Did you know that you can shoot 35mm film for less than it costs to shoot Super 8?

Strange, but true. Super 8 costs about $30 for 2 1/2 minutes of film to buy it and have it developed. You can shoot 35mm 2 perf for $21 for the same 2 1/2 minutes, or $42 for 4 perf or anamorphic (CinemaScope) 35mm. Once you get to telecine, 35mm can cost much less than Super 8.

Here's how: First, use 35mm "short ends." Then use the less expensive professional labs and telecine shops.

"Short ends" are the left overs from 400' or 1000' loads from television shows and features. Perfectly good well cared for film in short (100- 250ft) lengths. These can be purchased from reputable companies that test and resell the film. I recently found www.reelgoodfilm.com here in Hollywood just off Sunset Blvd. A short end users paradise, the shortest lengths they sell are 200', good for over 2 minutes of 4 perf screen time or 4 minutes if you're shooting 2 perf. They charged me 10 cents a foot. I bought 1000' of current Kodak stock for $100. 2 1/2 minutes @ 90 ft per min (4 perf 35mm)= 225 ft x .10= $22.50. 2 perf would cost half that, $11.25.

Filmworks in Santa Monica filmworksfx.com , processes 35mm film for .10 a foot (student discount drops it to .08). You do the math.

Finally, telecine costs can be much lower in 35mm than Super 8. Again, Filmworks filmworksfx.com offers professional Standard Def supervised telecine sessions to digibeta digital tape at $200 an hour, 1/2 hr minimum. Even less if you're a student. Spectra Film and Video charges $325 an hour unsupervised, and there may be a $95 set up fee on top of that.

2 Perf Telecine in L.A. www.cinelicious.tv !  

Paul at Cinelicious has just put together his telecine shop, and 2 perf is on the menu. Nice guy, great rates, and his suite was just set up and calibrated so the images are beautiful. Direct to drive (no tape!), flex files and Aaton Keylink too. Maybe the most interesting development is his Diamond Clear HD-- for less than half the going rate for HD. Check out his site and see what he has to offer.

 Olex Kalynychenko's informative site, www.geocities.com/russiancamera/. It provides a great deal of technical information about the cameras and lenses. Olex is also a very helpful guy of you have any questions.