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Topic: DERANN CLOSING DOWN
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Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted September 11, 2011 10:21 AM
It is now Sunday morning ...
9 am. Mountain standard time. In England, I would judge it is around 5 pm or so, which means that Derann is either preparing to lock it's doors as an operating business, at the close of the day, for the last time.
There's a part of me that really desperately wishes that I could be there to shake thier hands and say, "well done!", but I would almost want to to turn away as that door is locked for the last time time and the business closes up shop.
The haunting image of no doubt bare or nearly bare walls ...
The once plentiful shelves of 8mm and 16 film prints, now bereft of prints ...
walking the aisles walked so often with joy and anticipation on open days ...
The tours that the always helpful staff would give with enthusiasm is requested, concerning the inner workings of a "film house".
However ...
Derann will still exist ...
Everytime I spool up a Derann print! Everytime that Derann logo appears on the screen (remember those earlier 70's Derann Logo's on thier films?), everytime I just take a print out and observe the print quality and high grade color stock.
More thanX than I can really say, you fine lads!
-------------------- "All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
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Adrian Simmonds
Film Handler
Posts: 49
From: Dudley, West Midlands, UK
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted September 11, 2011 02:10 PM
A quick reply to thank EVERYONE who have supported us over the years - it is appreciated more than you will ever know.
- so sorry, trying to keep this short, as this is very emotional for me, and all of the staff involved I am sure.
Thank you all, for all of the kind words of support and comfort that you given to me personally regarding the closure of Derann - many of you I have literaly grown up with over the years, and as I have said before I do not regard you as custmers, but as friends.
I intend to continue to look in on this forum on a regular basis, and look forward to hearing your views and aspirations regarding this wonderful hobby.
Adrian
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Adrian Winchester
Film God
Posts: 2941
From: Croydon, London, UK
Registered: Aug 2004
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posted September 12, 2011 09:01 AM
For me, there was a very strong sense that you 'had' to be there but in reality you didn't want to be, because the closure of course meant that it was a deeply depressing occasion - one that you wished had never come. It was immensely sad to see a store that was always a smart and welcoming environment - associated with so many pleasant memories - conspicuously not looking 'right' for obvious reasons. And so sad to see the members of staff that you associate with decades of good service, providing that service on their very last day, as it was confirmed that it was the last day of trading to the public.
As I didn't arrive until about 12.30pm, I wondered if the film dept would be practically bare, but no, despite all the sales that must have happened by then, there were plenty of 8mm films (mostly new 200' releases), plus whole boxes full of 200' silent Disney shorts. I expect the latter were so cheap that I should have bought some just for the reels and boxes. There were also plenty of 16mm features and shorts. And still quite a bit of miscellaneous equipment, splicers, screens, etc. There were boxes of 16mm film hire catalogues, old cinema and film making magazines, and cine camera and projector instruction manuals, and I was very pleased to find one for a Bauer P8 16mm projector I'd obtained recently. There were one or two trays full of box lables for Derann releases, including hundreds of colour ones for the various Disney features - which brought home that they will never be used again. Even the last reels of sticky tape, specially produced for Derann in the sizes required for 8/16mm films, were on sale.
It was not unexpected, but still shocking to hear that equipment such as the sound recording machines that had played a key part in the Derann story, had had to be broken up in order to get some return on their scap metal value.
One relic of the 'golden era' was a large display board with numerous colour photos, just advertising one feature release - I think it was 'There's No Business Like Show Business'. Did anyone see any other unique momentos of this kind sold earlier, and did anyone buy a 'one off' of this kind?
Although the staff could use their discretion and no doubt knocked something off for multiple purchases, the prices of the 16mm features and shorts generally seemed to be unchanged for the day, and the remaining 8mm new stock was at the prices listed on the last newsletter. I suppose this means that one or more dealers had made a reasonable offer to take whatever remained, so there was no drastic cutting with a view to trying to see off everything. I expect we will see much of what remains on offer at Blackpool.
By 3.30pm the film dept was deserted, so I think I can claim to have bought the last film sold by Derann to the general public. It was a Super 8 trailer reel featuring 'Deep Impact' and 'Scream'. Not exactly a legendary release, but I suppose the first title reflects, for enormous numbers of collectors, the part that Derann played in their leisure activities, whilst the second reflects how we feel about the closure!
As others have said, other than helping Derann in their objective to sell as much as possible, the main thing was to have the chance to say goodbye to the staff and to reinforce that in future years, the sadness of this time will fade and hopefully they can take pride in having been a part of a unique and remarkably long-lasting success story. [ September 12, 2011, 08:27 PM: Message edited by: Adrian Winchester ]
-------------------- Adrian Winchester
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