Modern Hollywood Film Stock

armisiano

armisiano

Veteran
I don't know how this is going to sound or where it may go, but here it is. I do not like the look of modern Hollywood Film Stock. The last I'd say three or four years, so many Hollywood films I see have this look to them, and it's the film stock used. There's too much latitude. I know coming from a video world this sounds like blastphemy, but I'm serious. It's starting to look a little awkwardly unnatural. NOTHING blows out at all, nothing in the frame is white. You can shoot in mid afternoon outside and the highlights are maybe beige. The color saturation seems low, and the highlights never really peak.
It's most noticable in comedies. If you need an example watch any big mainstream comedy of the last 2 years or so and you'll really see it.

Has anyone else noticed this? Does it bother anybody? Does everyone like it? What's up?
 
This isn't a flaw of film emulsions at all, it is a creative decision made by the DP and sometimes the director. Just as easily these stocks could be exposed so that highlights blow out, and everything else is zoned according to that.

What you are saying is basically this: "What is with all these new touch phones? Checking email and surfing the web, etc etc... I liked it better when they weighed 4 pounds and had to be tied into my car!"

Now if you were arguing that new stocks are becoming too "clean" then I would engage a conversation. I think emulsions are and will continue to become sharper with less and less grain. Less texture, and more like HD. I am already seeing this in the 5219 stock.
 
armisiano said:
I don't know how this is going to sound or where it may go, but here it is. I do not like the look of modern Hollywood Film Stock. The last I'd say three or four years, so many Hollywood films I see have this look to them, and it's the film stock used. There's too much latitude. I know coming from a video world this sounds like blastphemy, but I'm serious. It's starting to look a little awkwardly unnatural. NOTHING blows out at all, nothing in the frame is white. You can shoot in mid afternoon outside and the highlights are maybe beige. The color saturation seems low, and the highlights never really peak.
It's most noticable in comedies. If you need an example watch any big mainstream comedy of the last 2 years or so and you'll really see it.

Has anyone else noticed this? Does it bother anybody? Does everyone like it? What's up?
Click to expand...

For me it's the opposite. It bugs me that digital has so little latitude. IMO it's more natural for nothing to really blow out or be pitch black. Simply because this is how our eyes look at variations of light. I think it might be that you're so used to working with digital.

Or maybe I need an example of what you're talking about.
 
Yes. Armisiano. I think I know what you mean. But, some screen grabs to fortify your argument would really propel this talk...
 
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