Jon O'Brien

I couldn't agree more!!! Always loved 'em. Except on moonlit nights, watching sci-fi flicks with lots of space battles.

With old Arri cameras, serviced by an expert, if mothballed and not being used for quite a while, how long can mechanism and motor go unrun without problems developing? Eg. oil thickening or whatever. I guess that might be a difficult question to answer. Also, has anyone made up a battery box for one of these film cameras? This is what's holding me back from operating (and I'm busy with other things but will eventually get around to it). I'm not the handiest person with things like even simple electronic projects such as soldering up XLR connectors and fuse etc.

Ha! Crocs are fine. You'd know all this but will just outline some things for other readers if they're interested. I'm really experienced in the 'real' bush. In Australia, up north (and sometimes not even all that far north), be cautious of even freshwater waterholes along rivers as the big salties sometimes sit it out there for a while. They can be mega huge. They eat cattle and horses, and the odd heron and so on as a small snack. Go down to water's edge with bucket on the end of very long, strong cord. Chuck bucket in and haul out. Yes you will lose water from bucket but do not for any reason approach water's edge. Camp very, very far from water. It's worth the extra drive. Crocs can take people from their tents. Wild dogs and spiders and snakes, no problem at all. Biggest problem is often death adders - they just sit there, lazy as can be. Do not step on one whatever you do. Brumbies stomp on them and kill them if they see them. Worst snakes are generally the boring, common browns which are nearly everywhere, but there are a few that are even worse. At night, always use mozzie net with very small gaps (mozzies will actually wriggle through some nets - I've watched 'em do it in the torchlight) and make sure to tuck net very definitely under your bedding all around so you don't end up with a spider or scorpion or indeed snake in there with you. Happened to a friend of mine - had a common brown in his swag. Swag is just a bedroll, though these days some are like small tents. And that's it, really. Could help any filmmakers - just send a PM if ever interested. Also completely at home in the city and in any social environment at any level - remote outback to big city boardroom.

That's pretty cool. Got two 2 perf cameras, recently-serviced. They're both MOS so don't think they're going to be used for a Netflix type show any time soon, but I really like owning them. I smile whenever I see them, sitting there. I gather Panavision can supply 2 perf cameras?

And i'd be laughing at a certain, er, politician, over that, er, way. Won't mention any names.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Not too many elephants here. How would you go with a movie set in the Australian bush. I could help you somehow. Advance man, that kind of thing ?

Will do Stephen ? I think for Netflix I might go for 16mm too, for the grain, like you. For big screen, 40 ft screen, either looks pretty darn uber cool to my eyes. Sooooooooooo much better than digital, you digital lovers, you.

Directors, maybe come to a country like Australia to make your film. Self-isolate in a hotel for 2 weeks, assuming you can get into the country, and you're good to go. Hire Aussie crew, they're great. Great locations, studios, talent, good looks, infrastructure, post production, the works. We have a very, very low rate of transmission of the virus (here's praying it stays that way). Government is telling us we are all legends for how well we've contained it with our stringent observing of the regulations.

How does 35mm look on Netflix compared with 16mm? Any preference for either look?

I've also been thinking that the palace format of large, somewhat grand theaters might come back. Just one or two in a city maybe. I went to see 2001 a couple of years ago here in Brisbane and the whole theater was much more in the old grand cinema experience. It was a really great, worthwhile experience. Little things can make a big difference to an evening out. Even having the curtain there, opening up at the start of the show. 70mm projectors in the booth. Business people, investors, sit up and take note. Can't beat traditional cinema.

Netflix going over to film, even just in a small way so far. This is a pretty major precedent. A game changer.

I'm certain that cinemas will still be around. Yes, some or even many of them might close never to return and much of the general populace might decide to stream latest release features straight to their homes, but there will be a few cinemas (at the very least) that will survive. It's the same thing really as plays on the stage, orchestra concert hall concerts, all that type of thing. That will all bounce back. Some people talk about a new world order and how things have changed forever. That's not what's happening here. In fact cinemas might find that, yes, that's exactly right they can't compete with online streaming platforms direct from the studios and will embrace retro type experiences to attract patrons. Now just where did my good buddy Rob say he had those eight 70/35mm cinema projectors and other gear stashed in his shed, somewhere out in the country? Sure, if it happens it will happen in a small way, and it will never go back to what it once was. But who cares. People who love going to the cinema will still be able to do it with, alongside other people who feel the same way. Same thing as where even today people can enjoy going to see an opera or Shakespeare play on the stage alongside audience who love the productions just as much. And the company manages to economically survive. This is not the end of the world as we know it. And real film will survive.

