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Author Topic: reverse action super8
Magnus Irvin
Junior
Posts: 7
From: London. England
Registered: Mar 2012


 - posted August 01, 2013 03:19 AM      Profile for Magnus Irvin   Author's Homepage   Email Magnus Irvin   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I want to shoot some super8 film in a way that what is eventually run through the projector shows the actual film action in reverse.
As I understand it I will need to shoot with the camera upside-down and then reverse the actual film to run it through the projector. Is that correct?
Does anyone have any tips regarding shooting reverse action super8?

Yours hopefully

Magnus Irvin

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M. Irvin

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Hugh Thompson Scott
Film God

Posts: 3063
From: Gt. Clifton,Cumbria,England
Registered: Jan 2012


 - posted August 01, 2013 03:20 AM      Profile for Hugh Thompson Scott   Email Hugh Thompson Scott       Edit/Delete Post 
You've got it in a nutshell Magnus.

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Dominique De Bast
Film God

Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013


 - posted August 01, 2013 03:24 AM      Profile for Dominique De Bast   Email Dominique De Bast   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
No, this would not work with Super 8. It works only with 9,5 (which has a central perforation and 16 with double perforations).

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Dominique

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Magnus Irvin
Junior
Posts: 7
From: London. England
Registered: Mar 2012


 - posted August 01, 2013 04:33 AM      Profile for Magnus Irvin   Author's Homepage   Email Magnus Irvin   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
ooh. Now I'm a bit confused. I've had 2 answers and they contradict each other. Many thanks to both for your replies.
I can't see why it shouldn't work even if the film is only perforated on one side.
Maybe I should just do it?

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M. Irvin

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Maurizio Di Cintio
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 977
From: Ortona, Italy
Registered: Jan 2004


 - posted August 01, 2013 05:03 AM      Profile for Maurizio Di Cintio     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Dominique, I'm sorry to say you're wrong: the technique Magnus wants to use is clearly described in Paul Petzold's Super 8 Manual: you are probably missing the fact that not only must he run the film from end to start during projection, but ALSO he has to flip the sides of the film, hence the base side will have to face the lens, as opposed to normal run. Of course, for this very reason, footage shot like this cannot cut seamlessly with footage shot normally, as a shift in focus will be apparent.

One more possibility, though only for a handful of seconds: the Nikon R10/R8 can actually shoot in reverse, but for about 100 frames only due to cartridge constraints.

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Maurizio

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Dominique De Bast
Film God

Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013


 - posted August 01, 2013 05:38 AM      Profile for Dominique De Bast   Email Dominique De Bast   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Maurizio, it is exactly why I wrote it wouldn't work, except that I could not explain it in English as well as you did. The shinning side of the filmstock (that has a protection lay) will be reversed so that, unless if you're prepared to have your finger ready on the focus knob each time you project the film, you will have an out of focus scene. This is one of the reasons why French manuals advise not to use this is super 8 (or double 8 or 16 mm with a single perforation). Beside the "out of focus) problem, you may have a less well adherance of sound track and lines after some projections. By the way, this is a forum. I may be wrong, on this subject like on others, so contradiction is not a problem at all. Like on many subjects, the best way is to try and see what happens. If you're happy with the result, that's the point !

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Dominique

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Magnus Irvin
Junior
Posts: 7
From: London. England
Registered: Mar 2012


 - posted August 01, 2013 06:03 AM      Profile for Magnus Irvin   Author's Homepage   Email Magnus Irvin   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Thanks so much for the information. Really useful. I hadn't heard of the focusing problem before. I'm going to try a short test and take it from there.
Fingers crossed
Magnus

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M. Irvin

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Dominique De Bast
Film God

Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013


 - posted August 01, 2013 06:07 AM      Profile for Dominique De Bast   Email Dominique De Bast   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Hope it works !

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Dominique

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Robert Crewdson
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1031
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2013


 - posted August 01, 2013 06:40 AM      Profile for Robert Crewdson     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
You will find this mentioned in 'Special Effects in Cinematography' by H.A.V. Bulleid (circa 1954). But as already mentioned it would only work with 9.5mm and double perforated 16mm film.

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Maurizio Di Cintio
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 977
From: Ortona, Italy
Registered: Jan 2004


 - posted August 01, 2013 06:52 AM      Profile for Maurizio Di Cintio     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Well, so now it makes sense, Dominique. We may want to re-phrase a little and say it works but with a compromise. Eventually, though, the necessity to rack focus during projection will be vouched if the whole project is to be shown reversed, so this might be of no concern to the original poster. As for soundtrack: true, it cannot be striped: the mag track won't adhere to the emulsion side of the film, the acetone-based glue is inefective on it. But probably paste striping should do. Yet we don't know if Magnus is interested in having sync sound on that, or wild sound from a different source or no sound at all. Therefore, based on the actual information supplied, I think what he wants to do should be considered doable.

One more thing regarding possible scratches: having a film run with the emulsion side facing the lamp shoud not be a problem: all contact prints are like that.

Cheers

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Maurizio

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Magnus Irvin
Junior
Posts: 7
From: London. England
Registered: Mar 2012


 - posted August 03, 2013 04:40 AM      Profile for Magnus Irvin   Author's Homepage   Email Magnus Irvin   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Now I have the full picture.
I have gone ahead and shot a 10 sec animation scene in reverse. It will be part of a longer film (shot in normal motion)so I'll just have to 'suck it and see' as they say. A little bit of poor focus and a gap in soundtrack may not make much diffence within the context of this film. Most of my films are a bit rickety.
I'm very grateful for all your advice.

Magnus

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M. Irvin

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Hugh Thompson Scott
Film God

Posts: 3063
From: Gt. Clifton,Cumbria,England
Registered: Jan 2012


 - posted August 04, 2013 08:05 AM      Profile for Hugh Thompson Scott   Email Hugh Thompson Scott       Edit/Delete Post 
Maurizio is right,as stated there will be a shift in focus, due to the emulsion being on the other side for the shot, but it shouldn't
cause too much distraction.

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