Film Purchase & Processing

Film Processing Workflow for TAs

The department can support film and processing costs associated with class labs and exercises. For class projects we can support shipping. Please see below for how to order film, ship it, and receive the footage back.

For purposes of this workflow:

• Class Lab - a lab being taught by the Instructor or TA that will demonstrate how to shoot film.
• Class Exercise - an in-class exercise by the students for the purpose of learning how to shoot film
• Class Assignment - a class assignment where shooting on film is required
• Individual Assignment - a class assignment where the student chooses to shoot on film

Class Labs & Exercises

By the 5th class day, email RTF Accounting team  at rtf-accounting@austin.utexas.edu to place an order of film needed for class labs and exercises for the semester. Please send your class info (Course, unique #), the dates of the labs and exercises, and how much film (quantity and type) you will need for the semester. Please also send a list of student names and EIDs.

RTF Accounting team will order the film and then contact you when it arrives. The film is typically stored with Keefe Boerner and can be picked up from him prior to your lab/class.

When the lab is finished, box up the film and download the Yale Processing Form, fill it out, and include it in the box. You should indicate that you want the processed film scanned and uploaded for online access.  INCLUDE THE EMAIL OF THE INSTRUCTOR.

Pack your film securely in a box of your choosing but do not seal it, as the return mailing label Milaka prints needs to go inside.  The box should be fully packed otherwise, as it needs to be weighed before the label is attached.

Email Milaka that you are ready to ship and she will print out a shipping label and return label. You may drop the package off at the FedEX shipping center one block from campus at 2711 Guadalupe St. The film will be returned to Milaka and you will receive a link (at the instructor's email you wrote on the Yale order form) from Yale to download the footage. Milaka will notify you when the processed film has been returned.

Class Assignments

Students are responsible for ordering their own film for class assignments. Kodak offers a 20% discount to students. They need to either provide an active school email address, or email them a copy of their current student ID. All orders are taken over the phone at 800-356-3259, prompt 3 and then prompt 1 and anyone should be able to assist. Students should know the quantity and type of film they want. Information on film can be found at https://www.kodak.com/en/motion/page/order-film

RTF will cover the cost of shipping the film to Yale  or Kodak to be processed. Please advise Milaka on when the film needs to be shipped. Make sure this is done in a timely matter to allow students enough time to edit for the final due date. The process is the same as above.

When the shot film is due, box up the film and download the Yale Processing Form if the film is 16mm, fill it out, and include it in the box.  You should indicate that you want the process film scanned and uploaded online for download. 

If the film is 35mm you will need to create an order sheet available from Kodak.  When packing 35mm film, you will need to account for enough space to include a department-provided hard drive, 11" x 10" x 5" in a Pelican case.  Don't seal the box before you arrive to pick up the Fedex labels from Milaka.  

Each student is financially responsible for their individual project’s processing and transfer.  When students are submitting their individual projects, they also provide a credit card authorization sheet (which they can affix to their case for their rolls using a rubber band). This sheet comes pre-filled with Milaka's shipping information, but the student must fill out COMPLETELY the credit card information fields. They must not skip any field and their info needs to be legible. Their phone number and email should be included on the sheet as well. Entire class projects can be held up because one person has omitted their expiration date or CVV number. 

Email Milaka that you are ready to ship and she will print out a shipping label and return label. You may drop the package off at the FedEX shipping center one block from campus at 2711 Guadalupe St. The film will be returned to Milaka and you will receive a link from Yale to download the footage. Milaka will notify you when the processed film has been returned. You can then notify students with the link to their footage.

Please note that if a student misses the ship date, they will be responsible for shipping their class assignment to Yale themselves. Please also do not refer students to Milaka for instruction.

Individual Assignments

For individual assignments where a student elects to shoot film, they will be responsible for procuring, shipping, and paying Kodak/Yale themselves. You can share the Yale order form and Kodak link: https://www.kodak.com/en/motion/page/order-film

Important info

All rolls of film should be labeled with class number and instructor name (for example 366K Lewis), “P” for process, “T” for Transfer, or “P/T” for both.  Each roll should have “UTX” written plainly on it.  For an individual project, the student’s name should also be on the film.