Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013
posted October 10, 2016 05:07 PM
This Saturday, the French Club has celebrated the 50 years of its existence. Each three years, there is a meeting to discuss about the situation of the Club and the gauge. Needless to say, the lack of filmstock has been widely discussed. Ferrania has not answered any of the e-mails sent by the Club or by Color City so there is a big question mark about what they will be able to provide (what is needed is 35 mm unperfored stock on sufficient lenght to be used in the machine that reperfors to 9.5). Waiting for colour stock, black and white is hoped by members but so far nothing is on the French market. We do hope that the British project will be achieved soon and it has been said that the Spanish ninefivers have black and white stock at the moment but precise information has reached the French-speaking 9.5 communauty so far. Some members still have a limited quantity of colour stock but that will not last for a long time. The meeting has been organised by a member of the clun who has a private cine (all gauges) museum so the visit of this place (located at two hours by train from Paris) worthed alone the journey. I will open in the general section a thread about this museum. A anniversary celebration could not be complete without a cake (that came after a succulent dinner).
People arriving at the private museum (where the official meeting was held)
The Club banner, beside a famous French character used by an annoucement company (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feETDWNmqsE)
Dinner
Monsieur Castella, president of the Club (the lady with the camera is his wife).
The cake (I didn't picture the drinks but they were good as well).
Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013
posted October 11, 2016 02:05 PM
I'm happy you liked the pictures, Graham. The fact that ninefivers from different countries know each others can only be good for everybody and for the gauge.
Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013
posted October 12, 2016 05:11 AM
The Club is miraculously still in activity in 2016, Luigi :-) The situation is, however, not as good as it was a few years ago ; the club has to face the ageing of the members and the news subscriptions are not numerous enough to balance the losts. The fact that there is no filmstock currently available at te moment doesn't help to attract new members. But let's hope the club and the gauge will survive as long as possible. If anyone wants to join or to support the Club :-), the person to contact is : Mr Marc Boucher Résidence Le Mousset entrée D 10 rue Cornillot 77400 Thorigny-sur-Marne France
Posts: 715
From: Campobasso, Italy
Registered: Jun 2013
posted October 13, 2016 05:49 AM
Once I spoke with Mr. Marc, who speaks good English, he gave me lots of advice, but I backed for publications in French languange. But I can think again! How much, at present, the annual fee? If you want, you can tell me in private.
Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013
posted October 13, 2016 01:17 PM
Nothing to hide, Luigi :-) The first year, it costs 50 € and then 45 € the following years. I understand that the language can be a problem (and there is no doubt) but the magazine is only a part of the interest of the Club. The French Club is originally a camera club so there are still members ready to do all they can to keep 9.5 filmstock available. Putting ninefivers together allows to have technical advices and help. The cutting machine used by Color City belongs to the Club. There is also the monthly projections that helps keeping the gauge alive. All this has, sadly, a cost. I know 50 € is not cheap, so that's why I suggested also a donation to anyone interested in 9.5 :-)
Posts: 715
From: Campobasso, Italy
Registered: Jun 2013
posted October 13, 2016 03:12 PM
It's true, Dom, need support at ninefive world. All members of the club, despite the film is difficult to obtain, shot in 9,5mm?
Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013
posted October 13, 2016 04:29 PM
Not all, Luigi. With time, the club also attracted collectors but at the monthly projection, the "séance" (the part before the feature) is almost always amateur films and some are recent (but the projection is in Paris and although historicaly the majority of the members were from this part of France, most of the members are now outside the capital, so hiring films is not easy).