In Search of 35mm Movie Film Reels

[mdparthum]

My yearbook staff has decided to do a themed yearbook that revolves around the movie industry. They would like to have a cover with old/current 35mm film reels. Does anyone have an idea of where we/they can borrow some for a photoshoot. And some processed film as well, doesn't matter what the subject matter is, they just want reels and film trailing off on of them.

Location: Southwest-West side of Houston, we are located in Wallis, Texas near Sealy.

Thanks!

[FleurdeLisArts]

I have some old 8mm reels that are converted to digital if that would be of any use...got some great silent footage of Europe in the 60's when my mom and uncle went on a trip.
Don't know if that is anything that you are looking for...
Fresh out of 35mm reels...

Sorry!

Edit:
Just re-read...I am understanding that you want to photograph the reel's themselves...and not show the content of the reels? Duh!
Try contacting a few movie theatres that have been around a LONG time? They might know where you can still rent 35mm film reels.
I remember a Northern Exposure episode when Maggie bought the movie theatre and Ed had a magazine to rent the reels from...and if memory serves they were 35's not 72's.
I could be totally wrong....or just blonde!

[Riff Raff]

So far as I know, most theaters generally use 35mm film platters (and not reels). Example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB1GxFOu2lc

Those platters can get pretty damn heavy with a long film. I remember it took three people to move a platter with a 3 hour 15 minute movie on it.

[FleurdeLisArts]

Here is an e-bay item...guy who is selling old Goldberg 35mm reels...

They look pretty photo worthy if you ask me...but Shawn is right on the weight!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-GOLDBERG-BROS-...QQcmdZViewItem

Good luck!

[mdparthum]

Thanks for the input everyone. I have been able to get some old 16mm film I shot in college and an old 16mm reel from our library; however, they still want 35mm so I will continue to look for some. The local theaters don't have anything we could use and the old theaters are locked up tight. I'll keep looking.

[KaiserM715]

Originally Posted by Riff Raff

So far as I know, most theaters generally use 35mm film platters (and not reels). Example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB1GxFOu2lc

Those platters can get pretty damn heavy with a long film. I remember it took three people to move a platter with a 3 hour 15 minute movie on it.

I used to be a projectionist at a theater. The film is played out and reeled in on the platter system when they are run through the projector. However, they are shipped in cans on 20 minute reels (3-4 reels per can) as the packaging works out better for shipping. Then they are assembled onto the platter. So a movie theater may have some reels around (no film on them), but I am not sure how willing they would be to loan them out.