After volunteering at a documentary film fest I began to consider making a documentary. I had been taking still photos at reenactments but this idea was very new and totally different.
Reenactments are all about being "period correct" so I looked for a vintage newsreel camera. I realized that while I might be able to scrimp and save to buy a working newsreel camera, I could never afford to feed it film.
So what to do? The desire to make this film was burning in my chest. Then I had a "lightbulb moment". I noticed it was common practice at reenactments to gut vintage radios and insert an i-pod in order to play period-correct music at the events. Why not do the something similar with a newsreel camera and insert a digital video camera?
I borrowed two models from a guy that deals in vintage movie cameras for a living. I made molds and cast hollow "shells" in resin. They looked amazingly real! The first was a classic camera, the Mitchell NC.
So what to do? The desire to make this film was burning in my chest. Then I had a "lightbulb moment". I noticed it was common practice at reenactments to gut vintage radios and insert an i-pod in order to play period-correct music at the events. Why not do the something similar with a newsreel camera and insert a digital video camera?
I borrowed two models from a guy that deals in vintage movie cameras for a living. I made molds and cast hollow "shells" in resin. They looked amazingly real! The first was a classic camera, the Mitchell NC.
The faux Mitchell that I cast and painted.
Hand holding it was simply not an option though. It was just *way* too large. Not good for shooting documentary "running and gunning" style.
The second turned out to be a brilliant solution. It was the Army's version of a newsreel camera, small enough to be handheld, just barely large enough to fit a video camera inside. It was called the "Eyemo".
It looked great, but it did require a whole lot of work to make it functional. In the end, I got it going.
The second turned out to be a brilliant solution. It was the Army's version of a newsreel camera, small enough to be handheld, just barely large enough to fit a video camera inside. It was called the "Eyemo".
It looked great, but it did require a whole lot of work to make it functional. In the end, I got it going.
I purchased a DSLR, but it had to go in something else. I found a non-working 4X5. It was period correct and just barely large enough to hold my DSLR.
I finally made a mold for a point and shoot camera for catching candid shots and some B-roll.
At last I had my tools ready! All that was necessary now was to apply about five years of elbow grease filming reenactors in action. ;-)
Footage of me shot by Don Sweet.
RSS Feed