Talking with LEWIS POTTS about shooting on 16mm film
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- čas přidán 30. 06. 2024
- I spoke to Lewis Potts about shooting on 16mm film.
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I still have and shoot on an ARRI 16m just to keep sharp... In some ways I long for the days when we shot TV commercials on 35mm film; the flow was slower, more care was taken, and everyone had to bring their A game.
That's the guy who's channel is growing like wild fire!! Can't believe you got him on the channel. Wow.
So so happy for this guy!
It’s great you guys linked up.
Discovered his channel a few weeks ago, so cool to see his slow expansion.
Really enjoyed this video! I first shot 16mm in film school and remember resenting it at first because I was afraid my film wouldn't turn out. I ended up getting my film back and falling in love because of how beautiful it was. Fast forward to this past year and I have shot a few projects on 16mm. I highly encourage everyone to get their hands on some film and shoot something! I'll be posting a complete breakdown of a shoot on 16mm very soon.
Yeaaa at-last part of an Exclusive Club !!! Yeah !!! Btw wonderful insight about 16mm flims more over still bein used so well !
Thanks for this, i love this channel so much.
I dont get it ! why is this channel getting so less likes and views ?
The quality of videos, the value in content is so much high here.... I like your videos and love your work !
Fun convo, thanks for sharing!
I just love this channel ❤️❤️❤️
I shot on a BW 8mm film camera once. The aura of needing to plan and really rehearse every shot and try to do it in one good take was there almost instinctually that I've never once felt shooting digital. Like, the concept of having that set small roll and that's it was so ingrained while shooting, it totally changed how every shot was approached
Great interview 🎥🎞
The fact the client can't keep looking over your shoulder and preview everything is an absolute plus for me. If you hired me, have some faith and stop breathing on my neck.
Thanks for this!
Super interesting talk😍 would love how you will tackle film when you try it🤩🙏
Videos like this are so much better than your ads disguised as real videos. 🎉
That’s a good point actually
I just bought my first old Arriflex 16mm BL for two reasons collectors item and for me developing my film demo reel
I've never shot film, but I've done film photography. And the reason I do it is it makes me more intentional with what i'm shooting since you're so limited (and it's expensive). The aesthetic is another reason. But the big reason is it makes me appreciate the digital stuff a lot more because I know how easy I have it. So, for those who haven't experienced film (photo or video) it's something you definitely need to try.
Thank you
oh man i love this
Shooting on film is great. I was lucky enough to have that opportunity early in my career. And for music videos where 10 or 20 minutes of footage may be adequate to capture some lip syncing or half ass gyrations then shooting on film may be a no-brainer. But you will run into a serious problem on a narrative production; because, there is one thing no one ever mentions in videos like this one and that is the effect limited film budgets have on actors. Actors really shine when they are permitted to run the entire scene at various camera setups and that is not possible on limited budgets using film. Shooting on 16mm will cost upwards of $40 PER MINUTE (film, developing and transfer), so unless you have a substantial budget you will be forcing your actors into a place where they may not be able to deliver their best performances. So sure it may look great, but when shooting at low ratios like 3 to 1, the performances will most likely be subpar. That has been my experience on low budget feature sets using film. I now own and shoot on a RED and I never worry about an actors performance issues due to low budgets, leading to low shooting ratios and a depleted film stock on set.
I think actors have to be aware of this and are really willing to experience it and are passionnate. I bought a 90 min DVD filmed in UK on old no motor Bolex 16mm (shooting ration 2:1), actors have added their voice afterward like when movies are translated, and the performance is great, looks and sounds like normal movies. But this can be possible only in exceptional circumstances with actors who know what they are getting involved in, they know hat is this kind of shooting, and of course all this can't be done with all scripts.
exactly my experience as well. Even if you have big money/resources and are willing to blow through a fortune in film stock, your actors feel greater tension for each moment of footage and often never settle in. theres simply no competing with the more flexible and looser on-set feel to play and experiment that digital affords.
Many great filmmakers's testimonies say digital equals lazy actor's performances, film equals dedicated aware great actors's results.
