“Why We Ride” a Short Shot on EKTACHROME Super 8

Bill ManningDecember 19, 2018

On October 1st, 2018, our good friend, Kevin Keegan, bought two rolls of Kodak EKTACHROME 100D 7294, Super 8 and shot this short on celluloid for the very first time. In addition to watching this awesome short, he shares his experience shooting it for the first time.

Kevin is a good friend of ours. We share the same passion for storytelling; however, we tell them in very different mediums. I shoot stills and he shoots motion picture. I helped him out on a recent small project and realized we work very well when it comes to visualizing a scene! When I wanted to move Studio C-41 into a visual medium, he has been incredibly helpful with his insight and his expertise.

Interview with Kevin Keegan

Studio C-41: So Kevin, tell us a little bit about yourself! Is this your first time shooting celluloid?

Kevin: I started capturing still images on film with inspiration from both my father and grandfather, but yes, this is my first time shooting motion picture film. I think the inspiration came from discussions with you and also the intro to film class we attended down at Kodak Motion Picture, Atlanta.

I’m very familiar with working log footage but had never seen what a log scan of film looked like. FLAT, which in my eyes, is its own beauty. The tones and dynamic range were unexpected. After that I patiently waited along with the rest of the film loving world or Kodak to re-release EKTACHROME, in Super 8 of course.

Studio C-41: Tell us your experience shooting this? Was it strange not being able to review your footage? How did you know your exposure was in a good place?

Kevin: I was confident in what I was shooting, but not so confident in a camera (Canon 310 XL) that hadn’t been used in 28 years. I rarely chimp when I shoot video, but that’s also because I roll on everything; that’s the advantage video. The most concerning part was the 3 minute runtime per cartridge. It meant I had to focus on moments, which was a nice change.

Exposure on the 310 XL is automatic, and gives you a warning in the viewfinder that your scene is underexposed. With that in mind I think the 100D (7294) performed pretty well for most of what I shot.

Studio C-41: Getting motion picture celluloid developed is pretty hard to come by these days. Where did you get the rolls developed and how as it scanned in?

Kevin: I reached out to a few labs, but went with Pro8mm in Burbank, CA. I will say that I didn’t find many that could do EKTACHROME at the time. I scanned at 2K with overscan and a flat log profile and had it saved to ProRes. They can do I think up to 4K or 5K and save to ProRes4444.

Studio C-41: Would you shoot celluloid again?

Kevin: I don’t think I will shoot Super 8 often, it is unfortunately cost prohibitive as a hobbyist. But would be happy to for a paying gig, I think it’s a beautiful format. Shooting in 16mm or higher, despite cost, would certainly require a skill set that I have yet to hone.