How To Shoot 16mm Film

[@mattsmith6558]

I love the crisp, clean look of modern cinema cameras but there is something undeniably comforting about a film stock image. Also, the fact you waited for a 15 minute window to get that wide shot is the exact level of detail on shoots that I always admonish myself after for not considering.

[@aristotlekapolis]

I have seen so many videos saying ‘how to shoot 16mm’ - and after all I’ve seen: YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE WHO ACTUALLY KNOWS HOW!!!

[@EpicLightMedia]

This video is filled with amazing tips!! I’ve never wanted to go out and shoot 16mm film more than after watching this. If you keep posting this quality stuff this channel will explode.

[@orangebetsy]

What are thoughts on the following comment someone made recently to me: "16mm just looks like cheap 35mm to me"

[@baharphotographyy]

Epic light media maked me come here

[@cyrixcheung]

same same

[@DadeCountyRejects]

Hey man just wanted to stop by and say that I am an analog photographer who aspires to transition to film making and your channel really inspires me. Thanks for putting forward your knowledge. It makes the process a bit less intimidating.

[@jassford6491]

what's the footage from 0:57- 0:59

[@dominicmerrell2172]

yeah whats the footage from it looks cool

[@Pantano63]

16mm film looks just like a dream. Thank you for your informative video :)

[@oniriscope]

This is a very rare type of content you’re sharing mate, recently got myself a Beaulieu R16 and this is really helpful! I’ve been looking for months and found a 1/5 of what you’re generously sharing here thanks a bunch for that. I subscribed.

[@lewispotts]

Nice one, thanks mate! I've never tried a beaulieu 16mm but I own a beaulieu super 8 and Its a great little camera

[@mannlk]

how you edit like this whats the vintage pack you use ?

[@kirillarefiev6126]

Hello from your Russian fan! The only bad thing in this channel is not enough these awesome content. Ill passionatly wait for new ones! Thank you for your work and sharing, bless you, man!

[@shzammpatapon9865]

man that highlight roll off is so insane!

[@kennyadvocat]

Love these videos. I'm glad you don't leave all the sprocket holes on the video. Too many people seems to thing its trendy to scan those into their videos.

[@ivanoskyfilm]

Love seeing people shooting 16mm. Great video!

[@lewispotts]

Thanks!!

[@cammackey]

Awesome insight on all of this film stuff. Always been curious on it and I feel like there’s zero people sharing this info.

[@TheAlleycatboy]

thank u! need more about 16 and 8mm too

[@TheSKBPhoto]

Curious if you have any tips on how to nail focus with the Bolex.

[@upeskino]

Great video and awesome look at the process. Thanks!

[@scorpisces182]

Just finished watching your interview with Epic Light Media and had to come over and check out your channel... Wow, absolutely amazing. Now I wanna shoot 16mm film! Definitely gonna take your advise to see if I can rent a film camera before buying.

[@remindfilms]

Subscribed. Excited for what‘s comes next

[@GrantDecyk]

shooting a full MV on 16mm in about two weeks, super excited thanks for the info

[@aaronbazil]

I absolutely love that music video/over-the-top lighting for almost everything. If i can just master it, I really think that could be my own style of videos even for videos on KZbin partly because most people avoid it and tend to light their videos the same way as a result. If I can light this way and push it every time, I'm gonna easily stand out. In theory, I suppose lol

[@omerneropeleg]

you have the best videos bro. like all around the best.

[@ThePlaceForThings]

Such a simple solution, love it

[@FilmSpook]

STUNNING, Masterful Work, Thanks my Brother!!

[@joecal2360]

Gorgeous footage and excellent techniques, thank you!!

[@flochfitness]

These videos are perfect. More please!

[@alexandersamuilov]

Very nice video, thank you for keeping celluloid film alive!

[@lewispotts]

Thanks man, likewise!

[@fedcha7]

thank you

[@LewisCooley]

Just found this channel, 11/10

[@stormcrow3642]

Looks great. Well done sir.

[@jonathanhornby]

This is really great. Will you be do more videoed about shooting on film? 🎥😊

[@fesfilms6553]

How do you expose properly - are you exposing for middle grey in Log or with a LUT applied? Would love your take on it. Thank you for the great content.

[@vanishingpointphotographys1281]

I have watched about 8 of your videos so far. I love what you are producing, and how you explain things. As someone who is knew to recording video. I see how many shots are involved, and appreciate how much lead time you put into building these videos. Thank you!

[@desmondmacnamara6068]

Just watched all your videos and subbed. Can’t wait for more!

[@lewispotts]

Thanks man!

[@KienDLuu]

I only just found your channel. Absoutely Love your work and your style. Please keep your content coming. I've been shooting small/medium budget campaigns for the past few years and just find myself in a creative rut. Content like yours has helped inspired me again. :)

[@anthonyscalamare298]

Amazing thanks for the subtitles

[@josephemmons8496]

Very nice man. As someone who has only worked with the digital side of cinematography and editing, this makes me super interested in the film processing that takes some of these shots to where they ended up in post. Very glad that Epic Light Media sent me to check out your stuff.

