Recently we were contacted by several photographers and videography companies in the Ontario wedding community asking if we were aware of fellow colleagues offering what they advertise to be Super 8mm Wedding Films when in fact they are digital videos. We investigated and even went as far as to purchase the camera's being utilized to run our own tests. The results are for you to decide.
WHAT IS DIGITAL SUPER 8? OR IS IT DIGITAL SUPER 8MM WEDDING FILM? OR SUPER 8 REVIVAL?
There is no such thing as Digital Super 8mm Film.
I support anyone producing work in any format including video that emulates Super 8mm Film, but to claim something as film when it is not enters a grey area with regards to what is ethical and or is it misleading to both the consumer and to studios such as ours. This intentional blur of what it is and what it isn't will certainly diminish the value and idea of what Super 8mm Film ACTUALLY LOOKS and FEELS like.
One particular company, Super 8 Revival offers Digital Super 8mm Film STARTING at $4000.00 for weddings with engagements chiming in at $2000.00 The concern is if a customer were to only stop on these sort of websites the miss-education of calling their product Super 8mm Film directly diminishes our efforts and the work of so many artists in Canada and the United States who work tirelessly with motion picture film. We wish for the day in time where the digital medium catches-up to Super 8mm Film and allows all of us artists to offer our art and services to everyone and not just clients who can afford Super 8mm Film. Until this time, below we explain what Super 8mm Film is and the costs involved before the actual art of producing an actual wedding film.
WHAT IS SUPER 8MM or 16MM FILM & WHY?
Super 8 mm film (often simply called Super 8 or Super 8 film or 8mm) is a motion picture film format released in 1965 by Eastman Kodak. Today Super 8 color negative film as well B&W reversal film is available directly from Kodak for professional use and is typically transferred to a digital format either in HD or standard definition through the telecine process for use in television advertisement, music videos and other film projects. I use it for weddings! The entire process is costly and tedious as it involves the purchase of the Kodak film stock, the knowledge and know-how of lighting and metering as well as maintenance of professional cameras and general equipment that have to be sourced. Once the Super 8mm or 16mm film has been exposed the film is sent to a processing lab where it is opened in a dark room and processed like 35mm still camera films. What is produced from this process are your old-school film movie reels. I take this movie reel now in-house and load it into a digitizing transfer machine that produces two things; a 1:1 digital positive image that allows me to make a custom edit on our Apple computers. This is the truest and best way to retain absolute quality of the precious images captured on film, its archival. All of this costs over $100 for every 3mins. This cost does not include the time on the day of nor the talent both in capturing and in the edit..
As to why I choose to work solely with Super 8mm & 16mm Film...film is organic, its intrinsic flaws are as much a part of its draw and value to me. Its certainly a medium in my eyes that allows me to express and connect to the human heart. HD video is too sharp, too clean and too visceral. It almost instantly disconnects me from the emotions of what I am seeing or hearing. There is a psychology to film, to specifically Super 8mm film - it resonates with people’s memories and connection to family and their past. Whats interesting is that even with the younger group of couples that are getting married who have no history or knowledge to Super 8 the aesthetic still makes this memory-sensory connection. Its full of character, charm and just makes a lot of sense to both myself and my clients. Its more a fine art piece that’s truthful, emotional and closest to how we remember a feeling a moment in our lives! Naz.
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