Making a 35mm short film | Lab & scanning process 

My theory as to why film looks better is because it is technically "less perfect" than digital. What I mean is that digital currently can portray reality very accurately, but that itself is the problem, because watching a movie is all about escaping reality, and film has that certain artistic, or other worldly look to it that does exactly that, it doesn't look exactly like reality, and that's exactly what you want when watching a movie.

Every time I feel like digital has caught up with film I see something like this and I can see the difference a mile off. Great work guys.

Nice to see a personal overview of the film experience. For me, it's a medium that its inherent difficulty forces you to make a better job

Hey! So about a year ago I asked if this camera can connect to a monitor, which it can. But if you can the image into a monitor, couldn’t you record this image onto a recording deck?

Film for the Win.

If I want to make a 35mm movie do I just look around for studios to rent a 35mm camera? Then what about all those tracks for moving the camera around and do I need to hire a crew or do they usually have people help operate them? The entire process is what confuses me.

Movies shot on film are more likely to win awards. If you think 35mm is large, Christopher Nolan uses IMAX cameras like the are GoPro cameras. And if your lucky enough to get your film shown on film in a theater, I am usually there waiting to get tickets. Thanks for this video. I started shooting 200T for still photography and love it. Which film did you use for your project?

scanner??- what if you have a projector at home, or a drive-in theatre?, no digital shit there!!, if you use film, go the whole 9 yards, and make a PRINT, not a disk!!

Nice but a lot of the perceived complexities are overblown and I think its important to point this out for any student seeing this. There are other 35mm cameras and some are very small, like the Aaton 35III which is barely bigger than a kitted out Red or Blackmagic. You can also use much smaller dollies and sliders if you want with the Pana cam. Film is used all the time as of 2020 and is common, esp. in the US. Look at the new Star Wars movies and the Walking Dead (16mm) for a small sample of film based projects, plus any Aronofsky, Paul Thomas Anderson, Spielberg or Scorsese movie.

There’s something special about the way a film looks using film. It seems like a lot of work to get a result but if done well the result speaks for itself. Even on a low budget 35mm production a film still LOOKS like a film. Wish they’d go back to this. But I can see the convenience of modern cameras. They just don’t have the same feel as film.

It's crazy how up until 8-10 years ago 35mm ruled production, I didn't even know film was being shot then. When season 13 of SVU happened, I noticed something different with the image quality. It's cool that you did this video, I always wanted to know how 35mm productions worked

Excellent video. I've always liked the look of Panaflex film cameras but there is hardly anything on the web about them. It's really nice to see one in action, and I can't wait until I can give it a shot.

Film > Digital. No contest.

Amazing work all around! May I ask how you got this opportunity in the first place?

I remember back in the days when digital first came out, I went to a meeting at Panavision and the conclusion was digital is made of square pixels and film is made of circular grains - which is more like how our own eyes function. So film is easier on the human eyes. But having worked with 35mm film on my first film, and digital on my second film, I would choose digital any day unless I have a big studio backing me. It's just not worth the incredible hassle, especially cleaning up and scanning the footage - that was an insane amount of work.

This video made me allmost cry. I miss my early days in cinema industry. I can't explain. But feeling on the set was just different. Feeling when you hold the roll in your hand ! Personally i wish that digital revolution in cinema never had happened.

Greetings from Torrance! Wish I had seen this back in 2019. My Dad worked for Panavision for almost 53 yrs. He drew the iconic logo as well as drafting the lenses by hand. No CAD back in 1956. His drawings would be sent to the machinists who would then build the lenses. Many still used today. Everything done by hand back then. I know that film will one day totally go away, but there is such an appreciation for the quality and warmth of film. Its not about making the sharpest or highest quality look. We don't need to see every pore on a person's face. There is a "Look" that only film can produce. That gets us involved with the movie without being a distraction. My hope is that future students will appreciate "Film cameras" and hold on to those disciplines of maintenance, setup, care, and most of all, making every shot count. Wishing the best for all of you!