@@pedade02 We are talking about low budget productions with limited financial resources. Low budget projects can not afford the luxury of high shooting ratios - that is simple economic fact. And in most low budget productions, you will be using actors with very little to no experience. They will be under way too much pressure to do well on the first one or two takes. So, 90% of the time they will be throw away takes or you will have to settle for an inferior performance - either way it would be a waste of money. That is a non-issue when shooting digitally. As for an actor being "lazy"due to shooting digitally - well, that has never been my experience.
I think the most valuable part of this is the mindset. But I still do the same mindset with my DP when shooting digital. I mean usually you are fighting against time on the set, so if you are focusing on the right thing which is getting the right shots to tell the story, you should just trust your DP when he/she says it was good and move on. People are often making the mistake of ¨let's take one more just in case¨ and they lose lot's of valuable time. Nowadays I tend to be totally on ''shooting film'' mindset (I have never shot film) and I think when having this mindset I'm a better director. Second reason why I'm doing it is that I personally hate to edit a project when you have dozens of takes to choose, because i'ts paralyzing to decide which one is the keeper.
Its nice to see the fun in shooting film. You may emulate the look, but i guess its the process why peolle go back
Great interview. I love 16mm!!!!
A really great guy. Thanks to ELM I found his channel
Amazing
Lol the ending. nice
I was a Toy Tech/toy performer on a toy commercial “shot” in film around 1999. It was mega stressful as the film was rolling and the prototype toy kept shitting the bed. The lights were super hot and ppl were stressed. God bless digital.
Film thrives in light. It needs more light than digital. Same with film photography.
Lot of Memories. I have shot on the Bolex in the 90s. Some of the Bolex cameras are wild - meaning not in sync.
if you are going to shoot sync audio then get a camera with a Crystal Motor.
Remember when you are filming the audio is recorded separately.
Tobin makes a crystal sync motor. Cheap and works really well. I use it on my Bolex Rex 4.
I used to think this way until I started listening to David Finchers thoughts on the complications of celluloid. Digital imo allows me more creative control. That’s not to say I don’t love the celluloid aesthetic. But I don’t see why someone couldn’t replicate the same effect for a fraction of the cost in digital. I’d like to hear what your guys thoughts are on this. The more perspectives the better
The way I see it is the feel that film has. Yes you can emulate it with digital but it will never be the same. Smarter every day just made a video about this. If you’ve seen a quiet place 2 it was shot on film and it feels incredible. If it was shot on digital I don’t believe it would have the same feel. Go watch smarter every days video about it. He gives examples and shows you what I’m talking about.
I work at a place that does side by side digital projection and film (to match for archive). while it has gone almost all digital projection, film projection is still more natural to human brains. the intermitten movement between your eyes and brain eases the processing. digital are square waves with no gaps which causes a pounding sensation. this is not good for the brain. But, since everything is streaming or digital projection, I can't argue what medium the origination needs to be. Also, since everything is D.I. now, its a moot point. Comparing the two is futile since a film print destroys digital easily. but no one does photochemical print anymore. I could go on...
He did not mention a cost of push or pull processing, which would add to the overall cost estimate. I shoot stills on film for aesthetics of a film look, and when I do that, I never ever have to worry about white balance or inadvertently clipping highlights - film handles these two wonderfully well.
After the movie The Artist was released in 4:3, i stopped worrying about cameras or formats.
Digital is for convenience.Film is for high caliber director and cinematography.Film is superior in real cinematic.
damn straight. Film is real, digital is an interpretation in pixels, cold and generic.
@@darkcustomxxx7252 me when I talk out of my ass
I shoot a lot of commercials and music videos and docs on film. No one I work with is rolling 20 min takes digital or film. I do shoot about half my jobs on 16 or some format of 35mm. My SR3 has an HD video Tap so agency and client have been a lot happier. There are ways to hook in a preview tap into a Bolex.
Is this a list of reasons why you didn’t like this video? Keep going! I love this stuff.
??? I didn’t say I didn’t like the video. Just because I disagree doesn’t mean I’m posting hate sir.
Still No digicam can mimic the glorious texture of film like Lawrence of Arabia,but film can mimic digital texture because of digital intermidiate.
Potts is the bomb.
Have you ever seen a scene where the sunlight is coming in from an angle that promotes a flare where the shutter is actually seen flickering. I've seen it a few times and can't imagine why this happens in today's techno world?
Yes!! Film can do that sometimes… one of the small features of film that is close to impossible to replicate
Really interesting piece. I've got 2 Bolex 16mm cameras (EBM/EL) and keep thinking that I will go and sell them as they are too expensive to use, then I see this and think what the hell am I thinking and change my mind!! I love the idea of being able to shoot film but the expense involved in the UK is huge.
More expensive than Australia? You've got a bigger population and some legendary studios and talent. Surely the economies of scale are working for you as opposed to Australia's tyranny of distance.
@Tayler Prince-Fraser Hi. I haven't used it for a while and its just gathering dust. Out of the 2 I have, it's the better camera as it runs really quietly compared to the EL. I have the Kerm Swiar zoom lens in bayonet mount I interested. Both item in very good condition.
@Tayler Prince-Fraser Yes I did thx. Im preparing to go off to the olympics so a little busy at the moment but will try and get something out to you before i leave
The Bolex is an incredible camera. I love the "always on" advantage of a crank camera. Get 4K flat scans on a Scan Station and the look is unbeatable.
"Don't just go out and buy a camera online"
Me who just bought a K-3 on eBay: ....
Hi dude . look at my instagram - I'm making canon mounts for Krasnogorsk 3
k3super16mm
Makes me feel a bit better about dslr 30minute record limits lol
Film is beautiful but I can barely afford a digital camera with an SD card, nevermind a film camera and a couple hundred bucks every shoot.
You have to scan the film... that is why Arri made the Alexa so now you can scan the reality directly.
Scanner works differently though...
i love shooting in 16mm if scaning wasnt as expensive i would shot more often.
Documentary 😭
Having learned photography and a little bit of film making in the analog, chemical days, I can’t praise the digital advantage too much. And today the end result will always be digital, so technically an analog detour does not make any sense. It is only for the experience. If someone needs this to work more concentrated, well, …
Don’t think I’ll ever shoot video on film unless I become a millionaire 😝 I would like to try it if I can that kind of money to spare tho! I’m all-digital (video and stills) but my main photography friends use film (stills) and that led me to look into the viability of experimenting with film video. Conclusion for me personally: not viable. Lol
subbed lul
I've done something mean. Very mean. I'm bad. Oh God I'm a bad person. I subscribed.
what are these amazing webcams you guys are using? lmfao
My guess is they're using their cameras. Either streaming with them or filming their interviews and syncing it in post.
This video was very well timed for me, as I was debating between two options for a short animated film I plan on making very soon. The two options are:
1) Do it old school cell animation style with a 16mm camera and recording one frame at a time
2) Pay someone to emulate the style over the internet and end up with a digital file
Both options have their advantages, but in case anyone wants to argue why I should pick on option over the other, feel free to leave a comment.
Hi dude . look at my instagram - I'm making canon mounts for Krasnogorsk 3 / dog k3super16mm
full respect but I feel like almost all the benefit of film is placebo at this point. If you want the look of film these days its proven you can achieve it quite easily. If you want the increased focus on set, you can achieve that too. If shooting digital makes your shoot feel unfocused, its not the medium at fault. You just weren't properly creating the energy and environment where each minute and take felt important.
Just talking about the look and feel...On a technical aspect film is still better when It comes to color and that's a fact. Film has 3 layers of 100% Red green and blue where digital has 40% green, 30% red, 30% blue pixels. You can grade the shit out of digital, it would look cool but it wont have looked the same. 35mm film is squeeky clean these days and all the normal motion picture cameras use 35mm sensors but 16mm and 8mm are different sensor sizes, your lenses are different focal lengths, your relation between the camera and subject is totally different so your storytelling and feel is totally different.
Its not placebo.
@@user-yx4wx4oq4g Of course you're entitled to an opinion and a preference, but the debate over quality between film and digital has been made moot over the last decade. Nearly Every pro studio and cinematographer has adopted, with only a few notable standouts.
