Video films are made out of celluloid. Celluloid is a type of plastic that is made from cellulose nitrate and camphor. It is transparent and flexible, and it is used as the base material for photographic film and motion picture film. Celluloid was first developed in the 1800s, and it was quickly adopted by the film industry. It was the primary material for film until the 1950s, when it was replaced by polyester-based film.