Those are some very fresh clean looking soldiers

What was the "norm" for about 110 years is now a "curiosity" since (mostly) 2010....dunno what to think about that. Thx guys, great video! Film rulez

Very insightful and fascinating stuff. Loved “The Fence” and I will be watching this.

i want a job in filming and editing , i just can't find nothing here in italy , i send my resume everywhere but no one answer , i have the skills and i do edit and film by my self

Did you you use Super 35 or regular 35mm spherical and did you shoot on 4-perf or 3-perf?

There’s something about the rendition of highlights in on that is just so wonderful.

At 9:05 is that the focus puller just running along side the camera? Must be damn stressful having that job.

0:53 Love this moment

I’d have gotten Log scans and gone for a print film look.

As someone weened on film-this was great! Nice job boys.

its lots of efforts to make a movie & in the end public abuse it as flop or horible. respect for d unit

I'm commenting again because this was actually super dope

check out this guy's instagram @k3super16mm. he seems crazy

Awesome short and behind the scenes video! It lit a fire under me to make my own short on film. Hopefully 35mm but I'll settle for 16mm. Was just curious what the budget for this short was?

All that trouble;, and still edited on Premiere?

Why does you "Film" look like a soap?`

Looks fantastic guys! So wonderful to see our generation using film for once rather than digital.

if not mistaken that is the same Panavision camera that Empire STrickes Back was shot with....could be wrong but damn are those things gorgeous.

Quentine Tarantino gonna love you guys

The Arriflex camera has been around for decades, its much more smaller and portable than this and gives you much more freedom. But I do respect using a big panavision camera, especially with some nice wide angle lenses that create that giant frame look that's iconic. I think films need more discipline in terms of production and creating the sense of seriousness in what they're doing. As opposed to now with digital cameras no one really cares what you're making.

More excellent work lads

Still trying to wrap my head around this video, great in-depth exploration. You must have an amazing school with amazing resources correct? I've never seen younger people messing with a 35mm film camera EVER on the level that you all do professionally let alone output something that looks so good. Great work.

OK, so it might sound like a stupid question but I'm serious: How exactly can you have a digital reference monitor when it shoots film ? Is there a prism that sends light to an external digital sensor ?

All in the lens's of the camera. The emotional image that it picks up! Not many words were spoken, however, none was needed. The camera/lens captured it all.

It's funny how the dude says film isn't more expensive than digital, right after the two directors talk about how expensive messing up a shot can be.

How to expose it perfectly

Watch our new feature film online here: thefencefilm.co.uk/ 🎟 After 7 weeks in UK cinemas our full length Fence film is going online. DON'T MISS IT!

Digital has made filmmakers lazy. Countless indie films on streaming services made without lighting or tripods. It's maddening.

Is it true film process still in world

Well, I don't like watching H.D. tv. I can't really explain why, but it looks too real. Then you might say,"Don't you want a good quality picture? An image that's very sharp?" The answer is yes........but. I like a wide screen and beautiful images. I somewhat disagree with lander seven's comment about reality and being artistic. There's a time and place for very artistic films. What about Ken Burn's documentaries? His films are reality, but shot on film. And yes, when you watch a movie you are escaping reality. But that's not why I like film. Let's take cartoons. What do you like better hand drawn cartoons or digital? Nothing beats the Flintstones and the Jetsons: hand drawn. Oh.......and did you know that the movie RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, the part where the coal car went off like a rollercoaster was filmed in stop motion? They used of course 35mm film, but get this: They used a 35mm Nikon camera with a 250, 500, or 750 roll frame back. Yes, the door is made to be easily removed and put back on, and a special back that can hold a 750 frame roll of film was used. The figures were made from clay, then moved frame by frame one picture at a time, or so many pictures at a time ( they're the experts). Now the movie TITANIC, was film, but some parts were done by computer, no film or digital cameras, and no actors.

wow I'm both happy and sad I missed this period. I got into videography right when everything became digital, never used film. Seems like much more difficult and complex, but also a has an artist allure to it itself.