As I often state, I'm not a pro but I do dabble a bit in 'film' filmmaking and have lately been getting into some digital camerawork for my job. As an outsider looking at the film industry, and someone who is really interested in the survival of film, I'm starting to wonder if a picture is emerging of the feature film industry and where it could possibly be headed worldwide. Regarding film and digital, I'm wondering if things are heading the way with the cameras and technology that digital and film will soon start to go into somewhat divergent paths. Digital seems to be headed for ever-more incredible definition, 4K, then 6, and so on. Digital cinematographers seem to be really embracing what they see as the true qualities of the look of digital. For a while it looked like cinematographers were really seeking a 'film' look with digital cinematography in feature film making. Yet real film is tenaciously still there, big time, in the industry. Now we're starting to see a real push from younger filmmakers and younger audiences for real-time and virtual production ... stuff I'm not interested in. I think the 'traditional' concept of a what an 'old-fashioned' movie experience is, where you've got a traditional narrative fictional work of about 90 or more minutes presented with the usual conventions of cinema/theatre, and with a 'film look' - I think this will survive as an entertainment medium and audiences (perhaps from here on in older audiences) will keep paying to go and see these movies. Other entertainment possibilities will start to appear in cinemas and in home theatre or whatever - maybe they already have but I'm just not into it. All that super-glitzy digital whizz-bang 6K virtual stuff doesn't really interest me. I suppose it could potentially, but really, what is a feature movie as we traditionally know it. Basically, it's a novel. It's a filmed version of the 19th century concept of the novel. I will cut to my point. If traditional 'movies' are going to survive at the cinema, in the sense that we've always really known and understood what a cinema release feature is, I think this could mean that celluloid film will grow in demand for this (perhaps in the future an increasingly 'niche' market). Anyway, just my musings. My two cents. Had some time to spare so typed out my thoughts. Digital will grow in strength for just about everything, virtual, documentaries, mostly everything made for TV, Corporate stuff etc etc etc. It will become increasingly impressive for what digital does best. But the better the exhibition media become (projectors, TV screens, tablets, and so on) the better celluloid film is starting to look, in my opinion. Anyway, it might be that feature films (that can afford the luxury of real film) might, just like the industry went to wide screen to attract audiences back into the theaters, will increasingly be shot on film as a way to distinguish such productions from this increasing 'look' of digital that so many people now are chasing and really liking. Of course cinematographers will still seek to emulate real film on their digital productions, too. That will continue. I just see the stock of real film rising. That's all I'm saying. I'm usually good at picking trends. I mightn't be right in this instance. But it's an interesting thought. I don't see real film disappearing any time soon. As I keep saying, is is so good at what it can do and the love affair with it is not diminishing over time.

Oh, I don't know. I can imagine some great script ideas. A post-apocalyptic world, or a future/near-future dystopia film a bit like Soylent Green (though how will we ever find another Edward G. Robinson?). Except a populace under house arrest. Comes forth a good policeman, the main protagonist, and his aged friend at home, working on a particular criminal case that leads to an amazing revelation. Could be done on a small budget. Shot on film, matte paintings rather than CGI. Would just need great direction and great performances. Small cast. Wow I'm already getting ideas.

Thank you Phil! That's very helpful to know. Yes, these cameras seem just the ticket for what we're looking at doing so far. If we need to get anything for a more polished look, I suppose we will probably rent.

I remember being pretty amazed at how soft (lacking in sharp definition) some 35mm prints were at the cinema. But still, compared to today's digital cinema experience, the way Jarin has put it is a great description of the comparison, as I see it. DCP like bathwater, but sharp. People really should go to the trouble to see a film print whenever they can. In some regions that can be difficult to do, but if you love cinema it is definitely worth the trouble.

Does this camera system produce images that are usable straight away, in the same way an iphone does? In other words, does it make images that can go straight away into a computer, ready for editing, sound, etc, without needing colour grading and other image adjustment? Also, does the camera need to be white balanced before use? I've only worked in film so I don't know. Thanks.

We got given the Sony cameras. So that's our starting point for figuring out what to do next ? I say, go with Sony if that's what ya got.

The three cameras are all this same model. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1076767-REG/sony_nex_ea50m_nxcam_camcorder.html

Hello there, where I work is still slowly getting into video production. I put my hand up to help with this as I have the most experience of anyone there with filmmaking. The latest development is that a filmmaker's cameras and equipment has been donated to the company after he passed away (not from the virus). So I have the task of figuring out whether these cameras are suitable for our needs, and if so, how to operate them. The company has set up a TV studio at the office. We will start out making things like Instagram videos. There are three cameras, all the same model, and tripods, lighting, etc. Everything appears to be in good condition. The camera model is the Sony NXCAM AVCHD. I've been researching it online. Can anyone tell me anything about this type of camera? Have you ever used one and if so what for? I understand that it's no doubt already ancient technology as it's only 1080P I think. My experience has all been with celluloid. As always, any advice appreciated. Thank you.

No need to be sarcastic, Uli. We disagree about some things, fine, but I tend to be polite to those I disagree with politically and you, not so much. You suggested without any provocation that I lacked courage, the other day, on this thread. Okay, you are frustrated. We all are. Many, many Australians are really suffering now. I'm being positive, polite, and courageous. You should display more respect. We are all in this together.

One very encouraging thing is that the isolation measures seem to be containing the virus well. Of course it will eventually go out into the community but we will be much better prepared for it (hopefully). I'm wondering if some sort of adjusted strategy might be arrived at soon, where rather than a fairly widespread lock down the more vulnerable people can self-isolate and be given government assistance, and those less at risk can get back to work ... well, those who still have work.

I've been thinking for a while now that better and better television images actually bodes well for the survival of film. Film looks so good on the latest television screens. Er, that is, for those who like the look, of course ?

People willing to sacrifice a country or a whole society for the sake of their own grab at life, hiding away. That's not courageous. I'm willing to face the risk and I see that as the more courageous option. I've seen a loved one die of lack of breath (not from the virus). And if you say Trump is a fool and you don't like him all I can say is know your enemy.