Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Movie camera for RENT the musical

Author

Message

gelcat
Celebrity

Joined: 6/12/09
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 106

Topic: Movie camera for RENT the musical
Posted: 10/01/10 at 9:12am

We open RENT in a month, and have been unable to locate the 16mm movie camera that is needed.

Does anyone have a lead on a Bolex hand crank camera (or a body with the crank and a lens so that it looks right)?

Thank you!

www.actorsguildonline.org
Actors Guild of Parkersburg
Parkersburg, WV

IP Logged

Mr. Lowell
Celebrity

Joined: 1/30/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 269

Posted: 10/05/10 at 9:10am

Hi gelcat,
I've been saving a vintage 16mm film camera in my prop storage.
It's a professional Bell & Howell camera, not the small Bolex that you may be looking for.
But if you can't find anything else, it might work for you in a pinch.

Here's a picture of it: http://propshare.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=19

-Dana

Edited by Mr. Lowell - 10/05/10 at 9:17am

Mr. Lowell,
Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director,
for the Linda Sloan Theatre,
in the Davison Center for the Arts,
at Greensboro Day School

IP Logged

David McCall
Celebrity

Joined: 1/28/09
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 299

Posted: 10/05/10 at 1:18pm

That looks a lot like the Bell & Howell 70DR that I shot with in Vietnam. I'm told it makes a good weapon, but never had the opportunity to test that theory. Mine had 3 lenses on a turret, but I didn't have the "mickey Mouse Ears" for the larger reels. I was stuck with 100' loads (~3 minutes).
Is it possible that you have the ears on backwards? I think there is supposed to be a drive belt (much like a long coiled spring) that runs from the camera to the drive wheels on the ears.

David M

IP Logged

gelcat
Celebrity

Joined: 6/12/09
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 106

Posted: 10/25/10 at 12:15pm

we found a camera body on ebay where the crank works - now we just need to get a long lens for it, and we're golden...

it will be available for other productions after we close on Nov. 27, 2010

www.actorsguildonline.org
Actors Guild of Parkersburg
Parkersburg, WV

IP Logged

gelcat
Celebrity

Joined: 6/12/09
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 106

Posted: 12/14/10 at 11:31am

RENT props available:

Bolex Camera - crank works, lenses are fake

Large lightweight sheet for 'Contact'

Vintage cell phones and pagers

Other items not listed here

www.actorsguildonline.org
Actors Guild of Parkersburg
Parkersburg, WV

IP Logged

Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup

Author	Message
gelcat Celebrity Joined: 6/12/09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 106	Topic: Movie camera for RENT the musical Posted: 10/01/10 at 9:12am
	We open RENT in a month, and have been unable to locate the 16mm movie camera that is needed. Does anyone have a lead on a Bolex hand crank camera (or a body with the crank and a lens so that it looks right)? Thank you!
	www.actorsguildonline.org Actors Guild of Parkersburg Parkersburg, WV

	IP Logged

Mr. Lowell Celebrity Joined: 1/30/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 269	Posted: 10/05/10 at 9:10am
	Hi gelcat, I've been saving a vintage 16mm film camera in my prop storage. It's a professional Bell & Howell camera, not the small Bolex that you may be looking for. But if you can't find anything else, it might work for you in a pinch. Here's a picture of it: http://propshare.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=19 -Dana Edited by Mr. Lowell - 10/05/10 at 9:17am
	Mr. Lowell, Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director, for the Linda Sloan Theatre, in the Davison Center for the Arts, at Greensboro Day School
	IP Logged

David McCall Celebrity Joined: 1/28/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 299	Posted: 10/05/10 at 1:18pm
	That looks a lot like the Bell & Howell 70DR that I shot with in Vietnam. I'm told it makes a good weapon, but never had the opportunity to test that theory. Mine had 3 lenses on a turret, but I didn't have the "mickey Mouse Ears" for the larger reels. I was stuck with 100' loads (~3 minutes). Is it possible that you have the ears on backwards? I think there is supposed to be a drive belt (much like a long coiled spring) that runs from the camera to the drive wheels on the ears.
	David M
	IP Logged

gelcat Celebrity Joined: 6/12/09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 106	Posted: 10/25/10 at 12:15pm
	we found a camera body on ebay where the crank works - now we just need to get a long lens for it, and we're golden... it will be available for other productions after we close on Nov. 27, 2010
	www.actorsguildonline.org Actors Guild of Parkersburg Parkersburg, WV
	IP Logged

gelcat Celebrity Joined: 6/12/09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 106	Posted: 12/14/10 at 11:31am
	RENT props available: Bolex Camera - crank works, lenses are fake Large lightweight sheet for 'Contact' Vintage cell phones and pagers Other items not listed here
	www.actorsguildonline.org Actors Guild of Parkersburg Parkersburg, WV
	IP Logged