shot-on-video film

The first theatrically-released films shot on videotape pre-date the invention of the camcorder and related consumer video technology, starting with the Electronovision process developed by film producer and entrepreneur H. William "Bill" Sargent, Jr. around 1964.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-oct-26-me-sargent26-story.html|title = H.W. Sargent Jr., 76; Impresario, Pioneer of Pay-Per-View TV |website = Los Angeles Times |date = 26 October 2003 |access-date=2022-07-19}} Electronovision used conventional analog Image Orthicon-based studio video cameras (RCA TK-60 cameras in Electronovision's case), recording video from them to an Ampex high-band 2" Quadraplex-format video tape recorder (VTR), all configured to use the black-and-white 819-line interlaced 25 frame per second (FPS) video standard, used in France for TV broadcasting at the time. The videotaped 819-line footage was then edited, with the final cut being transferred from tape to film stock via a kinescope process. The 819-line video standard was chosen by Electronovision over the regular 525-line 30 FPS video standard in use in the US at the time, due to its higher resolution and closer frame rate to motion picture film's 24 FPS, making it a better fit for transfer to film.

A few films were shot and released using the Electronovision process, such as The TAMI Show, (1964),{{cite web|last=Eagan|first=Daniel|title=The Rock Concert That Captured an Era|url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-rock-concert-that-captured-an-era-11375757/?all|work=Smithsonian Magazine|accessdate=10 February 2014|date=March 19, 2010}} Hamlet (1964),The Warner Bros. Story by Clive Hirschorn (Crown Publishers, 1979) p. 363 and Harlow (1965).{{Cite news|last=Bart|first=Peter|date=1965-07-23|title=Year-Old Electronovision Film Company Closes, but Its President Promises a Comeback|page=17}}

Around 1969, The Vidtronics Company, a division of Technicolor, had also developed a process for transferring color videotape to film, this time using standard 525-line NTSC color video gear.

To demonstrate the potential of their process, they produced The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler (1971).{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kgMIAQAAMAAJ&q=Zachary+wheeler |title=Variety's Complete Science Fiction Reviews |first=Donald C. |last=Willis |publisher=Garland |date=January 1, 1985 |page=274 |isbn=9780824062637 }} The picture was shot by the crew from the TV series Death Valley Days, transferred and processed by Technicolor, and distributed by a Technicolor subsidiary, Gold Key Entertainment. It was not successful in theatres, but was frequently shown in TV syndication and 16mm rentals.

Other films using Vidtronics' tape-to-film process were Why? (1971), and 200 Motels (1971), the latter being shot using the 625-line PAL color video standard at Pinewood Studios in the UK.

In 1973, Hollywood actor/producer Ed Platt, made famous by his role as "The Chief" in the NBC-TV series Get Smart, raised the money to produce Santee, starring Glenn Ford. Platt saw the advantages of using videotape over film, and used the facilities of Burbank's Compact Video Systems to shoot the western on location in the California and Nevada deserts. The motion picture was shot with Norelco PCP-70 portable plumbicon NTSC cameras and portable Ampex VR-3000 2" VTRs, then transferred to film at Consolidated Film Industries in Hollywood. The film was not commercially successful.

Shot-on-video films became more common in the wake of the release of Sony's professional-grade Betacam and consumer-grade Betamovie camcorders in 1983.{{sfn|Albright|2012|pp=9–10}}[https://movieweb.com/evolution-of-shot-on-video-movies/ The Evolution of Shot-On-Video Movies - MovieWeb] Many shot-on-video films were low-budget{{cite book|last=Bishop|first=Kyle William|date=2010|title=American Zombie Gothic: The Rise and Fall (and Rise) of the Walking Dead in Popular Culture|series=Contributions to Zombie Studies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VGkbEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA187|publisher=McFarland & Company|page=187|isbn=978-0-7864-4806-7}} and belong to the horror genre. Filmmaker siblings the Polonia brothers were known for their shot-on-video horror films, such as Splatter Farm (1987) and Feeders (1996).{{sfn|Albright|2012|p=10}}

The scenes in Bill Gunn's 1980 film Personal Problems were shot using a videocassette recorder which was a new technology at the time (as most previous films were shot using film stock).{{cite web |last1=Defore |first1=John |title=Personal Problems" Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/personal-problems-1098743}}

The 1994 documentary film Hoop Dreams[https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/3509-hoop-dreams-the-real-thing Hoop Dreams: The Real Thing|Current|The Criterion Collection] was one of the first shot-on-video documentaries to receive a wide theatrical release.{{cite book|last=Hurbis-Cherrier|first=Mick|date=2007|title=Voice and Vision: A Creative Approach to Narrative Film and DV Production|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=93UqBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA352|publisher=Focal Press|page=352|isbn=978-0240807737}} The 1999 film The Blair Witch Project was shot on both 16 mm film and the consumer-grade Hi8 video format, which was transferred to film for its national theatrical release. An international example is Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier's minimalist film The Idiots (1998; aka Dogme #2).

