In a world dominated by digital technology and high definition cameras, the excitement of vintage film equipment remains strong, especially for aspiring filmmakers eager to make it into the film industry. Meet Matthew Nucci, a senior here at AHS and an aspiring film director, who made an incredible find, the Argus Showmaster 822 camera, discovered at a local yard sale.
Matthew’s camera journey begins when his friends stumbled upon the camera while browsing through a neighborhood yardsale. Seeing its potential, they texted Matthew a picture and urged him to come check it out. With much anticipation, he drove over, ready to take the camera at a bargain price, he managed to purchase the camera for just 10 dollars.
Manufactured in 1968, the Argus Showmaster 822 is a Japanese film camera designed for Super 8mm film. This particular camera is known for it’s unconventional characteristics, where it can alternate between frame rates of 32 and 33 frames per second, creating a unique set of challenges. The absence of built in sound recording adds an extra layer of difficulty, forcing Matthew to record audio separately and match it carefully in post-production.
These creative limitations do not stop Matthew, he plans to make a short film lasting around 3 minutes. Inspired by the french new wave cinema movement, where directors often embraced improvisation, he plans to wander into various locations to capture raw and authentic moments with a loosely scripted approach. His aim is to make a film that feels organic and alive. Matthew finds himself particularly influenced by the Italian director Fedrico Fillini, who’s films blend surrealism with the mundane. This summer, Matthew explored Fillini’s surreal stories, which often show fantasy tales set against the backdrop of ordinary life. The visual style of Fillini’s films created a spark of inspiration for Matthew, leading him to take on a similar aesthetic for his short film.
This discovery at a yard sale has transformed into an artistic journey for Matthew. As he prepares to dive into the world of analog filmmaking, he finds inspiration in Fellinii’s storytelling and the spirit of the French New Wave.
