Early 90's look.

S

Snapper123

Well-known member
Hey guys, I'm fixing to start a film that's based pretty much anywhere from the early 90's to late 90's. Unlike the fusses I make about the T2i, this particular film is going to be one that I want to use a somewhat (extremely cheap) vintage camera or two, and I honestly don't care about image quality (I want flaws.) One thing I am worried about, however, is how much the footage will be compatible with theater and projector screens. The one thing most of all with me is, no matter what project I do (even if it's just practice and shot with a horrible camera) I write my projects with the mindset that I want flaws going into it if that's what the story requires. I've said this before, but the Dogme 95 film style and others like it, have influenced me tremendously and I think there's a huge difference between not knowing how to make a film, and knowing how to make one but choosing not to.....and then barely knowing how to make one, but also choosing not to even try.

But with the vintage camera thing, like I said, I worry about it's compatibility with showing it in theaters (as I want to do a film tour with all my films) and I need to use a camera that indeed creates footage that generally can be displayed on projectors, meaning even if it looks low quality, I want it to look like how I recorded it and not particularly worse to the point it's not watchable. Someone even told me once that standard definition video resolutions have been displayed on theater screens before? If that's true, that's good news to my ears.

But beyond that issue too, what are some things I'd generally need to look for in a much older digital camera? I personally want a built in light for a few specific night shots, I probably would at least be keeping the camera on manual for certain shots containing windows and bright lights, so I'd need a camera that probably has decent manual controls (but also a good auto mode for easier shots.), I'd want one that definatly has a good IS (as the characters will be swinging this camera around like a monkey, it's a 'handheld movie', after all, like blair witch.) and of coarse the general bells and whistles. Also, what format would generally be the most compatible to work with? Tape? DVDR? I also do not think I want rolling shutter. I also need long record times, longer than 12 minutes most likely.

Any specific models you can think of? Any brands? To be honest, I love Canon's camera mueseum feature on their website, I've been having a ball (and the old 1997 Optura looks cool!!!). But I'm open to any brand and any model. Also, it can't be a huge shoulder cam, it has to be a handheld 'family' camcorder or camera.

Or, just as a last question, would I be wisest just to honestly use the T2i for this project too, and just add low-res effects in post? Like I said, I don't really want rolling shutter though because even though it would indeed add to the bad effects, I do want to keep things watchable even if it looks 'crazy'.
 
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dude early 90s is like clerks, I picture locked off tripod shots on B&W 16mm.

If you want to be able to edit the footage easily, I would recommend going with atleast a minidv camera. Another thing you have to remember about the 95 doctrine, is that you are supposed to break the rules. Harmony Korine breaks the rule about camera rigs, because he used a body mounted camera in "julian donkey boy." The first US dogme 95.

Dude, this would do it:

http://www.amazon.com/JVC-GRDVL805U-MiniDV-Digital-Camcorder/dp/B00004TG58

I bet you could find it way cheaper somewhere else.
 
If you want an early '90's video look, I would suggest getting a used, high end S-VHS or High 8mm camcorder. Digital video did not drop, at the prosumer level until 1995, with the VX-1000. The analog video look of that time is very unique, and I think, hard to replicate in post. I would shoot the source footage on analog video, import it to your NLE with a A/D convertor, with an S-video input, via firewire, to the format that you want. If you have to project it, it will look like what it is, analog video. There are tons of films that have blown up SD video, including prosumer and consumer video, to 35mm film, that looks fine. If you want to see analog home video, transferred to 35mm film check out "Capturing the Friedmans" or "Tarnation".
 
I guess what I would to is to shoot it with a HD-camera like a HPX170, and then copy it out to a VHS, then copy the VHS to another VHS to another VHS until you degrade the picture enough. I tried it some years ago, and it look really "nice" with flaws and everything.

I know this music video was shot on EX-1 and copied to VHS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVtpzL8gDDo
 
You know what's getting on my nerves? See, I just want to go out to a flea market, find some old camcorder for 5$, and use it. But despite the fact that I live in a junky old town filled with junk shops, not a single one of them has ANYTHING to do with cameras, lenses, tripods, absolutely anything! The only thing I've found in my entire search is a verryyy old VHS shoulder camera where it's VHS slot wouldn't stay closed. I almost bought it too!

But I'm going to a super huge flea market emporium thing this week, one that I used to go to as a kid all the time and I know that it has tons of cameras (if I remember right) so I bet I'll find something "good".

Anyway, I've been so stressed out lately about my film after this film, the one I'm using the T2i for (and I'm seriously debating using 8mm film, I'm stressed to death about which exact picture style to use that replicates a indie film look, with flat yet contrasty look...there's literally dozens of possible picture styles that effect everythign.) but this specific film right now, the one I'm using this old camcorder for, I can't wait to get started on it. I feel like it's going to be so much fun, there's going to be crazy costumes, fireworks, blood, live music, ect ect and I don't know, everything about it puts a smile on my face.

