Retro Thing

Bringing Silent Movies Back To Hollywood

Hearing an artist talk about his craft can be mesmerizing. Here's Michel Hazanavicius eloquently discussing his Academy Award winning silent film The Artist with Joe LaMattina.

The Last Film Movie Cameras?

Digital cameras have grabbed the lion's share of the consumer market over the past decade. Now it looks like the same thing is happening in the motion picture industry, as industry giants shift production to digital equipment.

Debra Kaufman of Creative COW Magazine reports, "ARRI, Panavision and Aaton have quietly ceased production of film cameras within the last year to focus exclusively on design and manufacture of digital cameras. That's right: someone, somewhere in the world is now holding the last film camera ever to roll off the line."

I think the reality is that there are no new film camera designs on the drawing board, but ARRI or Aaton will manufacture cameras on demand. However, I wouldn't be surprised if they had limited inventory of machined bodies and other components that don't wear out quickly.

This new reality is reflected in Kodak's recent stock price woes. The once mighty film giant's share price recently dipped well below $1 on news that the company had retained the services of bankruptcy protection experts and is looking for a buyer interested in its digital imaging patent portfolio.

Personally, I don't think film is dead yet and Kodak is a bargain at current prices.

Film Fading to Black [via a thread on Filmshooting.com]

Why iSupr8 For iPhone Is A Great Idea

iSupr8 is an iPhone app that mimics the look and feel of shooting Super 8 movie film. It's currently free, thanks to sponsorship by Levi's. I initially dismissed it as awkward hipsterism, but then realized that it may well introduce a new generation to the wonders of small format film. And that's a good thing.

The app features lots of classic imagery from the Super 8 era -- you get to choose a camera case and the type of Super 8 cartridge you're shooting. You also get to muck around with adjustable frame rates (12 / 18 / 24 fps) and even add quirks like film burn, scratches and even a visible frame gate. Of course, it's only a digital simulation. But it's enough to pique the interest.

I suspect untold thousands will download this app and muck around with it for a short while, but there will be a handful of intrepid users who move on to try real film. After all, it's possible to get into Super 8 filmmaking for far less than the $649 price tag of an iPhone.

You can pick up a decent Super 8 camera for under $50, and a 50 foot cartridge of Ektachrome 100D film costs $17 (plus another $12 for processing from Dwayne's photo). Projectors can be found at garage sales and swap meets (they're not so popular on eBay because they cost a small fortune to ship).

If you've never shot film, iSupr8 could very well be your introduction to a fantastic hobby. And if you've tried Super 8 in the distant past, it might encourage you to shoot a few carts of the real thing.

iSupr8 Levi's® Film Workshop Edition [iTunes preview page]

Lego Super 8 Movie Projector

Friedemann Wachsmuth's Lego Technic projector is fully functional, and everything is Lego except for the lens, reels and lamp.

He says, "The projector uses just two engines and is fully featured with automatic feeding, 24 fps, fast rewind and 120m reel capability. A decent LED flashlight makes it pretty amazingly bright."

Check out the video for some brilliant shots of this plastic masterpiece in action. Friedemann has since improved the film pulldown mechanism to stabilize the image, but even in these shots it's an impressive achievement. I can't wait for a 35 mm version!

Lego Technic Super-8 Movie Projector

Kodak Announces Ektachrome 100D For Super 8

The Super 8 film format is 45 years old, but Kodak has just released Ekatachrome 100D daylight balanced color reversal film in Super 8 cartridges. It's a bittersweet introduction, since Big K is discontinuing two other Super 8 films to make way for the new emulsion.

Plus-X (B&W reversal) and Ektachrome 64T (color reversal) will fade into the history books as soon as current stocks are depleted. The loss of Plus-X stings; it's a favorite for moody music videos and no-budget indie films. As for Ektachrome 64T, it was introduced five years ago as a replacement for Kodachrome and didn't really earn the trust of Super 8 filmmakers.

This leaves Kodak with a total of four different Super 8 films (Ektachrome 100D, Tri-X B&W reversal, and 200T and 500T Vision negative films). I'm very impressed with the company's tenacity -- everyone seemed to think that the format was done for when Kodachrome was retired, but it's still going strong.

Bye bye 64T and Plus-X, hello 100D! [from schmalfilm magazine via OnSuper8]

Kodak: Spotlight on Super 8

Giving Thanks With 1950's Home Movie Title Cards

 
Today is Thanksgiving Day in the U.S., so it seems like a good time to think about what we at Retro Thing are thankful for. Of course that's you - our readers from all around the world! You continue to astonish us with your thoughts on our thoughts on the many and varied things we write about right here.

We hope that you're enjoying the day with friends and family (whether you're in the U.S. or not!), and thank you for making us part of your.. um... extended-extended second-in-law-twice-removed online electronic virtual family. Don't forget to take some home movies - they're easier than ever to create and share these days. You can add these retro titles to your family flicks by clicking on the links below to download larger versions for free. These pictures came from a 1950's magazine that included these title cards for your home movies, so here they are just for you!

