First of all, what most people ask is how to pronounce the word “telecine”. I have had much discussion with film enthusiasts, indie filmmakers, production guys, film editors, etc. and while some people pronounce the word as “tell-a-seen”, most professional video experts know that telecine is pronounced “tell-a-sin-ee”. So there you have it.
But What IS Telecine?
Telecine is simply the process of transferring the images and sound from a film reel (whether 8mm, 16mm, or Super-8) to video. Telecine can refer to the process of transferring film or to the machine (like the WorkPrinter XP or the DVSniper) used to do the transfer. It is worth noting that there are various processes and various equipment setups that accomplish a successful transfer of film - some better than others.
If you are researching film preservation methods, you will hear terms such as wetgate and will read about various machines (some home-made, some commercially made) such as the WorkPrinter XP or various telecines made by Goko or Elmo. Don’t get bogged down with all the possibilities out there - at least not yet.
How Does Telecine Work?
The basic concept is that you have an output device (a projector) and an input device (a camera), along with a recording device. In between any of these units there may be other devices which alter or tweak the image being projected. An extremely simple telecine is a home movie projector which projects the image onto a white screen paired with a camcorder which records the projected image.
(No, we don’t recommend this method at all.)
The high-level telecine methods include a Rank transfer or wetgate transfer. These options are way out of the average home movie transfer budget. So, we can’t necessarily recommend these methods of film transfer either.
If you’ve decided to have a professional film or video transfer company do the work of transferring your film to DVD, you’ll save yourself the work of buying telecine equipment, video capture devices, VCRs, a 3CCD video camera, blank DVDs, a time-base corrector, a DV tape deck, etc. There’s a lot of stuff (expensive stuff) you need if you’re going to do it and do it correctly!
Video Transfer Service Company Questions to Ask
You have seen the ads online, and maybe even the auctions on eBay for companies who will transfer a reel of your Super 8 film for $10 or a VHS tape for $20. They promise to transfer your video to a DVD. But how do you know they will do the job correctly? Will you ever see your video again? Who are these people??
Here are the things you need to find out when considering hiring anyone to transfer your film or video:
- How much experience they have. How many years they have done this work. How many times they have done this.
- What pieces of equipment they use during each step of the process.
- What method they use for film transfer.
- What are the total fees they charge for a job and what exactly is included with their price.
You will want a transfer company that will provide you with the following:
- Full-frame, flicker-free film transfer
- Color-correction of the captured video or film
- Backup of all raw captures on MiniDV or other DV tape
- A written contract that specifies how they compensate in case of loss or damage
Video or Film Transfer Company Dangers
Many times, the profession film editing “company” asking for your business is a guy who is working out of his basement. If his house burns down, or if his equipment damages your only copy of your home movies on videotape - you’re very likely out of luck. You should be aware that anyone can advertise just about anything on the web. Be careful that you are hiring a genuine company with a solid reputation!
