8mm Basics

16 Sep 2008 Category: Film / Animation, Japan, Technology

After the sticky summer heat, thankfully autumn seems to be just around the corner. Maybe that’s the perfect timing to start something artistic? What about the rediscovery of the brilliant aesthetics of 8mm film? Moreover this year, Brillia Shortshorts Theater as the first cinema only for short films opened in Japan, and shorts in general seem to be getting a bigger profile lately. Shooting on 8mm film is getting pretty trendy… but how do you start? PingMag asked Takahiko Kohyama of Retro Tsuhan, a shop specialised purely in 8mm film in Kinshicho, Tokyo, about its basics:

Written by Chiemi
Translated by Natsumi Yamane

For starters, what’s the difference between digital images we watch today and those of 8mm?

Actually, digital images have far better specs compared to 8mm. First of all, the cost – with 8mm, the camera itself is cheaper but the film now costs ¥3,200 (around US $30) each, including developing.

Quite pricey…

Moreover, maximum duration of filming is only 3 minutes and 20 seconds. You can’t retake and you have to develop it first to see the result. And yet, its image quality is inferior to VHS…

That doesn’t sound as though it’s got a single advantage. Then where does the fascination for 8mm for many come from?

That’s right. In addition, most professional filmmakers have filmed with 8mm at some point.

Yes, but before we talk about that: What basics do you need to start filming?

First, you need a camera and a projector. There are two formats; one is Single 8 that uses film by Fujifilm and the other is Super 8, which requires film material by American Kodak. Single 8 is usually only available in Japan while Super 8 is the standard format across the world. In Japan, major camera shops like Yodobashi Camera should have films for Single 8 in stock.

Okay, say that we start filming immediately, with no consideration to the finer points like how to actually operate the camera. What do you need to get started?

For people who try 8mm for the first time, I always tell them not to keep the camera running for more than 5 seconds because of the limited duration of shooting. That surprises everyone but like in the TV programmes where the cuts change consecutively from one cut to another, we can tell the story more efficiently by keeping each cut under 5 seconds. For example, if you are making a guide from the station, then 5 seconds on the scene of the train arriving at the platform, 3 seconds on the doors opening and people getting off the train, 3 seconds on the sign of the station, 2 seconds on going through the ticket gates, 2 seconds on your main character leaving the entrance of the station – that’s only 15 seconds altogether, but viewers can still clearly understand what’s going on. It’s important to plan it out thoroughly before you actually start shooting.

We see! Nowadays, we tend to keep the camera just running — but it’s so different for 8mm! Where do we take the films for developing?

In Japan, there are only two places that process 8mm now and they are both run by Fujifilm.

Then what do we do if we want to edit the developed film?

Nowadays, most people convert the films shot using 8mm into video and edit them on their computer. But if you want to do it the old-school way, you would need a film editor.

And how do you use a film editor?

First, you attach the reels on both sides. The film runs from left to right, so you’ll have the unedited film on the left and the edited film on the right. When you turn on the power, the images are projected on the screen in the middle and you check the images and press the button where you want to cut it. That leaves a mark on the edge of the film. Then, you place it correctly on another device called splicer and literally cut the film.

Can’t you just cut it with a pair of scissors…?

I suppose you can if you’re clever but it needs to be cut straight you see… After that, you attach the spliced film with another.

And what’s this tape?

This is splicing tape for film editing and this can also be cut at precise positions. When you remove the film, you see that the tape is attached only on one side so you fold back the tape and press it firmly to join the films together. It’s very low-tech.

Finally, you can watch the film with the projector?! By the way, what kind of customers usually visit your shop?

We have all kinds of customers including people in their early 20s, middle-aged people who wanted to film with 8mm in their younger days, retired people with time and money on their hands who want to watch the bulk of their old films, and professionals who create ads and PVs also visit our shop.

On last thing, what would be the appeal of 8mm film to you?

Films tend to compete with the image quality, but 8mm is a good material to help you think about how to construct the images in your mind. For example, you would want your children to get to know art by playing with clay and using their own hands. It’s the same with film and I think it’s important to give your ideas a shape by splicing and leaving lots of fingerprints on the footage you shot yourself. 8mm lets you experience exactly that.

Takahiko Kohyama of Retro Tsuhan, thank you so much for your informative talk today!

And dear readers, give 8mm a try!

9 Comments

1. Aw, I used to make 8mm films when I was a teenager in Canada. I still have the editing stuff and projector in my parents’ house, but I think my camera is broken. I wish I could watch my old films again!

   Posted by: claire on September 16th, 2008 at 7:59 pm

2. This is actually very interesting. :-) It’s so old school — like what Polaroid cameras are to digital cameras.

   P.S. Why is it that the “name” and “website” fields tend to have the details of the previous commenter?

   Posted by: Kym on September 16th, 2008 at 9:08 pm

3. Wow!!! as a lomographer I think this is a good article!!!
   lookin forward to finding some good vintage cameras in japan!!! arigato!!!

   Posted by: Alessio on September 16th, 2008 at 9:33 pm

4. Excellent article. I used to make indie films…This article is inspiring me to pick it up again! (-:

   Posted by: Melissa Robison on September 17th, 2008 at 9:59 pm

5. [...] 8mm Basics [...]

   Posted by: 8mm-Films | nomonkey on September 20th, 2008 at 1:33 am

6. It seems fun (and hard) to imagine a full scene in 15s.

   Posted by: Eriksen Costa on September 24th, 2008 at 1:39 pm

7. [...] 8mm Films make a come-back in Japan [...]

   Posted by: Wednesday’s Weekly Reader: Double Stuffed! on September 25th, 2008 at 2:02 pm

8. [...] all you 8mm geeks, Pinmag interviews Takahiko Kohyama, about the revival of this classic film format in [...]

   Posted by: East By Northeast Asian Film Festival » Blog Archive » 8mm Revival on October 7th, 2008 at 5:17 am

9. [...] - 8mm Basics saved by jorgejiro2008-09-18 - Fewer exhibitors at NYAF | 801 Media undergoing changes? saved by [...]

   Posted by: Websites tagged "artistic" on Postsaver on October 12th, 2008 at 1:32 pm

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