Production Skills- 16mm

This week we had our introduction to the 16mm equipment, we took a look at the two different cameras we have that uses 16mm, the ARRIFLEX and the Bolex. We were showed the correct way to handle the equipment and then how to use the equipment for filming, like all equipment we were told to make sure the equipment works before using it on a shoot. There was also a warning about fingerprints on the lenses that can ruin the look of your film and to use a specific cleaning cloth for the lenses, there is a second cleaning cloth for dust and hairs inside the camera which needs to be cleaned.

We were shown the ARRIFLEX first and taught how to handle and use the camera for filming, we went over certain areas and learned that the image flickers while recording and that shutter angle and shutter speed is the same thing. The battery is attached at the back of the camera and their is only one charger for it, when loading film into the camera you load it in the right side of the compartment and the film will come out the left side. There is a panel that controls the speed which you can adjust but we were told not to mess with the inside mechanics of it as it is difficult to fix and even harder to replace. When preparing the film to be loaded you need to cut across the perforations (Holes on side of film) and load the film in pitch darkness so the film isn't exposed by the light. There is a special blanket/bag cover we can use for this with sleeves so we can handle the film and equipment under it in darkness.

I found out that the difference between 8mm or 16mm and Super 8 and Super 16 is that Super only has one side of perforations with wider area for capturing film and without the Super has two sides of perforations which helps it stay steady with a better grip. Film is normally measured in ft so to make sure I know the measurements I made a quick note that 30.5 metres = 100 ft.

We were next shown the Bolex camera which has many of the same rules as the ARRI but you can use it in seriously low light instead of pitch darkness like the ARRI. The Bolex only uses Super 16mm and has slots for different colour filters for the lens. It's smaller and lighter than the ARRI but in some ways just as complicated to work. No film cameras record sound so you always need separate equipment to capture the sound. Now we've been introduced to the 16mm equipment I'm both nervous and excited to experiment and test it out, it seems like it can be quite a carry on when setting it up and getting it ready for a shoot but will be interesting to see the results that come from it and comparing it too some of our digital work.