8mm Forum: I wonder ... Process of making a Super 8

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Topic: I wonder ... Process of making a Super 8

Vidar Olavesen
Film God

Posts: 2232
From: Sarpsborg, Norway
Registered: Nov 2012

posted April 14, 2013 07:45 AM

How is this process done? Do you have to destroy a 35mm print to make one? Someone said when I said I'd like Blade Runner "Who'd want to destroy their 35mm" or something like that ...

Can anyone explain the whole process for me? Sorry for being stupid, but want to learn :-/

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Maurizio Di Cintio
Jedi Master Film Handler

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

posted April 14, 2013 09:21 AM

To the best of my knowledge (becaue I am mainly a filmmaker rather than i collector), first an internegative is struck from the 35 mm print, in 16 mm. This is then used to strike two Super 8 prints at the same time onto a 16 mm-width film with double S/8 parallel perf, i.e. the sprockets are not on both sides of the film but one on the edge and the other one about amidst: this way rwo prints can be obtained with just one run. After developing the film is slit and wound on spools, ready for striping and sound recording. Derann used to stripe the film before slitting . Of course it would be better if one could start from a negative rather than a positive, since colors and contrast can be better controlled.

But correct me if I am mistaken...

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Maurizio

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Douglas Meltzer
Moderator

Posts: 4554
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 14, 2013 09:40 AM

Vidar,

I believe Maurizio is correct, however the answer to the "Destruction" part of your question depends on whether the final result is a full length feature or a cutdown (digest). If released as a cutdown, the 35mm feature is edited to the desired length, so someone's pristine full length feature is now cut into pieces. A negative is then struck from that edited print. If the release is full length there is no damage except for wear and tear on the 35mm print. If the release is an "extract" that is basically one of the reels from beginning to end (Derann's End of Days) or an entire sequence that can be lifted intact (Mines of Moria, T2-The Chase), there is minimal damage to the print.

Doug

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I think there's room for just one more film.....

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Christian Bjorgen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 996
From: Kvinnherad, Norway
Registered: Oct 2009

posted April 14, 2013 01:15 PM

Wouldn't it be possible to create a digital master in 1080p or 2K, and have that printed? I do know that it is possible to make a 16mm positive this way....

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Well who’s on first? Yeah. Go ahead and tell me. Who. The guy on first. Who. The guy playin’ first base. Who. The guy on first. Who is on first! What are you askin’ me for? I’m askin’ you!

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Lee Mannering
Film God

Posts: 3216
From: The Projection Box
Registered: Nov 2006

posted April 14, 2013 01:56 PM

Back in the day as they say I used to make my own short super 8 prints. This was done using a good quality super 8 camera which had a macro lens and single frame facility. I made up a wooden jig which would hold the 35mm film flat and it also had some location frame pins in shape of nails. This jig was taped to a window and the cine camera lens was pressed up very near the 35mm film and camera lens focused. I then forwarded each 35mm film frame one by one and exposed the super 8 film loaded in the cine camera a frame at a time and once completed awaited several days for good old Kodak to send back my first results. It was successful and I later hoped to improve the system to do one off transfer of short Nitrate inflammable films. Some 35 plus years have passed and I don’t seem to have revisited my then new project so perhaps its time to have another go? I would obviously now improve the idea by having a fixed light source and make a complete solid rig but it was very rewarding viewing my first effort which is still in perfect condition although it takes some time moving each 35mm frame.

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Winbert Hutahaean
Film God

Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 15, 2013 05:19 PM

quote:
Wouldn't it be possible to create a digital master in 1080p or 2K,

Christian, that will be watching DVD from a supe r8mm projector.

Similar with todayu's Beatles LP that is transfered from digital sourche, listening CD from vinyl [Big Grin]

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Winbert

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Adrian Winchester
Film God

Posts: 2941
From: Croydon, London, UK
Registered: Aug 2004

posted April 15, 2013 07:38 PM

You get plenty of variations in terms of the process. If a print is used, obviously 35mm would be best but some 16mm prints have been used, with quite acceptable results. I have a 16mm print of 'In Search of Dracula' that I could identify, via one or two distinctive marks, as being the print that Derann used for their release 'Legend of Dracula'. They replaced the original title for their release, but it has been spliced back in on mine. I also have a 16mm reel of the scenes from 'Blood From the Mummy's Tomb' that Powell edited out of their 4 x 400' release. If only I could find the rest of it!

16mm negatives produced to print 16mm features have also been used to directly produce Super 8 prints. Certain Derann features probably only appeared for this reason, as they didn't have to spend any money on producing a negative.

I'm sure that 35mm negatives have sometimes also been used, but not directly - can someone confirm what the next stage would be?

Also, it hasn't always been the case that two Super 8 prints are produced; e.g. Walton commonly had four printed side by side.

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Adrian Winchester

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