We've got some exciting retro surprises for you in the coming weeks, so make sure to keep us close as we head into the holidays. Oh, and let us know if you use these title cards in your home movies! Thanks everybody!

links:

download "a handsome bird"
download "thanksgiving"

related:

Thanksgiving Day parade Rickrolled by... Rick Astley!
The turkey that changed video games forever
Home movie titling sets

Ingmar Bergman's Super 8 Camera

This Canon 814 Auto Zoom Super 8 camera belonged to legendary Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman. It hits the auction block on September 28, 2009, along with dozens of other items from his estate.

The camera is nothing special, but wouldn't you love to see the home movies he shot? They're probably fairly normal stuff, except for uncle Olaf's awkward habit of dressing up as the grim reaper and cutting the roast beef with a scythe. All kidding aside, film buffs might be interested in the set of 31 chess pieces that look suspiciously like those featured in The Seventh Seal. Poetically, the white king is missing.

The Canon 814 camera is expected to fetch between € 150 and € 200, including a leather case and Linhof tripod. Absentee bids are accepted for those unable to attend the auction at Bukowski's in Stockholm. Other movie cameras and projectors are up for bids, including a complete Arriflex set.

Ingmar Bergman's Canon 814 Auto Zoom [via OnSuper8]

Zi8: Kodak's Newest Home Movie Camera

Forgive me for digressing into the heretical world of digital imagery, but this is worth a mention. The new Kodak Zi8 is a remarkably good little pocket video camera. It shoots 1080p/720p, has an external mic jack (for those who understand that decent audio is critical to making a video "look good") and includes a macro mode for crisp close-up shots.

Not bad for $180.

I can hear the "professionals" in the back row whimpering about the lack of optical zoom, manual exposure and focusing, but the truth is that 95% of buyers rarely use anything but auto mode. This little gadget fits most people's needs perfectly.

Finally - 45 years after the development of Super 8 - Kodak is back at the top of their game with the kind of no-frills movie camera they became famous for. Let's hope the Zi8 is just the tip of the iceberg. I never thought I'd say this, but perhaps it's time to get my hands on a new Kodak.

Kodak Digital Video Cameras

Tondo Super 8 Projector Proves The 1970s Were Curvier

Let's not mince words; the Italian Tondo 8mm projector is a mechanical work of art. Made possible by the wonders of ABS plastic, G.L. Cernuschi's Tondo Junior CT1 Super 8 projector was released in 1969. It was followed a year later by the CT80 (above + below), which accepted both Super 8 and Regular 8mm formats and came in dashingly modern red, green or blue.

Of course, the toy-like design virtually ensured that these little machines would never be taken seriously by die-hard collectors, especially since manufacturer Polistil got its start in the early 1960s molding plastic model cars. Nevertheless, the cheery Tondo lineup proved irresistible throughout Europe and remained on the market until the mid-1970s.

With designs like this, it's no wonder that futurists in the 1970s envisioned people of the 21st century living in a streamlined plastic world. Little did they know we'd just end up lounging around graffiti-infested housing projects, quietly caressing our sleek iPhones while wondering where the future went.

The Tondo Super 8 Projector [DC Hiller]

related:
Clairtone: Vintage Canadian Hi-Fi
The Muplet Super 8 Projector

My Chemical Romance

When Super 8 film burst onto the moviemaking scene in 1965, it was a breath of fresh air. The format was designed to be as simple as possible - pop a cartridge into the camera, point and shoot. The world had never seen anything like it, and the resulting Super 8 revolution heavily influenced several generations of filmmakers and amateur movie buffs.

The simplicity of the technology helped to assure its long-term success, and the affordability of the format encouraged millions of eager filmmakers to experiment. Some even said it was magical. And - twenty five years after the "end" of Super 8 - this enchanted format continues to cast a powerful spell.

The Super 8 industry collapsed almost overnight in the early 1980s. I was a young and impressionable teenager when the army of sleek VCRs and camcorders rudely elbowed their way into homes around the world. Super 8 instantly became quaint and old-fashioned. Video, on the other hand, offered instant gratification and predictable results - just like a trip to McDonald's for a quick bite to eat.

Manufacturers shifted their focus to the new electronic technology immediately. Those that couldn't - Bell & Howell, Eumig, Elmo, Chinon and dozens of others - vanished. The film era had come to a sudden and premature end. Worse still, we had unwittingly stumbled into a technological dark age.

Fuji Announces The End of Single-8 Movie Film

Fuji Film has formally announced the end of Single-8 motion picture film. You have less than a year to purchase RT200N (tungsten balanced 200 ASA), which will be gone by May 2010. Fujichrome R25N (daylight balanced 25 ASA) will remain available until March 2012. Fuji's in-house processing service will continue until September 2013, giving you lots of time to capture your memories on this venerable vintage format.

Single-8 cartridge film was introduced in 1965 and was intended to compete with Kodak's famed Super 8 format. It didn't enjoy much success outside Japan, even though it was technically the better format. Unlike Super 8, it could be shot backwards and uses an in-camera metal film pressure plate that captures more stable footage than Kodak's plastic design.