And it's mainly because of the no-stress thing, it's a completely free film I think. It's wacky, it's funny, it's spooky, its weird. If I could think of anything near it, it's like imagine a 14 year old person picking up a camcorder, throwing on some costume, making some weird film, and not being able to even keep a straight face. I've never done that step before, and I think this film is a way for me to do that. I've missed that sort of fun, I've always been just so serious about cinematography and scripts, I really am a very professional writer and designer in my own opinion. But this film is going to basically go against all of that, and it's still even a bit hard for me to accept but...I honestly can't wait lol I feel like it's going to be one heck of a project. It's been like a process for me, I feel like one of those Whoarders on TV where the people have to throw away all those personal objects the people have collected. And for me, this is like throwing all my professionalism out the window, I think it'll do me alot of good. Just so happens that despite all the scripts I've written, even scripts that would require 50,000$ budgets with Red cameras, down to scripts that require only a handheld family camera, this film itself will actually be my first ever "film", I've never made even a script short film before (I actually refuse to, not untill I make this film.) Just imagine the magic lol, I can't think of anything else that would describe this project.

It's like, I've always written and designed my scripts and film ideas to be somewhat commercial while being very indie, but I've never crossed that line to the point I can say "Oh I'm just making a film, I don't care if it makes 5$" because I've always wanted to work hard for the promotion and marketing too, I want to have a product that is good, respectful, and enables me to work hard again to market it (although without a doubt I've always cared more about the film than the marketing 100%, I've never wanted to make more money than simply remaking the budget.) but lol this particular film...I just don't know how to describe it, but choosing the camera is always the hardest part, next the actors, and I just can't wait till both of those steps are complete!

P.S. One reason I do believe in myself though, is I once had a Sony Handycam for a week (with a great Zeiss glass, I saw the difference no matter what anyone says...even with the same settings I can get on my T2i, things just looked ever so slightly more realistic...could have also been the sensor.) and I simply filmed through the windows of my car in the passenger seat, filming bar signs, hooker buildings, loan shacks, and churches with horrible signs out front and well...I edited it, just chopping and slowing down the footage, used the music that was playing on my car radio during the video (whch happened to be, my mom was playing christian christmas music) and the whole thing turned out so dark feeling, it turned out in a way I didn't even expect. I may even want the Sony Handycam back for this project, it was a great little camera...but it doesn't have a built in light!!! And I need one. But overall, if I have the exact right tool for the job, I feel like I always end up capturing cool crap. And I just can't wait to jump into that exact feel again, it's so much fun.
 
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Ha ha, awesome! In that case, make sure you use the built in mic, and try to find some old S-VHS VCRs when it comes time to edit. You'll get really adept at knowing when to hit record pause vs. when to hit play pause on the playback deck. You could probably pick up a Panasonic AG-1960 S-VHS deck pretty cheaply these days.

Having started out this way, I can't say I miss "the good old days". I think after you get this out of your system your T2i and a separate sound recorder will look pretty good to you after all. I certainly would have jumped at the chance to use today's technology in the early 90's :)
 
Keep in mind that 24fps for video did not come into the market until late 1999/200 with the Sony CineAlta. Low cost 24p video cameras ala DVX100 did not come out for several years thereafter. Early 90's would be like 8mm - Hi8 was around 93/94. Other than that - all of it either NTSC 59.94 fields or PAL 25 fields.

Or film.

Michael
 
^That's one thing I'm a little concerned about....Like, overall, I'm very undecided on the look I want, and I'm a little concerned wether I should truly use a much older camera, and then even doing whatever I can in post just to mess it up, or just use a fairly brand new camera and go for just a 'flat color setting' look, rather than scratches and all that. When it comes down to it, I guess I want to make sure to capture the emotion on faces and details and things like that.

Originally, I wanted a look sort of like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1V4vDMHVQc

But as I got to thinking, I do want to capture possibly more detail than that, originally. Like I'm considering the idea of putting this film on dvd, and plus a couple local music venues I go to have a projector with a big screen, they always look for local films to show and I definatly want to do that. So I'm not sure. Like I think I want the overall picture to be pretty clear, but it's more like the edges of the picture I'd end up wanting effects on.

So i don't know. I'm thinking about just getting a 720P camcorder like the Sony Handicam and just having a ball with it, just to have that original footage and the comfort that comes with that. Heck I may even use my T2i. Both ways, I'll have probably what I need, and then I could just, if needed, re-record that footage to VHS, and degrade it that way, if possible. Hm....
 
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