The Rise and Decline of Film, As Told from Film’s Perspective

Film has seen better days. With legends like Kodak’s Kodachrome gone, and staples like Fujifilm’s Neopan 400 very recently following suit, most news about film is met with dismay and long drawn out “No’s” (if you doubt it, check out the comment section on the Neopan 400 and Provia 400X discontinuation announcement linked above).

But what exactly does “Film” himself think of this. What would the medium say if we could ask him to relate his feelings on the rise of digital photography? Tyler Shields’ The Death of Film gives us one interpretation of the answers we might get (note: there is a little bit of strong language in a couple of spots).

The short video amounts to a performance piece, with actor Logan Huffman playing the part of Film. Dressed up in a suit and only barely lit, he recalls the rise and fall of his character with all of the ire and bitterness that the medium might feel — that is, if a medium could feel.

“I was once the talk of the world,” laments Film. “Now I’m a cancer patient waiting for my last cup of pudding before the end takes me away to that place beyond this place … my hope is never to be forgotten.”

But beyond simply hoping to live on as more than a memory — “that … that … uh … that thing they used to use” — Film also issues a challenge to the audience of his monologue: “To all of the youth out there, try me! See if you can do, what you do, with me … instead of your microwave cameras you use today.”

But even after throwing down the gauntlet so to speak, Film ends up simply asking for us all to have mercy and let him bow out gracefully … to “pull the plug … kill the life support.” We’ll let you draw your own conclusions, but if you’ve got a few minutes today, check out the video at the top and let us know what you think in the comments down below.