The Camera Department

[Jeff Coatney]

Saw this on a movie set last year and took a picture of it. I guess there's no way of replicating this level of quality with a compact flash card. It's a pity, I'll miss working with film.

 

[Tony Lorentzen]

I'm missing the point. Please enlighten me.

 

[albert rudnicki]

I think Jeff is being a bit sarcastic
no more gaffer tape...pity.

 

[chuck colburn]

I'd can that clapper/loader for leaving a mag laying about like that.

 

[Brent J. Craig]

I'd can that clapper/loader for leaving a mag laying about like that.

If you look closely it appears that the mag is on the step of a small vehicle, possibly a golf cart. I suspect the photo was snapped during a short-handed reload on some kind of traveling rig. We often use golf carts for long steadicam shots. Better to set stuff down than drop it trying to juggle.

I wouldn't recommend doing that with CF cards.

 

[Jim Hoffman]

It's just a question of time before someone finds the "missing" CF card in their pocket after they get home from a shoot.

 

[chuckt]

Saw this on a movie set last year and took a picture of it. I guess there's no way of replicating this level of quality with a compact flash card. It's a pity, I'll miss working with film.

I agree with you. what a simple medium. Once in can, you need not worry about uploading data to multiple networks, HDs, etc. No need to verify or reformat. That can can preserve a shoot for 100 years without any special handling. The frames can be be easily viewed with a magnifying glass and edited with a pair of scissors and scotch tape. Ah! what a simple, reliable wonderful indestructible unchanging medium. After 2013 you may not see them anymore. So sad. I can only reminisce about when the word can literally meant a can.

 

[Brent J. Craig]

I can only reminisce about when the word can literally meant a can.

True. Every time I 'check the gate' now I know that it could be the last. I have really come to appreciate the smell of a freshly opened can of film or the feeling of perfs in the dark.

Although sentimental about film, I'm also welcoming the switch to digital - on set backups of your footage, instant full-res checks, and finally the opportunity to use my highly-honed nerd skills at work!

 

[Tico Llaurador]

Didn't you know?

Didn't you know?

It's always good to bake your 5245 under the toasty one o'clock California sun to give it that li'l extra boost. 1-1/2 stops more latitude, guaranteed. Besides, you can always hang-out by the catering truck while it's cooking.

:clown2:

 

[Shawn Booth]

The frames can be be easily viewed with a magnifying glass and edited with a pair of scissors and scotch tape. Ah! what a simple, reliable wonderful indestructible unchanging medium.

Easily viewed after processing -

And film is nowhere near being indestructible -

 

[Jeff Coatney]

The whiz kids couldn't figure out how the inside of the camera was getting so dirty. The next day, the camera in question failed to hold 24fps and was sent to be serviced.

 

[Davide B.]

Were these professional ACs? That's crazy.

 

[Brent J. Craig]

The whiz kids couldn't figure out how the inside of the camera was getting so dirty. The next day, the camera in question failed to hold 24fps and was sent to be serviced.

Doesn't work that way.

 

[Brent J. Craig]

Were these professional ACs? That's crazy.

You do what you gotta do.

Maybe it was a low-budget job with no 2nd AC. Maybe everyone's hands were full because the steadicam fell over or craft brought fresh sandwiches.

I can't believe we are here debating a photo with absolutely no idea as to the context (or, for that matter what the original poster was going for).

 

[Jeff Coatney]

Doesn't work that way.

That's not what the repair report said. I wish I had a picture of the geared head that fell off the Camera Team's Gator and broke a wheel. I won't mention names, but it was a professional crew. I only point this out because in the future it will be much harder to get sand in the film mag or the camera when you're shooting on Compact Flash.

 

[Jeff Coatney]

Were these professional ACs? That's crazy.

It was indeed a fully staffed Camera Crew. Yes, it was only a $2 million film, but they had plenty of time in the schedule and on the day to do what they had to do, they were just sloppy. The DP paid the price, it was his geared head. Remember, no two film crews are alike and just because someone is professional and works all the time, it doesn't mean they'll be as conscientious as you want them to be.

 

[Wes Printz]

Does not matter if it's $2 or 200million. I've been on all size budget sets, and have seen lots of things. Even on a $200 million film, with a camera dept of 9 staff, 20,000 feet of film shot a day, things can still get over looked.
Every set of circumstances are different.

I feel it's easier to get dirt inside an electronic camera. They have to be vented for cooling, granted, there are filters, but they are only so effective. The fans draw air into the camera... If the CF slot is not sealed, there's another entry point. I've removed more internal dirt from digital cine cameras than I have sealed film bodies.

 

[Davide B.]

It is definitely easy to get sand and/or dirt in an electronic camera. And when it does there's little-to-no chance you'll be able to clean it yourself. Whenever I do any shoots in an area with a lot of sand I put a weatherproof rig over the camera. It's a lot cheaper than having to send it off to repair to get the sand out.

 

[chuckt]

The whiz kids couldn't figure out how the inside of the camera was getting so dirty. The next day, the camera in question failed to hold 24fps and was sent to be serviced.

Venerable 35 mm film cameras have been successfully used in all terrain, and in all weather in jungle, in desert, in beaches, in dust storms, with or without electricity or battery charger or computers, with little or no maintenance.
That is the most widely used camera even in the poorest countries and dirtiest locations.
Contrary to popular belief, movie production is cheaper and simpler with film.
Over 5000 Theatrically released movies are made with it every year.
If I am stranded on an island, I would rather have a film camera and some film.
Give it some credit, fellas.

 

[Dylan Reeve]

Venerable 35 mm film cameras have been successfully used in all terrain, and in all weather in jungle, in desert, in beaches, in dust storms, with or without electricity or battery charger or computers, with little or no maintenance.
That is the most widely used camera even in the poorest countries and dirtiest locations.
Contrary to popular belief, movie production is cheaper and simpler with film.
Over 5000 Theatrically released movies are made with it every year.
If I am stranded on an island, I would rather have a film camera and some film.
Give it some credit, fellas.

I don't get your luddite-like dislike of RED or digital cinema in general.

Statements like 'movie production is cheaper and simpler with film' mean nothing. There are so many variables involved that it's not reasonable to make blanket statements.

Very few people here are forecasting the the demise of film tomorrow, or suggesting that digital is some sort of be-all-end-all film-killer... The RED camera and digital in general are just another technology... Would you have been on message forums in the '20s decrying the adoption of sync sound? Technology changes...

Sure you can shoot film in the middle of a jungle with no power, but most modern film cameras wouldn't do it - they need power, so is that even a fair point?