Culturebox: Backyard Auteurs

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culturebox Backyard Auteurs How Kodak's super 8 film changed moviemaking forever. By Elizabeth Weingarten Posted Thursday, June 9, 2011, at 4:43 PM ET In 2003, James Cameron called a man named Lenny Lipton to thank him for writing the book that inspired him to become a filmmaker. Back in 1975, Lipton had published The Super 8 Book, a how-to guide for using super 8, the inexpensive film stock that allowed a generation of novice filmmakers to make their first motion pictures. Lipton was grateful for the call, if not surprised by it. "I hear that all the time," he told me. Joel Silver, the producer of The Matrix and Die Hard also got in touch recently to express his gratitude. A ring from J.J. Abrams, whose film Super 8 premieres Friday, can't be far off. Introduced by Kodak in 1965, super 8 was the cheapest film around--each roll was about $5, and worked on cameras that started for under $30. Many families purchased super 8 cameras to document birthday parties and barbecues, but the handheld cameras were light enough for a child to use, and soon kids were out in the backyard, playing auteur. To continue reading, click here. Elizabeth Weingarten is a Slate editorial assistant. Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum What did you think of this article? POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES Also In Slate What We Can Learn About Human Sexuality From Rep. Weiner's Scandal Happy 10th Birthday, Bush Tax Cuts! You've Failed in Every Possible Way. Does Europe Have Its Own Silicon Valley? Why Hasn't It Ever Invented Anything Good?	Advertisement
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