Just in time for the Oscars: "Real Film Strikes Back"
Despite the digital revolution of the last few decades, old-fashioned, analog, motion-picture film is hotter than ever. What’s the magic in this old medium that digital technology can't seem to match?
Dear Friends,
On the eve of this weekend’s 96th Academy Awards, and more than 12 years after Roger Ebert's famous proclamation that analog film was dead, it's evident that reports of film’s demise were greatly exaggerated. Five of this year’s visually mesmerizing Best Picture nominees were shot on film, including "Maestro," "Oppenheimer," "Killers of the Flower Moon," "Past Lives," and "Poor Things." In total, 44 nominations were for movies shot on film. Even "The Holdovers," a Best Picture nominee shot on video, embraced digital tools that evoke the enduring allure of celluloid. It's a testament to the magical je ne sais quoi that only real film can capture.
This week’s feature story, "Real Film Strikes Back," written by independent filmmaker David Munro, leads us on a fast, fun, behind-the-scenes tour to explain why top filmmakers still prefer celluloid, despite the meteoric rise of faster, cheaper technology. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. There’s also an audio version of the story, available on our website or wherever you like to get your podcasts.
Dave will also be posting about filmmaking—and the Oscar results—next Tuesday 3/11, in our new and improved Notes section, so please tune in. His own 35mm analog feature film, "Full Grown Men," which Variety hailed as "eye-popping,” is scheduled for re-release on streaming platforms later this year.
“The Secrets of Mastery” will return next week with a new episode from master woodworker, teacher, and author Gary Rogowoski.
As we add paid features to our offerings, we will continue to release occasional new items, like today’s story, that will be available to everyone at no charge. And of course, our full archive of back issues, which includes in-depth reported features, audio stories, interviews, and short films, remains accessible on our free website.
In addition to Substack, we welcome your thoughts via email, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Thank you for reading and sharing our stories, for donating to our cause as you can, and for being such a loyal part of the Craftsmanship community.
Sincerely,
Todd Oppenheimer
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Craftsmanship Magazine
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