Mitchell BNC Camera Construction -Personal Observations

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Re: Mitchell BNC Camera Construction -Personal Observations

by marop » Wed Oct 17, 2018 2:42 pm

Thank you very much Bruce. This is great information! I am curious what the L base was used for in Japan. I remembered Martin Hill (East coast dealer/collector) telling me he would take the entire main camera boxes (not the L base) out of a BNC and sell them to Japanese buyers.

As to cost savings, I own a BNCR that was originally owned by Paramount. The camera was last used to film the TV series Cheers (until the studio started renting Panavision). I was told that the operator would push a punch (on the camera) that would literally punch a hole (or dimple?) In the film to indicate it was a good take. The camera department would, in a dark-room, feel for that mark and develop only that good take! Crazy if you happen to miss that Mark.

Very interested to here more Bruce,

Mark

Re: Mitchell BNC Camera Construction -Personal Observations

by vicdanny » Wed Oct 17, 2018 2:24 am

Hi brucermorgan. I read with great interest regarding your Paramount BNC.

Re: Mitchell BNC Camera Construction -Personal Observations

by brucermorgan » Wed Sep 03, 2014 3:44 pm

For Mark and Max
Here is my reply
1-the last note shows a silver plunger NOT Factory added .
This may well be the notch device which did the film marking job in the film chamber after the film gate .

2-I never worked at any studio,All work I did was on independent films.
My close contacts were at MGM and Universal pictures .I learned much from these men.
Notes on "Cobra" are detailed but may not have camera reports ,,I will check .
I will answer more later
Cheers
Bruce

Re: Mitchell BNC Camera Construction -Personal Observations

by Max128fps » Wed Sep 03, 2014 11:09 am

Hi Mark. I read with great interest regarding your Paramount BNC. Tell me sir, I assume it has the Film Punch mechanism installed? If so, does it look like the picture attached? I'm sure Bruce will be commenting on this as well.

With greatest respect,
Max
Attachments
mitchell film punch.jpg

Re: Mitchell BNC Camera Construction -Personal Observations

by marop » Wed Sep 03, 2014 10:02 am

Hello Bruce and thanks for the great info on Mitchell BNCs. I am not in the industry but have interest and am a collector. I own a BNC which was owned by Paramount and converted to reflex by way of Pelical (for those that don't know what it is: a mirror reflex system that passes some of the light to the viewfinder and the rest to the film).

Regarding the film slate issue; did you ever work for Paramount? Apparently they installed a film punch in the camera to Mark scenes by physically punching the film. After exposure they would, in the darkroom, feel for those punches and develop only the takes they wanted. I guess it was a bit nerve racking if they missed the punch mark, or forgot to make the punch mark!

Regarding Baltar lenses, I took a chance once, several years ago, and called Jerry Finnerman (has since passed away). He was a camera operator and Director of Photography. I was hoping he may have some recollection of using my camera when working on Paramount productions. He did not but he spoke briefly about Baltar lenses. He did not like them as they were not as sharp compared to other lenses. He did mention that when he wanted a great depth of field he would use a Baltar as they appeared sharper all thru the field.

Do you happen to have any of the camera reports from Cult of the Cobra? I enjoy trying to research specific camera history. I find history through scattered camera reports, photos, and other such info. I have shared info with other collectors and a couple museums.

Please keep the info coming,

Mark

Re: Mitchell BNC Camera Construction -Personal Observations

by stevenO » Mon Sep 01, 2014 9:13 am

Dear Bruce. Welcome and looking forward to more of our insights and stories!

Steven

Re: Mitchell BNC Camera Construction -Personal Observations

by say2313 » Sun Aug 31, 2014 7:45 am

Thank you Mr. Morgan, all gems of information, those. An excellent point about who should receive that moniker that Justin spoke of. And how appropriate for Toland to be given the "Mr MITCHELL BNC" honor. And just a small point of order here, Justin: It is Gregg not Greg when referring to the legend. More on Deep Focus and Mr. Toland please.

- Larry

Re: Mitchell BNC Camera Construction -Personal Observations

by brucermorgan » Sat Aug 30, 2014 8:40 pm

Hello Justin .
Thanks for the compliments .
I guess by default ,I may be one of the few 30 year veterans of operating a Mitchell that is still around .

The camera became a real friend to my cinema efforts .
"Mr Mitchell" is a position reserved for George Mitchell owner and founder of the company .
But Greg Toland is "Mr MITCHELL BNC" .

My recollection is that Sam Goldwyn bought Mitchell BNC number 1 and two and promptly requested
Greg Toland to spend all his free time testing with the "new " Mitchell BNC .

There are frame grabs in ann old ASC Cinematographer issue (late 1930's)
which concerns Toland's tests One page shows a shot glass sliding across a slick bar
counter in some test of DEEP FOCUS .

You may want to try search for those frame grabs they are rare to find ,but it proves that Toland used that
BNC Camera to experiment -not just shot on production .

Here is a link to some historical research ---http://vashivisuals.com/wp-content/uplo ... Toland.png
Attachments
ASC-Toland.png
ASC ARTICLE ON TOLAND AND DEEP FOCUS

Re: Mitchell BNC Camera Construction -Personal Observations

by Guest » Sat Aug 30, 2014 6:45 pm

Thanks Bruce, we are just happy to have you here and your on set experience with the Mitchell camers is far and away better than anything documented on paper. So from my perspective, it is your definitive story on the Mitchell and for those of us that haven't operated a Mitchell, it is therefore the most real.

And by the way, any information regarding Greg Toland is priceless.

Has anyone ever referred to him as "Mr. Mitchell Camera" himself? I've never heard that, but if someone should be labeled with that moniker, it should be Greg Toland.

Be well,
Justin

Re: Mitchell BNC Camera Construction -Personal Observations

by brucermorgan » Sat Aug 30, 2014 6:05 pm

Just a Note to all who read my posts --
All my notes are based on my experience with my Mitchell Camera
and are not intended to be the definitive story on the Mitchell Camera .
For instance ,to my memory ,no one ever interviewed Thomas Garvin camera assistant to Greg Toland ......I hope I am wrong about that .

ps
A suggested contact on the Mitchell Camera story follows
Joe Dunton owns Mitchell now.
They are affiliated with ‪JDC Wilmington Camera Services
Attachments
garvin ff  copy.jpg
Thomas Garvin camera assistant to Greg Toland

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