The new possibilities of visual expression hidden in 16mm film The challenge of the movie “Toki” [CINEMORE ACADEMY Vol.17]

The future of film photography brought about by “Time”

Q: Lastly, please tell us about the future of film photography brought about by the movie Toki.

Tsukada (Director): I genuinely wanted to make this work on film, so I didn't think that it would have any impact on the future of film, but I just wanted to make it on film. It is true that by continuing to shoot ``Time'' on film for the next 10 years, we need to ensure that labs, film, and film cameras continue to exist.

``Toki'' is a small work, but if the act of shooting with film for 10 years becomes one of the reasons for the continued existence of everyone involved in film, then ``Toki'' is one of the strengths that ``Toki'' can do for film. I think so.

Haga (Director of Photography): While the number of digital works is increasing, I feel that there is a desire to make films on film in many places. In Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino and Christopher Nolan are working to create a new laboratory, and while ALEXA films have been winning the Academy Award for Best Cinematography recently, La La Land (16) When I see the news that a 35mm film has won an award for cinematography for the first time in a while, I think it's not as interesting if it's only digital.

Recently, the director of photography, Toyotaro Shigemori, shot a film called `` At the End of Matinee '' (19) on 35mm film, developed it positive, and then scanned it, and when I saw it in a movie theater. I felt strongly the texture and beauty engraved on the film. It's great that Japanese movies can do things like this too.

“At the End of the Matinee” Preview

I've heard that there are a lot of new works being shot on film these days. We're also planning to shoot with 16mm for the next 10 years, and if this helps film continue to exist, even in a small way, I'd be very happy, and I'd like it to continue to exist.

Imai (Producer): ``Toki'' is a small work, so unfortunately it may not be a large-scale project that will affect the survival of film. Because we have a small budget, we have to consult with Kodak and Imagica in many aspects, and I feel that we are actually causing trouble for the film rather than ensuring its continued existence.

However, although the scale is small, we are also conducting crowdfunding and advertising on SNS, so we hope that this will help as many people as possible to learn about the current state and advantages of 16mm film. Over the course of 10 years of filming, I would be happy if more people learned about Toki's activities and realized the merits of film.

Digital is currently evolving as a means of visual expression, but in the future, it is possible that a completely different type of film will be developed, and film photography may become more active again. We don't know what will happen in the future, so it's okay to have dreams of something interesting happening with film.

(c)Movie "TOKI-" Executive Committee

Inoue (Imagica): You may have the impression that film processing studios have a lot of older, veteran staff, but some of the staff actually working there are young people who joined as new employees. In other words, this is an expression of the company's determination to continue to operate as a photo lab.

Additionally, ``Time'' will be shot on film for the next 10 years, so I want to work on it with the responsibility and will to continue working for at least 10 years. Of course, if Kodak does not continue to make films, our business will not survive, so I would like to cooperate with each other to invigorate the film industry.

Yamamoto (Kodak): Film is one of the options when it comes to photography. Kodak will continue to manufacture and sell film as long as you choose the film and shoot with the utmost care. I hope you can rest assured about that, and I think that is our responsibility as a filmmaker. We will continue to work hard to ensure that film remains an option in the future.

(c)Movie "TOKI-" Executive Committee

What I was surprised to hear when I spoke to him this time was that 16mm film, which was old and made me feel nostalgic, is actually a "new" medium with new possibilities for visual expression. There was no negative image of a fading legacy from the past, and there was a clear reason why 16mm film had to be used.

The project for the movie ``Toki'', which was shot on film for 10 years, is expected to be very difficult and burdensome. Of course, the project requires a certain amount of cost, so three crowdfundings are planned over the next 10 years, and just the other day, the first round of crowdfunding ended and we managed to reach our goal of 10 million yen. is.

Crowdfunding and announcements on SNS will continue in the future, and filming will continue. As a movie fan, I would like to keep an eye on the progress of the movie ``Toki'' and its film shooting.

Movie “Toki” crowdfunding page

https://motion-gallery.net/projects/toki

Movie “Toki” official Twitter

https://twitter.com/tokifilm

Interview and text: Fumio Koda

Editorial staff and writer for CINEMORE. My favorite movies are ``The Goonies'' and ``Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.'' My recent favorites are 4K digitally remastered classics by Akira Kurosawa and Yasujiro Ozu.

(c)Movie "TOKI-" Executive Committee