[@jeffsutera2439]

How are you going about stabilizing the footage with the jitter? Warp stabilizer?

[@tayballtop]

So inspired thanks. Do you think you could do a video on how you grade?

[@thesapodcast]

Appreciate the supplementary film school 🙏🏻

[@gabrielesaladino9565]

Little video but big knowledge!

[@manuelgomez9730]

great video! this kind of information is gold! I will be looking forward to more videos.

[@maxsaltin1001]

Love your channel watched all videos

[@bfielding91]

Thanks for making this vid man. Awesome tips

[@elgringoperdido.]

just discovered your awesome channel :)

[@MrShanePhoto]

Love to know your thoughts on 8mm. Ive had four cassettes in my fridge for a long time and constantly go back and forth on whether to use it.

[@JacksonSjogren]

What zoom lens are you using on the first electronic zoom?

[@Energyboy83]

What lens adapter is good for my bolex to use my lenses?

[@Kawabata_Akira]

Hi Lewis, how do you actually measure with a lightmeter a ladscape? Thanks

[@Katana2040]

Man, this is awesome

[@alexjcorona2605]

Recently found your channel. Great commentary and real application and of course the real draw - your work - which is beautiful.

[@incolourstudios]

There are only a few channels that give this kind of information on cinematography and as for someone eager to learn, thanks for sharing will be looking forward to more of your videos. One question, did you go to film school to learn cinematography?

[@lewispotts]

Thanks man, Yeah I did over 10 years ago, we learnt on 16mm! But I didn't use 16mm again up untill a few years ago. Film school isn't so necessary now, but it was good for meeting collaborators on the same level as you

[@incolourstudios]

​@@lewispotts By chance was it NFTS, only asking because I was looking for good place just to do like a 6 month course. I would really like to learn how to shoot 16 and 35mm film. Where would you recommend I look into if you had to learn filmmaking all over again.

[@lewispotts]

​@@incolourstudios I live in Australia so it was here. You might just have to ask film schools in your area where they recommend that teach 16 and 35, They have a couple here in Australia and if they have them here im sure theres a bunch around other places now. Most Places that teach it would give you a pretty good understanding the whole process of film i imagine

[@artsvanberg]

Another great video and love how well you explain things😍 thank you🙏

[@BransenPass]

As someone who shoots on film do you think that pro mist filters help to give digital cameras a film look with the highlight roll off or do you think they make the image look worse?

[@tylerfukuda]

Incredibly thorough and helpful! Thanks man

[@lewispotts]

🙏

[@andresirot9286]

Great video !!

[@romanpetrusyak5827]

Awesome channel, waiting for more videos 🙌🏻

[@TheOfficialrbz]

What’s the link to the video at 0:52? That shot looks amazing

[@lewispotts]

The shot of the woman is from Luke Million - Heard it On The Radio And the couple silhouette is from a doco not online

[@MatthewSherlock]

Mate! Your videos are so lovely and incredibly high production value. Thanks so much

[@pritush]

Only thing I thought about it is you gotta carry on let’s go !!! 👏 👏

[@lewispotts]

🤙🙏

[@mariofernando6147]

How many rolls do you use per scene? How many takes?

[@safwanfallatah8611]

Which film lab u recommend?

[@HOTLAPS]

Great shots man. Appreciate the advice

[@lewispotts]

Thanks man, great videos too you should make some more

[@MrManelCasanova]

Love the channel Lewis. Quick question - why not get the files in DPX and convert to prores 4444? Asking cause that's my usual workflow

[@georgescharoun2064]

How would you handle sound if shooting an interview on film? Would the film and digital audio recording sync up?

[@bluefilmsltd]

I need to get myself a 16mm camera!

[@davidmcsween]

ETTR rides again! :D

[@gottanikoncamera]

Great channel! With respect to the piano shot, how did you grade to create the final image? Maybe the subject of a future short?

[@HarjotSingh-zz7bv]

Great video!

[@michaelbentt3018]

Brilliant...

[@januszhrust]

What Camera you using?

[@HowDo-YouDo]

Very nice.

[@teeambird2079]

I always thought overexposing film meant you couldn’t get back information that was blown out. Until I found all these tutorials where the best looking footage is shot to look over exposed by 1-2 stops and brought down in the grade

[@always_hiking]

What’s the music played in the intro?

[@SHDEdits]

What's your thoughts on push processing though? I understand pushing 16mm 2 stops would be quite grainy but would it be an interesting option for super 35? I've been inspired by work from Christopher Doyle, he's been known to push process a few of his films. Exposing to the right to protect your blacks would definitely be the cleanest, but i'd imagine you'd get more organic looking contrast from push processing. I've been more inspired by Vision 1 and EXR stocks from the early 2000s and 90s due to the lack of dynamic range they had, I preferred the contrast you'd get from those stocks so my thinking is push processing modern vision3 stock would be more appropriate to meet the aesthetic of older Kodak stocks then adding contrast in DI.