{{Main category|Camcorder films}}

• 200 Motels (1971)[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/Archive-Studio-Sound/70s/Studio-Sound-1972-03.pdf World Radio History - Studio Sound (page 23)][https://366weirdmovies.com/266-200-motels-1971/ 266. 200 Motels (1971)|366 Weird Movies]
• Mayday Raw 1971 (1971)[https://www.spectacletheater.com/mayday-1971-raw/ MAYDAY RAW 1971 – Spectacle Theater]
• Adland (1974)[https://guerrillatv.bampfa.berkeley.edu/paper-archives/2020-07-15_prime-time-survey.html The Prime Time Survey · PRESERVING GUERRILLA TELEVISION - BAMPFA]
• Lord of the Universe (1974)[https://www.eai.org/artists/tvtv/biography Electronic Arts Intermix: TVTV : Biography]
• The Police Tapes (1977){{cite news | last = O'Connor | first = John J. | title = Documentary on Police Strips Away Any Glamour | work = The New York Times | pages = 73| date = January 2, 1977 }}
• Mr. Mike's Mondo Video (1979)Schreger, Charles (July 21, 1979). "[https://latimes.newspapers.com/clip/89036304/ Shelved TV Satire to Get Theater Release]". Los Angeles Times. Part II, p. 6.
• The Reflecting Pool (1979)[https://www.guggenheim-bilbao.eus/en/learn/schools/teachers-guides/reflecting-pool-1977-79 The Reflecting Pool, 1977-79|Guggenheim Museum Bilbao][https://www.flavorwire.com/399191/50-great-works-of-video-art-that-you-can-watch-online 50 Great Works of Video Art That You Can Watch Online - Flavorwire]
• Boardinghouse (1982)
• Possibly in Michigan (1983)[https://lunchmeatvhs.com/products/cecelia-condit-early-video-works-vhs CECELIA CONDIT: EARLY VIDEO WORKS VHS - Lunchmeat][https://www.artandtrash.ca/episodes/plastic-masks Plastic Masks: Possibly in Michigan as Urban Legend - Art & Trash]
• Sledgehammer (1983){{sfn|Albright|2012|p=10}}
• The Emmy Award-winning Special Bulletin (1983)[https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/42107/special-bulletin/ Special Bulletin - DVD Talk]
• Suffer Little Children (1983)[https://www.splittoothmedia.com/suffer-little-children/ The Right Place: Martyrs and Monsters in 'Suffer Little Children' - Split Tooth Media]
• Black Devil Doll from Hell (1984)[https://www.artandtrash.ca/episodes/quadead Phantoms in the Family: Chester Novell Turner's Tales from the QuadeaD Zone - Art & Trash]{{cite web |last=Thompson |first=Nathaniel |title=Black Devil Doll from Hell / Tales from the Quadead Zone |url=https://www.mondo-digital.com/blackdevildoll.html |website=Mondo Digital |access-date=26 June 2018}}
• Overdrawn at the Memory Bank (1984){{cite news|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|title=PBS, Canadian firm co-produce film|last=Scott|first=Jay|date=August 18, 1983|page=19|via=ProQuest}}
• Blood Cult (1985){{sfn|Albright|2012|p=10}}
• The Ripper (1985){{sfn|Albright|2012|p=284}}{{cite book|last=Szpunar|first=John|date=2013|title=Xerox Ferox: The Wild World of the Horror Film Fanzine|publisher=Headpress|isbn=978-1909394100}}
• Cards of Death (1986)[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpn0ZAzLHWQ CARDS OF DEATH (Bleeding Skull! Video Promo Trailer) on official YouTube channel][https://bandsaboutmovies.com/2021/09/26/cards-of-death-1986/ Cards of Death (1986) - B&S About Movies]
• Heavy Metal Parking Lot (1986)[https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2016/05/31/heavy-metal-parking-lot/ Heavy Metal Parking Lot by John Heyn and John Krulik|Short of the Week][https://ultimateclassicrock.com/heavy-metal-parking-lot/ Revisiting Cult Film 'Heavy Metal Parking Lot' - Ultimate Classic Rock]
• Tales from the QuadeaD Zone (1987){{cite web|url=http://bleedingskull.com/from-betacam-to-big-box-shot-on-video-trash-in-the-1980s-part-ii/|title=From Betacam to Big Box: Shot-on-Video Trash in the 1980s (Part II)|last=Ziemba|first=Joseph A.|date=June 1, 2005|website=Bleeding Skull|access-date=July 7, 2023}}
• Video Violence (1987){{sfn|Albright|2012|p=10}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/editorials/430464/homemade-horror-5-gross-out-shot-on-video-shockers/|title=Homemade Horror: 5 Gross Out Shot-On-Video Shockers|last=Tinnin|first=Drew|date=June 2, 2022|website=Dread Central|access-date=July 8, 2023}}[https://cameraviscera.com/2015/09/11/video-violence-13-days-of-shot-on-video-13/ VIDEO VIOLENCE - 13 Days of Shot on Video! (#13)|Camera Viscera]
