I think the whole argument is becoming really tired....and yup childish. Why do people get caught up on such a ridiculous argument? Let’s just cut out all the fat and look at the bare essentials. Both are used for similar purposes...cinema; documentation; art; science. Why are digital producers so quick to cut down the use of film when they are openly and perpetually trying to make the digital medium look like film!? Let’s face the facts; the digital medium will never be able to replicate the aesthetics and workflow of film! Film is, was and always will be beautiful. The digital medium...not so much. But, it has come a looooong way and, I must admit, can look great. There have been some mainstream productions which were shot with the new ARRI Alexa (top of the line 5k HD camera) and they have had some pretty convincing results. BUT!
This is Hollywood. In the world of the big “H” anything can and will look great. I too dabble in the 1’s and 0’s of the digital form. Now let’s look at the main downfall. Anyone and their dog (literally) are making their own “films” with a digital camera. This essentially will be the decay of cinema as we know it! But when writing on a tangent I think I must stick with one argument at a time.
This is Hollywood. In the world of the big “H” anything can and will look great. I too dabble in the 1’s and 0’s of the digital form. Now let’s look at the main downfall. Anyone and their dog (literally) are making their own “films” with a digital camera. This essentially will be the decay of cinema as we know it! But when writing on a tangent I think I must stick with one argument at a time.
The argument in question is about what is better. Stop the argument! For the purposes of this rant I will defend the medium I prefer to practice. I think we should start celebrating the uniqueness of Film! The elements of film which can never be replicated! This, to name a few, is the richness of color, presence of random grain, scratches...depth of field! Film is tactile...you can scratch, paint, dye, work with the aesthetics of hand processed film, degrade or deteriorate emulsions and the list goes on. With video/Digital and HD, you cannot do this. With digital video you can play with exposure and, until recently, you can “replicate” depth of field. I guess what I’m trying to say is that Film will never die; it will always remain a unique and important art form unto its own. All artists who choose to have a practice using Celluloid will never let it die....besides all the hipsters will think its cool man.
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