Look up the publications and work of cinematographer Steve Yedlin(DP Knives out/Last Jedi). Methods to perfectly replicate any film stock look from digital footage. its "indistinguishable", even lifelong industry pros can't tell what's the actual film stock and what's just digital given the same flavor in post with his methods, and none of them terribly difficult or time consuming. Your assertions about color quality and film clarity vs modern hollywood digital offerings are unfortunately just not true anymore, if once they were.
So... yes. Placebo. The benefits are basically the "emperors new clothes" metaphor. Film Purists have just formed a confirmation bias while most of the industry has embraced the upgrade because theres no downside.
The benefits of digital? Hours of set time can be saved by shooting in digital raw or a flat color profile. Low light sensitivity is far weaker on film, requiring more expensive lighting and lenses to compensate. With film you need to pick an ISO stock before you even shoot. It's virtually ungradable in post, impossible to push any exposure. The amount of light and info you get on film is basically set in stone. So if you messed something up even slightly, your time and film are basically useless... and then its paying for reshoots... Cost of film vs harddrives, etc, etc... almost every way you approach it, digital is easier, more versatile, cheaper and less stressful. Beyond that? Placebo. No question that its easier to start digital, save tons of time and money and achieve the look you want in post with no compromise.
OR try the method DP Greig Fraser ASC, ACS, and director Denis Villeneuve used for Dune. Shoot, edit, grade and expose on digital, then do a print out on film and scan it back. Boom, all the imperfections and softness/color of film, and none of the expensive restrictive downsides.
@@Triforcefilms 100% you're right its convenient to shoot digital but
its not opinion. The scientific fact is that along with other layers on film stock there is a blue sensitive layer, a green sensitive layer and a red sensitive layer and these layers of color sensitivity fills up across the whole surface of the film stock. This means that every and any spec in the frame gives you red green and blue. You can google how a CMOS sensor work and see for yourself that a sensor only covers 30% red, 30% blue and 40% green across the whole sensor. Why is this? Because you have one green pixel, next to it a red one, then green again and then blue again and the pattern continues. Google it and you will see for a fact that when it comes down to pixel by pixel a digital sensor is only one color and missing other colors where as film stock contains all the colors on every "pixel".
Yes you wont be able to look at something and say what its shot on, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between CP2 lenses on an A7S and master primes on an Arri. I have seen many tests like this on youtube and its crazy so why don't they just make block busters with little cameras and cheap lenses? Because it is different and you will only really notice the difference once you work with it.
Also shooting digital isn't necessarily cheaper. You can shoot a feature film on 16mm and it can be cheaper than shooting it on a Alexa mini. Go google it or do you need me to break it down.
@@user-yx4wx4oq4g "yes you won't be able to tell the difference if you shot on film or shot digital"..., Exactly. Thanks.
So literally everything you said is meaningless. Go look up the names I mentioned and their work. They know better than you. Companies like Arri know better than you. A hundred year old technology is going to be replaced. It's not magic. Silly to assume the biggest studios in the world are all spending hundreds of millions using digital if it's anything but the best option.
@@user-yx4wx4oq4g and of course you can tell the difference if something is shot on a cheap mirrorless vs an arri, Just not on CZcams which compresses the hell outta things. You can tell when dealing with the massive raw files in post and the processing flexibility. (Absolutely not an option you get with film....) But yah, if you've admitted that the final image is indestinguishable, then you've completely destroyed your own argument and film is a pointless old technology, because the final image is the only benefit. Everything else about shooting on film is an expensive mess. I did it in school, believe me. Talk all day about how it captures color, it's irrelevant if the final product doesn't benefit.
And you must be crazy if you think it's not cheaper. Look up the cost of 35mm or god forbid 70mm IMAX film stock vs the near infinite space of hardrives you can just clear and use again. I'm not convinced you're really applying objective reasoning to this discussion.
There’s only one reason to shoot on film and that’s to keep it on film.
First
Why do all examples of 16mm on CZcams look like absolute garbage? I've watched plenty of films and TV shows shot on 16mm and none of them were plagued with the plethora of visual artifacts that I see here. Is it simply that all these amateur on CZcams are exclusively using old, unmaintained potato cameras and expired film stock?
LOUD HOST. Do you talk like that at dinner parties?
No I’m actually super shy with social anxiety so there’s that.