One of the most controversial topics in film making today is digital projection. Some film makers are completely for the conversion from film to digital...others are against it. I have realized through film school and in comparing video to film the many differences of using the film medium. You can do some beautiful stuff on either medium, it is all in the way that you light it and capture it.

I will always love film as a photography medium, but I would have to say... it is an old technology. Digital film making is quickly taking the lead over the original film medium. In fact, I would have to say I love the way digital projection looks on the big screen. I am a firm believer that it looks cleaner than film. In the big picture, I believe that it is more economically friendly to shoot and project on a digital medium keeping in account that film does not age very well. Many older films have to be cleaned up or remastered in order for them to be played time and time again. In the digital world, the film is shipped out on a hard disk to be played back into a digital projection system. That therefore eliminates the tech work of maintaining and exchanging very large spools of film. Keep in mind though, Digital is not a flawless medium. The projectors still have to be cleaned and maintained in order for the most pristine image to be displayed on the big screen.

This afternoon, I have the joy of going with my class to the Regal movie theater on Alafaia, here in Orlando and we went up to the projection booth to see many different kinds of projection systems...This includes a SONY 4k digital projector, 35mm film projectors and IMAX. All are a beautiful sight to see.

What are your thoughts on this?

-Ken

Labels: 35mm, digital, digital projection, DLP, film, IMAX, progression, Sony