R.I.P. Polaroid, Hello Barcodes
I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Polariod instant cameras and film are going the way of the dinosaur. I read a brief article about it in New York Magazine – about how even though digital is (technically) faster (for the image to appear) and sharper, many photographers still love the instant film quality and use it to this day. John Waters takes a Polaroid shot of every person who comes into his home, and tacks it by the door. He said he would miss the “sexy” sound the camera made, and also wondered how continuity departments for film and TV would manage without it.
I have to wonder, too. Although I’m sure it’s much “greener” to use digital – it is also more time-consuming and much less satisfying to scroll through a camera’s memory, or upload, crop then print than it is to flip through a stack of Polariods (that, handily, even have that little space at the bottom for you to write on). On the first film I worked on, I was totally captivated by the frazzled soul covered almost head-to-toe in pinned-on instant photos, who came running into the room every time someone bellowed, “CONTINUITY!!!”, and searched the archive of her body to make sure everything on set was in its place.
Today I had an audition that was also decidedly much less “sexy”, due to Polaroid’s demise. Several offices have been using digital photos printed on size-cards in the past year or so… but this office was a hold out. Until now. And not only have they switched to digital snapshots – they are going totally futuristic with online size-cards that give you a barcode in advance. You bring it to the casting and sign in with it before getting your snapshot. No paper is involved in the process. But while that’s great for the environment… I've been reduced to a barcode.
Ew.
Plus, as actors we are not celebrated for our organization and level-headedness – so, asking us to remember to bring our barcode or ID#…
Best of luck to you.
Things change, I guess. There’s no stopping progress! It is sad… but maybe, in a few years, I’ll break out my old instant camera and see how much I can get for it on eBay. That might help ease the pain ;)
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