One of the most popular questions found time and again on video editing forums is “how do I achieve that old film look effect?” Some folks tell them to download a Quicktime Old Film filter or similar effect that adds a bunch of lines and the occasional hair to your footage. It might even sepia tone it. But I don’t find any of these effects very convincing. And you can even see these “cheap tricks” performed ad-nausium in TV and films. I was most disappointed to find such a bad film effect used on modern footage attempting to look old in Ken Burn’s Horatio’s Drive documentary. Bah!
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IMHO, what’s missing in just adding grunge and lines to modern footage and trying to pass it off as “old film” is the unmistakable strobing and judder of old film running through an old projector. Also, most DV footage is 60i and screams “video look”! Truly old film was hand-cranked and shown at 16 frames per-second. So, we’re also taking about de-interlacing ,time remapping and posterizing your video footage, if you really want it to look authentic. Not to mention, watching your production design during filming to make it “Old Hollywood”, “Old Home Movie” … or whatever. Some folks just want that retro Super8 look as opposed to the silent film era, so we’re talking about playing with the gamma and saturation levels. And adding plenty of grain in post.

Of course, After Effects is tailor-made to perform all of these effects. From this cool tutorial from Andrew Kramer, I was able to get started on my quest to achieve a believable Old Film look on an opening sequence to a DVD I made for my church’s small groups ministry. I downloaded Kramer’s actual 16mm footage that was telecined, lines, judder and all, from actual film to use as a believable overlay. Then I processed my motion graphics in AE with The Wiggler and used a light strobe effect. Since I didn’t have actual footage for this little opening title, I didn’t have to worry about de-interlacing and posterizing. I used Digital Hotcakes’ Film FX volume to get some projector animation and film leaders. I found some other stills online to animate the clapper board and round out the “film experience”.

Check it out:

It’s not too bad for a few hours of AE time. And much more “old film” than Ken Burns’ cheap trick!
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Good luck with your Old Film look projects! And don’t hesitate to ask me questions, comment, etc.