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Author
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Topic: 8mm Camera
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tomdonnelly
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posted 05-30-2000 07:17 PM
I'm planning on making a movie this summer. After hours of begging my mom (which right there tells you that I'm under 18 and that this movie will be really cheap), she still won't let me give in to get a digital camera because "she doesn't want a credit card to another store" (I would pay it off in monthly increments and you need a credit card from the store in order to do that). Would it be possible to use the 8mm camera I have to make a feature length film? I mean, would it look at least DECENT if I blew it up to 16mm? I'm going to take a lot of time on this movie (namely a couple weeks out of summer) and don't want to waste my time on a movie that doesn't have a chance to look good when finished. Thanks for responding! |
CrimsonVampire
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posted 05-30-2000 07:33 PM
you get what you pay for. It wont be great quality, but as long as you have good lighting, and everything, and you don't re-record over the same tape... i.e. you keep buying new tapes when you run out of room, and you record on the setting that gives the tape the least amount of space it should be fine. Digital is better, and I've enjoyed working with digital cameras better, however 8,, should do the trick, especialy if it's an amature film. |
tomdonnelly
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posted 05-30-2000 07:40 PM
And boy is it ever amateur! But I was hoping for a higher quality look. Damn. Looks like I'll have to beg my mom for longer so I can get the DV camera. I was afraid of that. |
CrimsonVampire
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posted 05-30-2000 07:49 PM
you dont need a dx camera. I have used an 8mm for alot of my shots, and the only problem is that lighting is a little bit harder to achieve, at night with an 8mm rather than a digital camera, but if you're going high quality, you'll take that into consideration. You really shouldn't have that big of a problem, or why not just save up the $1000+ first and then buy it yourself. isn't that more rewarding =) |
Elurew
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posted 05-30-2000 07:58 PM
blowing it up to 16mm?? isn't that not quite low budget...mostly for a person who can't buy a DV. please enlighten me if i'm wrong...but that kinda seems a bit out of reach. |
NJRFilms
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posted 05-30-2000 08:11 PM
yeah i dont think he really knows what hes talking about. Like your spending a few weeks on this project, plan to spend a few thousand dollars to blow it up to 16, yet you cant buy a camera... |
alucard
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posted 05-31-2000 08:10 AM
Don't put the guy down fellas, you've got to start somewhere.I would go with the 8mm for your first project just to cut your teath on. If you stick with it, show your parents the results to show your serious, they may be a bit more flexible with the store cards.
Good luck
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I Thank You |
Sarge
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posted 05-31-2000 09:02 AM
It doesn't really matter WHAT you shoot it on. Just shoot it. At this point, what you're going for is experience. Nobody on this board can honestly say that they did great on their first project, that it was an artistic, critical and financial success. But we all DID a first project, and, with what we learned, we went on and did more, and, pretty soon, we knew enough to actually make the movies we wanted.
Well.Sarge |
tomdonnelly
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posted 05-31-2000 09:17 AM
Thanks for sticking up for me alucard. I do know what I'm talking about. I could save the money up to blow it up while I'm filming the movie. I could buy a DV camera, but it'd take me a couple months to save up that money, and I want to begin filming right away during summer. |
ntprod
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posted 05-31-2000 01:49 PM
Make movies, make as many as you can. It doesn´t matter what video camera you will shoot your movie with as long as you spend as much time with everything else(script, sound, lighting and so on). You will learn just as much shooting the movie with your 8mm camera as shooting it on DV. If the movie will be great, do a remake with a better camera and with possible sponsors paying for the rentals.
Sound... Camera... Action... |
Lordlour
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posted 05-31-2000 03:12 PM
I'm making a movie this summer with an 8mm camcorder, as far as I'm concerned a desent movie with an 8mm camcorder is better and an amazing movie with some high tech hollywood machine. Simply because of the challange. But ya, like someone said above, if you show your parents what you can do with the 8mm camcorder and explain how much more difficult it is they will likely help you buy a digital. My parents wouldn't but most would. |
NJRFilms
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posted 05-31-2000 03:22 PM
if this is your first movie, why the hell would you blow it up to 16mm? Thats a waiste of money. |
alucard
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posted 05-31-2000 05:24 PM
Go for it now then with what you've got (8mm).
Treat it as a dry run. You may look at the finished 8mm then think of better ways of doing certain shots,(I know I have), by then you might have your DV,Good luck, ------------------
I Thank You |
tomdonnelly
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posted 06-01-2000 09:09 AM
This isn't my first movie, NJRFilms, it's my first attempt at a full-length feature one. I've made many short films, but I'm going for the big one here. That's why I'd blow it up to 16mm. |
Revolvo Spinz
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posted 06-01-2000 09:47 AM
Screw that, transfer to tape------------------
-kickin it live 9 to 5 |
Sarge
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posted 06-01-2000 09:48 AM
Before you get too deeply into the idea of blowing your image up, figure out what your end user is going to want. If you are shooting this project to impress family and friends, or the gang at the corner, leave it in 8. If you intend this to be a signature piece that will generate interest in you and your ability, leave it in 8. If you intend to try and market the product, shoot in 16. If you intend to submit the project to festivals, with little to no chance of making a sale, shoot in 8 and blow it up, if you want to.
