The Ever Approaching Digital Thunderstorm

Well, I'm a little late on my blog entry today because sadly enough, I had to go to work. Well it wasn't really a "job" job, it was more like a "pre-job to get a bigger job down the road" job. You see, today we were shooting a series of camera tests to determine what format we would be using in an upcoming series of TV commercials. We were shooting two different cameras side by side to see what differences there were as well as the pros and cons of each. It was a Smackdown of tremendous play, between the new digital "Red" Camera and a good old fashioned 35mm film camera (Arri 435).

Now I'm partial to the film look myself. It just has a more organic feel, and for visuals, it just has such a soft, dreamy quality to it. There is something about the photo-chemical process that just make images look cool. In contrast, digital cameras are much sharper, with their own distinct look that is very bright and very real and immediate. Both formats are fine. They are just different. 

Now if your saying, "I can't see the difference!" or "What is he talking about?" a good example is found right on TV. Soap operas are shot on video. Most TV dramas are shot on 35mm film. You know how you can immediately identify a Soap Opera when you are flipping through the channels. That's because they have that special glossy 'look'. Granted part of that is the crappy studio lighting they use because they shoot so much material in a given week, but a lot of it is the video format they shoot on.  In contrast, TV dramas shoot on film, giving the show a "movie quality" look that is highly sought after. 

Which is better? Well that is a matter of much debate; leading us in the film industry into the era of the format wars. HD video is certainly cheaper and often faster. But film has been in use for almost 100 years, and in that time we have worked most the bugs out. HD video on the other hand is a new beast, with new problems. There are software problems, electrical problems, design problems, not to mention that everything is made of plastic. Film cameras are often made of cast-iron! You know why? Making movies is a rough business. We are always rigging the camera on the hood of a moving car or on top of a twenty foot ladder on top of a rock face. We do crazy stuff like that to get the shot! These little plastic video cameras are mostly designed for in studio interview work. And most movies aren't made in the comfort of a studio space.

I think content is the most important thing when picking a format. I've seen HD video that works great and I've seen it crumble to pieces. For example, the movie 'Collateral' with Tom Cruise was shot on HD and looks great. Something about that film's story and its style just worked with the video look. In contrast, the Adam Sandler movie 'Click' was shot HD and it looks pretty much like a cartoon. It is so bright and sharp that it makes the characters and story fall flat. This is a case of the video style just not working with the content of the film.

Well, I'm anxiously awaiting the results of the tests we shot today. The Red camera is supposed to be something new, with its own look that is closer to film than most digital video. The camera itself has its own little quirks that are a pain to deal with for an old film guy like me. But lately I find I just have wake up and join the digital revolution so that I can keep working.

So come on! Join the revolution toady!