American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1942)

» " ¥ o tS y^ 254 June, 1942 With proper development, direct I6mm. negative-positive JiKe this is thoroughly practical for comnnercial production. ChoDsing Film Materials For Professional IBmm Production By JAMES A. LARSEN, JR. THE 16mm. producer has a greater variety of film materials with which to work than does the 35mm. producer. In 16mm., black-and-white production can be done in either the negative-positive system familiar in 35mm. practice, or in the reversal-original-dupenegative-positive system. In 16mm. color, reversal-type Kodachrome is of course used, with full-color releaseprints made by contact printing onto a special Kodachrome duplicating stock. Where desired, either for economy or because of the inherently fine grainquality of Kodachrome's dye-image, black-and-white reversal duplicates or dupe negatives can be printed from a Kodachrome original, and in instances where 35mm. prints are needed, monochrome or color enlargements from a 16mm. Kodachrome original are already being used commercially. The choice of film materials for 16mm. production depends on quite a number of factors including, in addition to the familiar one of emulsion characteristics, such considerations as the uses to which the production is to be put, the type of equipment and handling the releaseprints are likely to receive, and so on. For the type of production for which negative film is best, several emulsions are available in 16mm. film. Eastman Kodak makes a slow, fine-grain emulsion called Cine-Kodak Panchromatic Negative film which is excellent for exterior shooting, but too slow for interiors. This film has about the same characteristics as Background-X in 35mm. Their Super-XX Panchromatic negative is much faster and gives excellent results on interiors. It has satisfactory grain characteristics if properly exposed and developed. Eastman will also supply the familiar Plus-X emulsion in 16mm. on special orders if a full coating (about 20,000 feet) is ordered at one time. Agfa Supreme 16mm. negative is slightly slower and somewhat finer in grain than Eastman Kodak Super-XX, and is suitable for either interiors or exteriors. Agfa also makes a 16mm. InfraRed negative emulsion for effect-shots and night-effects. Dupont's "Superior" negative is available in 16mm. in two types. Very similar to the moderate-speed 35mm. "Superior 1" is the 16mm. "Superior Type 314," which is an excellent film for exterior shooting. Comparable to the faster American Cinematographek "Superior 2" in 35mm. is the 16mm. "Superior Type 301," which is an excellent emulsion for most normal interior and "production" camerawork. At present, DuPont's super-speed 16mm. product (Type 302) is available only as a negative material, though the other two types mentioned may be used as either negative or reversal films. The grain characteristics, contrast and latitude of these DuPont films are exceptionally good and there is the added advantage that DuPont maintains their own laboratory for processing their film as a negative, and for making contact prints. As mentioned in the discussion of frame-line shift due to film shrinkage, it is always best to use film of the same manufacturer, of the same age and from the same batch or emulsion number for a particular production if possible. For professional results, it is not advisable to shoot part of a production on DuPont and another part on Eastman or Agfa film. If the producer will choose the film which best suits his requirements and sticks to it, he will get more consistently good results. And even when using one emulsion, it is advisable to attempt to get film all of the same batch or the same emulsion number. For the type of production in which reversal film is best, there is less choice of emulsion than there is in negative emulsion. Eastman Kodak makes three reversal films; Super-XX, Super-X, and Cine Kodak Safety Reversal film. SuperXX Reversal is similar in properties to Super-XX negative film. Super-X Reversal is slower, finer grain and comparable to Plus-X in 35mm. Cine Kodak Safety Reversal film is an extremely fine-grain and photographically slow emulsion which is excellent for exteriors but too slow for interiors. This emulsion is used extensively for making reversal sound-tracks and for printing black-and-white work-prints from Reversal or Kodachrome originals. It is panchromatic and gives good black-andwhite reproductions from color originals. Agfa Triple-S Superpan Reversal Film is a very good reversal emulsion for interior shooting but is so fast that a neutral .density filter is almost a necessity for exterior shooting. Agfa also makes a slow reversal emulsion comparable to the Cine Kodak Safety reversal film. As mentioned in the discussion of nega(Continued on Page 278) II !l i.