first 16mm b+w on bolex kodak reversal
[for outdoor lighting test for class]

originally edited by hand, this one in final cut

http://rileyharmon.com/temp/meta.mov

What a strange short. I won't lie, it caught my interest, so I guess you succeeded there.

The jerking-motion of, what was it, stream of thought, it seemed? was a bit much...but hey, artistic interpretation I suppose.

I don't think you really USED film as much as you could've. It's quite a medium, one I wish I had more access to for practice.

But overall, somehow, I liked it. It was just a lighting test?

that was our first time picking up a bolex, so we werent really used to the whole film as a medium thing

Very good editing, a sort of organic style inside a mechanical structure. Good music too, that's radiohead right? I'd say just a few of the shots could use some slightly more interesting compositions or just better framing but overall I think it really worked well, interesting short.

... we werent really used to the whole film as a medium thing

The Quote of the Month.

hah, whats that mean

Not being used to 'film as medium'.

Just a sign of the times ! :P As if it was archaic almost :P

mhm...

indeed
as much as I am used to digital and stuff, you gotta learn where all that came from, all the editing terminology and everything is completely relevant to digital image making. all the same concepts.

i will say this, one big thing ive learned from using film is the ability to go with the flow. i just had to shoot my final this week over spring break, and i was beating my brains out trying to figure out my concept and how I would execute it. It was extremely frustrating, but I shot 3 spools and just went with it. Just shipped off the film to MA for processing and transfer. I just tried to shoot some stuff I thought worked well instead of scripting out stuff and trying to be a control freak. I guess I've learned over the years that if you do that, you're inevitably setting yourself up for grief, because things always change. I see all my classmates trying to plan out elaborate stuff and its just not possible with the time and money we have, guess we'll find out in a few days. Its quite ironic, you would think that you would play and experiment more in digital, but the same applies to film. [just more expensive]

the magic happens in the edit

Enjoyed the short. Pretty interesting. Would like to see the original edit by hand and compare the two.

What kind of Bolex did you shoot that on? Like one of the cheaper older models, or a Rex 4 or 5?

a reflex bolex h16 with the stock spring motor and lots of gaff tape to keep out light leaks

a reflex bolex h16 with the stock spring motor and lots of gaff tape to keep out light leaks


Do you know if was one of older Bolex H16 or a newer one?

A newer one will have a big flat base like this and it can sit upright on a table....

http://i4.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/97/e4/5024_1.JPG

An older one with have a small round thing sticking out the bottom and can't sit on a table..

http://i9.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/91/90/eb08_1_b.JPG

newer one with flat base, why do you ask?
plan on getting one?

newer one with flat base, why do you ask?
plan on getting one?



Yeah, I have been wanting one. I have heard the older ones are a little harder to shoot film with cause the viewfinder is not as good. That's why I was asking if it was a newer or older one.

How is the viewfinder in the one you used? I have never handled a Bolex, just curious how hard it is to see through the viewfinder.

So let's say I've never shot on film before and I wanted to give it a try. What's a pretty inexpensive way to go about doing it? What is starting prices to get into a decent used 16mm camera, or should I just go to super 8 or something?

So let's say I've never shot on film before and I wanted to give it a try. What's a pretty inexpensive way to go about doing it? What is starting prices to get into a decent used 16mm camera, or should I just go to super 8 or something?

There's a few choices in 16mm. I personally would prolly go with the Bolex H16 as mentioned. Or the Arriflex S or the S/B. I like the H16 cause it's a wind up (no batteries) and it has multiple frame rates so you can undercrank it, or over crank it as high as 64 fps for some cool slow motion.

The "older" Bolex H16s cost between $300 and $900 maybe. The "newer" ones (called Rex4 and Rex5) are going to cost as high as $1,700 due to supply/demand and I have heard they have a better viewfinder which makes them more sought after. On top of this you're going to need a good lens.

If you want to just try any old 16mm out and play around you can get a Krasnogorsk K-3 with a cheap lens off Ebay for $250 or so. These are more for home movie type stuff and not really for serious film making. I have heard the quality on these is serious hit/miss, where the Bolex are nice Swiss made the the Arriflex are built like tanks.

the one i shot with was a beam splitter reflex, so you are seeing through the lens, but its about half the actual light, so when looking through the viewfinder it looks dark, its def not wysiwyg, but that is what a light meter is for

it was non-sync of course, so even if you try to match up in post, it will occasionally be off

i shot my final on one as well and i am currently editing it

i like the bolex more than the arri-s because its somewhat auto loading

super-8 cameras can be found at antique stores and ebay

i like color super-8, especially if well shot, check out this well done super-8
http://www.perpetualartmachine.com/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=50&g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=778

the one i shot with was a beam splitter reflex, so you are seeing through the lens, but its about half the actual light, so when looking through the viewfinder it looks dark, its def not wysiwyg, but that is what a light meter is for

it was non-sync of course, so even if you try to match up in post, it will occasionally be off

i shot my final on one as well and i am currently editing it

i like the bolex more than the arri-s because its somewhat auto loading

super-8 cameras can be found at antique stores and ebay

i like color super-8, especially if well shot, check out this well done super-8
http://www.perpetualartmachine.com/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=50&g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=778

Thanks for the info. How much is the proccessing and telecine for a roll of daylight load for the 16mm?

depends on if its negative or reversal, negative you'll have to have a workprint made, telecine is usually where the most costs happen, unless you have lots and lots of footage, its usually like 50 - 75 minimum
i went here, and they did great stuff

www.cinelab.com

Cool. Any tips you can give me on shooting with these cameras would be helpful.

I just won a Rex4 on Ebay for under $900. I'm shocked. I wonder why nobody bid on it really? They usually go for about $1,200.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330107521744

I'll prolly send it somewhere and have it looked over and serviced. Know of a place?

Here's one for $1,700 and its one of the rare Rex4's that don't even have a flat base. It has an flat base adapter on it that does not even come with the sale.

http://www.visualproducts.com/storeProductDetail02.asp?productID=481&Cat=17&Cat2=32

maybe i was wrong about the camera i shot with, it looks exactly like the one you won, congrats

maybe i was wrong about the camera i shot with, it looks exactly like the one you won, congrats


That's a Rex4. At least it says it is and it looks like one to me. :)