Happy Days on Super 8

On the whole, Super 8 filmmaking occupies a certain niche within the motion picture spectrum and few still actively market Super 8 as a viable and indeed preferable alternative to digital video. However, we recently learnt about Reel Sixty, a wedding video company based London's Docklands who are postively shouting about the unique virtues of small film production.

On the whole, as anyone knows who's had to sit through one, wedding videos are pretty much in the lower realms of artistic endeavor. Often characterised by being overly long, poorly edited and ram packed full of cheesy effects and grating overly sentimental music, it's no wonder that many happy couples to be just don't bother embarking on the expensive and at times disappointing experience.

In attempt to smash this image, Reel Sixty are promoting the use of Super 8 film as their medium of choice. Their website proudly states; "In my opinion, there's nothing like the subtle grain and beautiful picture depth you see when you watch cine-film. There is just no better way to capture your wedding day. The emotion this kind of film conjures up is hard to put into words. Unlike normal video, cine-film goes beyond taking you back to that time. It is timeless and makes you feel like you are in the picture, not just watching it..."

Intrigued as to why an East London company would be actively promting Super 8 in what can be a cut throat and stylistically bereft industry, we recently caught up Damo Cross, the face behind the camera at Reel Sixty to ask him about weddings, Super 8 and his loved up clients...

What made you decide to use Super 8 for something as personal as a wedding film?

"The wedding films I produce are amazing, but it's not down to me being a genius, it's down to using a beautiful format and getting the best out of it. I have always loved the Super 8 format, it has it's own uniqueness which can't be successfully copied in my opinion. I only really discovered how well it worked with weddings when my brother took some footage at my wedding. That's when I decided I wanted to get into filming weddings. Anyone can shoot a digital wedding video, but the results of shooting real film, especially Super 8 are much more satisfying and pleasurable to the eye and soul."

Do you have a background in Super 8 filmmaking?

"My background is years of trial and error, passion is always a good starting point. I have learnt a lot from books, but really it's the people I've met over the years who I have learnt most from. I've done various projects in Super 8 from music videos for bands to various documentaries, you never stop learning because every shoot has it's own set of challenges."

What are your clients expecting compared to the usual DV based solutions?

"I provide my clients with a 15 - 30 minute wedding film, a film montage of the highlights of their day all shot on Super 8. I use some background music of the clients choice and keep the edit clean and simple, the final product is produced for the client on DVD. I do offer digital coverage of their wedding reception and speeches which I keep as a separate feature on the final DVD."

What is your typical equipment set up for a shoot?

"I am a keen Canon user when it comes to Super 8 cameras, I like to use the XLS range as the mechanism and lenses are sound and reliable and you have the option to widen the gate for that extra bit of light. I am particularly fond of the 1014. For digital I tend to use a basic workhorse camera like a PD150/170 or XL1s/XL2, these cameras do a great job."

What filmstocks do you typically use and how do you tackle low-light interiors?

"It really depends on what the client is paying and what the conditions are like, in low light I will shoot Tri-X and in very low light i like to use Vision500. I have a little PAG light which offers enough light for 64T in most indoor or backlight environments. Even though I love shooting negative, I try not to shoot it for weddings where possible because it's a bit more costly than reversal, but it has saved my life a few times."

What shooting ratio do you typically use?

"I offer my clients both colour and black & white and tend to shoot 5 colour to every black and white, it's not set in stone though. Some clients have asked for 50/50 and others want only B&W. For a 20 minute wedding film I will shoot anything from 12 reels of film, I always allow for duff focus or exposure shots because in a wedding environment you can't take hours setting up every shot."

What is your post production process to get film presumably to finished DVD?

"I get my film telecined on a Rank Cinetel Mk3 and cut the footage to some music of the clients choice. I don't try do anything to fancy, there are way too many Spielberg's wannabe's out there. It already looks amazing because it's Super 8 and not mini DV with a shitty pluggin!"

What's been the reaction of your clients?

"My clients get really emotional, it's great...that's the kick for me! I can understand why they love it so much because I still remember getting all emotional when I first watched my cine wedding footage through a projector. My business and what I do is established in the wedding industry and people appreciate what I do because it is unique and my product is of a high standard, I hope so anyway!"

It's fantastic to see that via a bit of clever marketing and a passion for film, that for a few forward thinking couples at least their wedding day memories will be captured on a medium which enhances rather than sanitises the experience and makes for a truly unique chronicle of their special day.

For more information on Damo's services see the Reel Sixty website.

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