I think these days film looks better because people are reminded of iphone cameras or dslr vlogs / videos on youtube when they see digital. Even if it looks great, there's a subliminal stigma we all hold that makes digital look more ammeter and less like our idea of a "real movie."

digital are breaty cool and it add many things and opportunity to young people and cinephiles but film i have that feeling its kind of the real images the magic which a tracked the audience in the theater first time , film is something great and we should keep it verey will and admire it thank you fellas

I have a question. Can you connect it to a monitor to get a live view?

The Telecine Dude sounds 100% like Idris Elba

Today youtube is riddled with nothing but digital jittery, stuttering garbage 24fps videos. It's disgusting and painful to watch.

Spielberg still shoots on film. Wise man.

you've made an excellent shorts thanks!

I think I saw me

Great video honestly sums up 4ish years of learning the film process wrapped up in one video. Great stuff!

I always enjoyed movie shot on film... as it looks more light captured and smooth motion ... looks so artistic...

Current digital cameras have more resolution, similar dynamic range, more flexibility, cleaner image, better low light performance yet there is still something missing. 35mm film simply has this natural look where edges are not razor sharp and color gradients are as smooth as seen with naked eye. Also there is something about reality being permanently captured by chemical film frame. Instead of just measuring voltages on silicon chip and writing them out.

What’s the music?

7:10 Not Just a load of data

Arriscanners are still the best

The telecine guy says insurance companies want digital putting on to film so there is a physical copy. Do they achieve that like in the 50's and 60's using the kinescope/telerecording process?

Do you talk about the cost of shooting on film? What was your shooting ratio on set? How much footage did you purchase and how much did it end up costing for the film including process + scan. What about your budget overall?

real filmmakers use film,digital is only a big tv for home.

Bring back 35mm film so we can enjoy movies again.

if all movies were made with film. Some will be alot better (Talking about you Very dark pitch dark film)

Wish I was a trust fund baby.

Film look so much better, how about shoot on digital then dump to film then rescan like they did For Dune?

This is awesome! Thanks for sharing!

great..job

This is the best video concerning filming using film.

I want to be a writer and director more than anything more than I want to breathe. I hate the way movies look nowadays. I want to use nothing but cameras from the 80s and 90s but I know absolutely fuck all about camera or actual film reals kinda scared to be honest but I know it’s good be worth it

Great video. I was always intrested in film workflow and this opened up the process nicely.

I wanna watch the movie in the video

What application did they use in 5:22 to make the house look messed up??

As relevant now as when you first posted it.

I wish i could film a movie with a camera like that one day

I read some where that film makers preferer to record on film for the main shots, and only use digital where it would be dangerous for the camera operator

Looking at the Panavision website, I'm wondering if they still rent the Platinum and Gold Panaflex. It only lists the Millenium XL2, the lightweight and the 65mm for rent on the website. Still the best motion picture camera if you ask me. Best looking too.

It's cool but i think it's weird that you want to shoot analogue but edit on a pc.

What lenses did you use?

35mm film, focal lengths produce warmer images. 35mm negative ultimate archival medium.

LOL. I started making movies on RU-vid in 2008 when I was 13 and my parents got me a £3000 canon XH A1. But then I got depression and now other millennials have over taken me. FML.

Can u please explain how they remove other external noises captured through the boom mic and use the specific sound in the final footage?

Which camera is used ? Name?

Why they not making homemade That will work against sjw

I love the 70s and 80s movie look with low contrast and warm colours. Today they choose a super high definition clean look processing the shot material. I don‘t like it at all. Then you don’t have to shoot on an expensive analog Panavision and go directly for the digital shit.

9:16 very spielberg camera move dont you think😝

This short film actually looks like a movie, I wish I have access to film camera.

Sorry bro, but that is not a "Piece Of Kit". Theirs nothing slang about it.

The telecine guy really knows his stuff!

might as shoot it it on a sony video cam. 99% of people that watch movies could care less if its fim or digital or vhs.

May I know the camera and gear used in this short film

Am i the only one that didn't understand a thing about what Paul Dean explained?

Did you use 85b filter or color corrected/graded

I miss so much shooting on film, film cameras are so much better to use

is film not more expensive to shoot than digital?

What is that? An old Gold or Platinum?

Lol I can tell that to the old guy with the red cap is the real boss there 😉