8mm to film, or not to film?

Papertwinproductions

Papertwinproductions

So this won't be a strenuous thread, I'm here to collect your two cents--specifically those who are familiar with 8mm footage/cameras. I'm looking at you Zen & Ric.

I have a side project I'm working on, a short film, which requires a flurry of 8mm footage.

After a lot of thread-searching on the 8mm, I'm still undecided.

The websites I've come across selling royalty-free stock footage, the prices are reasonable--In the region of $20-$60. I would jump at this if i needed the footage in its entirety, however as the clips will be no longer than a few seconds, with ten or so different clips put together, I'm seeing the $340 as unruly. But why shouldn't i pay that? The footage is outstanding.

Now, the other option, purchase an 8mm, the film, create my own material and find a lab to assemble it.

Which way am i heading?

p.s I have ruled out the "HD to 8mm look", It has to be authentic.
 
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Buy off-the-shelf stock footage, or make your own...

Buy/rent camera. Clean camera. Buy filmstock. Spend time arranging to shoot the material. Hope the weather is good. Pay to process filmstock. Pay to digitally transfer footage (keeping in mind most labs have a 30-minute minimum charge). Add appropriate shipping costs. Meanwhile praying to deity-of-your-choice that your footage actually looks good.

I 'spose it would depend on just how unique the footage you need is. But it probably ain't that unique if you found it available as stock footage.

Something else to conside, btw - be very careful with what licensing you are allowed, with the stock footage. I dunno where you're getting it from, but take Getty Images, for example. Several different pricing structures for several different licences, and even by image size or quality. Make sure that you'll be able to use what you pay for.

Based on the small info given, I'd say buy the stock footage - but only you have the full knowledge of what you are doing.
 
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It's a tough one, but truthfully, with what i have going on, taking the route of shooting my own 8mm footage, could as I've never used the camera before, leave me with nothing but a hole in my wallet.

I checked the stock footage T&C's, as i assumed the prices may be symbolic to how exactly "Royalty Free" the footage was. The image size & quality are fantastic, those that where in my "basket" where the pricier of the footage, and just looking back over the other lower priced selections, you're right--the highest in the $20 section is 720x576.

Like i said, it's a side project, a couple of actors we've worked with, our usual crew just being great sports and willing to work for the fun of it.

Cheers Zen

+1 Stock footage
 
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Sounds great, right now I haven't thought about festival submissions as we have other material, and the fees are piling up. At this very minute, it's a straight to website.

It's getting late here, so I'll check it in the morning!
 
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