I'm planning on shooting a short that takes place during 1977-79- I have been going back and forth on what type of video camera I should use- I own my own DVX100- But I want it really have that old 70's feeling to it. I even considered buying an camcorder from the 70's- My dad actually used to have an old jammy that only shoot in black & White- I'm trying to save money and not shoot film, so I was wondering if there were any DVX100/FCP masters out there that offer some suggestions to acheive that 70's look. I already know about film look, and magic bullet- Is there something else I can try?
Old 70's looking movie on DVX?
- Thread starter nytc
- Start date
Re: Old 70's looking movie on DVX?
Without sounding too pat, I'd say start with the art direction and other on-camera departments. Nothing is going to do more to establish period than period costumes, hair and make-up and deco.
There are plenty of features, shows and shorts that have lensed 35mm or HD films that take place in the 70s without needing FX to establish period.
Remember that really bad time in the 70s when everyone was flashing their movies and using sepia tones or fog filters in westerns or anything period to try and look old-timey?
Great composition aside, the cinematography in most of these pictures was dreadful for the techniques they employed. No matter what you think of The Sting or McCabe and Mrs. Miller or Day of the Locust, it is hard to forget that you're watching a movie lensed in the mid-seventies.
Anyway, unless the question was, "...how can I make this look like a home movie from 1978 - 1979", I'd start with using visual props rather than camera or post-production techniques to establish the time period.
No matter what people were wearing at the time, the world visually looked and functioned as it does today - nothing was washed-out, color was actually in color and there wasn't ever a hair or dirt in the gate. I'm sure someone at the studios tried to argue this point with Vilmos and his contemporaries at the time, but... well, we can see who won that battle.
e
Without sounding too pat, I'd say start with the art direction and other on-camera departments. Nothing is going to do more to establish period than period costumes, hair and make-up and deco.
There are plenty of features, shows and shorts that have lensed 35mm or HD films that take place in the 70s without needing FX to establish period.
Remember that really bad time in the 70s when everyone was flashing their movies and using sepia tones or fog filters in westerns or anything period to try and look old-timey?
Great composition aside, the cinematography in most of these pictures was dreadful for the techniques they employed. No matter what you think of The Sting or McCabe and Mrs. Miller or Day of the Locust, it is hard to forget that you're watching a movie lensed in the mid-seventies.
Anyway, unless the question was, "...how can I make this look like a home movie from 1978 - 1979", I'd start with using visual props rather than camera or post-production techniques to establish the time period.
No matter what people were wearing at the time, the world visually looked and functioned as it does today - nothing was washed-out, color was actually in color and there wasn't ever a hair or dirt in the gate. I'm sure someone at the studios tried to argue this point with Vilmos and his contemporaries at the time, but... well, we can see who won that battle.
e
Re: Old 70's looking movie on DVX?
Thanks for the reply- I agree with your suggestions on set & clothing design- The core of the film is about the birth of breakdancing- So i was looking for an option to making the texture of the film look dated- As if it were shot during those early back spinning days.
Thanks for the reply- I agree with your suggestions on set & clothing design- The core of the film is about the birth of breakdancing- So i was looking for an option to making the texture of the film look dated- As if it were shot during those early back spinning days.
10s
Veteran
Re: Old 70's looking movie on DVX?
If you want to know what the 70s looked like, look outside your window, change the cars, the clothes & hair and knock a few buildings...in other words it looks the same except for a few minor changes.
Focus on clothes, hair, and buildings...that's easy, find some picture for reference.
What you seem to be wanting for your image is amateur 16mm photography, with the fade of time. It's amazing but many shots from the 70s now look old when I see them, but it's due to the film's deterioration. I assure you the 70s, 60s, etc... looked very much like today.
For that faded look, shoot everything in the highest quality and change in post.
If you want to know what the 70s looked like, look outside your window, change the cars, the clothes & hair and knock a few buildings...in other words it looks the same except for a few minor changes.
Focus on clothes, hair, and buildings...that's easy, find some picture for reference.
What you seem to be wanting for your image is amateur 16mm photography, with the fade of time. It's amazing but many shots from the 70s now look old when I see them, but it's due to the film's deterioration. I assure you the 70s, 60s, etc... looked very much like today.
For that faded look, shoot everything in the highest quality and change in post.
Jacques_Meov
Carbonite Member
Re: Old 70's looking movie on DVX?
I agree with what everyone has already stated, but add one more thing.
I'm sure that you're going to want to add in some "home movie" shots as if the break dancers themselves had shot some scenes for posterity. I'd suggest that you check feebay out for an old vhs camcorder. Shoot under ambient/existing light, then tape off the TV stream with a DTR or a dv camcorder. This will do two things...give you "authentically" bad lighting conditions that amatuers/prosumers would have used, and the 'taping off a tape' will give you an aged look. I've done this with an old Sears VHS two part camcorder---camera via wire to 'portalble' vhs tape deck--then taped it off the TV. CRAP RESULTS, which is good, because it had that old 1970s-early80s homey feel.
I agree with what everyone has already stated, but add one more thing.