• 555 (1988){{sfn|Albright|2012|p=10}}
• Rob Nilsson's Sundance-winning Heat and Sunlight (1988)[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/77612/heat-and-sunlight#notes Heat and Sunlight (1987) - Turner Classic Movies][https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jul/17/80s-indie-film-retrospective First 80s indie film fest shows that paved the way for the indie boom|Film|The Guardian]
• Tongues Untied (1988)[https://www.filmcomment.com/blog/queer-now-then-1991/ Queer & Now & Then: 1991 - Film Comment]
• Woodchipper Massacre (1988){{sfn|Albright|2012|p=10}}
• Citizen Tania (1989)[https://www.spectacletheater.com/the-whole-world-is-watching-as-told-by-raymond-pettibon/ THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING: As Told By Raymond Pettibon - Spectacle Theater][https://www.eai.org/artists/raymond-pettibon/titles Electronic Arts Intermix: Raymond Bittibon]
• The McPherson Tape (1989){{sfn|Albright|2012|p=10}}
• Sir Drone (1989)[https://metrograph.com/history-lesson-part-iii-this-bland-could-be-your-life/ History Lesson - Part III: This Bland Could Be Your Life - Journal - Metrograph]
• Bossy Burger (1991)[https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/457 Projects 51: Paul McCarthy|MoMA][https://art21.org/read/paul-mccarthy-laughing-his-way-into-character/ Laughing His Way Into Character - Art21]
• Wax or the Discovery of Television Among the Bees (1991)[https://366weirdmovies.com/270-wax-or-the-discovery-of-television-among-the-bees-1991/ 270. WAX, OR THE DISCOVERY OF TELEVISION AMONG THE BEES (1991)|366 Weird Movies]
• The controversial 1992 BBC One TV movie Ghostwatch[https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3806276/frogman-vhs-six-horror-movies-shot-on-vhs-to-watch-tonight/ Six Shot-on-VHS Horror Movies to Watch After 'Frogman' - Bloody Disgusting]
• Heidi, Midlife Crisis Trauma Center and Negative Media-Engram Abreaction Zone (1992)[https://brooklynrail.org/2021/04/art/Paul-McCarthy-with-Dan-Cameron Paul McCarthy with Dan Cameron - The Brooklyn Rail][https://www.timeout.com/newyork/art/paul-mccarthy-and-mike-kelley-heidi-midlife-crisis-trauma-center-and-negative-media-engram-abreaction-zone “Paul McCarthy and Mike Kelley: Heidi, Midlife Crisis Trauma Center and Negative Media-Engram Abreaction Zone”|Time Out New York]
• Ozone (1993){{cite web|url=https://rue-morgue.com/exclusive-comments-plus-trailer-and-posters-sov-veteran-turns-director-with-her-name-was-christa/|title=Exclusive Comments, Plus Trailer and Posters: SOV Veteran Turns Director with "Her Name Was Christa"|last=Gingold|first=Michael|author-link=Michael Gingold|date=December 20, 2018|website=Rue Morgue|access-date=July 23, 2023}}
• Conrad Brooks vs. the Werewolf (1994)
• Without Warning (1994)[https://variety.com/1994/tv/reviews/without-warning-1200439570/ Without Warning - Variety]
• Polymorph (1996)
• Bloodletting (1997){{cite magazine|last=Bowen|first=John W.|date=September–October 2001|title=The Three Ms of Serial Murder|url=https://ia800605.us.archive.org/3/items/Rue_Morgue_023_2001/Rue_Morgue_023_2001.pdf|magazine=Rue Morgue|issue=23|page=44|issn=1481-1103}}
• Ernest Borgnine on the Bus (1997)[https://www.spectacletheater.com/quit-your-day-job/ QUIT YOUR DAY JOB: THE WORLD OF JEFF KRULIK - Spectacle Theater]
• Premutos (1997)[https://www.moviejawn.com/home/2018/10/9/shot-on-video Shot On Video – Moviejawn]
• Rollergator (1997)[https://www.rifftrax.com/rollergator Rollergator|RiffTrax]
• Jan-Gel: The Beast from the East (1999)
• The Academy Award nominated Genghis Blues (1999){{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Anne S. |date=October 10, 2003 |title=Finding Their Tuva |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2003-10-10/181055/ |website=The Austin Chronicle}}
• August Underground (2001)
• Gozu (2003)
• The Columbine-inspired video diary Zero Day (2003)
• Each Time I Kill (2007)
• Harmony Korine's Trash Humpers (2009)

