American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 49

T

he continuing use of film as a tool in the creation of
motion pictures will not be determined by objective
technical data, subsidies and budgetary gymnastics,
or nostalgia for days gone by. Its course will instead
be charted by cinematographers determined to use
it for a desired onscreen storytelling effect, driven
by formative experiences in shooting film and learning what distinctive properties this photochemical tech brings to the
table in terms of expressive visual language. The color reproduction,
contrast, texture, perceived resolution and exposure latitude of film
- among other attributes - are unique to the analog format, in part
based upon its very design: a multilayered composite strip of infinitely random light-sensitive particles suspended in a three-dimensional
space. Each frame is consistent, yet singular, recording an image that
has energy and movement even when the subject may not.
In a series of reports, AC will speak to users across the spectrum,
each working to maintain the practice of shooting film by inspiring
others to independently investigate its properties. The phrase " use
it or lose it " was often repeated in these interviews, in part because
technological and artistic expertise in any field is a perishable commodity - especially one as complex as making motion pictures with
film, since its users must rely upon the capability of others to make,
process and manipulate their negative.
Future installments will include image-making experts working
in 35mm and 65mm, as well as manufacturing and lab specialists.

The 8mm and 16mm film formats were each created almost a century
ago as compact, cost-effective production options, but are now also
embraced for their unique image characteristics.
" If I had a nickel for every time I was told film is going to disappear, I'd be a rich guy, " says Phil Vigeant, an ASC associate member
along with his wife and business partner, Rhonda. " Super 8 has been
'on the brink of extinction' since we've been in business, and that's
50 years now, " he says. " But it's thriving. " The Vigeants' company,
Pro8mm, pioneered the use of negative film stocks in Super 8 cameras - slitting and perfing 35mm emulsions and loading them into the
format's unique 50' cartridges.
Ironically, digital technology helped make that possible. " The
scanning capability we have now - up to 6.5K resolution for 8mm
and 16mm - let us see what the stocks are really capable of, " Vigeant
says. " In fact, 16mm almost looks too good, so if someone is looking for a certain effect, they may now use Super 8 instead. And when
people see the results, they look for other ways to apply it to that next
project. So while shooting 8mm was for a long time more about cost
savings - the cameras and stocks are cheaper than any other film
format - it's now about the image you can create. "

PHOTO BY WILSON WEBB, COURTESY OF THE WEINSTEIN CO.

Starting Small

MAY 2021 / 49

p.48-57 Film Forward V4 DONE.indd 49

4/5/21 11:29 PM



American Cinematographer - May 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - May 2021

Contents
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - Cover1
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - Cover2
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 1
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - Contents
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 3
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 4
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 5
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 6
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 7
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 8
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 9
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 10
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 11
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 12
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 13
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 14
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 15
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 16
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 17
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 18
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 19
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 20
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 21
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 22
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 23
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 24
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 25
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 26
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 27
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 28
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 29
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 30
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 31
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 32
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 33
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 34
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 35
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 36
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 37
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 38
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 39
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 40
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 41
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 42
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 43
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 44
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 45
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 46
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 47
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 48
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 49
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 50
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 51
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 52
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 53
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 54
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 55
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 56
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 57
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 58
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 59
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 60
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 61
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 62
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 63
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 64
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 65
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 66
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 67
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 68
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 69
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 70
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 71
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - 72
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - Cover3
American Cinematographer - May 2021 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0424
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0324
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0224
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0124
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1223
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1123
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0923
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0823
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0723
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0623
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0523
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0423
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0323
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0223
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0123
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1222
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1122
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0922
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0822
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0722
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0622
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0522
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0422
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0322
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0222
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0122
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1221
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1121
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0921
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0821
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0721
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0621
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0521
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0421
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0321
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0221
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0121
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1220
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0920
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0820
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0720
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0620
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0520
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0420
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0320
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0220
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0120
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1219
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1119
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0919
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0819
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0719
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0619
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0519
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0419
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0319
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0219_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0219
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0119_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0119
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1218
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1118
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0918
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0818
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0718
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0618
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0518
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0418
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0318
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0218
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0118
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0917
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0817
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0717
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0617
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0517
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0417
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0317
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0916
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0816
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0716
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0616
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0516
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0416
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0316
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1115
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0915
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0815
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0715
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0615
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0515
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0415
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0315
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0115
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com