8mm Forum: End of UK Forum

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Topic: End of UK Forum

Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 18, 2006 11:21 AM

Mark Silvester has announced today on his UK website that his 'Silvo Screen' forum will close down in about two months. I for one am very sorry to hear this. I know Mark has probably ruffled a lot of feathers on this forum in recent weeks, but no one can dispute the energy and dedication he put into the Silvo Screen Forum.
Now let's get realistic. All of us here on this forum are first and foremost dedicated film collectors. But a lot of us also supplement our passion for film projection with some DVD projection. And a lot more of us are now casting a glance towards getting into DVD. So now that Mark's forum is closing shop, where do we go to exchange advice on home DVD projection? To one of the miriad of DVD forums on the web? Perhaps, but these forums don't have a clue about film projection. What is the possibility of setting up a separate DVD projection section on this forum, to exchange ideas unique to the co-existance of cine and DVD projection in the home, and to answer questions just like Mike is now posing on these pages.
Food for thought.

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The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

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Douglas Meltzer
Moderator

Posts: 4554
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 18, 2006 12:18 PM

Paul,

I can only imagine the amount of time that Mark has had to put in to run his site. Aside from the "Film is dying/DVD sucks" battles (sorry to make light of what is a very emotional issue for many) I've found Silvo Screen to be frequented by many fine, friendly and erudite people. I wish Mark the best (I've had the pleasure of picking up a number of films from him) and I think your idea of a DVD projection section is splendid.

Doug

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I think there's room for just one more film.....

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Tony Milman
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1336
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 18, 2006 01:34 PM

I would certainly support this addition on the proviso that it is run on the same tight lines as the other forums linked here. I believe that there is room to discuss all of these mediums if they are contained within individual forum areas and so the "purist" cine person is not directly affected.

I dread to think of the effort that goes into running a forum and so I would agree that IF Mark's forum does close it will be a shame for him, however I for one decided after the last ridiculous series of posts to no longer post there. It seemed to me to have become a very small circle of users and that in itself is not sustaining.

Paul, you know Mark much better than many of us here and personally I take no pleasure in this announcement but ruffling feathers is not how I would describe the way in which several members of that forum dealt with other members of the same forum!

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Tony

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Dan Lail
Film God

Posts: 2110
From: Loganville, Georgia, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 18, 2006 02:11 PM

If we could vote on it, I would vote no. DVD is being and can be discussed in the General Yak category.

There is a big difference between a plastic disc and acetate or polyester film. DVD is easy and has no nostalgic significance. Film is unique and challenging. For example on Easter afternoon I had my family over for a cook out. I could have thrown in a CD for music, instead I chose some select 78rpms records from the swing era and played them through my system using a modified turntable with a 3 gram weight arm and a 2.7 radius diamond stylus. This is what collecting is all about. Shoot the sherbet to me Herbert! [Smile]

Case in point, If Sylvester was so hard working and caring, then why has his forum failed. [Confused]

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 18, 2006 03:10 PM

Hi Dan,
Of course you are right about DVD being already a topic in the General Yak Section of this Forum. My thought was to set up a new DVD Projection category so that all DVD topics would be gathered in one place and people could go right to that place to get DVD info. I also agree with Tony that we do not want to imperil in any way the excellence of the main 8mm section- another reason to separate out any DVD discussions.

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The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

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Tony Milman
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1336
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 18, 2006 03:16 PM

Dan,

Perhaps I am biased already having used DVD projection for almost as long as cine (and that isn't long either) and I enjoy them all for different reasons. I see no harm in a section on this site so long as they don't cross over. You don't have to dip in if you don't want to...

But I doubt that the Mark Sylvester forum will close. I am not saying it is a publicity stunt or anything but I suspect that someone will be prepared to take on most of the work for him. Either way, I suspect that there is still room for a more civilised DVD section here.

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Tony

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 18, 2006 08:39 PM

As I've said elsewhere here, I'm personally looking to get into DVD projection as a supplement to 8mm projection, and absolutely not as a replacement.

I think a DVD projection forum is fine just as long as no spillover is allowed into 8mm and 16mm areas. I also think DVD through a Cathode Ray Tube is just watching TV by another name and belongs elsewhere entirely!

My classic example of why I'm resistant to comingling the formats on the same forum is I used to belong to an open canoeing club nearby, and then the sea kayaking thing hit and the people in the club thought it would be nice to "broaden the focus" of the club to "increase membership". The long and the short of it is it is now exclusively a sea kayaking club and I haven't gone in years! Somehow broadening the focus ultmately pushed the smaller group out. At the time I said we should have encouraged the formation of an associated sister club and I still believe that today!

