They probably call it a movie or picture if shot on one of those cameras. If they export out to film after editing they can happily call the end product a film, but that does not mean it was actually filmed on set so to speak. This is all nit-picky technicalities but it does mark the amateur which you probably want to avoid. If Cameron or Lucas decides to use the term film in the context of filming nobody would call them on it so it wouldn't matter anyway.

RJSchwarz

This is a bit of a diversion (regarding terminology) so I apologize. It likely deserves it's own thread. But in my experience, professionals and non-professionals alike, use the term "film" freely. Like the word "Xerox" which has come to be a generic term for "copy" the word "film" of course is understood to cover almost anything that is captured with a film or video camera. It is technically incorrect, but it is understood.

That said, anyone who is looking for helpful information regarding TECHNICAL information regarding cameras SHOULD be VERY specific regardless of the lazy language that society uses. So, if someone wishes to actually use FILM to acquire images for their MOVIE, then the word "film" is appropriate. But if a person intends on using an electronic acquisition technology, then using the word "film" is not appropriate in any way. Reading the word "film" in an issue of PEOPLE is expected. Reading it in American Cinematographer when talking about a movie shot with the Genesis, is not.

Words matter.

For the record, AVATAR was mainly "captured" using motion-capture technology, so it wasn't exactly video. But, there were live action sequences that did use Sony HD cameras: http://hdusermagazine.com/wordpress/?p=12

But like many movies now, even those that originate of film, after the live action is shot on set, the film is scanned so that it can be manipulated and edited in an electronic environment and then scanned BACK TO film for distribution.

The bottom line is that audiences don't really give a sh** what we shoot on. They are merely interested in being entertained and those who would buy our movies (the distributors and/or Studio Execs) also care about that. BUT, the medium we shoot on and the LOOK and SOUND of our products (yes, if you want to make money from this, you have to accept that movies are products) has a lot to do with how audiences perceive what they're watching. So, if you have the perfect story and perfect Actors but shoot on traditional video (at 29.98fps and 525 lines of resolution), your audience will perceive that movie differently than if you shot it with 35mm film at 24fps. Story DOES matter more than anything else, but how we choose to present the story (with acquisition format, frame rate, production design, sound design, wardrobe, etc...) has a lot to do with the success (or failure) too.

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com