Filmmaker Ryan Coogler, director of 'Sinners', discusses his choice of shooting on large format film and the relevance of aspect ratios in collaboration with Kodak.
In the latest video from Kodak, Hollywood heavyweight Ryan Coogler (known for Black Panther and Creed) chats about the visual storytelling behind his upcoming terror tale, Sinners. This film isn't just another addition to Hollywood's resurgence of celluloid seen recently, like The Brutalist, but it pushes boundaries with analog formats and aspect ratios.
Captured using high-end cinema cameras, Sinners employs two distinct large-format film systems: Ultra Panavision 70 and IMAX 15-perf. Despite both formats using 65/70mm film stock, they differ significantly, running through the camera at different speeds, with varying perforations per frame, and offering distinct aspect ratios.
Ultra Panavision 70, a proprietary Panavision format famously used on Ben-Hur and Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight, produces a sweeping 2.76:1 image – one of the widest aspect ratios ever used in narrative cinema.
On the flip side, IMAX 15-perf film runs horizontally through the camera, providing a much larger image area due to 15 perforations per frame instead of Panavision 70's 5. This results in a taller 1.43:1 aspect ratio, almost square in comparison.
Coogler shared that Sinners marks the first time a film has been released utilizing both these aspect ratios, making for a complex, yet fun filming process. The entire film was shot at 24fps, except for slow-motion sequences.
By blending these two formats, Coogler aims to pull viewers deeper into the tale with dynamic changes in how scenes are experienced, especially in IMAX theaters where screen size and shape effectively showcase the transitions. Non-IMAX audiences won't miss out, as the film maintains a consistent 2.76:1 format, preserving the film's epic widescreen feel.
If you want the full experience, IMAX is the way to go! However, distributor Warner Bros will also release the film across various premium cinema formats, including 4DX (with motion seats and environmental effects), Immersive Cinema Experience (with peripheral side panels), and Dolby Cinema, offering high-dynamic-range projection and powerful surround sound.
For fans of analog film and cinema nostalgia, select 70mm film projections of Sinners will take place in just 10 locations worldwide, including London, England and U.S. locations. These rare screenings will use IMAX 15-perf film projectors, known for their high resolution.
Overall, Sinners is more than a horror film; it's a lesson in visual storytelling and audience immersion. The film hit theaters today, so grab your tickets!
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- In the latest video review, Kodak features Hollywood director Ryan Coogler discussing the visual aspects of his new film, Sinners, which employs two large-format film systems, Ultra Panavision 70 and IMAX 15-perf.
- Noteworthy is the fact that both formats use 65/70mm film stock, but they differ in how they run through the camera, offering distinct aspect ratios – 2.76:1 for Ultra Panavision 70 and 1.43:1 for IMAX 15-perf.
- For the first time, a film is being released that utilizes both these aspect ratios, creating a dynamic viewing experience, especially in IMAX theaters.
- The filming process was complex, as all the scenes were shot at 24fps, except for slow-motion sequences.
- In addition to IMAX, Sinners will be released across various premium cinema formats, including 4DX, Immersive Cinema Experience, and Dolby Cinema.
- For die-hard fans of analog film and cinema nostalgia, select 70mm film projections of Sinners using IMAX 15-perf film projectors will take place in 10 locations worldwide.