I'm sure that you're going to want to add in some "home movie" shots as if the break dancers themselves had shot some scenes for posterity. I'd suggest that you check feebay out for an old vhs camcorder. Shoot under ambient/existing light, then tape off the TV stream with a DTR or a dv camcorder. This will do two things...give you "authentically" bad lighting conditions that amatuers/prosumers would have used, and the 'taping off a tape' will give you an aged look. I've done this with an old Sears VHS two part camcorder---camera via wire to 'portalble' vhs tape deck--then taped it off the TV. CRAP RESULTS, which is good, because it had that old 1970s-early80s homey feel.
Jacques_Meov
Carbonite Member
Re: Old 70's looking movie on DVX?
And finally, do as much PRE post, for authenticity.
Think for a moment, if you were ACTUALLY doing a documentary on early break-dancing, you'd get ACTUAL crappy quality home movies/videos from the participants telling and showing you their exploits. Then you'd digitze them and get them into you NLE and TRY TO CLEAN THEM UP TO MAKE THEM LOOK PASSABLE. I'd do the same route for authenticities sake...
And finally, do as much PRE post, for authenticity.
Think for a moment, if you were ACTUALLY doing a documentary on early break-dancing, you'd get ACTUAL crappy quality home movies/videos from the participants telling and showing you their exploits. Then you'd digitze them and get them into you NLE and TRY TO CLEAN THEM UP TO MAKE THEM LOOK PASSABLE. I'd do the same route for authenticities sake...
vegasdigitalfilms
Active member
Re: Old 70's looking movie on DVX?
Keep in mind that there were very, very few people with consumer video cameras in the late 70's. it was considered a luxury. in fact, i am trying to remember any consumer video cameras from the late 70's and i can't .
Some of the first consumer video cameras were made by RCA and they were "tube" cameras, not CCD, so the tubes gave the video a distinctive look, probably the look you are referring to.
i am from that era and most breakdance footage was shot by news gatherers documenting the new dancing fad for current affairs segents on the local news using huge shoulder mount tube cameras made by ikegami. Consumers were still shooting super-8.
You could try to simulate the look in post, but unless you really know what you are trying to duplicate, you could miss it. Remember, it's not about the color, but the tubes and how it recorded.
i would get either an old tube VHS camera real cheap off the internet, or you could tape your footage using a modern video camera, copy it to VHS, then make a couple of generation copies from that, giving it the old video look, then transfer it back to DV for editing.
Or you could get a cheap super-8 camera and shoot a 3 minute roll of super-8, develop it at Dwaynes for 9 bucks, and have Roger Evans from Moviestuff tranfer the super-8 to MiniDV for about 20 bucks and get the authenticity you want and should have.
Keep in mind that there were very, very few people with consumer video cameras in the late 70's. it was considered a luxury. in fact, i am trying to remember any consumer video cameras from the late 70's and i can't .
Some of the first consumer video cameras were made by RCA and they were "tube" cameras, not CCD, so the tubes gave the video a distinctive look, probably the look you are referring to.
i am from that era and most breakdance footage was shot by news gatherers documenting the new dancing fad for current affairs segents on the local news using huge shoulder mount tube cameras made by ikegami. Consumers were still shooting super-8.
You could try to simulate the look in post, but unless you really know what you are trying to duplicate, you could miss it. Remember, it's not about the color, but the tubes and how it recorded.
i would get either an old tube VHS camera real cheap off the internet, or you could tape your footage using a modern video camera, copy it to VHS, then make a couple of generation copies from that, giving it the old video look, then transfer it back to DV for editing.
Or you could get a cheap super-8 camera and shoot a 3 minute roll of super-8, develop it at Dwaynes for 9 bucks, and have Roger Evans from Moviestuff tranfer the super-8 to MiniDV for about 20 bucks and get the authenticity you want and should have.
Re: Old 70's looking movie on DVX?
the colors are what i remember when i see an old 70's thing.
try a filter, the antique suede could be very cool!
have you seen the dvx filter dvd they sell on here?
it really good, only minor flaw is that its all models and not exteriors or even just rooms.
i love the antique suede. the #2 might give it a real over the top look BUT still do all the pre-production stuff.
watch a lot of old stuff and take notes of little things. clothes and hair are the main thing.
if you can get one or two old cars that would help.
i'm doing a b movie where i'll have a flashback to a hit and run and i've got use of a 1968 baracudda and a 1967 camaro. both in mint condition, so that will hopefully help me put it back in a time 20+ years ago with just a little bit of after effect.
matthew
the colors are what i remember when i see an old 70's thing.
try a filter, the antique suede could be very cool!
have you seen the dvx filter dvd they sell on here?
it really good, only minor flaw is that its all models and not exteriors or even just rooms.
i love the antique suede. the #2 might give it a real over the top look BUT still do all the pre-production stuff.
watch a lot of old stuff and take notes of little things. clothes and hair are the main thing.
if you can get one or two old cars that would help.
i'm doing a b movie where i'll have a flashback to a hit and run and i've got use of a 1968 baracudda and a 1967 camaro. both in mint condition, so that will hopefully help me put it back in a time 20+ years ago with just a little bit of after effect.
matthew
