16 MM DOCUMENTATION

February 01, 2020

We craft all of our products by hand which yields a certain uniqueness. Having a keen eye for detail is important for a craftsman and can mean the difference between reaching the standard or setting the standard. One of our recent avocations has been film, particularly 16mm. Our infinity for it has led way to the idea that we can take what we do in the workshop and present it in a more cinematic way. We acquired a vintage Bolex H-16 Rex-2, 16mm camera and became students again, learning a new craft.

Over the years we’ve filmed many videos, however we have never shot on film. There is a beauty to film. The film produces a natural, granular texture to each shot that is distinct. Much like leather, no hide is the same. It’s distinct. Much like crafting wallets or satchels, it's in the tools and mastering them.

Leather Satchel Bag getting picked off of snowy groundMan tossing a beer to another in the snowMan drives away in a white truck in the snowMan wearing beanie blowing fire in snowy climate

We are as hands on as possible. Each part of the Bolex is operated by hand. From the crank, to holding down the shutter to film, we appreciate the hands on and sometimes difficult nature of it. When working with leather, any mistake is costly. Each detail is scripted, from start to finish. A good film relies on keen eye for detail, a good craftsman is no different.



The Film: The Bolex uses 16mm color negative film. What you see is what you get. It yields true-to-life colors and contrast which is rich when first developed and depending on the life of the film itself, can remain just as vibrant as the day it was developed. These days, when the film is developed it is digitally scanned and is able to be edit on the computer.
16mm camera laying out with film boxes
Rolls of 16mm film laid out on table