Welcome to the Machine
July 16, 2008In the case of film people v. hd people, I fall firmly on the filmic side of the divide. The richness, the texture of image produced by a crappy super 16 camera is unmatched by this slick futuristic technology!
Watch and compare the trailers for THE EXILES and THE MIDNIGHT KISS. Both are low budget, black and white. They are separated by about forty years but each is set in Los Angeles. The trailers show similar shots from atop Mulholland Drive and downtown. I challenge anyone to a thumb war who claims THE MIDNIGHT KISS looks and feels better.
Perhaps the advent of digital technology is democratizing, but is that really a good thing? Film advances cinematic Darwinism. It is too expensive and fragile and temperamental for everyone to use. I hear progress is being made, new lenses et all that allow a filmmaker to mimic the look of film on HD. Here’s hoping that the soulfulness film can capture may be rendered unto HI DEF.
