(image above from "The DOcks of New York")

An interesting article came across my Twitter feed (@InByTheEye) today about the the high frame rate of 48fps and what it means to the future of cinema: http://badassdigest.com/2012/12/11/how-48fps-will-wall-off-cinema-history/

One tweeter asked "Will 48fps do to 24fps what color did to black & white?" In other words will it render 24fps obsolete?  Will today's filmmakers and audiences lose their eye for a smaller frame rate and come to think those films simply look outdated - dismissing them for 48fps, until something "better" comes along in technology and then switch to that?  For those of us that love old black and white and films, grainy/choppy silent movies, and bright technicolor musicals of the 50's - the answer is No.  But it's no fault of our industry that everyone latches on to the latest technology and runs with it. 

I think it's exciting that film has so many "mediums" and evolutions.  But rather than continue to trade one for another, and lose the cameras and edit systems necessary to use them,  I'd like to see directors choose which ever one suits their story the best: film, digital video, super 8, 24fps, 48fps, flip book, whatever...  Wouldn't it be nice to see a filmmaker choose his method of filming like a painter chooses oils over water colors or pastels?  Yes, I know expense is a factor, but it gives present day audiences another look at what film can be and what films can do - and how a director sees their story. It's been done recently, and is quite a novelty, but I'd love to see it become the norm.

What are your thoughts?