[@lewispotts]

You can do alot in the grade now then what you would of been able to do years ago. So I prefer over exposing then altering the contrast and the look in post, from the amount of times ive used it this is my most preferred method, but im still open to all ideas!

[@JacobVoltarious]

Thank you so much for the informative video! Absolutely deserve a like and sub! I have one question/clarification though: so basically you’re shooting overexpose by a stop and pull it down in post. But when you send it over to the developer. Do you tell them to pull down a stop in development? Or just tel them to develop as is?

[@lewispotts]

Thanks man, just develop as is

[@jessewicklund4273]

Hey Lewis, When you over expose, are you doing that with your T stop, or are you pulling the speed of the film? Thanks!

[@lewispotts]

Yeah with the stop

[@Tobias_Mester]

That musicvideo with the piano looks amazing. Where can you see it

[@lewispotts]

It's linked in the description!

[@theclasssicks2407]

Thanks 🙏

[@yo3565]

This looks amazing! Thanks for sharing. Would love to know what camera / lens combo you’re shooting on for that music video.

[@lewispotts]

Hey man the camera was a Super 16 Bolex H16EL with a Vario-Switar 12.5mm-100mm T2 zoom lens

[@yo3565]

@@lewispotts Thanks mate!

[@jep8994]

Is it possible to practice this with 35mm photography before trying it with movies since it would be cheaper? Or are there other effects in movie filming to take in consideration?

[@grim4733]

I’ve been doing this exact thing while waiting for my 16mm to ship and yes you can

[@DMProductionsHQ]

This is great! Keep it up!

[@mathieurabary]

Just came from your video with Epic Light Media! Love your videos man. 😁 I have a question, when it comes to metering, do you meter for the shadows then overexpose 1-2 stops? Or do you just make an average metering and overexpose from there? Cheers from Shanghai 😁

[@NataliaPiedras]

Thank you 👌🏻

[@angeloclarizio7813]

What light meter do you use?

[@stekrenn]

Very interesting. Thank you! :D

[@leondebla1985]

How does a 1AC pull focus on film?

[@ATierraFilm]

Have you ever filmed a video on a super 8mm camera

[@jesseboi3469]

How do u color grade? U have awesome colors

[@lewispotts]

Might make a video soon about it

[@QARIB_JEWELRY]

Nice👌

[@YussefHaridy]

Were all of the 16mm example shots shot with the Bolex H16EL and the Vario-Switar 12.5mm-100mm T2, or were there other lenses/bodies used? Cheers!

[@lewispotts]

About 80% are on the H16EL. The other ones are on my other 16mm cameras, H16 Rex5 and an underwater one, I'll do a video on them soon

[@miloplacas]

great video

[@szymonjarzabek3469]

Man, great content! Wish you to come to Toruń's Camerimage and talk :D

[@maxweII]

What program to edit your films and videos do you use?

[@lewispotts]

Resolve

[@muriloyamanaka]

damn the highlights really can take a lot on film

[@ianblackburn2645]

16mm is such an interesting medium I remember talking to a DP about it and they were saying are you shooting that shot because its a good shot or because it looks good on 16mm

[@lewispotts]

Yeah sometimes some things can look nicer on 16mm IMO, I like the look of bright sunny day exteriors on 16mm much more then on digital. But some people can take it too far a just throw lighting out the window when shooting film

[@michaelpetersenfilm]

That DP's would never ask 'Are you shooting that shot because its a good shot or because it looks good in digital'.

[@MichaelBallif]

This video was incredibly helpful. Thank you for sharing your process. Out of curiosity, who did your scans? What resolution did you have it scanned in?

[@lewispotts]

Thanks man, I get it done at Memory Lab in Melbourne. 2k Prores

[@aaronmauriciocantuvillarre2178]

Hey! Im a young cinematographer based in Mexico! My crew and I have been interested in getting a 16mm Bolex H16, we've been meaning to get it modified as ultra 16, do you know of anyone that could help out?

[@majidshanaa5812]

awesome video man. im assuming you got the film scanned at 4K? Do you get it back completely flat? I'm curious about this because I would want the look to mainly be a result of the stock, but when having to add everything back in, i don't know what is lost and what is retained. did you have them do a one-light scan? cheers

[@lewispotts]

I usually just get a 2k prores scan which I find is enough for me. In editing I'll upscale it and export it as a 4k file, it looks better on youtube this way because I believe all youtube is doing is thinking its a 4k file and not compressing it as much. I've tried a bunch of exports and uploads over the years and found this is the best way for me. I'm just getting the film scanned at the full dynamic range of the negative which is a somewhat "log" image (13 or 14 stops), so If you get a flat scan or not all the scanner would be doing is adding a digital version of some rec709 type look, I would prefer to do that myself in resolve. In regards to the one-light, yeah I believe its basically a digital version of that, using a spherical rgb led light

[@thelenchi8001]

The thought of bringing this to the music industry made me come here