Making Movies on Film

Making small-gauge films and home movies has its roots in the history of cinema, and requires the exact same set of skills and creative temperament as it does to produce a full-length feature shot on 35mm film. Introduced in the twenties as an affordable alternative for amateur filmmakers, 16mm film later became the standard format for most television news, newsreel and commercial series production, as well as low-cost independent and experimental films. Most of the thousands of miles of footage captured during the second world war era were shot on 16mm film, using durable and reliable handheld clockwork cameras like the Bell & Howell Eyemo.