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Topic: Who shares your hobby?
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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 January 01, 2018 11:11 AM
My viewing experience has changed somewhat over the years.
Once upon a time, there were two large camps in the super 8 world where I live. Those that made their own super 8 films, and those that collected package movies. These camps were probably 90% incompatible. The film makers were not that interested in buying movies. I, and one or two others, had a foot in both camps,so to speak.
Consequently, in the 1980's and early 1990's, my audience for home made films consisted of either my local cine club, so we are talking 25 to 30 people on average, unless it was competition night, when the ranks swelled even further as members brought along visitors, or my audience was my own family, who were only really interested in the family films. In those days my "package movie" audience would only be a selection of about 10 people at different times. Once in a blue moon I persuaded the cine club to have a package movie night but, although enjoyed them 'coz it was still super 8, the reception was a lot cooler.
Time moved on.People either left the cine club, or went to meet their maker (no new input of people)so it closed down,and my "package" friends either dwindled or moved away, leaving me with an audience of myself or myself and Mrs.E. On rare occasions a couple of other friends may pop over for a show, so long as they know what they are seeing....... and that is it.
I think the moral to this story and,indeed, this hobby, is that if you are watching on your own.... don't worry.... you are in the majority!
.
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"My name is for my friends!"
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Graham Ritchie
Film God
Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted January 01, 2018 06:34 PM
Back in the 1970s I used to take the ST1200 plus films etc mostly Disney and T/J shorts, that were joined onto larger reels and do films shows around the place. The response was always good and it was fun doing it..."I should add there was no money involved"... Of course that was in the days of small TVs and before VHS tape, so to watch films on a 7ft screen, even digests was really something. Those days are now long gone, but apart from family, I still make our wee home cinama available to various groups.
One lot last year, turned up to a "mystery movie night" sixteen of them to a Titanic 1953 Barbara Stanwyck blu-ray screening, they thoroughly enjoyed it. I left a small donation tin out and later found $115 dollars in it...wow..so folks they can come again next year ![[Smile]](smile.gif) ....The main thing is to find a movie that works for everyone and that's the hard part. One lady from a group asked me if I would be willing to make things available to a dance class she coaches and they would go to the video library and pick the title themselves...which is a great idea, takes the pressure of me.
Its a hobby you can share with others, but I can easily just sit back and watch something on my own which I do often. The thing is with a lot of Super 8 and 16mm, is that the subject I might be interested in, might not be of any interest to others, so I dont push it. With video projection and blu-ray, well that does open up a huge range of movies that others can watch as well. Super 8 and 16mm is great for shorts, and there is a huge range of interesting stuff on those film formats. VP/Blu-ray for the features...so its really getting the best of all worlds.
Some of the kids from that dance class I mentioned. The photo was taken a couple of years ago, they gave both myself and Yvonne a quick demo what they actually do...very impressive...and have again been back since this photo was taken.
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Graham Ritchie
Film God
Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted January 02, 2018 02:54 PM
Steve...all about a roof rack ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Tom..thats terrible that people are selling of there home movies that is a definate "no no" in my book, those are personal films, and should be stored away by a family member....sad.
Looking back to the 70s mixing package movies like Star Wars ![[Cool]](cool.gif) and taking home movies, were all part of the fun of 8mm. I was watching some stuff last night that I took back in the 1970s and unlike those long ago faded Star Wars films The stuff I took still looks great.
Magazine like Moviemaker, Film Making, of those times covered not only making your own films eg striping etc, but included excellent reviews of films to buy as well, they covered all aspects of Super8, for me that's what its about
I never had a problem with puting on a away film show, but always used a couple of single 8 ohm extension speakers for the ST1200. The screen was a old 7ft wide roller blind with a painted black border...everything was make shift.
The time taken to put those short films onto larger reels prior to the screening, with only one stop for a single reel change did pay of. Its a lot of work, but if you intend to put a show on for others you need to get things right. otherwise it all falls apart.
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Tom Photiou
Film God
Posts: 4837
From: Plymouth U.K
Registered: Dec 2003
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posted January 02, 2018 03:20 PM
Blimy Graham thats almost a ditto for our super 8 past, we still often get out the home made movies, our first one, a test of the winde up standard 8 silent camera, was simply my Brothers and me kicking a football about in the local park, filmed by my Mum, complete with the overexposed bit when we had to turn the chunky spools over for the second half so to speak, i was 9 years old and the colours are as good today as they were then.
Our own films, except the war effort, we did were nothing more than us having a laugh. Great fun, and in between our collection of package movies were beginning.
I will dig out a photo of my very early days later and get it up here. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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Graham Ritchie
Film God
Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted January 03, 2018 11:49 AM
Steve thats a good idea for putting a screen into and having sealed capping at either end to keep any rain out
One would hope that the places folk take there films to, inform them the reasons why they should retain the 8mm films even after a transfer. The fact is that "digital" wont last, but the film print will, and disposing of the film means that they will never be able to do any future transfer. I would go as far as to say, that its irresponsible for any transfer company not to state this fact to there customers.
Adrian thats a good point regarding any historical footage. I am doing just that at present for a heritage park.
By not having a projector anymore, is no excuse to dispose of the films, and making money out of selling them might just go down like a lead balloon, when other family members find out. Once sold you dont have any control as to how those films and more importantly the contents will be used...so dont sell them.
PS....About sharing a hobby..I added this to the facebook page of one of the places I once worked at 20 years ago yesterday. The quality of the Super8 I took was not good, I should have done a lot better, however it captured a time and place and gives those that once worked there a ...I am sure, so there you go... its sharing
https://vimeo.com/249484338
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