16mm

The 16mm film format has been around since silent films were all the rage. Though most movies at the time were shot on 35mm film stock, as most movies were from the beginning and through to the present, the 16mm format was less expensive and therefore more attractive to independent producers. The incredible cost savings of 16mm shooting also made it a natural fit for news-gathering, industrial and educational films, and television.

Many of the roles that 16mm film and 16mm cameras played throughout the history of filmmaking, including news gathering and television production, have today been handed over to digital video. 16mm film still plays a large role in the independent film community, however. The budgets and crews may be smaller, but the love of film is immense.

The history of film is one in which 95 percent of the product winds up on a shelf somewhere, possibly never again to see the light of a projector. The DVD revolution is starting to change that somewhat as many older films--stretching all the way back to the silent era--are being transferred onto DVD and even expanded. Many early films by famous directors, like John Waters, can be found on DVD as well as in 16mm.

If you have a 16mm projector, however, you can still see many of these films in their original setting. It is quite possible to start your own 16mm film library. Many of these films are still around and in good condition. Once you own the print, you can show it whenever you like or even put on your own film festivals. Most people are surprised at the volume and the range of titles available.