Renowned filmmaker Ryan Coogler recently showcased his expertise in film aspect ratios and formats during a 10-minute deep dive into the cinematic world.
In collaboration with Kodak ahead of the release of his highly anticipated horror film “Sinners,” Coogler presented various sizes of film stock, explaining their unique contributions to the filmmaking process and what each format means to him as a director. Throughout this detailed discussion, he demonstrated his extensive knowledge of filmmaking, even utilizing multiple whiteboards.
“I’m thrilled to announce that ‘Sinners’ was captured on film,” Coogler expressed. “This is a format I fell in love with during my time in film school, and I brought along a few film strips to share.”
The director of “Black Panther” began his insightful explanation by showcasing Super 8mm film, a format often associated with home movies, yet capable of adding a distinct aesthetic to shots. He then highlighted Super 16mm footage, a format that holds special significance for him.
“This is what we shot ‘Fruitvale Station’ on, and it’s fascinating because this is the same material, just slightly wider. When film capture becomes wider—similar to digital photography—it results in increased resolution and a shallower depth of field, meaning less of the image is in focus at any given moment,” Coogler elaborated.
Next, he discussed 35mm film, noting that many cinematic masterpieces have been shot using this format. With evident pride, Coogler then revealed what “Sinners” was partially filmed on—what he refers to as “the big boy format”—65mm.
Notably, “Sinners” has already made cinematic history as the first film to be shot in the 2.76:1 aspect ratio, a format famously used in classics like “Ben-Hur” and “The Hateful Eight,” as well as in Imax’s 1.43:1. The Michael B. Jordan-led horror film is the first ever to utilize both of these ratios.
For a deeper understanding, watch Coogler’s entire explainer in the video above.
