Filmmaker Magazine: Fewer than 30 2016 Features Shot on 35mm
Excellent piece in Filmmaker Magazine today about the declining number of features shot on 35mm film, and the difficulties faced when using the classic medium. The format delivers warmer and more vivid colors, grain-based resolution and, to many, simply looks better. As the industry standardizes more on digital throughput, the challenges for 35mm users multiply.
For instance, as the article mentions in a callback to an earlier article, Roger Deakins, who shot the Coen’s HAIL CAESAR!, bemoans the lack of quality film stock, and even says, provocatively, of film, “I’m sorry, it’s over.”
Anna Biller, who made THE LOVE WITCH on 35mm, even had problems finding proper cement and leader.
On the other hand, Ciro Guerra, whose EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT was filmed deep in the Amazon basin, loved the tank-like solidity of 35mm equipment, particularly its resilience in tough conditions.
Jeff Nichols’ DP Adam Stone also had good words for 35mm shooting, admitting that a magic hour shot in LOVING simply would not have looked as good without the warmth of 35mm.
Here are all the 2016 releases listed in the article, shot entirely or partially in 35mm.
IN THE SHADOW OF WOMEN (Philippe Garrel)
SILENCE (Martin Scorsese)
MIDNIGHT SPECIAL (Jeff Nichols)
LOVING (Jeff Nichols)
JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK (Edward Zwick)
BATMAN V. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE (Zack Snyder)
JASON BOURNE (Paul Greengrass)
GOLD (Stephen Gaghan)
SING STREET (John Carney)
DEADPOOL (only one shot in 35mm) (Tim Miller)
HIDDEN FIGURES (Theodore Melfi)
HAIL CAESAR (Coen Bros.)
THE LOVE WITCH (Anna Biller)
TOO LATE (Dennis Hauck)
AFERIM! (Radu Jude)
EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT (Ciro Guerra)
VALLEY OF LOVE (Guillaume Nicloux)
A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING (Tom Twyker)
KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES (Greg Mottola)
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (Antoine Fuqua)
THE ACCOUNTANT (Gavin O’Connor)
THE CHILDHOOD OF A LEADER (Brady Corbet)
OUTLAWS AND ANGELS (JT Mollner)
LA LA LAND (Damien Chazelle)
FENCES (Denzel Washington)
NOCTURNAL ANIMALS (Tom Ford)
IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE (Ti West)
THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN (Tate Taylor)
SUICIDE SQUAD (David Ayer)
