Working on physical celluloid film programme
We are delighted to be working with ScreenSkills Film CPD fund on this fully funded programme.
The course, supported by the ScreenSkills Film Skills Fund with contributions from UK film productions, is run by The Pipeline and delivered by cinematographers, Laura Hilliard and Steve Wyatt.
This programme is also supported by Kodak and SunBelt Rental.
This is a seven-day programme of practical and technical training to enable hands-on experience on a range of cameras being used in physical celluloid film including 8mm, 16mm, 35mm, 65/70mm cameras and equipment.
The course is carefully planned to offer hybrid training offering the participants four days of practical training on 8mm, 16mm, 35mm and 65/70mm cameras. Participants will be taught to load and shoot film across all the various film camera bodies and have the opportunity to try various test shots and scenarios such as Dolly zoom tests, handheld and tabletop. They will then physically follow the production workflow with a visit to Pinewood studios to follow the journey of their film through its development at the Kodak Film Lab and scanning processes at Digital Orchard. The first and last day of the course will be delivered online.
Who it’s for
The course assumes some knowledge and/or experience in film cinematography and is not designed for new entrants or early career. This course is suitable for experienced and expert professionals working in the film industry including 2nd/ 1st assistant camera, Technicians, Gaffers, DOP’s, HOD’s, and other Camera Department roles.
We always welcome applications from under-represented groups, including, but not limited to: those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds; people with a disability; people from the LGBTQ+ community and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
We offer inclusive training. If you have any needs which we can accommodate during the recruitment process and beyond, please let us know at hello-pipelinemedia@salford.ac.uk and we will be happy to work with you to meet them.
What it covers
The course is carefully planned to offer hybrid training, offering the participants four days of practical training on 8mm, 16mm, 35mm and 65/70mm cameras. They will then physically follow the production workflow with a visit to Pinewood studios to follow the journey of their film through its development at the Kodak Film Lab and scanning processes at Digital Orchard. The first and last day of the course will be delivered online.
Topics covered across the course will include practical and technical information as well as some creative aspects, however the course is primarily focussed on practical application of camera techniques, the work flow and the lab processes. Participants will be brought up to date with the needs of the current industry in relation to the usage of celluloid and the nuances of each of the cameras.
Training to cover:
- Super 8mm, 16mm, 35mm and 65mm camera build
- Coaxial vs. displacement magazines and film core types, magazine loading, colour tape system
- Magazine and changing bag maintenance, film camera notes.
- Optical reflex viewfinder, diopter setup, gate checking and scratch testing
- Film stock Identification – assessing film stocks for projects. Film stock orders and management
- Filtration – exploring matte box filters for film cameras
- A brief history of cameras – from pinhole to red one to miniLF
- Understanding how the eye sees, and the technical process by which the camera captures light and transforms it to create and capture an image
- Modernizing film cameras: a workflow for modern digital film makers & camera department adapting to working with film in the 21st Century. Video tap systems and monitoring and battery considerations
- Optics, basic lens design, and crop factor considerations for 16mm and 35/65mm lenses
- Focus pulling for film and depth of field charts
- Introduction to sensitometry, basic colour science, film development and processing (pushing / pulling), communication with the lab
- Visit to Kodak Lab – development / processing tour
- Visit to Digital Orchard – scanning and dailies workflow, how to talk to your colour grader
- Lighting for celluloid, dynamic range considerations. Light metering and exposure of film stock. Grain vs. noise
- Shooting Macbeth colour charts, aspect ratio guides, ground glass considerations
- Film stock management and production workflow for celluloid
- Purchasing, budgeting, paperwork management, and storage and transportation
Course Tutors
Laura Hilliard
Laura Hilliard is a cinematographer based in Manchester, UK. She completed her BFA with honors in Film and Television from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Laura was a finalist for the 2017 Undergraduate Volker Bahnemann Arriflex Award and the recipient of the 2017 Bahoric Meisel Award for Women Cinematographers.
She has worked thousands of hours as a cinematographer, camera assistant, gaffer, and grip, on professional film shoots including independent feature films, award winning short films, music videos, and commercials. She has worked on shoots with and for collaborators and clients such as Joan Baez, SNL, VICE, Snapchat, TED X, Oslo Freedom Forum, Glamour, Teen Vogue, Milk Makeup, The American Museum of Natural History, Steinway Piano Factory, Gatorade, Nike, Lego, Playtex, Samsung, Extinction Rebellion, the Manhattan Men’s College Basketball Team, KYRA TV, and Elite Daily Magazine.
Laura has taught as a professor of Undergraduate Cinematography at the Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television, NYU Tisch School of the Arts and currently teaches 16mm cinematography at the University of Salford in Media City UK. She is an Arri Accredited film Instructor and holds a PGCAP.
Steven Wyatt
Steven Wyatt is an Award Winning Cinematographer & Owner Operator with 10+ years experience, based between London & Manchester and is an Arri Certified Instructor. Originally from Hong Kong, Steven moved to the UK to train at Northern Film School gaining an BA & MA in Film Production.
He specialised in Cinematography, where he trained exclusively and traditionally on motion picture film, and through his placement at Shepperton Studios in 2008. Steven has gone on to shoot films for screen agencies such as the UK Film Council & Northwest Vision & Media.
An early adopter of Digital Cinema, he shot his first project ‘Top of the Range’ featuring Joe Gilgun (This is England, Misfits & Preacher) on the Red Camera in 4K and did the same for his debut feature film ‘Ada’ shot on location in Albania in 2011.
Steven has since worked for numerous production companies shooting commercial and digital content and as of 2017 shot 10 funded short films as part of the ‘Cinage film programme’. His most recent project includes contributing as Cinematographer to ‘The Reckoning of Erin Morrigan’, with Alumni National Film School Director Gabrielle Russell. Recently Wrapping production in the Republic of Ireland this March. Steven, continues to divide his time between lecturing in film making and cinematography at the University of Salford and working on freelancing projects nationwide.
Course dates
25th May 10am -5pm Online technical session that provides an historical and technical overview of celluloid film, the workflows, techniques, production, and the lab processes.
28th – 31st May 10am – 5pm Four-day face-to-face practical training at Media City, Salford. Participants will work with 8-, 16-, 35- and 65/70mm cameras, including loading, camera building and lighting. All participants will have hands on experience of working with each camera, supported by the lead trainers to help them gain proficiency in handling the equipment. Each participant will be given the opportunity to shoot their own footage
7th June A full day at Kodak, Pinewood where the participants are able to see the full developing process through to the digital scans at Digital Orchard.
8th June The final session will be hosted online and provide the opportunity for rushes from the test shoots to be reviewed. This enables participants to gain peer and trainer feedback and problem solve on areas that need to be further discussed with individual and group breakout sessions where needed. Participants will look at the workflow through the lens of the Producer including budgeting, logistics and scheduling on celluloid.
Deadline: 26th April 2024
Price: Free
Age: 18+
Location: Online and on-site