But, IMHO, shooting in 8 and blowing to 16 will look very bad, and you will be vastly disappointed at the result.Sarge |
LeoD
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posted 06-01-2000 05:07 PM
Ok I have a problem - what is all this blewing up onto 16mm about? How/why do you do it? How do u watch it once it's been done? What's the film about mate, you using friends as cast and crew? Enough questions.Cheers |
dstepson
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posted 06-01-2000 07:00 PM
Tom, just a couple of questions; this camera that you already have, is it Super 8 or video 8? How long is this film going to be? Do you know how much it is going to cost you to buy and develop super 8 film?If your camera is Super 8 you will learn a lot about lighting film and that will serve you well when you do step up to shooting 16 mm or 35 for that matter. Good luck brother. |
tomdonnelly
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posted 06-02-2000 08:57 AM
Dstepson, it is video 8. I don't know how much it will cost, but probably over $1,000. I will mainly use friends as cast and crew because they're generally easier to work with, and can do it without money. However, may have to put an ad in the paper, seeing that there will be scenes where over 100 people will be needed. And I don't have that many friends! |
alucard
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posted 06-02-2000 11:16 AM
Transferring 8mm video to 16mm film ?Is That what you mean ? Confused..... ------------------
I Thank You |
dstepson
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posted 06-02-2000 12:05 PM
Okay Tom, dont expect to find commercial success with this project. Look at it as a learning experience and dont transfer this project to film. It will cost you a lot more than it is worth.A few more questions; how long is going to be in minutes? Do you have a complete script? Where is it that you want this movie to be seen? See if you can cut down on the number of extras you need. Your friends may be eager to act, but advertising for actors is not a bad idea either. Make sure you tell them up front that you cannot pay them and you will get actors eager to work. Just make sure you feed them, and I dont mean with peanut butter and jelly either. Now back to your original question, unless your camera is a digital 8 investing in a DV might not be a bad idea. If not now , in the long run. Once again best wishes. [This message has been edited by dstepson (edited 06-02-2000).] |
SirGahrjyn
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posted 06-02-2000 03:48 PM
Ok guys read into what he is saying a bit better. He is saying he is going to spend a
couple of weeks filming, and during those couple of weeks if he gets some great
footage maybe even a few years down the road he may want to use some of that
footage in a 16 mm format or maybe if there is just some way if he makes a great
movie if it can be transferred to film.
As far as cameras if you look around you can go digital cheaper then you can go
analog. But don't just try and do this for you tell and show your parents how this can
benefit them. They can use the 8 mm or digital camera to film vacations, birthdays,
graduations, ball games, and if they get digital and a capture card they can save tons
of money on film by taking snap shots with the digital camera and not have to buy
film anymore. They can pick and choose the pictures they want and save them on the
comp and if they want prints just send them to somewhere like Eckerds and they will
mail you prints.
But during this time be working on your script a two-ten page script is going to be
tuff to work with once you start. The longer the better. Also make story boards. A
story board in your case will just be pieces of white paper with hand drawn pictures
that detail what will happen each time you cut the camera on. Don't try and think you
can decide that after you start rolling. There may be some subtle changes when you
start like maybe " It would be cooler if Johnny comes in from the left so I can get a
better camera angle."
Also make sure you know exactly what each actor will say word for word and not
just have a general story. Take the time to do this it will save arguments and keep
your friends from playing around acting like idiots.
Even if you just do it plain and not in the correct format. Try this for starters then
later read up on the correct format for script writing.Johnny: I can't take this anymore I feel as if the walls are closing in on me Blake.
"as he grabs Johnny"
Blake: Man! just chill out all we have to do is hide out here for One! more hour! Just
one more!
Johnny: Their gunna find us Blake I know it.
"as Blake pats Johnny twice on the back and then a third time hard enough to knock
Johnny to one knee"
Blake: Not! ----Pause---- If you'll sit down and shut up I won't be forced to take
you to them myself! The camera then rises from this dark scene towards the air. ---------------------
Film making is fun to do and fun to watch. Just get out there and get the camera
rolling. Just always have a good plan and the few hours you have will be so much
more rewarding. |
tomdonnelly
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posted 06-05-2000 09:04 AM
I realize this won't be a commercial success. I have finally talked my mom into letting me get a DV camera (this week, in fact), and so I can start filming this summer. I do have a script finished (46 pages long, but written in play format, so if I were to transfer it to the correct script format on the computer, it would be AT LEAST 55 pages long.), and the total filming time will more than likely be over an hour. And to dstepson again: I just want to be able to send it to a film festival, if the film is good enough. And not a big festival, like Sundance, because that's not realistic. Just maybe a small one that no one's heard of. Just something to get people other than the actors and family to see it. I thank everyone for your help and encouragement. |
