Pro8mm film

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

As good a place as any to start a discussion. Industry-standard colour film cut to fit 8mm reels.I haven't yet had the opportunity to use this film, as it's a pricey thing to just "try out", but I'm told it really is something of a minor revolution. It's been used a lot in skate videos and the odd music video. Talk of a revival of interest in 8mm film may even convince Kodak to re-introduce the discontinued sound 8mm rolls. Anyone had any experience with this?

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Monday, 28 April 2003 21:31 (twenty-two years ago)

That's www.pro8mm.com

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Monday, 28 April 2003 21:39 (twenty-two years ago)

The idea behind the 8mmm revival seems to be a push for aretro-chic washout/high-contrast look of dirty home movies and Dogtown style amateur footage. Think Snuff Film.

The problem with using the newer stocks is that you lose the grain that used to exist in the old ektachrome stocks to the point where the new film looks the way 16mm USED to look, if that makes sense.

The pithy answer is: If you want to shoot film, you might as well go Super-16. It's just not worth it to go smaller except for effect. It's not a cost-saving thing.

― jm (jtm), Monday, 28 April 2003 21:45 (twenty-two years ago)

True, Jimmy, but you can also get (own) a great 8mm camera + lens for £300/$500. it's an economy of scale.

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Monday, 28 April 2003 21:48 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm playing devil's advocate because I now this was a really dry subject to start the board off with! ;)

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Monday, 28 April 2003 21:49 (twenty-two years ago)

now=know

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Monday, 28 April 2003 21:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I got my Super-8 for free, which is a great little toy. 8 Mil. has been dead for so long it's not worth bringing it back, really. It's to the point now where if you want to watch the shit you shoot you need to

A) Get it dumped right away to DV

B) Buy yrself a projector, which is twee as fuck.

Also, I'm more interested to find out who on ILX is IN THE INDUSTRY. And not just in a writerly/directorly capacity. I know too many of those people and need to find more sound recordists...

― jm (jtm), Monday, 28 April 2003 21:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I knwo a great sound recordist, but he's based in london. He is seriously one of the most talented people I know.

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Monday, 28 April 2003 21:56 (twenty-two years ago)

All those sound guys are fekkin crazy.

― jm (jtm), Monday, 28 April 2003 21:57 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think there are any great secret industry connex on ILX, however.

My friend wants to be the new Alan Splet.

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Monday, 28 April 2003 21:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm really itching to try that Pro8 myself.

― slutsky (slutsky), Monday, 28 April 2003 22:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I've shot a few things on 8 and dealt with those pro8mm people. they where good folks and they recently added DV their telecine facility. The main drawback for Super8, for me, is sync sound. Kind of a hassle.

― PVC (peeveecee), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 22:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Nordicskillz -- there's a great book your friend might want to read.
The Conversations: Walter Murch and the art of editing film, by Michael Ondaatje. One of the best books on editing and sound I've ever had the pleasure of picking up.

― PVC (peeveecee), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 23:34 (twenty-two years ago)

(murch book seconded - it's great)

― jones (actual), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 00:38 (twenty-two years ago)

four months pass...

...

― adaml (adaml), Monday, 22 September 2003 19:05 (twenty-two years ago)

The problem with using the newer stocks is that you lose the grain that used to exist in the old ektachrome stocks to the point where the new film looks the way 16mm USED to look, if that makes sense.

I just shot footage for a music video with regular 8mm, and I can assure you that all the old grain, dirt, and dust is still more than alive, despite whatever you'd believe about improved stock. The basic physical reality is that 8mm will always look grainy because it's always blown up to a gargantuan proportion relative to the actual gauge.

The pithy answer is: If you want to shoot film, you might as well go Super-16. It's just not worth it to go smaller except for effect. It's not a cost-saving thing.

Cost of a one-day 8mm shoot:
$40 camera
$75 stock (five 3.5 minute reels)
$60 processing
$160 telecine
---------------
$335 total cost

Cost of a Super 16mm shoot:
$350 camera (rental)
$250 stock (two 400' reels)
$320 processing and telecine
---------------
$920 total cost

And that doesn't even include the costs of secondary material that will be equivalent across film gauges, like lights, lightmeters, staff (if you're gonna pay them), food, permits, etc.

― Girolamo Savonarola, Monday, 22 September 2003 19:53 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

Girolamo, what camera do you use?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Thursday, 20 November 2003 19:02 (twenty-two years ago)

8mm, that is.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Thursday, 20 November 2003 19:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I own a Movex for regular 8mm. I don't really know too much about the specs or model number - it's from the 1950's, I believe. We shot Cex's music video on it, and I was quite surprised by how well it came out - definitely better quality than I was expecting or anticipating.

I don't own anything Super8 (though I probably should buy one sooner or later), but my DP does - again, I don't know what. I'd say just look around to see if any are at local flea markets, pawn shops, secondhand sales, classifieds, Ebay, you know, the usual suspects. I wouldn't buy the new models, though; while they are fresh and unused, I doubt they're worth the several hundred dollars when you can buy a perfectly decent vintage one for about $50 (give or take).

As for 16mm, if you don't need sync, the Russian K3 rocks the house.

― Girolamo Savonarola, Thursday, 20 November 2003 20:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I have a very cheap Sankyo Super8 cam- 1970s, Russian, I got the camera, a splicer, and a viewer off of ebay for 50 pounds. It came in a Leather case that smells like a hospital.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Thursday, 20 November 2003 20:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I just got some photos developed from this weekend's Super8 shoot we did; maybe I'll scan one in so that you can see what they look like.

Here's the R8, though:

http://www.savonarolamustburn.com/rolls/0001/200308xx-t.jpg

And to give you an idea as to how small it is:

http://www.savonarolamustburn.com/rolls/0001/200308xx-zc.jpg

― Girolamo Savonarola, Thursday, 20 November 2003 20:21 (twenty-two years ago)

You really are impossibly tall, aren't you? And you love that tie! (with good reason, I might add)

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Thursday, 20 November 2003 20:23 (twenty-two years ago)

No, I'm not the tall guy; that's Tom Breihan, another ILX'er. I'm the one in the red.

― Girolamo Savonarola, Thursday, 20 November 2003 20:24 (twenty-two years ago)

(I'd seen that guy before on ILE and I always thought he was you)

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Thursday, 20 November 2003 20:26 (twenty-two years ago)

God, I wish I were that tall sometimes!

― Girolamo Savonarola, Thursday, 20 November 2003 21:29 (twenty-two years ago)

two weeks pass...

I own a Movex for regular 8mm. I don't really know too much about the specs or model number - it's from the 1950's, I believe.

I actually just bought a Movex 88 off of Ebay. It's a bit of a gamble, but I'm hoping it pays off. What should I expect, Girolamo?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 02:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Fixed tiny lens with a very small focus ring (practically all distances should be set for infinity). Adjustable aperature, single frame exposure mode (at least on mine), handcrank lasts about 43 seconds. Probably is daylight-changing safe, but since most of my work is for professional stuff, I always use a changing bag and tape up the mag when it's loaded. I can only fit 50' reels that you have to flip and run back again, so it's about 3.5 min total, or 1.75 min each side - either way, you'll need to wind at least twice. The only place I know of that provides 8mm stock and development is Dwayne's Photo in Kansas, but they're very nice and affordable.

― Girolamo Savonarola, Tuesday, 9 December 2003 07:28 (twenty-two years ago)

two years pass...

― vincent spano (vincent spano), Thursday, 23 February 2006 19:58 (twenty years ago)

You what?!?!?

― Anonymous Coward, Sunday, 26 February 2006 03:59 (twenty years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.