Alex Anstey

Haha - would love to single-handedly prop up Kodak's movie division. All excellent news of course, long may it continue!

This bugs me too - a lot of opportunity to create a new film look but so much energy goes into emulating something that already exists! But all good points. Ultimately, content and story are really what's important, everything else is a tool to help convey that, but we will eventually lose celluloid. It will come down to a business decision by Kodak that film is no longer viable and that will be that. Fully aware this debate has dragged on and on, but it seems like this could happen quite soon now (which will be devastating for the annual film vs digital debate!). As Satsuki and Heikki say, better go shoot some film before it goes!

"The cinematographer of Knives Out wants to end the film-vs.-digital debate” - https://www.polygon.com/2020/2/6/21125680/film-vs-digital-debate-movies-cinematography [WARNING - LUDDITE ALERT!] I think there’s something quite sad about this - it really could be the nail in the coffin for celluloid in cinema in the next few years? One aspect the article misses is that part of the greatness about shooting film isn’t the look, it’s the discipline. I’m working more and more on movies where a level of discipline has gone out the window. Reams and reams of material shot because you can just ”keep rolling”, even between what would once have been separate takes (literally hours of hair and make-up touch ups, etc). Really painful, often completely mindless and, as an editor dealing with so much material, ironically it often results in us missing good moments. I don’t think all that extra coverage necessarily means better performances, there’s a heightened feeling on set when film rolls - all departments and cast rise to that. I love celluloid, love the look, the idea and the ideals behind it. It’s a bit of a shame emulating has become such a thing - the water colourists trying (and now succeeding) to emulate the oil painters. Times change, things evolve, I totally get that. Digital film making has a host of advantages over film - and it can now look truly beautiful (although the ever marching desire for more ‘k’ is getting dull and possibly a bit wasteful as cameras are used and disposed of way too soon - hello new Ursa). I'm sure the Kubricks of the world would have lept at the advantages that digital cinematography brings... But film… I know it’s a pain in the arse, I know it’s bulky and heavy and expensive and slow to process (not necessarily a bad thing - thinking time) but it’s magical and I can really now, finally, see a world where it will no longer exist and that really is sad. (apologies for yet another digital v film thread)

In case anyone ever stumbles across this looking for an answer to a similar question... I replaced the unit with one from a BL3 and all seems to be working fine.

Hi everyone - selling my 2M. In great condition. Very little use and a recently serviced by Olex 17EP motor. Listing here... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/192606458713

Hi all, looking for a full aperture gate for an Arri BL4s if anyone has a spare lying around.

Hi everyone, The footage/fps readouts on the camera control panel on my BL4s are dead (the unit still turns the camera on and off, just lost the numbers). I managed to find a camera control unit on ebay but from a BL3 that works (albeit reading in meters). Does anyone know if replacing the current unit with this one from the older model might harm the camera? (Had a look in Jon Fauer's book but nothing is said about cross compatibility on these units). Thanks!

Spot on! Thanks for sharing those :)

Hardly - people sell all sorts of films at Cannes to all sorts of markets. Worth a shot.

The film market at Cannes has quite an incredibly diverse range of films - mostly B-movies intended for DVD/TV sales. They do good business! I would seriously consider going. Congrats on the film btw!

The camera is now running beautifully on a cheap 12v sealed lead battery from Maplin - thanks for everyone's advice! Adrian, good to know about the voltage regulation in camera - puts my mind at rest slightly!

Hey Aapo, thank you for the Nimh idea - something to look into. Nice website by the way - I also have a Konvas and you have some really great info there!

Thanks so much Dom - that puts my mind at rest a bit. Am going to have a go with a standard, fused 12v 7ah and see how I get on. It's good to know I can be a little flexible when it comes to voltage - opens up the second hand options a bit with the branded stuff if it comes to that.

So true! Quite an exciting time to be shooting 35mm!

Good to hear Charles, thanks for that! I've had a look for cine specific batteries but finding any on the second hand market that are 12volts is proving difficult. They all seem to be 14v or higher. I'm just desperate to run some film through the camera - it sounds like the sealed lead acid batteries will be fine for the time being!