Blockbuster filmmaker Christopher Nolan had a request for his new movie 'Oppenheimer'

“Christopher Nolan got his way,” said Josh Mason, executive director of Cape Cinema.

Cape Cinema is the only theater on Cape Cod that can still show movies in 35mm. And that is how renowned filmmaker Nolan wanted his new film “Oppenheimer” to be shown in theaters.

Mason said he attended CinemaCon in Las Vegas, where Nolan presented and showed a part of his new film. Nolan said if theaters can use 35mm or 70mm, that is how he wants his film shown. And Cape Cinema is delivering on that request.

If film cinematography is a foreign concept to you, no worries, here’s a breakdown.

Roughly a decade ago, many theaters switched from using 35mm projectors and now use a digital format. The 35mm projectors had been in use since the '70s.

“Essentially what that means is the films that are screened in theaters are put in a hard drive or they're put onto a server and then dropped into the particular theater's inbox and then they just download the file and then play it very similar to a streaming file or like an Apple movie file,” said Mason.

For 35mm, a projectionist and great attention to detail is needed

In contrast, using a 35mm projection calls for a projectionist and great attention to detail. The movie is contained in film reels, a feature film can span from four to seven reels. Each reel is carefully inspected.

“Using a rewind film workbench and winding the film foot-by-foot onto a take-up reel, the projectionist needs to jot down detailed notes of the overall condition of the film print, as well as any and all technical foibles or issues ... It is a process that requires tremendous precision and patience, as calibration often involves taking measurements of light levels, oil levels, cleaning the gate, lining up the proper aspect ratio plates, changing to the proper lens, etc. Once the movie begins, the projectionist’s process isn’t finished. They will have to look for changeover cues that appear at the end of the first reel and then seamlessly switch over to the beginning of the next reel without interrupting the show,” said Mason.

The major difference is in the viewing of the film. The 35mm format gives the movie a more realistic look because each frame uses a single image of the actual scene that is represented. When it is filmed digitally, thousands of pixels are used in each frame and are used to create an image. This digital process can scrub away at the natural look.

A more subtle and accurate depiction of the images

“This gives footage shot on film a more subtle and accurate depiction of the images that we see with the naked human eye,” said Mason.

“Oppenheimer” is a feature documentary about J. Robert Oppenheimer and his exploration to build a bomb to change the sequence of World War II and the many risks and challenges that come with creating something that could potentially end the world.

“They weren't exactly sure just what kind of a profound effect this bomb is going to have at the time but at any rate it (the movie) sort of just captures the genesis and sort of the journey of the building of this bomb and all of the political and humanistic circumstances that sort of evolved around the design of this and trying to turn the tide of World War II,” said Mason.

In Mason's opinion, this event is truly “prestigious” for someone who is a casual filmgoer and someone who has a deep appreciation for the art of film — to see the movie shown how it was envisioned by the creator and director.

“It's certainly a dying art form,” Mason said, describing 35mm.

Large commercial theaters such as Regal, Cinemark, and AMC all use the digital format.

Cape Cinema first open its doors in 1930 and still prides itself on having the lowest ticket prices on the Cape.

Opening day kicks off at 11 a.m., July 21, at Cape Cinema, 35 Hope Lane, Dennis.

“Oppenheimer” will run from July 21 until July 27. Click here to see the full schedule and buy tickets.

Admission: Adults $11, seniors, veterans, and first responders $9, children and students $7.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cinema will show 'Oppenheimer' in 35mm as Nolan requested