Very interesting report about Kodak film production

[HHPhoto]

Hi,

found that very interesting report yesterday on the german photo portal photoscala:

http://www.wittner-kinotechnik.de/info/kodak/kodak-en.php english version

http://www.wittner-kinotechnik.de/info/kodak/kodak-de.php german version

Kodak has recently newly invested in Super 8 and other small format film production.
I called a friend today who is using Super 8 and he told me that film choices today are even better (more different films available) than in the seventies during the Super 8 boom. You even can get Velvia in Super 8 format. I didn't know that (not involved in small format filming).

He said that the market for still cameras and photo film has always been much, much bigger than the market for Super 8 film.
Even in the Super 8 boom days it has been a niche compared to other film markets.
And now, 30 (35?) years after the introduction of video Super 8 film is still produced in large quantities. Millions of feet year by year alone from Kodak. Fuji is producing as well. Filmotec and Foma are producing BW small format films.

With the introduction of video Super 8 was told to be dead. 30 years later it is still alive and well.
The lifespan of photo film will be much longer because of the much bigger market.

With this experience with Super 8 we can be quite relaxed concerning the future of photo film I think.
Don't worry, enjoy shooting. Shooting is much more fun....😉

Cheers,
Jan

 

[Pickett Wilson]

So, three minutes of silent Super 8 for $15. Are there really many people shooting silent movies anymore?

 

[antiquark]

So, three minutes of silent Super 8 for $15. Are there really many people shooting silent movies anymore?

If you're in the business of movie production, you record the dialog on an external recorder, not on the film itself. Which tells me, if there's a demand for super-8, it's from actual filmmakers.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Ah, o.k. So they are shooting Super 8 for the effect and transferring it to digital? That makes sense.

 

[sjw617]

The article is a year old - from 2009

 

[dfoo]

Absolutely. Check out the opening scene to Casino Royale. It was shot on B&W film specifically (for a couple of reasons). I don't know if it was Super 8 though, heh. 😉

It was shot on Eastman XX.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

"The article is a year old - from 2009"

And now the rush for theaters to go digital is on with the wild popularity of 3D, I read. I guess the high prices they can charge for 3D movies is the tipping point to spend the money for the conversions.

 

[HHPhoto]

The article is a year old - from 2009

Yes. And what has only changed in these months? Kodak is now producing the small format films in Rochester, and not in Windsor anymore.

Moving of the whole production with all the machinery is very expensive. You have to invest lots of money.
You can be sure, that if the Kodak bean counters give their O.K. to such an investment, then there is enough demand for these films, and enough money to make for Kodak for many, many years to come.

Cheers,
Jan

 

[BillBingham2]

Makes me thing this 135 film format might be around for many moons.....

B2 (;->

 

[Tim Gray]

Absolutely. Check out the opening scene to Casino Royale. It was shot on B&W film specifically (for a couple of reasons). I don't know if it was Super 8 though, heh. 😉

Sound effects, dialogue, music - are all done in post, not recorded on film. Even with digital.

Yeah it was shot in 35mm B&W. And not to pick nits 😀, but dialogue usually isn't done in post. It's just not recorded on film, but a separate audio recorder. It is synced up with the picture in post. Though sometimes dialogue is overdubbed in post because the sync sound is undesirable for some reason.

Most people that I know who have shot/shoot Super 8 do not do dialogue. You could, but the cameras for the most part don't keep sync with external recorders, so you'd have sync problems. They are popular in the art/film student crowd.

There are modern films available for them - same ones that the big boys use. I would imagine Kodak just cuts the same stock down to different sizes. So the films are much better than they were in the 70's.

 

[emraphoto]

So, three minutes of silent Super 8 for $15. Are there really many people shooting silent movies anymore?

i shoot loads of super 8. i also know about 10 other folks who shoot a lot of it. not sure what that says about the market but put me on the record i suppose.

 

[emraphoto]

Yeah it was shot in 35mm B&W. And not to pick nits 😀, but dialogue usually isn't done in post. It's just not recorded on film, but a separate audio recorder. It is synced up with the picture in post. Though sometimes dialogue is overdubbed in post because the sync sound is undesirable for some reason.

Most people that I know who have shot/shoot Super 8 do not do dialogue. You could, but the cameras for the most part don't keep sync with external recorders, so you'd have sync problems. They are popular in the art/film student crowd.

There are modern films available for them - same ones that the big boys use. I would imagine Kodak just cuts the same stock down to different sizes. So the films are much better than they were in the 70's.

i go the external field recorder/post route. i am rarely synching dialogue though.

 

[gb hill]

3D movies are a fad & won't last! As long as cost to keep digital media in storage are in the thousands compared to hundreds like with film directors & investors will continue to use film.

 

[charjohncarter]

Is this a joke thread? So I shouldn't sell my cherry Minolta Autopak-8 D4 and my M24 Instamatic Super 8?

 

[emraphoto]

Ah, o.k. So they are shooting Super 8 for the effect and transferring it to digital? That makes sense.

yeah, that is the process. sadly thought the conversion about doubles the cost.

 

[photogdave]

I've been shooting Super8 for years and converting it to digital to blend it with video I've shot. It's a great effect for travel movies, wedding videos etc.
There's a store here in Vancouver that stocks five different Super8 emulsions and sells and rents cameras, projectors, editors, splices etc. They used to give out instructions on how to develop your own B&W but they can't get all the chemicals anymore.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Funny story. A student from an area University was here shooting a movie for his class a couple of years ago and when I saw he was shooting 16mm B&W with an old Bolex, I asked him why he wasn't shooting video. He said because he liked film better. He then noted that it was outrageously expensive, but that he just told his parents that the teacher wouldn't let them shoot with digital video (even though it was really o.k.)! Kids, gotta love 'em.

 

[charjohncarter]

Funny story. A student from an area University was here shooting a movie for his class a couple of years ago and when I saw he was shooting 16mm B&W with an old Bolex, I asked him why he wasn't shooting video. He said because he liked film better. He then noted that it was outrageously expensive, but that he just told his parents that the teacher wouldn't let them shoot with digital video (even though it was really o.k.)! Kids, gotta love 'em.

No kidding, they have the craziness that I wish I still had.

This is from Casino Royale Super 8 experimental film festival:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpgu_dDGcYg

 

[MartinP]

When I was at Uni I am almost sure friends of mine did a project using a Beaulieu (? spelling) camera that gave a synch signal to a tape-recorder, so the things probably exist(-ed). It looked as big as the 16mm cameras though, so probably only meant for teaching and courses. Also it was quite a while ago (oops) and I have no idea of what filmstock they used.

Edit: And thanks to the OP for thinking to post the recent positive news !

 

[Jamie123]

Funny story. A student from an area University was here shooting a movie for his class a couple of years ago and when I saw he was shooting 16mm B&W with an old Bolex, I asked him why he wasn't shooting video. He said because he liked film better. He then noted that it was outrageously expensive, but that he just told his parents that the teacher wouldn't let them shoot with digital video (even though it was really o.k.)! Kids, gotta love 'em.

I went to the photo store to get some film on friday. A 5-pack of 120 film and a 5-pack of 35mm film, both Portra 400NC. Cost me about $92 (CHF92). And that was with 10% student discount. Talk about outrageously expensive. Funny thing is I do have a 5DII that wouldn't cost me any additional money to use. I even like it. But it's just not the same.