Chicago's last motion picture film lab

The Tribune visits Filmworks/Astrolab,a motion picture film laboratory where over 100 feature films were developed, from "The Blues Brothers" to "Batman Begins". The lab is closing because most films are now shot digitally. (John Owens/Chicago Tribune)

[@malcolmedmunds9116]

Historical footnote: Astrolabs was started by Harold Lignell who ran the Sarra Studios B&W lab in the basement on Ontario. St. Astros' success and reputation was built on quality work for TV commercial Ad work and Hollywood studios. Paul Hedburn and Jack Conrad followed Lignell after his retirement. I produced TV commercials starting with Sarra Studios in the early 60's and they were one the best in town with a great lab support. The talented people made the difference.

[@Vahmrick60]

Love it! Brought back memories of my first job out of high school was negative cutter at Russell Film Labs in Jacksonville, Florida. They did 16mm and they closed on January 10,1980 after being open since the 50's.I learned the whole end of 16mm post production there, processing,printing (contact and optical),editing,sound (optical and magnetic)grading and colour correction,titles and animation.All stuff done digitally now,put at least 30 people out of work that day.Virtually all of the lab's clients are gone now as well, or morphed into something else, some thrived during the tape days, but since a good deal of their clientele was advertising based, they folded or seriously scaled back when the internet hit.

[@nzoomed]

long live film!

[@RadicalEntertainment]

nzoomed AGREED! It looks like film is having a comeback! Many films are being shot on Arricams and Panavision cameras using 35mm and 65mm more and more. A new 65mm film camera was just released by Logmar ( Magellan 65 ), the latest James Bond film was shot on 15/70mm IMAX FILM ( First Bond movie ever shot in IMAX), TENET is shot with 15/70 IMAX and 65mm. logmar.dk/magellan-65mm/ Logmar also made 50 super 8 cameras Here is a list of movies shot on film last year: filmmakermagazine.com/108805-26-movies-shot-35mm-2019/ Many movies are have even restarted printing 35mm release prints for theatres! Here’s a list of movies shot on film: www.imdb.com/list/ls093236555 Cheers 🍻

[@RealSergiob466]

Film is very much alive

[@jagga10]

Excellent clip...sad to see 16/35mm film been laid to rest

[@RadicalEntertainment]

Jagga Singh Good News! Film is having a comeback! Many films are being shot on Arricams and Panavision cameras using 35mm and 65mm more and more. A new 65mm film camera was just released by Logmar ( Magellan 65 ), the latest James Bond film was shot on 15/70mm IMAX FILM ( First Bond movie ever shot in IMAX), TENET is shot with 15/70 IMAX and 65mm. logmar.dk/magellan-65mm/ Logmar also made 50 super 8 cameras Here is a list of movies shot on film last year: filmmakermagazine.com/108805-26-movies-shot-35mm-2019/ Many movies are have even restarted printing 35mm release prints for theatres! Here’s a list of movies shot on film: www.imdb.com/list/ls093236555 Cheers 🍻

[@RealSergiob466]

They are still alive in both 16mm and 35mm film and even IMAX 65mm and 70mm

[@Vahmrick60]

Film is not gone yet, in some places it's doing quite well. Phil Vigeant in Burbank at Pro 8mm has helped create viable markets for super 8 film. He's resurrected one of Canon's old amateur based cameras and retooled and repackaged it as the Rhondacam. Never thought I would see weddings again in super 8, but people are tired of the video documentation look and want something creative and special. Super 8's unique look has found a place there. Some really nice work being done.

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

Exactly. I couldn't have said it better. I would love to shoot on 16 and 35mm film. Even Super 8 is so much fun to work with. Because when you shoot on film it is like painting on a canvas. You have to figure out what's really worth painting on it and make wiser and better thought decisions. Something that really gets lost with digital video. Besides, i hate the look of blown out highlights on video while it is a lot smother and natural on film.

[@RadicalEntertainment]

KRAFTWERK2K6 I can’t wait to shoot on film! And it’s not too expensive, some say it’s even cheaper than digital. I’ve been looking around online at different rental services, and the cameras 🎥 aren’t too outrageous. The Arriflex 16s are fairly priced (and as long as you scan 16mm properly, it can look just like 35mm. Even super 8 scanned right can look stunning: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aX_LanWKgrydb68 That was shot with the Logmar Super 8 camera that came out recently. Logmar has also come out with the first new 65mm camera in years! logmar.dk/magellan-65mm/ ) The processing rates at some labs aren’t too expensive either, but buying the film from kodak is the 𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘭 budget eater. But I personally think it’s worth it. With digital cameras and SD cards, you have unlimited digital space to fill up, but with film, you can’t shoot anything you want without planning ahead and choosing to put the most into every shot. Movies are special, and film is a special medium that suites movies impeccably. 🎞

[@pH4nTomPL4n3T]

Seeing a fine lab come to this is downright heartbreaking. The mass exodus of indie "filmmakers" to video/digital is markedly less about cost savings and more about not wanting to invest the time, expertise and effort it requires to shoot film. If I can shoot both 16mm and 35mm monthly on a minimum wage budget, then any serious amateur surely can as well. Now, thanks to the march of technology, the insufferable output of indie hacks everywhere can now look as shabby as the rest of their wares.

[@RadicalEntertainment]

pH4nTomPL4n3T Good News! Film is having a comeback! Many films are being shot on Arricams and Panavision cameras using 35mm and 65mm more and more. A new 65mm film camera was just released by Logmar ( Magellan 65 ), the latest James Bond film was shot on 15/70mm IMAX FILM ( First Bond movie ever shot in IMAX), TENET is shot with 15/70 IMAX and 65mm. logmar.dk/magellan-65mm/ Logmar also made 50 super 8 cameras Here is a list of movies shot on film last year: filmmakermagazine.com/108805-26-movies-shot-35mm-2019/ Many movies are have even restarted printing 35mm release prints for theatres! Here’s a list of movies shot on film: www.imdb.com/list/ls093236555 Cheers 🍻

[@wandelgartking5446]

Well, same with music and everything else that hundreds of millions of people can do with a phone or a PC. Too much volume and little quality.

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

this is both sad and frustrating :(

[@RadicalEntertainment]

KRAFTWERK2K6 Good News! Film is having a comeback! Many films are being shot on Arricams and Panavision cameras using 35mm and 65mm more and more. A new 65mm film camera was just released by Logmar ( Magellan 65 ), the latest James Bond film was shot on 15/70mm IMAX FILM ( First Bond movie ever shot in IMAX), TENET is shot with 15/70 IMAX and 65mm. logmar.dk/magellan-65mm/ Logmar also made 50 super 8 cameras Here is a list of movies shot on film last year: filmmakermagazine.com/108805-26-movies-shot-35mm-2019/ Many movies are have even restarted printing 35mm release prints for theatres! Here’s a list of movies shot on film: www.imdb.com/list/ls093236555 Cheers 🍻

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