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Topic: Destruction of faded and pinky/red prints.
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Melvin England
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 707
From: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Feb 2016
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posted April 15, 2017 05:50 AM
In all the 14 months or so that I have been on this forum, this topic has left me the most confused as far as which side of the fence I should be standing on.
Up until reading this.... complete with its very creditable "Yes" and "No" arguments,there have always been TWO items that I have regarded as sacrilege to destroy. The first.... vinyl records.No matter what condition, I just cannot bring myself to stick them in the bin. I just CAN'T and that's that. The second..... is film.It is just completely against my principle. I am here to watch, collect, preserve, enjoy and, I suppose, promote this wonderful medium, not to cull it.
But,wait a minute, a lot of reels are so far gone that, realistically, they are beyond viewing.Are they r e a l l y worth keeping in circulation? How many times has one bought a film on Ebay and in your heart of hearts have been disappointed in the colour? Your instinct is telling you this seller was just offloading a pile of sh**e..... or are you guilty of selling one,knowing it has almost come to the end of its useful life? It would give greater piece of mind knowing the chances of a print you are buying from wherever will be pretty good, quality-wise! So,do I re-think my principle?
There again,most people in our fraternity are damn decent people who are quite happy to be up front about descriptions of their films.... almost to the point of shooting themselves in the foot sometimes. So,is there any need to cull? By doing so,these titles become scarcer and what follows scarcity? Value.Which means increased prices. We are regularly passing comment about the stupid prices on Ebay some people (hopefully not from the regular fraternity)are charging already. Do we want to add more fuel to this fire? We want more people to join us,not leave. Surely,the answer to this must be to either give the films away to a friend who may show the remotest interest in the hobby.... or sell them on Ebay for a stupid price in the right direction (very very low),with an honest description so that maybe... just maybe... it would encourage casual browsers to finally take the plunge.
So,whereabouts am I going to make my stand? Well, there is something that one has the right to and cannot be controlled by another person.That is..... action and opinion. Nothing I could do,or would want to do,would stop David and his friends doing what they are doing because, just like you and me, they have a right to do exactly what they like with their own possessions. If that is their choice, then so be it. One may understand the reasons behind their actions without necessarily agreeing with them. Personally, I won't be binning anything.. be it vinyl or celluloid...After all this debate,it still remains against my principle.
The argument for and against a cull really boils down to the old saying "Everyone to Everyones Own."
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-------------------- "My name is for my friends!"
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Melvin England
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 707
From: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Feb 2016
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posted April 15, 2017 09:16 AM
Such an interesting topic receiving healthy debate from both sides of the discussion.
I feel that after re-reading the posts on this subject, plus the new ones since my last post, particularly David Roberts recent comments, I feel I must indicate where the boundary of my "principle" extends to with regards to throwing away film.
If there was firm evidence of the film base breaking down, severe sprocket damage on most of it, mould all over it, vinegar syndrome or severe shrinkage, then, yes,let us be reasonable, it is beyond recovery and justifiably discarded (particularly with vinegar syndrome as it is so contagious). I once was given a 200' film by someone who thought they were doing me a favour. It had..... wait for it..... 150 splices in it! On that occasion I made an exception to my "principle" which I think was justified.
However, a perfectly watchable pink/red film with at least acceptable sound and low evidence of scratching, in my mind, would not warrant the bin.
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-------------------- "My name is for my friends!"
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