Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Olympic torch lit with 35mm Film

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Posted by Stephen Brown (Member # 292) on 10-26-2013, 05:55 AM:

Pictures and video available at the link.

Article..

Every two years, the lighting of the Olympic Flame amidst the ruins of the Temple of Hera is a pretty interesting performance. The torch is lit from the light of the Sun, using a parabolic mirror to focus the Sun’s rays on the fuel in the torch and set it ablaze… but what exactly is that fuel? By the looks of it, at least a small part is a piece of 35mm film.

This was pointed out to us by photographer Tom Waugh, who noticed it while watching the official lighting of the Sochi Olympic flame on television. When the camera zoomed in to the torch being lit, he was very surprised to see what looked like film being used as the accelerant.

The ceremony itself involves actresses dressed as priestesses of the Temple of Hera. They go through a whole performance and invocation, after which the high priestess lights the flame using the Sun, passing it to another priestess holding a fire pot who, ultimately, uses it to light the first runner’s torch.

A bit of research on the Internet yields no information about film being used, but if you look up footage of the ceremony it looks like a piece of 35mm has been helping get the flame going for a while now. And, in a way, it makes sense: nitrate-based cellulose film is extremely flammable after all.

Then again, we’re pretty sure (like 99%) the Greeks didn’t have any type of 35mm film at their disposal back in the day. Take a look at the footage for yourself and let us know what you think in the comments down below, and if you want to see the whole 27-minute ceremony, you can do so here.

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 10-27-2013, 03:39 PM:

Polyester and acetate film are difficult to light and don't stay lit very well. They probably used some old nitrate for quick easy ignition.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 10-27-2013, 04:24 PM:

Polyester film will smolder and drip hot plastic as it burns. Acetate behaves similarly. It makes no sense to use these. There are plenty of other things to use that are better.

Nitrate film is hard to come by. Doesn't it also create noxious fumes as it burns?

It makes no sense to use film to start a fire, any fire, because there are plenty of other good things to start a fire with.

If they did use film to make a political statement, they would have made a press release or made some other kind of media hoopla.

Consequently, I am leaning toward BS on this, pending more information.

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 10-27-2013, 04:54 PM:

Well, the picture is quite obvious, as long as it is not a fake.

But other than some sort of 'statement', who would actually think of using nitrate film to light a torch?

- Carsten

Posted by Jarod Reddig (Member # 6363) on 10-30-2013, 12:08 AM:

I agree, very strange. It's clearly old film in the photo as long as it wasn't p-shopped. Wonder why the didn't just use paper soaked in some kind of fuel or something?