While there is no easy antidote for the effect of the recession on independent filmmakers, Panavision suggests that the venerable 2-perf film system may prove to be both an artistic and economic godsend in these troubled times.

Three recent productions—Curve of Earth, Shoot First and Pray You Live and Gallow Walker—are examples of films shot in 35mm 2-perf that delivered the artistic vision of the production team and saved roughly 50 percent on film negative and processing costs over standard 4-perf, full-frame production.

Panavision now offers modified 35mm Panaflex cameras with 2-perf movements available for rental. All handle Panavision’s range of spherical film lenses from super speeds to Primos.

(For those unfamiliar with 2-perf, the term refers to a modified film camera’s ability to record two images within the space usually inhabited by a single four-perf frame. “Perfs,” short for perforations, are the holes on either side of a piece of film that a camera sprocket engages to advance the film past the camera’s shutter.)

Link to Panavision's "2-perf Explained." (PDF)

According to Andy Romanoff, Panavision executive vice president, technical marketing and strategy, 2-perf provides filmmakers with the ability to shoot 2.35 widescreen images, usually attributed to higher-end systems, at reduced costs. It delivers a widescreen viewer experience but slices film stock and negative processing costs by 33 to 50 percent.

“In today’s difficult times, filmmakers want the unique qualities of film but find themselves daunted by cost,” says Romanoff. “Using digital technology is a viable alternative, certainly, if you are using a sophisticated digital cinema system such as the Panavision Genesis. Using a less robust digital system will produce less robust images and can compromise an artistic vision.

“With 2-perf, no compromise is necessary. The two-perf system delivers true film images, allows creatives to lay down the images they imagined, and still create their film affordably.”