Digital or Film?
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In the last year or so, there has been endless discussion as to whether you should shoot digital or film. For me, this is an extension of an old discussion within film: 35MM, 16MM, or Super 16MM.
The answer is : there is no one answer. I have this discussion constantly with others who make film, and I will share our collective ideas with my readers now.
In my opinion, the two most important factors are budget and content.
I have been making films for almost twenty years, and I have worked in 35MM, 16MM, Super 16MM and Digital. The lowest budget film I have ever worked on which shot in 35MM was about $100,000. The lowest budget film I worked on that worked in film - it was 16MM - was about $70,000. That films was a horror film that, though well received in the horror market, is hardly an example of a quality product.
Right now, I encourage people to shoot digital if the budget is under $300,000. Here, I am referring to self-financed films where there is a definite limit to how much money can be raised. First, let me talk about shooting on film, and the options there.
As a line producer responsible for budget, one of the most frustrating things about working on a limited budget with a first-time feature director is shooting ratio. I have heard a lot of theories on what shooting ratio should be. I usually budget no less than eighty thousand feet of film, and up to one thousand feet of film per page in 35mm. I have had directors tell me they can shoot a lower ratio, but I have never seen it to be true.
My biggest problems have been with directors who come out of making commercial or music videos. The problem is that they are used to creating the finished product in the editing room. I cannot speak for all film, but I can tell you that the best independent films are created on the site, and fine-tuned in the editing room.
Before the advent of digital, many independent film directors were encouraged to shoot 16mm. As a produced, I encouraged directors to shoot 35mm.
First, you have to make the movie. I have said this before. It means you have to be able to sell the movie. A quick look at the MIFED issue of Variety, which previews one of the worlds largest markets, shows you the type of competition you will be faces. There are thousands of films with actors with familiar names on the cover of the video box that never made it into domestic theaters, but are still competing with your film. Most of them are shot in 35mm. Why should a distributor pick up your film shot in 16mm or even Super 16mm, which will not look as good as those shot in 35mm, when for the same price, he can get a movie shot in 35mm?
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