Both Tongues Untied and Hoop Dreams are inducted into the National Film Registry.[https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/descriptions-and-essays/ Brief Descriptions and Expanded Essays of National Film Registry Titles|Library of Congress]

Possibly in Michigan first gained notoriety on social media in 2015, and has gained popularity among Gen Z teens.{{cite news |last1=Chiaverina |first1=John |title=How This 71-Year-Old Video Art Pioneer Became a TikTok Star |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/06/t-magazine/possibly-in-michigan-tiktok-artist.html |access-date=15 September 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=6 November 2019}}{{Cite web |last=Gat |first=Orit |date=26 July 2019 |title=How Cecelia Condit's Video Art Became a Viral Curse for Teens on TikTok |url=https://www.frieze.com/article/how-cecelia-condits-video-art-became-viral-curse-teens-tiktok |access-date=2021-09-04 |website=Frieze |language=en}}

Some SOV films like Feeders, Things (later to be known as one of the worst movies of all time) and Rollergator were spoofed by RiffTrax, consisting of former Mystery Science Theater 3000 alumni Kevin Murphy, Bill Corbett and Michael J. Nelson.{{cite web |last1=Nelson |first1=Mike J. |author-link1=Michael J. Nelson |last2=Murphy |first2=Kevin |author-link2=Kevin Murphy (actor) |last3=Corbett |first3=Bill |author-link3=Bill Corbett |title=Things |url=https://www.rifftrax.com/things |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305141159/https://www.rifftrax.com/things |publisher=Rifftrax |archive-date=March 5, 2022 |access-date=July 26, 2022 |language=en |date=March 4, 2022}}[https://www.sovhorror.com/2019/12/review-feeders-1996.html SOV HORROR: Review - Feeders (1996)]

Heavy Metal Parking Lot was positioned at #67 by Rolling Stone on their list of 70 greatest music documentaries.[https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/70-best-music-documentaries-24757/heavy-metal-parking-lot-1986-95300/ 70 Greatest Music Documentaries - Rolling Stone]

• 480i, the video mode used for standard-definition digital video
• Analog horror
• Found footage (film technique)
• Cinéma vérité
• Snuff film
• Mockumentary
• Postmodernist film and television
• Video art
• Vulgar auteurism
• Video essay

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book|last=Albright|first=Brian|date=2012|title=Regional Horror Films, 1958–1990: A State-by-State Guide with Interviews|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=39jxgdy3IhcC|publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=978-0786472277}}

• {{cite book|last=Coleman|first=Robin R. Means|year=2022|title=Horror Noire: A History of Black American Horror from the 1890s to Present|edition=Second|publisher=Routledge|page=226|isbn=978-0367704407}}
• {{cite book|last=Mogg|first=Richard|date=2018|title=Analog Nightmares: The Shot On Video Horror Films of 1982–1995|publisher=RickMoe Publishing|isbn=978-1999481704}}

Category:Film and video terminology

Category:1970s in film

Category:1980s in film

Category:1990s in film

Category:2000s in film

Category:Direct-to-video horror films

Category:Documentary film styles

Category:1970s in television

Category:1980s in television

Category:1990s in television

Category:Postmodern art

Category:Video art