Paul Korver, Fifty Foot Films; Photography by Elizabeth Messina

Withstanding the test of time; the art of capturing and preserving moving images on film.

"When you are dealing with clients that are paying top dollar for the best flowers, linens, fashion, wine and gourmet food, how they document that day is everything," says Paul Korver, founder of Fifty Foot Films.

In 2001, a friend asked Korver to film his wedding. Having shot Super 8 as a hobby, he agreed and found it looked amazing. Film is so precious. Like a photographer, you're shooting moments.

With his own nuptials only a few months later, Korver searched for a cinematographer to hire. With no luck he called upon a friend who now shoots for the company to take on the task. Korver and his wife Kristine soon realized that there was a niche to be filled and Fifty Foot Films was born. Named after the amount of film per roll, the company initially shot Super 8 silently, but has expanded to include 16mm and 35mm film with sync-sound, mixing color and black and white.

Korver says a client once compared choosing film to selecting paper stock for invitations. There are subtle gradations as you move up in resolutions and each has its own personality. Super 8, often used for flashbacks in movies, has a retro feel. In 16mm, four times the resolution of Super 8, there is still a bit of grain structure to it, but nowhere near what there is in Super 8. For something slick, beautiful and high-end (prices begin in the low six-figures; full-day packages with sync-sound for Super 8 and 16mm start at $12,500), there is 35mmthe best film stock available.

We recently filmed an entire wedding weekend on 35mm motion picture film which has never been done before, Korver says. We shot 35mm and did a high-definition film transfer, the same work flow as major feature films. We did sweeping helicopter shots of the clients estate, covered the wedding with three discreetly placed 35mm cameras, had a steady-cam operator for slow shots that tracked and floated through the crowd at cocktail hour and at their first dance. We pulled all this off discreetly and behind the scenes.

For those who want the beauty of film, silent, Super 8at a lesser cost, the company founders launched Paper Tape Films this year. Fifty Foot Films also offer Honeymoon Directors Packs, which consist of a Super 8 camera, film and how-to guide for you to capture your trip. All packages culminate in an edited DVD plus actual film reels in beautiful archival boxes.

Film is the right medium for a life event, adds Korver, Its archival and beautiful.

Photography: Elizabeth Messina; Written by April Miller