(Eh!, Saving the annual dues will buy me another Derann "E" anyway!)

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All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

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Adrian Winchester
Film God

Posts: 2941
From: Croydon, London, UK
Registered: Aug 2004

posted April 19, 2006 10:09 AM

I don't really have a strong opinion on whether this Forum incorporates a DVD projection section. If there's demand, I certainly would not object and it might cause some DVD users to become curious about film.

However, it would be extremely ironic if a DVD section here resulted from the end of the Silvo Screen site, considering that a few of the regular contributors there are, to put it mildly, not very complimentary about this site. I expect the people in question would rather cut off their own hands than actually post a message here!

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Adrian Winchester

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 19, 2006 11:38 AM

Ironies are some of the sweetest things in life!

I think the attitude shown by a lot of people here gets to the core of the whole Film/DVD debate: it really isn't a debate at all! I enjoy projecting motion pictures on film because I enjoy both the film and the technology that supports it (I've been messing with Super-8 most of my life and it will always have a warm spot in my heart!). However, the choice to also enjoy another technology doesn't mean I have to give up on what I already like now. I don't boycott the local cinema because they show 35mm, nor do I write angry letters to the networks demanding the evening news on Super-8!

Much the same, if you find me laying on the couch watching a DVD on the same screen I also use for projected film, I haven't compromised anything either! (Hopefully I won't become jumpy when that little circle appears up in the corner of the screen.)

Beware of Purists in hobbies! They suck all the joy out of them for everybody else! Along the same lines, there are no more enthusiastic purists than recent converts...

Good fences still make for good neighbors, though. So a DVD projection forum is fine as long as it's a seperate one!

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All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

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Mike Peckham
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1461
From: West Sussex, UK.
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 19, 2006 02:09 PM

Paul

I look at Mike & Marks forum every now and then as it does at least serve to show what a great forum this one is by comparison.

I haven´t seen the anouncement of impending closure but shall pop across in a minute to check it out, I do however wonder though if it might just be a ploy for extra publicity and an extra ego massage, so doubt that it will actually close.

That said, and for what it´s worth, I have no objection to there being a DVD section on this forum, and feel it could make a very positive contribution to the areas already covered, after all, people who collect and project both DVD and film seem to carry a lot less baggage than those who have sold out on film altogether, so this could become a unique place to discuss the merits of both, with out attitude.

Mike

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Auntie Em must have stopped wondering where I am by now...

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John Clancy
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1954
From: Cornwall
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 20, 2006 03:37 AM

I already belong to a video projecting forum and have educated a few members to the enjoyment of film projection. I feel that is where video projection should stay. Any 8mm Forum members wishing to discuss something about video projection already has the option to open a topic in the General Yak section. It is then something we'll all see and not tucked away in a separate forum that many will never look at.

Having said that and realizing it sounds a bit negative I enjoy the odd discussion on here regarding video projection. I've been video projecting in the home for 10 years now and initially was very excited by it (that excitement soon went). The value of more recent cheaply produced equipment is outstanding nowadays but there is no way I'm likely to ever invest in the type of video projector I'd really appreciate - I'll have to rely on Mike Peckham to do that!!! I like the sound of the Panasonic 900 many members have mentioned favourably so if I do buy another one I'll certainly look at that. Then again, there's the JVC!!!

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British Film Collectors Convention home page www.bfcc.biz. The site is for the whole of the film collecting hobby and not just the BFCC.

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Graham Ritchie
Film God

Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted April 20, 2006 03:50 PM

Paul,
Good idea! Two years ago I spent four frustrating months looking for a video projector,dealing with salesman who knew less of the product than I did,one chap came across as arrogant in the end I told him his demo was rubbish and that he didn't know what he was talking about,your idea can only help people who are already into film and have been thinking about getting into video projection and everything that goes with it.
Regards Graham

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David Park
Master Film Handler

Posts: 346
From: UK
Registered: Nov 2003

posted April 23, 2006 10:14 AM

Adrian, there is a UK film forum which started about the time Mark Silvestors site went DVD only, http://ukfilmcollectin.tntboards.com/
I see DVD is dealt with in the General area.

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Regards,
David

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Adrian Winchester
Film God

Posts: 2941
From: Croydon, London, UK
Registered: Aug 2004

posted April 23, 2006 10:59 AM

David
I must say, having had a quick look at the site you've mentioned, that although DVD might be considered OK in the general area, it's not something that's explicitly stated, and there's little evidence of people raising DVD-related issues, so I think this one has gone further in the way of accommodating discussion on VPs, etc.

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Adrian Winchester

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