Roger Deakins predicts the end of film

[Finnegan]

The DLSRs have really changed the game and industry dramatically. I watched TINY FURNITURE and LIKE CRAZY, both 7D features, and was amazed at the quality.

In the hands of a skilled filmmaker, they are quite capable of producing quality imagery. However, in my opinion DSLRs in their current form are ill-fitted as filmmaking tools. It's like you want to dig a hole but you've only got a spoon. Sure, the spoon works just fine if you're patient (and good at digging holes with spoons) but you'd really want a shovel if you had the choice.

 

[xqzt]

Film=Longbow

Digital=Musket

:happy:

Kind of a weird comparison. Seeing that it probably takes longer to load a musket! But it really teaches you how to maximize your shot. I done confused myself. Long live film!

 

[morgan_moore]

In my stills work I bought a 22mp blad in 2005 - I have no idea how much money was saved by the magazine that I worked for but the tranny (wet) workflow just evaporated - so slow and costly and with that camera all the quality/res/DR is there

I just cant see film being economic in the longer term, I can see that it may add up against an alexa at a push for the moment, I can also see a few arthouse types using it beyond the time when it is 'sensible' - just like B+W plate cameras are still in use today by an arthouse clique

 

[Futchibon]

Interesting budget comparison between Alexa and 35mm:

http://www.arridigital.com/budget

 

[Mr Blue]

Interesting budget comparison between Alexa and 35mm:

http://www.arridigital.com/budget

good find

 

[mr bill]

I'm cutting a feature just now that's been shot on an alexa (two actually, it's double camera coverage). They chose to shoot untethered so it's pro-res and not arri-raw, but nonetheless, the images are truly beautiful. I've yet to see arri-raw, but on this showing, I can't see the point shooting on film anymore.

 

[Ryan Patrick O'Hara]

Interesting budget comparison between Alexa and 35mm:

http://www.arridigital.com/budget

That isn't quite right, imo.

The alexa is not 1,400 a day, as of now. I could only find it for about 1,800 a day, body only, when I was quoting out packages. 35mm film cameras such as the 535b, is about 1000/day, not 1,400. Four (400') magazines for about $200, which was close to their estimates.

So a film camera with magazines would really fall in the 1,200 area, not 1,600... while the equivalent of mags for the alexa, a cine-deck, is listed in their budget under 'recorder'... which runs at 2,000, their pricing...

Well DUH... if you are thinking about foregoing your next studio blockbuster from film to digital you're not going to shoot to sxs cards with proRes... although it is a great codec. You're most likely going to get your cinedeck and record to ArriRaw.

DIT's cost more money than loaders, (not that loaders shouldn't be paid more, ) and you can find awesome deals on film cameras. There are not that many Alexa's out there so don't expect to find anyone willing to break you off a huge deal. But film cameras, contact panavision and other big rental houses and you'll see them just slash their camera package prices. Those film cameras need to get out the door. I bet you could find that 535b package for like 700.

Plus, since there aren't that many Alexa's out there, you better order a second body for your production because if yours goes down, most Alexa's aren't sitting in rental houses for long because of demand, so you might find it hard to replace that Alexa, even if in LA.

Also notice that DI services weren't listed, as a photo-chemical film processing/workflow taken into account as a method. DI- with film is expensive, but shooting film without a DI is extremely budget conscious and this is where film can dominate digital.


I don't think digital is worse than film or film is better than digital, but I'm tired of people thinking that choosing one over the other on a large scale production is going to make a huge difference.

 

[Futchibon]

I don't think digital is worse than film or film is better than digital, but I'm tired of people thinking that choosing one over the other on a large scale production is going to make a huge difference.

I agree, but I think the breakthru with the Alexa is that it is the first digital camera that actually produces images as good as, and better in some cases, than 35mm film. No other digital camera has done that, I use Red Mx a lot but it's not as good as 35mm to my eyes (Fincher obviously loves it).

What puts digital eons ahead of film is the immediacy, knowing you're got the shot in the can (well, not the can anymore ). I'll never forget watching RETURN OF THE KING EXTENDED special features and Elijah telling of an emotional scene the 4 hobbits shot, then the next day when they watched the rushes....everything had been shot out of focus! This was the biggest film project in history, and just shows how archaic film is in some ways.