DEAD BEAT ( AKA NUCLEAR NIGHTMARES ) Super-8 film

a Neil Capolongo film

WINNER: Pro 8 mm "My Super-8 Movie Contest" - 2011.

I am proud to announce that my 1992 film: "Dead Beat" ( AKA "Nuclear Nightmares" ) was chosen from among entries from around the world, to be one of eight winners of the Pro 8 mm 2011 "My Super-8 Movie Contest."

Plot: Wedding musician, Neil, somehow works out his disappointment and frustration over where his musical career and his marriage to Mary have ended up by obsessing on movies having to do with impending nuclear holocaust. His dreams are about his career, his marriage and his obsessive nucleomituphobia. However, even Neil does not know for sure where his dreams end and his reality begins.

"Dead Beat" was shot entirely in Super-8. The camera used was a Nizo 6080. The stock was Kodachrome 40 Sound film.

The movie was "double system" edited on film using the Super-8 Sound sync sound system: incl. PGP 6 Plate flatbed editor, Mag IV fullcoat recorder, Elmo GS1200 projector and Akai MG614 four track recorder.

( Thank you, Bill Stansbury of Elizabeth, NJ, for providing me with a used Elmo GS1200 at low cost when mine was stolen from my car. This film would never have been completed without that projector! )

Interior location sound was recorded on the Mag IV fullcoat recorder. Exterior location sound was recorded on the film sound stripe and resolved to fullcoat for editing. All dialog was recorded live-not dubbed in post. Dialog, music and FX tracks were mixed on an Akai MG614, and resolved to a master fullcoat on the Mag IV.

In 2011, in recognition of winning their movie contest, Pro 8 mm scanned the surviving full length Super-8 edited camera original to HD in a one light scan. The archival fullcoat master sound track was resolved back onto the movie in Final Cut, using the Mag IV.

( Thank you: Saul Mineroff Electronics, Elmont, NY, for saving the day by repairing the Mag IV fullcoat recorder! - actually, a modified Uher 4000 Report Monitor. It remained in perfect sync @ 23.976 fps for the entire length of the film! )

The edited film had hundreds of Wurker tape splices which had trouble getting through the gate of the telecine machine. Final Cut was utilized to trim and thereby eliminate many of the problem cuts; but some remain.

The film was tightened by 12 minutes on Final Cut; but every effort was made to retain the feel of the original 1992 film.

"Dead Beat" is the full length film of which the short "Nuclear Nightmares" is a segment.

Produced, written, directed and edited by Neil Capolongo.

cast: Neil, party robot V.O.: Neil Capolongo, Mary: Zephryn Conte, Jack (V.O. ), Heavy Metal band announcer: Todd Shoman, band leader: Jerry Ross, band mates: Conrad Taylor, Allan Kashkin, Tony Gorruso, bandmate in car: Chuck Alder, several anonymous NYC street musicians, musical requests: Joan Rosenberg, Chuck Alder, Todd Shoman, Maurie Berman, Guy Richards, Michael Favata, Adrianne DelGardo, Tom Raetz, Rochele Rosenberg, Candi Bell, several anonymous party entertainers, hand holding drumstick: Larry DeBari

Director of Photography: Dennis Capolongo

Camera Operators: Dennis Capolongo, Neil Capolongo, Lou Rosenberg, Todd Shoman, George Rugen.

"Stablecam" operator: Lou Rosenberg

Location Sound: Todd Shoman, Neil Capolongo, Gildo Spadoni

Sound FX Generation: Todd Shoman

additional FX recording: Neil Capolongo

Boom + went to buy the cookie sheet: Rob Andretta


Of interest: In 1992, many viewers felt that the concept of nuclear terrorism was not believable.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Super-8
• Nizo 6080
• Elmo GS1200
• Super-8 Sound
• Pro 8 mm
• Mag IV fullcoat recorder
• Uher 4000 Report Monitor
• nucleomituphobia
• Akai MG614
• Kodachrome 40
• nuclear terrorism

[Drumcam]

@MyEyesBled Thanks for the positive feedback. I think my DP did a great job! Many scenes have a major motion picture look esp. now with the HD scan. That's quite an achievement with 40 ISO film! AFA the opening logo is concerned, I've always felt that the look of it works perfectly, considering the name "Super Cheap Films."

[MyEyesBled]

Congratulations... Wow!... very cool that it finally got a professional transfer... watched the whole thing... looks great, even the underexposed material looks fabulous!

PS: I would fire the guy who did the opening credits though! : )