Rewards and challenges of shooting on film in the digital age
Blog post by Nkosi Roma, cinematographer specializing in shooting on 16mm film.
I grew up in the age of digital photography, capturing moments on camcorders and iPhones and honing my editing skills on Final Cut Pro. As I grew up, my aspirations of becoming a filmmaker led me to explore beyond the digital realm and into the world of analog filmmaking.
It began with a lucky find—an original Nikon F 35mm SLR camera I picked up for $60 at a local thrift store. My first roll through the camera was nothing to boast about, but I was immediately drawn to the process and intentionality required to create each image.
As I continued to shoot both digitally and on film, I found myself gravitating more towards the latter. Film felt like art to me, while digital began to feel only like work. After years of searching for the right outlet for my creative goals, I finally landed a deal on an Arriflex 16 SR2—a pivotal moment that marked my full immersion into shooting on film. I sold all of my digital gear and dedicated myself to the craft of film cinematography.
Transitioning entirely from digital to film was a dream come true but it wasn't without its challenges. From sourcing labs and learning to load film, to promoting my work and troubleshooting camera problems, the slower pace of film demands patience— a vastly different workflow compared to the immediacy of a digital pipeline.
Despite some limitations—such as finite run times and higher production costs—What truly sets shooting on film apart in today's landscape is intentionality. Every project becomes a labor of love, demanding extensive planning, effort, and resources. The result? A higher caliber of storytelling, infused with emotion and authenticity.
Working with film has helped me to hone my technical skills and make me a better cinematographer. The optical experience, from using a light meter to framing shots through the viewfinder, has trained my eye to see light in the world as it is, freeing me to craft the image in my mind before stepping behind the camera.
The resurgence of film in recent years is undeniable, celebrating with four of five Oscar-nominated films for Best Cinematography in 2024. As a director of photography dedicated to shooting on celluloid, I take pride in contributing to the legacy of the craft and inspiring a new generation of filmmakers to embrace the art of analog filmmaking.