Fuji Film Announces The End of Single-8 Movie Film [via OnSuper8]

eBay: Beaulieu 6008S Super 8 Camera

The French Beaulieu 6008 S is one of the best Super 8 cameras ever made. These high-end devices were manufactured from 1979 -1983, right at the end of the Super 8 era. This particular unit includes a tack-sharp Schneider Kreuznach f/1.4 6-70mm zoom lens, as equipped from the factory.

The 6008 S includes a time-lapse intervalometer (see the auction description for potential issues), guillotine variable shutter, a wide range of frame rates from 4-56 fps, single frame mode (for stop-motion), macro capability, manual/auto focus, and manual/auto zoom.

The auction includes the original charger (220V European plug), earphone, box and manual remote. Of course, the best thing about Beaulieu cameras (apart from their exceptional image quality) is that professional service is still available.

My conclusion? This camera looks nice and might sell for less than its worth because of the glitchy time-lapse circuit.

Beaulieu 6008s high end super 8 camera, like new! [eBay]

Where To Find Regular 8mm Film

Kodak still manufactures Super 8 film cartridges, but there are millions of older home movie cameras that need a steady diet of Regular 8mm film (also known as Standard 8mm or Double 8mm) on spools.

Luckily, John Schwind offers a variety of specially cut Kodak stocks to keep your vintage 8mm camera running. His prices are remarkably low - $10 for a 25ft spool of Cine-X 100 ASA B&W film, or $16 for Kodak's beautiful Ektachrome 100 D color reversal stock.

For the uninitiated, Regular 8mm film comes on 25 or 100 ft reels. The film is 16mm wide and you expose one half of the film before flipping it to expose the other half. The film is split down the middle after processing, leaving you with 8mm wide film strips that you can run through a projector.

Regular 8 cameras - even the beautiful Swiss-made Bolex H8 - often sell for next to nothing because their owners are under the illusion that film is no longer available.

John Schwind: International Film Brokers

Then & Now: Kodak Movie Cameras

The Kodak Zoom 8 Reflex retailed for $190 in 1960 (the equivalent of $1350 today). It shot 25 ft reels of Regular 8mm film at 16 fps, using a clockwork motor that required winding every 40 seconds or so. You could only film for about 2 minutes before having to flip the reels to expose the other half of the silent film.

Fast forward 49 years and Kodak is set to introduce the Zx1 ($149.95). This weather resistant solid state camera shoots 720p video at 60 or 30 fps. It accepts SDHC cards, storing up to 10 hours of video on a single 16 GB flash card.

Unlike the old Zoom 8, it has no optical zoom capability. However, the Zx1 includes a 2" LCD for instant playback (try that with film) and comes in black, red, pink, blue and yellow. The package includes editing software, an HDMI video cable and AA Ni-MH batteries with charger. The Zx1 should hit stores in March 2009.

The big question: Is this truly progress?

Kodak Zx1: tiny, weather-resistant 720p camcorder [CrunchGear]

Kodak Introduces New Super 8 Film

Forty-three years after launching the Super 8 home movie format, Kodak has quietly released Vision3 500T color negative film in Super 8 cartridges. Vision3 is Kodak's newest line of professional motion picture film. Unlike the old Kodachrome and Ektachrome home movie films, Vision3 500T is a state of the art tungsten light balanced film intended for digital transfer rather than projection.

Vision3 500T is a replacement for Kodak's popular Vision2 series. It incorporates Advanced Dye Layering Technology (DLT) to reduce shadow grain and provide higher signal-to-noise ratios when scanning low light scenes. The new film retains the overall look and image structure of its predecessor while offering extended highlight latitude, offering as much as two f-stops of highlight detail to avoid blown-out details.

By adding Vision3 500T to their lineup, Kodak continues their recent trend of positioning Super 8 film as the "gateway drug" for aspiring young filmmakers. Of course, Super 8 also serves as a mainstay for professionals seeking the unique look of 8mm film in modern productions.

I admit to being an incurable retro junkie. With that in mind, it’s worth making Super 8 part of your digital image arsenal. Even though few Super 8 cameras have been manufactured since the early 1980s, Kodak still offers a solid lineup of color and black & white film for as little as $10.59 per 50 foot cartridge (which lasts 2 minutes and 30 seconds). Once you start shooting motion picture film, there’s no turning back — there’s something addictive about the sight of genuine film grain and the way film responds to light.

Cameras are inexpensive and plentiful on eBay. You should expect to pay under $100 for a well-equipped device that can shoot at a “professional” speed of 24 frames per second and offers useful options such as slow-motion and timelapse. In fact, the ability to shoot film at a variety of speeds is one of its strongest benefits.

Once you’ve captured images on film, there’s no need to haul out a clunky old projector. Many companies offer pro-quality film to video transfers, starting at around $20 per reel. You can even purchase excellent video transfer equipment for under $1400. Once your film has been copied to miniDV tape you can manipulate it using all of your favorite video editing software.

Announcing KODAK VISION3 500T Color Negative Film [via filmshooting.com]