August Q&A

Q: I have video images (DVD, DV, Mini-DV, VHS, etc.) and want to see them projected on the big screen on film. Is this possible?

A: Absolutely. Though it is more common for film images to be converted to video (using a scanning device known as a telecine), it is possible to convert images in the other direction. Many student and independent filmmakers, in fact, rely on these techniques to get their projects from the relatively low-budget world of video capture to the impressive size and scale of the big screen. There are three key points to keep in mind when talking to a video facility about this work. First, they must have the right equipment. In order to successfully get images onto film, a device known as a film recorder is required. Made by companies such as Arri and Celco, film recorders translate the electronic image into levels of red, green, and blue light which can be used to expose a piece of film (usually 35mm). The facility doing this work will have their own film recorder or will work with another company that does. Second, that piece of film needs to be processed and printed onto motion picture print film. This is the film run through the projector in the theater. To do this, the video company will work with a motion picture laboratory - the same facilities that make all the prints projected in movie theaters around the world. The third point is the most important. The video facility should have a solid understanding of the color differences between the electronic images and the film images. It is not a trivial task to calibrate and control all of the equipment in the chain so that the pictures on the big screen match the appearance of the original video. Attention to detail here will have a big impact on final color quality.

Q: How are individual image frames oriented on typical motion picture film?

A: This is a great question with more than one answer! Motion picture film has been sold in many formats over the years, but the 4 primary sizes today are 8mm, 16mm, 35mm, and 65mm. These gauge measurements relate to the width of the film. For the 2 smaller sizes, we most typically see the designation 'Super' used to describe the format. This basically means the film has perforation holes down just one edge of the film as opposed to both edges like in all 35mm and 65mm versions. There are 2-perforation versions of 8mm and 16mm film, but they are far less popular. The largest format is reserved for specialty exhibition treatments such as those used in IMAX theaters. 35mm is the most common film format for professional use today, and both 35mm and 65mm employ perforations on both edges of the film.

The way images are oriented on each of these formats is also varied. For most typical applications, motion picture imaging is limited to the 'landscape format.' Because you don't turn your TV or your film projector on its end, it doesn't really make sense to create any images in the 'portrait' mode!! The way this landscape format is placed onto the piece of film can change though. The most common orientation is for the image to be perpendicular to the length of film (with perforations on the left and right of the picture). This means to view the image on the film properly, you would hold a length of film in front of you perpendicular to the ground. This is different from your old 35mm still camera where the image is placed parallel to the length of film. There is an old motion picture film format called Vista Vision that uses the parallel orientation, but it is very uncommon.

Here are a few facts on the popular Super-16mm and 35mm film formats. Super 16mm employs 1 frame for each perforation and there are 40 frames in a single foot. When projected at 24 frames per second, the film travels at 36 feet per minute. The most common of the 35mm formats has the landscaped image height equal to 4 perforations though some people will shoot images that are only 2 or 3 perforation high to save film. For 4-preforation imaging, there are 16 frames per foot and the film travels at 90 feet per minute during projection.