Details needed about Kodachrome Film.

[septim]

Slightly OT, but am I the only one who felt Paul Simon's song may have been an euphemism about certain drugs?

Nope. That song really could be about LSD...

 

[lxdude]

Hell, most songs from that era were thought by some people to be about drugs.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Here is one of the last ads for Kodachrome. It was about 1990.

PE

That's a quite nice promo for it. Seeing the ad brought back a number of memories of receiving my little yellow box back with mounted PKR slides (after 2 weeks...), all of which remain in pristine condition in dry storage. Goodness, in this enlivened Fujichrome era, now I don't see any mounts or boxes, just a very sharp pair of Fishkars and archival masks...

 

[septim]

Most songs from that era were thought by some people to be about drugs.

That was the era... I should say though that despite my extensive dislike of Kodak, and any other connotations this song may have I find the song quite enjoyable, back on topic now though...

This video will probably never make it out of the classroom (*Copyright Licensing*) however if it comes to it a revised edition may be released with an original compilation soundtrack instead of the Paul Simons one... What sort of era do we live in if it is easier for me to get a new song commissioned than for me to get my hands on a roll of [essentially useless] film? So, how much darker did the remjet backing appear in person than the standard backing, in photos on the internet it really is hard to tell (on my display anyway)

 

[AgX]

Slightly OT, but am I the only one who felt Paul Simon's song may have been an euphemism about certain drugs?

To be honest me naive German never thought of that.

 

[lxdude]

I never did either.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

"Kodachrome" was a euphemism for LSD in the 1970s. This was covered in mention/analysis in my university studies (1992-1994).
"...to be 'chromed " was to hang out in LSD groupies.

 

[lxdude]

That's the first time I heard of that, though I can understand the origin. "Nice bright colors" and all. I'd still hazard a bet it came from the song, not the other way around, as most people even then didn't really know what Kodachrome was. Maybe it was regional. Here in California, terms like "frying" were common.

I never tried LSD (though back then opportunities abounded), so I might not have heard what some people called it.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

That's the first time I heard of that, though I can understand the origin. "Nice bright colors" and all. I'd still hazard a bet it came from the song, not the other way around, as most people even then didn't really know what Kodachrome was. Maybe it was regional. Here in California, terms like "frying" were common.

I never tried LSD (though back then opportunities abounded), so I might not have heard what some people called it.

It can be found all-too-readily at Burning Man (USA), Burning Seed (here in Australia) and at Confest (also in Australia) where naked hippies paint "LSD Wanted" (or "Spec K") on them (often after a full mud-pit immersion) as they parade about looking for dealers (and there is much, much worse being dished out, hence the undercover police presence). Once they're hit up, take cover!! :confused:

 

[lxdude]

Here, Special K is Ketamine, a drug sort of like PCP. Special K originally referred to a Kellogg's cereal.

 

[septim]

Okay, could we possibly save the LSD related talk for a dedicated thread or something? All connotations aside, does anyone know of anywhere in Aus where I could possibly get a roll of Kodachrome (besides eBay ripoff merchants)

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

We're talking about a film that was discontinued and ceased to be available years ago. What, if anything is still out there might be forgotten, up the back shelf of the deep freeze. I suggest you put a call out in the APUG Classifieds, "KODACHROME WANTED". I don't like your chances, but you never know what a request may turn up.

— or —
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Lot-of-2...0194942?pt=US_Camera_Film&hash=item2ec990a2fe
~Of that, it's not too expensive (a roll of Velvia is $25.00). A tank of petrol is much more expensive and somewhat wasteful.

 

[Photo Engineer]

There are so many meanings. The "burning Man" is also Gully Foyle and Brion Bayrd in literature. Don't read too much into it.

PE

 

[septim]

We're talking about a film that was discontinued and ceased to be available years ago. What, if anything is still out there might be forgotten, up the back shelf of the deep freeze. I suggest you put a call out in the APUG Classifieds, "KODACHROME WANTED". I don't like your chances, but you never know what a request may turn up.

— or —
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Lot-of-2...0194942?pt=US_Camera_Film&hash=item2ec990a2fe
~Of that, it's not too expensive (a roll of Velvia is $25.00). A tank of petrol is much more expensive and somewhat wasteful.

Remembering though that this film is not really intended to be shot as Kodachrome slides and is to be used in the production of a video, I mean does it really make sense to spend that much on a prop (though I could always try telling myself I was buying a roll of Ektachrome that came with a free roll of Kodachrome - even though I normally shoot Fuji and Agfa stock), if I was after some Provia or Velvia (Or Ektachrome for that matter, but only in 120) I would only have to walk as far as my fridge/freezer . Would it be easier at this point to give up on any hopes of using real Kodachrome in the video and just re-badge a Kodak Max cartridge for this purpose?

 

[Truzi]

It probably depends on how close you will zoom in on the film and cartridge. Of course, a commercial would have a close-up of at least the box or cartridge. You may be able to print a label that looks authentic enough for the cartridge.

As for the actual film with it's remjet, distant shots may not reveal it's not really Kodachrome, and even doctoring (painting) the film might work at a distance. The only part I'd expect to see (if at all) in a commercial would be the leader. If this will be shown only a few times, people won't have the opportunity to dissect the minute details (which is why magicians never do the same trick twice in a performance).

Since it is slide film, though, I'd expect to see a projection in the commercial, as well as a mounted slide, if for only a moment. I don't think one could tell by those things what film it was.

If the mock commercial were for trade purposes (not consumers), though, I'd expect to see the film much more.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Remembering though that this film is not really intended to be shot as Kodachrome slides and is to be used in the production of a video, I mean does it really make sense to spend that much on a prop (though I could always try telling myself I was buying a roll of Ektachrome that came with a free roll of Kodachrome - even though I normally shoot Fuji and Agfa stock), if I was after some Provia or Velvia (Or Ektachrome for that matter, but only in 120) I would only have to walk as far as my fridge/freezer . Would it be easier at this point to give up on any hopes of using real Kodachrome in the video and just re-badge a Kodak Max cartridge for this purpose?

That's a question only you can answer, really, in consideration of costs, research, sourcing, purchasing etc. It would be a little bit of fuss and bother but if you're after realism, nothing beats the real thing! If you're experienced in film making, you will know that all props are researched, sourced and cost something. I really don't consider buying a roll or two off FleaBay to be anything to get bent out of shape by — "just for old time's sake"! You won't be able to actually process the roll when finished, but you'll be leaving a lasting image (ahem...). :joyful: