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The Grit.
A blog talking about everything film, BTS, and my most interesting experiences in the industry.
Pennies in the Piggy Bank : How to shoot film in a cost effective way
Film is expensive. Here are some trips & tricks that won’t break the bank.
Why is Film so Expensive?
Everyone always says “why is film so expensive”. Admittedly, I used to brush it off and not really consider how much money I was spending on film. If you are like me, you appreciate the escape of film, the nostalgic feeling it gives you, and how easy it can be to shoot. Why break the bank though? In this blog, I will attempt to help you save some money if you shoot film. I can’t guarantee you will save hundreds, but your piggy bank might have some extra pennies in it.
Big Scary Math
I really didn’t realize how much film was until I sat down and did the math. Let me tell you, it’s expensive.
I broke down the prices with regards to 16mm film. These prices all equate for,
The cost of the film
Shipping
Developing + Scanning
Shipping back or global access
Let’s assume that an average consumer “myself” would pay these prices for each category,
1 x Kodak VISION3 250D Color Negative Film #7207 (16mm, 100' Roll) 250D B&H
$69.99
Shipping Via USPS dependent on location
$15.00
Developing and scanning via Pro8mm Pro8mm
Processing
$35.00
2k Production scan
$56.00
4k Advanced scan
$70.00
6.5k Ultimate scan
$120.00
Global access
$5.00
Again, lets assume that most consumers will choose the 4k Advanced scan.
This means for 1 x Kodak VISION3 250D Color Negative Film #7207 (16mm, 100' Roll) + Shipping + Develop & Scan w/ global access = $195.00. We can break down this number even further to calculate the cost per second with a 100’ roll. Typically, a 100’ roll of 16mm film will equate to 2:30 of record time. Do the math. With this process, it will cost $1.30/second. Ridiculous.
Now for the Penny Saving
So you might be asking “well what do I do? I am not spending $195.00 to shoot 100’ of film”. Well, you don’t have too… However, there are some aspects we can’t control. We can’t control the cost of shipping or the cost of film unless expired / bulk film is purchased. Ultimately, we can control the price of developing and scanning.
With this outrageous price, there are a lot of alternatives. I would recommend supporting your own small film shop or neighborhood film processor. Personally, I use The Negative Space. The Negative Space
The Negative Space is a small film shop located on the outskirts of Denver, Colorado. They offer services for 8/16/35mm motion picture film, still photography, color grading, and rival everything that Pro8mm offers, but at a fraction of the cost.
“We are an artist-run, boutique style film lab with killer pricing and world-renowned quality for both Motion Picture and Photo”
After glancing at their website here is a simple price breakdown for 16mm film.
2k - 3.5k Scan
$0.5 per foot
4k - 6.5k Scan
$0.55 per foot
Global access included!
For the 2k - 3.5k scan @100’ = $50.00. For the 4k - 6.5k scan @100’ = $55.00. Using our fixed variables from before (shipping, cost of film, 4k scans), a scan & develop through The Negative Space = $140.00. This is $50 cheaper than using Pro8mm.
Quality?
Another concern is about quality. Many shooters assume that a large company like Pro8mm will provide better quality than a small company. I beg to differ. The Negative Space use a Lasergraphics Scanstation 6.5K HDR film scanner. This scanner is top of the line. Additionally, they are working on their own state of the art processing unit In House Processor
Below are some great examples of results.
Save the Money
Film should not have to break the bank. It should be something that is fun & affordable. As a new film shooter, I have loved navigating my way through the medium and watching my piggy bank grow larger in the process.
Ke Nui - Living and Working on Aloha
A short story about living and working on the North Shore of Oahu for one month.
The Past
Since my early years, I have always been drawn to the Hawaiian Islands. My curiosity and passion for the surfing has led me to the birthplace of the the sport . Specifically, the North Shore of Oahu.
My first trip to the island began in December of 2019. A winter break trip with a few college friends, we traveled around the island exploring everything it had to offer. Really emphasizing the word Haole, we got to experience everything from the Billabong Pipemasters, turtle traffic in Haleiwa, and an ignorant attitude towards the strength of our environments.
As we concluded our 5 day aloha experience, I immediately felt an urge to return back to the island of Oahu. A year later, I planned another trip to visit this magical place. Consequently, the world was imploding, travel was chaotic, and we somehow made it back amidst the Covid - 19 Pandemic.
This second trip was special, really special - although we were in the middle of a lockdown. During this trip, I really understood the power of the ocean, met some local creators, and somehow put 1,000+ miles on our rental car, sorry. Leaving the island left me wanting more. I always wanted more aloha time.
The Present
During the summer of 2022, I got an inquiry about living and working on the North Shore of Oahu. Immediately striking my interest, I knew that it was something I could not pass up. This trip would finally allow me to spend an extended period of time on Oahu and immerse myself into the culture, environment, and the ocean, this was the scary part.
I knew my set Departure was in early January of 2023. I would be staying on the North Shore, near Sunset Beach, for a little over a month. What I didnt know was how exciting and life changing this experience would be.
Week 1
Week 1 included arriving at Kei Nui (our residence for the next few weeks. This was a shack. Always wet, dirty, and something interesting going on), lots of surf checks, an illegal waterfall hike, my first Waimea Swell, tall boy Tecates, and linking up with my old college friend Garrit. Check out his film preservation (@garritspeiss).
Week 2
Establishing my home base and adjusting to the time change, week 2 offered some amazing experiences. The biggest, baddest, scariest Backdoor Shootout, A swimsuit campaign with Carissa Moore & Hurley, lots of Poke bowls, amazing sunsets, and beautiful North shore weather.
Week 3
Week 3 offered the Eddie Swell (27ft @ 19 seconds), an anticipated visit from Jessie, lots of new hikes & exploring, and meeting the style-bending, stoke-master, karate guru, and North Shore legend, Todd Dunphy - Also the owner of our house.
Week 4-5
This last week was interesting. Lots of rain. I mean it rained for 8 days straight. Two laptops fried, linking up with childhood friend and now Vissla rider : Jimmy Surf, cyrstal clear underwater conditions with Connor Trimble, and having to say way to many hard goodbyes.
The Future
Creating a conclusion of this trip would be hard. I am sure there are details that I left out, but including everything would be impossible. Living and working on Aloha for a whole month will be something I will never forget. I look forward to returning to this magical space. I look forward to future karate session and intriguing conversations from Todd, being connected with my surroundings, meeting back up with old and new friends, poke bowls, foodland, and the big bad scary waters of the North Shore. This place is a spectacle.