Super 8 Revisited

With all the hoopla regarding wedding videos, from production teams that out number wedding guests to the large invoice that comes at the end of it all, one new wedding accessory trend is to go back in time to the days when super 8mm films ruled supreme.

While some may be so lucky as to have a super 8mm tucked away in a closet, or long forgotten in an attic, for those luckless few who would love to have one of these vintage films as a keepsake of their wedding, there are a number of options available.

For the first option, the secret is in the editing. With a video in hand of your wedding taken with a modern standard video camera, hopefully by true-blue amateurs (the more amateurish the better in this case) you can, with the aid of computer technology, turn that regular color video into a black and white show that can start you on your way to vintage recreated.

Edit the film down to the basics, add a few film-like special effects, the occasional crackle to the audio, and voila an imitation super 8mm can be easily though labor intensively created.

For those who lack the time, energy or patience, there are also a number of videographers that are popping up who follow the trend and are offering this service themselves, as well as companies that offer the equipment and the editing service, while you or one of your family or friends, play chief director and videographer.

While sound is sadly no longer an option, (unless you have stored away in that treasure-trove of an attic a supply of super 8mm sound film, which is no longer available), you can still sync music to your film creation, and even (though a trained professional would be the best to try it), have two camera's filming, one super 8mm and one modern one side-by side, and then sync the audio portion from one to the other.

While some may say the lack of sound and shortness of length (most super 8mm films are less than 2-4 minutes long) are a detriment, others (especially those who have been made to sit through long and tedious wedding videos), feel that this quick and special glimpse into their special day is long enough to capture the essence of the day while remaining short enough to not bore to tears everyone (including you) forced to watch it.

If you are looking for a fun way to capture the joy of your modern wedding with a retro feel, super 8mm is the way to go.

©2008 Weddingstar Inc.