Make a movie on 'real' film

Digital video (DV) is fast becoming the most popular medium for amateur film-makers. It is easy to learn and considerably cheaper than 35mm and 16mm film - but it can't match the quality. No longer widely available, old-fashioned film can still be bought at Kodak (tel: 2564-9352) or Agfa (tel: 2555-9421) in rolls of 100, 400, or 1,000 feet and costing from $700 to $1,500.

Rent a camera from film-production consultant Salon Films (1C, Freder Centre, 68 Sung Wong Toi Road, Kowloon City, tel: 2764-3123). Arri professional cameras, and other makes, cost from $2,800 a day. Lights, microphones, camera tracks and other cinematic gadgets can also be rented from Salon Films and Cinerent (1 Somerset Road, Kowloon Tong, tel: 2338-7188).

Negatives can be processed at Union Film Laboratory (4/f Man Shun Factory Building, 20 Chikiang Street, Tokwawan) or Mandarin Laboratory (Cheung Fai Industrial Building, 131 Wai Yip Street, Kwun Tong) for $1.40 - $1.80 a foot for 16mm film, or 80 cents - $1 a foot for 35mm film. Turn the processed film into a movie using the laboratories' editing equipment.

Before shooting commences, familiarise yourself with the basics at the Media Centre in the Hong Kong Arts Centre (Harbour Road, Wan Chai), which will be organising film-production workshops every Saturday from January 29, 2000. Tuition for 12, two-hour sessions, including all production costs, costs $4,500. For details, call 2824-5305.