Art films, including Warhol's screen tests, were shot on 16 mm film, not video tape

warhol's screen test 34
Originally uploaded by dianjo

16 mm film refers to a popular, economical gauge of film used for motion pictures and non-theatrical (for instance, industrial) film making.

16 mm refers to the width of the film. Other common film gauges include 8 mm and 35 mm.

16 mm film was introduced by Eastman Kodak in 1923 as an inexpensive amateur alternative to the conventional 35 mm film format.

It was extensively used for television production in countries where television economics made the use of 35 mm too expensive. Digital video tape has made significant inroads in television production use, even to the extent that in some countries, 16 mm (as well as 35 mm) is considered obsolete as a TV production format by broadcasters.

It is used in television, such as for the Hallmark Hall of Fame anthology series and "The O.C." in the US. In the UK, the format is exceedingly popular for dramas and commercials.