Well Alex,
I'm personally feeling the impact of this problem (came uncomfortably close to derailing one of my projects), and I'd like to know what you think about it.
Brantley's forum
What's really funny is I contacted K Brady from my e-mail list and asked him to post a new topic, lol, on MY FORUM! Mr. Brady then posted the Blue Speck topic on Mike Brantley's forum after he recieved my e-mail.
I was also the one who originally introduced Mr. Brady to the Brantley forum when I used to post there. I'm not complaining. Rather I'm glad Mr. Brady took the time to post on either Super-8 forum here on Hostboard, it's a very important topic he contributed, very important. And I would have liked to contributed to the topic, but since I'm banned from Mr. Brantley's forum, not much for me to do.
But it is ironic that that topic exists because of the little things I do, behind the scenes, yet I'm excluded nonetheless.
What kind of moderator/filmmakers partake in this kind of censorship?
Well Alex,
I'm personally feeling the impact of this problem (came uncomfortably close to derailing one of my projects), and I'd like to know what you think about it.
Well, one idea that came to mind, does the intensity of the blue specks vary depending on the camera filming speed? If the sparks are caused because of static electricity generated while the camera is actually filming, does the camera filming speed dictate the amount of blue specks, the shape of the specks, and the size of the blue specks?
If the filming speed does affect the size and shape of the specks, then it probably is a cartridge issue. If different filming speeds do not cause any change in the size, shape, and number of blue specks, then I would think it is a lab issue.
Another idea. If Increased friction in the cartridge is causing the sparks, then one can try the following technique before putting a fresh cartridge in the camera. Pull out about 6-8 inches of film from the top of the cartridge, pulling downward, this will cause a large loop to occur, then turn the cartridge spindle (you must turn the spindle in the proper direction) so that the film "takes up" properly and disappears via the bottom of cartridge.
This might reduce the "drag" the film cartridge creates while filming. I don't know this to be a fact, it's just an idea. I don't recall ever having a problem whenever I have tried this technique.
I tested 2-4 of the first negative cartridges Pro-8mm ever made. I seem to recall I had one cartridge jam when I didn't try this looping technique, and when I did try this looping technique, the cartridge ran to the end. (for the initial test, Pro-8mm didn't use the thin plastic wheel that separates the take-up from the supply side, or something like that [img]confused.gif[/img] , but after that, I think they did start using them. My tech guy told them it was essential to use the thin plastic wheel inside the cartridge for friction reduction.
A filmmaking friend of mine had blue flashes appear on his 16mm answer prints. Apparently, this is a common issue when making the answer print, and can be cause for a redo. Although with original Super-8 footage, a re-do is out of the question 99% of the time!
Maybe they need to humidfy the Dwaynes location, is Kansas a dry state?
<font color="#a62a2a"><font size="1">[ August 29, 2003 05:32 AM: Message edited by: cameraguy ]</font></font>
Original Message reinserted by the moderator to keep the topic thread intact.
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<font size="2" face="verdana, sans-serif">Its hot and fairly humid in the late spring/summer, but most of the year its pretty dry. MikeyB should know.Originally posted by Alex:
Maybe they need to humidfy the Dwaynes location, is Kansas a dry state?
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ September 08, 2003 03:37 AM: Message edited by: Alex ]</font>
Kansas?,
Probably flew over 30 times, never been there. I do seem to recall something about the weather having tornadoes pick up entire houses with scared little girls inside [img]tongue.gif[/img]
Can't be too dry there though, it is very agricultural. (I mean if you could irrigate that much, New Mexico and Arizona would be wheat from border to border.)
However, If the plant is air conditioned to death the air would be quite dry. I wonder if this is a summer problem or year round?
Hmmm, I seem to recall leaving a big long winded post about various possible causes, but it seems to have registered a big fat [img]graemlins/dish.gif[/img] zero. [img]confused.gif[/img]
OK, I admit I wanted to use the empty dish icon. [img]graemlins/party.gif[/img]
I shot a roll and got some blue specks, as I remember this was a noisy cart rage.
It's not dry..it's hot and humid in the summer...at least Nebraska is, and we're right next door to Kansas. My Kodachrome 64 slides don't show blue specks at all...must be a super 8 only problem...but none of my super 8 rolls from Dwayne's have ever exhibited this problem either.
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