Revisiting the charm: the comeback of Super 8 Film in the Digital Age
Super 8?
Super 8 is a motion picture film format that was popular from the 1960s to the 1980s. It uses 8mm wide film and was often used by amateur filmmakers for home movies.
The film was easily accessible and relatively cheap, making it a popular choice for many amateur filmmakers. The name "Super 8" refers to the size of the film stock, which is 8mm wide, and the format was known for its high image quality and compact size.
Why is Super 8 so popular?
Super 8 film has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years due to its unique aesthetic qualities and nostalgia factor. The format is known for its distinct, grainy look and the unique color palette produced by the film stock, which can create a warm, vintage feel that is highly sought after by filmmakers and video artists.
Additionally, the compact size of the film stock makes it ideal for use in small, handheld cameras, which allows for a more spontaneous and intimate style of filmmaking. The hands-on experience of using a Super 8 camera is also appealing to many filmmakers who are looking for a break from the digital world.
Do you have to color grade Super 8 footage?
Of course you can color grade super 8 footage, but it’s not mandatory. It all depends on the look you like and want to achieve. Below you can find two examples with the same images:
Kodak vision 3 color negative film 50D - NOT COLOR GRADED
Kodak vision 3 color negative film 50D - COLOR GRADED
Mixing Super 8 film and digital video
By incorporating Super 8 footage into a modern, digital video, we create an interesting contrast. The nostalgia factor associated with Super 8 film can evoke emotions and memories in viewers, helping to create a sense of timelessness in a video.
By combining different styles and techniques, filmmakers can experiment with new and unique visual approaches, and create a hybrid visual style that is tailored to their project.
In the video below you can see how we incorporated some of the Super 8 footage shown above into a dynamic commercial, mixing it with digital ARRI and Canon footage.
Black & white Super 8 footage
If you really want to maximize the nostalgic feeling of your images, then you should consider a black & white Super 8 film (Kodak Tri-X reversal film). The video below was shot in the summer of 2022, but feels like… 68? :)
You can find more about this film and Super 8 in general on super8.nl.
If you ever consider incorporating Super 8 in your next video project, feel free to contact me.
