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16mm film process

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Ryan*
Posts: 1827 - Karma: 1,195
A friend of mine is interested in starting his own production company and he wants me to help him.  It's easy to shoot in HD (well not easy, but you get my point), but what I'm wondering is how the process of shooting in 16mm works. 

I know that 16mm cameras are used for slow-motion shots because they shoot at a high FPS (like 48 or so) and then can be slowed down to the average 24 FPS for a really clear, slow shot.  But what I don't know is how to move the footage you get on a 16mm camera from the camera to a computer, and then edit it digitally.  I suppose this is something you learn at film school, but can anyone give me a brief description of how this works?
Aug 8 2009 2:12PM
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eheath
Posts: 61100 - Karma: 118,255
You send your film in to a developer and they can make it digital for you. But if you are seriously asking these questions then don't get a 16mm cam, not only will you not be able to afford everything, but you seem to have no idea what you're talking about.
Aug 8 2009 2:14PM
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horner
Posts: 2439 - Karma: 1,578
If you want to shoot 16mm, go to film school, take some classes, or try to meet someone who knows how to shoot film and learn from them.  It's expensive, hard, and you can't just start shooting film.  There's a lot more to it than meets the eye.
Aug 8 2009 2:21PM
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Ryan*
Posts: 1827 - Karma: 1,195
I was not planning on it.  My friend, who is older than me and is going into college this fall, is taking courses on filmmaking.  He's going to be getting most of the shots since he is living with skiers, and I'm not.  I'm going to be learning about digital editing and I'll be helping him take the shots he gets and put them together into a finished product.  I'm asking this question just because I was interested.
Aug 8 2009 4:31PM
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eheath
Posts: 61100 - Karma: 118,255
Well tell him to buy a digital camera, not a film camera.
Aug 8 2009 4:34PM
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horner
Posts: 2439 - Karma: 1,578
Google "Telecine" for all the info you need on the process of transferring film into a digital format.
Aug 8 2009 4:40PM
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Jordan
Posts: 4079 - Karma: 2,122
You are so fucking negative all the time.

Yes film is much harder to learn, more expensive but if the kid is going to put time into and have fun...why do you care?

How do you think people would learn if teachers just said "nah math is too hard, don't try it ever"

Fuck, I hadn't a clue how to take photos and I just started doing film by myself no classes and learned from my mistakes, let kids do what they want.



But yes you can send the film out and get it digitally converted

http://www.digitaltransfersystems.net/

http://www.digitalpickle.com/film.shtml

those are just two that came up on google.





Aug 8 2009 4:45PM
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TheRadCactus
Posts: 166 - Karma: 10
I already have a 16mm Bell & Howell camera and projector (old with no sound, but still in good working order).  Anybody know where I can get film and where I can send it to be developed?
Aug 8 2009 7:48PM
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holyDINOSAURS
Posts: 7038 - Karma: 639
yeah. tell him to not waste his money til he knows what he's doing. do lots of research, work with somebody, please for the love of god go to school.

start with super8. easiest and cheapest of film to shoot, and you get the idea pretty quick. 16 isnt too much different depending on the camera.
Aug 8 2009 8:47PM
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eheath
Posts: 61100 - Karma: 118,255
Just tryin to save himself some time and money, this dude is going to classes in the fall, balentely has no idea what he's talking about so he should not buy a film camera he should wait til he takes classes. If he get a digial camera, plays with it, gets some filming practice then after his classes and shit he can buy one, i think its stupid just to jump into a 16mm setup especially for skiing, its so expensive.
Aug 8 2009 9:29PM
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Ryan*
Posts: 1827 - Karma: 1,195
Not a bad idea, actually. 

I also like the idea about super 8, I'll definitely look into that as a possibility.

Eheath I get what you're saying, so I'll see what classes he's taking,  I also may be interning with a film production company so that may teach me something, but we won't just run blindly into it.  I appreciate the warning.


Aug 9 2009 1:26AM
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Mooserz
Posts: 2945 - Karma: 32
at SVA they give you little 16mm's to play with/ built like tanks
Aug 9 2009 2:31AM
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TheRadCactus
Posts: 166 - Karma: 10
...So that's a "no" then, I guess
Aug 11 2009 3:12AM
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freezed
Posts: 12973 - Karma: 500
texas
Aug 11 2009 12:31PM
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mmallender.
Posts: 5805 - Karma: 936
read up someone posted two links to places you can get it developed, and im sure if you typed 16mm film into google there would be a bunch of online stores to purchase it from.
Aug 11 2009 12:36PM
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dergblerp
Posts: 1303 - Karma: 77
I don't really think film is all that difficult of a medium to work with. Sure, its expensive, but i feel anyone who knows about setting exposure/reciprocity could practically just pick up a camera, fiddle a bit, and start shooting. For 8mm check out ektachrome 64T. It's a good 8mm color film stock.
Aug 11 2009 12:53PM
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Jordan
Posts: 4079 - Karma: 2,122
Ok, I am sorry for being a bit of a prick, this post is much better in terms of attitude haha.


you should of posted this one first!
Aug 11 2009 1:07PM
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mnjib
Posts: 5592 - Karma: 357
super 8 is not cheap either. I have one never bothered to develop it and only bought one roll of film. for the cheapest B&W film its about 20 bucks for a 50ft roll. which is about 3 minutes of footage. developing is around another 20 bucks so for every 3 minutes your spending 40+ dollars. now multiply that by 20hr of filming or so to get good shots. you are now looking at a budget of $16,000 that is if you are using only the cheapest film. so you could go with film if you have a nice big budget or drop $3,600 on a HMC 150.
Aug 11 2009 4:07PM
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mnjib
Posts: 5592 - Karma: 357
forgot my links

super 8: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/341/Other_Film_Formats_Movie_Film.html

16mm:  http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=search&A=search&Q=&ci=0&sb=bs%2Cupper(ds)&sq=asc&sortDrop=Brand%3A+A+to+Z&ac=&bsi=&bhs=t&ci=341&shs=&at=Format_16mm&basicSubmit=Submit+Query
Aug 11 2009 4:09PM
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holyDINOSAURS
Posts: 7038 - Karma: 639
its really rare to find someone whos going to shoot a WHOLE movie in super 8. or a whole anything in super 8. i know when i shoot wiht it its always for filler/effect/a certain look.

i would love to shoot a whole feature in it though.
Aug 11 2009 6:50PM
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connoroh
Posts: 2333 - Karma: 246
jesus, for whatever reason i thought 8mm film was out of production.

You just made my day.
Aug 11 2009 7:23PM
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connoroh
Posts: 2333 - Karma: 246
right, super 8 isn't the same as normal 8mm. i spose i was right.
Aug 11 2009 7:27PM
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