2.5.4 35mm VistaVision (visual effects frame) (Motion Picture Formats - original cinematography)
Description
This article is from the rec.arts.movies.tech FAQ, by Scott E. Norwood snorwood@nyx.nyx.net with numerous contributions by others.
2.5.4 35mm VistaVision (visual effects frame) (Motion Picture Formats - original cinematography)
During the `wide screen' heyday, Paramount developed the `VistaVision'
format (``Motion Picture High Fidelity''), which involved running the
film through the camera sideways, exposing an image eight perforations
wide (the same format as used by 35mm still cameras). This negative
was then optically printed onto a standard release print, of various
aspect ratios, or projected horizontally, with a soundtrack printed on
one edge of the film. This format is now rarely used for feature film
cinematography, although it is often used for background plates and
other visual effects scenes which benefit from the extra negative area
and resulting high resolution of that format, as the negative contains
an area which is four times that of a standard 1.85:1 projected frame.
The actual prints made from this format (at the time when it was
common for features) were intended to be projected in a variety of
aspect ratios. Common ones include: 1.66:1, 1.85:1, and 2:1. Other
aspect ratios were used for projection as well, but never gained wide
acceptance.
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