Old Film Look

Robert

Robert

Hey there, a friend is wanting to shoot a comedy short about his adventures growing up in the late 60's thru 70's. He wants the film to look like a documentary that was shot back then. Question: What is the best super16mm film to use? Ideally, he would want it to look like a 35mm film from that time period, but with effects of age showing. Should he just shoot regular and then add in the "aged effects" through editing? Or maybe a combination of both effects and film/lighting techniques?

Could a Super16mm film shot today even look like a 35mm film from that era?

Thanks!
 
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Kodak still makes Kodachrome (K-40) for 16mm.

I imagine that would help with an aged look. It would look very similar to the 70's home movies people used to make on Super-8... but a lot less shake in the gate with a newer 16mm camera.

:)
 
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Thanks for the reply, but he doesn't want the film to look like an 8mm home movie. He wants it to look like a professional 35mm documentary that was shot in that time (but that had aged due to neglect/time). He is hoping he can get that old 35mm look using 16mm film.
 
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It's the shakey gate that really gives S8 that unique look, not the K-40.

K-40 was used in 8, 16 & 35mm for a long time... and still retains a unique, older look even in the rock-steady non-8mm cameras of today.

All I'm saying is that, if wanting to make something that looks like it was made 40 years ago, why wouldn't one want to use a film stock that was actually being used back then?

That clarify a bit? :)

_______

Maybe try the Kodak 320T. It's supposed to make colours seem pastel-like... which could help make something seemed aged too, I guess. (Never used it.)
 
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Zensteve said:
All I'm saying is that, if wanting to make something that looks like it was made 40 years ago, why wouldn't one want to use a film stock that was actually being used back then?

That clarify a bit? :)
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Yes, I understand now. Makes sense. I will suggest that film type to him. Thanks!

60's, 70's documentaries were usually shot in 16mm with a CP16 or similar camera.
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Oh, okay. That actually makes it much better deal then! Thanks for the info!
 
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Speaking of 'old look'... there was an interesting article I read recently... though it doesn't really go too in depth on the technique, it's talking about how they used photoshop to recreate the look of technicolor for 'The Aviator' (the part I'm talking about is on the last page of the document, page 4)
 
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Thanks for the help everyone!

One follow up question:

What is the price for Kodachrome 40 and Ecktachrome 100D? And what about processing?

I looked on the Kodak website but I couldn't find any prices listed.

Also, I know people suggest getting tail ends or returned stock. Is this a good idea? Since we want the film to look kinda old, if there are real defects in some of the film it might actually add to the realism.

Thanks again!
 
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Robert said:
Hey there, a friend is wanting to shoot a comedy short about his adventures growing up in the late 60's thru 70's. He wants the film to look like a documentary that was shot back then. Question: What is the best super16mm film to use? Ideally, he would want it to look like a 35mm film from that time period, but with effects of age showing. Should he just shoot regular and then add in the "aged effects" through editing? Or maybe a combination of both effects and film/lighting techniques?

Could a Super16mm film shot today even look like a 35mm film from that era?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

We just did the same thing with a digital short, www.forgottenstars.com but we made a fake doc going from turn of the century through the 60's with modern day inverviews. We used Cinelook in AfterEffects and the software was FANTASTIC! We had a lot of compliments because people knew it was digital but couldn't tell, it look very realistic. I've heard that for film, people acually scratch the negative, run it through dirt to achieve that look.
 
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Look for some 7240 VNF (video news film), no longer made but there's plenty still around. It has the color spectrum you associate with old news footage because it's the film they used. Finding a VNF processing lab is becoming more problemsome nowadays, but there are a few still running.
 
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Indeed, a reversal film would be an excellent choice. Most location news footage and sporting events were shot on 16mm ektachrome during the 60's and early 70's. Many stadiums and news rooms actually had VNF processing machines on site for fast turn around. The closest thing to the look is the following:

7285 100D Ektachrome Film:

http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/16mm/products/reversal/7285.jhtml?id=0.1.4.5.6.4&lc=en


Best E-6 (ektachrome) Processing:

www.spectrafilmandvideo.com

Kodak and/or Spectra Lab should be able to offer additional advice on getting the best results.
 
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