulsions in the U.S:
Fujifilm 200, Superior Xtra 400 and Superior Xtra 800
Provia 100F, 400x
Velvia 50, 100, 100F
No chromes.

Surprisingly, Kodak is still selling 6 motion picture negative films, 6 intermediate films and 4 print films, but with most studios ending film print production this year, it's just a matter of time before they start to disappear. Kodak never really made money on negative film - the profit was all in prints.

Agfa is out of motion picture film production. Their remaining stock is being sold by Frame 24. I think Fuji is out of motion picture film production as well.

[singhcr]

I am sending out the slides to Fujifilm via Walmart.

For the print film, Costco does a good job.