IN[FOCUS]

Christina and Clay’s Super 8mm Wedding Highlight from Soulbox Productions on Vimeo.

Hi IN[FOCUS] Readers,

This is Dave with Soulbox Productions. Corbin and I have been producing Super 8mm Wedding Highlights for the past 4 years and we want to share with you what we’ve learned in this two part series.

So you just purchased your refurbished super 8mm camera from Du-All Camera and you’re ready to film a wedding, right?…not so fast.

First, you’ll need to make sure you and your camera are ready to go.

Let’s start with the film, since you’ll need some to test your camera. Shooting at 24fps, each cartridge has 3 minutes of footage. We film a highlight using 3 cartridges, but your first time out, you’ll most likely want to use 4. If the Pre-Ceremony and Ceremony are well lit, buy two 200 speed cartridges (one for each – but you can always get two 500 speed and be ok). And assuming the Reception will be in low light, buy two 500 speed cartridges for it. We buy film from our processing company Spectra Film & Video. The price of their 4 pack of film (with processing included) is $259.

If you want to be confident of your camera’s workability on your client’s wedding day, you’ll want to do some tests at home first:

• you’ll need an extra cartridge of 200 speed film
• check to make sure there are no hairs are dust particles where you insert the cartridge (use a toothpick to gently remove any unwanted hairs)
• use measuring tape and measure out 5 feet and place the meter on your camera at 5 and begin filming
• we always like to test our cameras both by their meters and by our eyes to make sure both techniques are in focus (make notes as you test your camera, you don’t want to forget which technique you were trying when your test footage comes back from the lab in a few months)
• don’t forget to test both outside in bright light and at night for low lighting situations (see our post on an inexpensive super 8mm lighting trick)

There is a way around the extra costs and time by doing a home test. You can simply jump right into filming with super 8mm. For Corbin and me, it just so happened that one of our friends was getting married, so we surprised her with the super 8mm highlight. Don’t have a friend getting married anytime soon? Simply ask one of your upcoming clients. However, I would be very cautious about charging a lot (or anything at all) when testing an unproven camera.

Below is our first attempt at a Super 8mm Highlight, testing our camera for our good friends Mike and Misty (please note that Spectra Film & Video did not do the processing).

Misty and Mike’s Super 8mm Wedding Highlight from Soulbox Productions on Vimeo.

Okay, so the footage came back and the camera is ready to go! Well, besides your camera and film, here’s what else you’ll need for your first shoot:

• a bag
• batteries for the camera (and extra batteries)
• a light (unless everything is outside, but even then, it might get rained back inside)
• a belt clip (so you have easy access to the next three items)
• a lens wipe
• a marker (to number your cartridges, so your processing company will give the footage back to you in order, this saves time in post production)
• a small flashlight (so that you can read how much footage you have left during a dark reception)

Corbin and I hope this helps you get ready for your first Super 8mm Highlight. Next up in Part II, a shot list that will help you perfect the Super 8mm Highlight.

Cheers,
Dave and Corb

Dave and Corbin Baxter

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Greetings IN[FOCUS] readership,

At Soulbox Productions we offer both digital and super 8mm film coverage.  One of the early challenges we faced with super 8mm filming was getting adequate lighting. Film needs more light than digital.  Having our camera operators to hold a light with one hand and the camera with the other made it difficult to focus and to frame the shots.

We use the same light for our lead digital camera, the Canon XL2, as we do for our super 8mm cameras.  This light is the Canon VL-10Li.

The VL-10 uses its own battery, which is a must for super 8mm filming.  It’s only 10 watts, so it’s not overwhelmingly bright.  The challenge, though, was to find a way to attach it to our super 8mm cameras, none of which have a shoe like our digital cams.

I tried thick rubber bands…didn’t work, the light wouldn’t stay in place.  I tried extra strength Velcro…didn’t work, the light–especially with the battery on it—was just too heavy.  I thought about trying industrial-strength glue, but I didn’t because it could’ve eaten through the plastic body of the camera.

I could spend $1200 or more on a refurbished super 8mm camera like the Canon 1014 XL-S, which has a shoe:

I didn’t want to shell out that much money for a small piece of metal, and besides, our lead super 8mm camera, the Bauer C107XL, works like a champ and has sentimental value attached to it (it was Corbin’s father’s camera from years gone by).

So what to do? The answer was right in front of me, but I couldn’t see it.  I was getting ready to make the $1200 purchase until I had an opportune conversation with my father.

My father is an engineer at Lockheed Martin and an all around great handyman. He pointed out that both the light and camera have a tripod socket...

…and I should buy a headless screw (also called a threaded rod) at any Home Depot or Lowe’s.

There is a small “hole” (or lack thereof) in this lighting technique.  Canon has removed the tripod socket in the latest model of the VL-10.  So, search ebay or Craig’s List for the early models and ask the seller if it has a hole on the bottom.

My father’s 55 cent solution saved me $1199.45 (tax and shipping not included…or film for testing…or the mental strain of using a refurbished camera). At the very least, I owe him a steak dinner. Thanks again, Dad. I owe you big time.

Dave and Corbin Baxter

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