Jan Weis

Thanks for the advice Mikael! I got an aditional question though..Would you also recommend me to use diffrerent kinds of colour filters such as orange or yellow, as I understand it, they're usually used to increase contrast on the sky's but is it suitable for a project which will be shot indoors with bright lights?

''Is it worth it?'' Buy a catridge of E64. Borrow an old super 8 camera.Shoot on a sunny day, then look at the stuff you've shot on a projector, the ask your self that question again. B)

How bout TIGERLAND, believe it was shot on S16.

Brant- I loved your super 8 footage, although i couldnt quite judge the quality never the less I did see that it was quite low on contrast which is suprising since you did shoot on reversal film (was it k40 or e64?) and revesral films are usually rich with contrast. Anyways you picked the perfect time to film on a beach, sunset which was very charming! I liked the long shadows shadows of your children and wife(?) casted over the sand. Good work, and dont stop filming! btw can you please post some pictures in high resolution? //ozzball

Spending more than $500 on a super 8 camera is pretty much crazy, unless you buy a lot of film for the rest.

For high contrast, sharpness,grain, which one is better? I know that 7266 is a faster film (so ill get more grain) which might come in handy since I'm planning to shoot both interior & exterior scenes. On the other hand fomapan is cheaper and will provide (as rumours go) a more older look, like something shot in the 1940's. Which is probably what im looking for. Anyways I'm having problems deciding so any comments are appreciated! thanks! //Jan

Hi there experts, for sync, can I use a UHER 4000 Report - L and connect it to a Beaulieu R16 via as I understand it the pulse 50hz generator? I've read in this forum that it will stay synchronize for about a minute, which is definately enough for me. but the quesion is, is it really worth? Thanks. //Jan

In my soon to be shot short film entitled ''Coffee Revolution'' I want to provide a specific look. Since I've decided to shoot in B&W mostly because of the budget but also because I have been fascinated with black and white films for some time now. I have ''studied'' films such as ''touch of Evil'' & ''Dr Strangelove'' and I have decided to go with a 1950's-1960's b&w look. I love the contrast of these films, especially Touch of Evil but I dont want to go that far with the darkness, so I guess the look I'm looking for is something between film noir and classic b&w (think Good Night and Good Luck). This will be the first time i attempt to shoot in b&w and I know the lighting is crucial and thereore I'm considering to shoot negative PLUS-X 7231 for more latitude, but I'm also afraid that it will provide a black and gray look rather than a black and white look. I am also considering shooting reversal because many people have said that its the way to go because of the look it provides, but I'm afraid that I'll screw up the exposure. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I intend to get my film telecine and edit on the computer. So with what film should I got with PLUS-X 7231? or with TRI-X 7266?

I enjoyed your site a lot, i didnt just check out the slate video but also some of the text you've written. Anyways thanks for all the advice your site has to offer. Now I have to read some more things you wrote. thanks. //Jan

If the lens is c-mount it works on any c-mount camera.

Well said brant, well said!

Pretty ok but lets face it, nobody wants to see a Hotel california music video rip off. Something to think about.... Pretty ok but lets face it, nobody wants to see a Hotel california music video rip off. Something to think about....

I'm starting to think that maybe I should re-write the title of the thread.... Anyways I apreciate all the tips you guys have provided, cause theyre really great! And I'll post a scene from the script as soon as I get the second draft done. btw even though the actual filmming of a movie is tough, I personally think its tougher to create a story behind the moving pictures because that is where the brilliance truely shines. //jan

The only lights I will have is the freeway lamps,cars and the moon. What I plan shooting is generally just a test shot for shooting at night and since I have high speed film I thought i'd give it a try. Trusting the light meter completly sounds like the right way to go. Thanks Paul // Jan

Sorry if I have been unclear but yes Freya, you understand exactly what I mean. So Ill do just as you say: get the exposure right Thanks Freya :D

Hi Paul, I'm using a Beaulieu R16 and I do have an external light meter (just remembered) at hand so hopefully itll turn out alright... But the question remains should I keep it 400 ASA or should I overxpose the film? //Jan

I'm planning to shoot some test shots at night with some good old Ektachrome 7251 high speed reversal film (ASA 400) which has long been discontinued. Anyways I'm new to 16mm filmmaking and I'm not sure if I should set the film at ASA 400 while filmming or more/less. Can anybody help me out? thanks //Jan

I'm not and expert when it comes to Bolex h16 cameras but I think the problem is that your Bolex is getting old. Clockwork cameras like bolex h16 dont shoot constant speed as well as cameras that go on batteries such as a Beaulieu r16(even though that camera doesnt go at sync speed). I bet if you get your bolex serviced itll run at a better constant speed.. Another alternative could be that your projector isnt working as well as it should be but I think that its highly unlikely. Good luck

Thanks to all of you who have answered, I guess we all start out making movies with a piece of paper and a pen (or the modern version; a computer and a keyboard ). I've been working (slowly) with script for the past 5 months mostly doing re-writes but now that I'm close to finshing my first draft of my screenplay Ive started to get more involved into the story, its amazing how much it has changed (for the better) since the begining and I have to say I'm feeling quite proud of my accomplishements so far since its the first serious screenplay I have ever attempted to write. I will take the advice on telling a story through pictures rather than words and I will give the reading the script & movie watching technique a try. I really appreciate the tips all of you guys have given me. Thanks once again //Jan I agree with you, there are so many movies released each year that people forget how much time, and effort is put into movies to get them on the silver screen.

I hardest thing in the world of filmmaking is to write a proper screenplay. I have no problems writing the story in fact it has become easier over time but the biggest problem I have is writing proper dialogues for my film. In fact I don't understand how to do it at all, I can't seem to find the proper balance between primitive lines and complex lines no sane person would ever say in the real world. I know the best way to learn is by studying how people talk through personal experiance and through movies. I know all screenplays are different and that its more important to show what is between the lines rather the vice versa,but I have to say I have too high ambitions to settle with mediocre dialogues that wont enhance to cinematic experiance at all. So this is my dilemma and I just wanted to write it down so that someone can hopefully provide me with some tips on how to over come these problems. any answer is appreciated //Jan

Thanks for the reply, I appreciate it. // Jan

I've been doing some research on 16mm telecine and found an intersting telecine/lab that seems too be too good to be true called 3516 (16mm by Debenham Media Group). Since I'm on a budget these guys seem to be like the perfect way to go for high quality at a low cost ($0.14 per foot if you process you film at their lab as well). So here are my questions: (here are some frames they put up on their site) 1. Is it worth it to get the film transfered on a hardrive or should I instead simply get it transfered to mini dv? 2. Does anybody know what kind of system they use to transfer the film? Thanks //Jan

Hi Chris, I have sent a reply to your PM //Jan

You read me like an open book. The high contrast look is exactly what I'm looking for but never the less I think I'll test out some Vision 2 as well.

You have convinced me to change stock since I am going to edit my movie digitally. I''ll probably go with the 7285 as you sugested, it sounds like the right for my film. I do like modern look in the vision stocks but I persume that 7285 will be better in my case Once again thanks for your reply John. //Jan