VistaVision

Subject: VistaVision Fri Nov 04, 2011 5:51 pm

I love VistaVision. Anybody else?

Anyone know why it isn't used anymore, aside from special effects shots and the like?

I wish I could shoot a movie in VistaVision.

Subject: Re: VistaVision Fri Nov 04, 2011 6:01 pm

That's funny, I was actually discussing that with someone in photography yesterday. It's a great film format for widescreen and would be fun to shoot in.

Subject: Re: VistaVision Fri Nov 04, 2011 6:04 pm

I like movies where everything is in focus.

Subject: Re: VistaVision Fri Nov 04, 2011 8:34 pm

Vistavision apparently cost too much to continue with, despite that it offered the best resolution of all the mid-50s widescreen formats. I'm pretty sure I read that somewhere. But I'm drunk, so what do I know.

Fantastic way to shoot a film though.

Subject: Re: VistaVision Fri Nov 04, 2011 9:10 pm

Love VistaVision. Kicks CinemaScope's arse.

00 Agent Posts : 10588 Member Since : 2011-03-14

The White Tuxedo wrote:: I like movies where everything is in focus.

What you're talking about is deep focus, which requires very high f-stops/ narrow aperture lens, plus a hell of a lot of light. Split-screen diopters are another neat trick, popularised in the 70s by Brian De Palma. That's where you have two different planes in focus, but everything in between is out of focus. Good way to draw the human eye's attention to do different objects or subjects.

On a side note, has anyone here experimented with slit-scan photography (i.e. the Star Gate sequence in 2001)?

http://www.flong.com/texts/lists/slit_scan/

Subject: Re: VistaVision Sat Nov 05, 2011 1:48 am

Sharky wrote:

The White Tuxedo wrote:: I like movies where everything is in focus.

What you're talking about is deep focus,

I know that. laugh

Q Branch Posts : 734 Member Since : 2011-03-14

VistaVision and it's larger counterparts always look glorious.

If I ever make it, I want to shoot an entire film on 70mm stock. Either normally or IMAX.

Subject: Re: VistaVision Sat Nov 05, 2011 7:22 am

Tubes wrote:: If I ever make it, I want to shoot an entire film on 70mm stock. Either normally or IMAX.

IMAX would be the way to do it. I really think that's the way forward for cinema, rather than 3D.

Allegedly PTA is shooting parts of what was called "The Master" in 65MM, which is interesting. I think the last major film to be entirely shot in a large format was Branagh's Hamlet, but I could be wrong.

00 Agent Posts : 10588 Member Since : 2011-03-14

Well if nothing else, PTA certainly knows how to use the frame.

Potential 00 Agent Posts : 2801 Member Since : 2011-08-22

Sharky wrote:: Well if nothing else, PTA certainly knows how to use the frame.

Yep. And I guess that now that he's working with Mihai Malaimare Jr., he's going to give us some lovely images.

Subject: Re: VistaVision Sat Nov 05, 2011 11:50 am

TBH, I thought Elswit was already doing that, but I guess Robbie needs to satisfy himself artistically on Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol and The Bourne Legacy instead.

Q Branch Posts : 734 Member Since : 2011-03-14

FourDot wrote:: Allegedly PTA is shooting parts of what was called "The Master" in 65MM, which is interesting. I think the last major film to be entirely shot in a large format was Branagh's Hamlet, but I could be wrong.

Ron Fricke's Samsara is the first film to be shot entirely in 65mm since Hamlet and was released only 2 months ago on a limited basis. TDKR is also being shot entirely in large format, with both IMAX and 65mm.