8mm Forum: No BFCC for me after all..

This is topic No BFCC for me after all.. in forum General Yak at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Christian Bjorgen (Member # 1780) on September 15, 2013, 04:03 PM:

I've already known for about three weeks but done my best to avoid it, but I'm at a loss. The BFCC is off for me, sadly.

My car started mucking up a few weeks ago, and while I originally thought it would be a cheap fix, it wasn't.... With a lot of unforeseen expenses at the house on top, I just see no way to afford it.

It's a shame really, as I was looking forward to seeing you all. Of course, I haven't ruled it out 100%, but it looks grim. I am still hoping to do a quick one-day trip without hotels, so fingers crossed!

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on September 15, 2013, 05:08 PM:

Shame. I was looking forward to meeting you, Christian. Maybe next year, eh?

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on September 15, 2013, 09:18 PM:

Let's hope that perhaps you could visit the convention with a quick one day trip.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on September 15, 2013, 10:13 PM:

Sad to hear. I'm still waiting for the music to take off and I can only hope that perhaps the rumors are wrong and that there will be another BFCC next as well ... cuz I can't make it this year.

Now, if I lived in the UK or near abouts, you couldn't keep me away!

I would even take a bus full of kids with bad potty training, just to make it to the BFCC!

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on September 16, 2013, 12:03 PM:

Look after your essential expenses first and foremost Christian or as Wilkins Micawber once said "When the stomach is empty, the spirits are low!"

Posted by Christian Bjorgen (Member # 1780) on September 16, 2013, 01:19 PM:

Yup! I still haven't ruled it out completely, but currently it's looking grim. The entire trip will amount to over £800, and that's before the BFCC, food and souvenirs, so if I can manage to cut costs by loads it should work out. The easiest possibility is to cut the trip by two days (currently thursday-monday) to friday-sunday and get a cheaper hotel.

We were planning to go see the Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff on sunday, so losing that would make the trip redundant. The BFCC itself is not enough to justify the expense alone right now.

Posted by Vidar Olavesen (Member # 3354) on September 16, 2013, 01:35 PM:

I didn't have the money either, but Ticket.no has a decent deal. They have a card that you can pay back within a year with no interest. That's what I used ... Hopefully have some pounds to spend on movies too, but at least get to see a big film event.

Posted by Christian Bjorgen (Member # 1780) on September 16, 2013, 02:02 PM:

Thanks for the tip, Vidar, I will have a look. If I can manage to get a delayed payment on the trip I should be fine, but I will have to check with the missus and the finances.

Posted by David Guest (Member # 2791) on September 16, 2013, 03:35 PM:

you can always come to blackpool in November where you will be greated very well

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on September 17, 2013, 04:15 AM:

"My other piece of advice, Copperfield, said Mr. Micawber, you know. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery"

You will miss a pretty amazing event at Ealing for sure but sometimes we have to miss these things my friend to keep the home fires burning. [Frown]

Posted by Christian Bjorgen (Member # 1780) on September 17, 2013, 04:29 AM:

With all the bills paid now, it looks a little more promising. Currently, it all comes down to how much the trip comes to. Also, the longer I wait, the more expensive it gets.

I guess I won't know until the weekend comes.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on September 17, 2013, 04:32 AM:

I will look for an hostel to save money. I know it is not what people dream of but it is cheaper than an hotel.

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on September 17, 2013, 05:35 AM:

Heathrow Hostel 198, Kingsley Road , Hounslow, TW3 4AR
is only £15 a night if you are stuck for low cost digs.
Or if on a very tight budget Hostel 639 on Harrow Road
Kensal Green London NW10 5NU from £6.00 a night. It is about 3 miles from Ealing.

Posted by Christian Bjorgen (Member # 1780) on September 17, 2013, 06:20 AM:

I considered hostels, but after the awful hotel we had last time in London, we were hoping for a bit more class this time [Smile]

Of course, a hostel is better than not going at all, so thanks for the tip! [Smile]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on September 17, 2013, 12:23 PM:

Ahhh, was it "Fawlty Towers"? I hear that the management at that specific hotel is atrocious! [Smile]

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on September 17, 2013, 07:10 PM:

Lets face it, attending the BFCC from overseas is extremely expensive, even with cut rate air fares and hotels. I once calculated that I could have purchased 2 or 3 GS1200'S for what it cost me to go to Ealing. But as I was combining it with a UK vacation it was essentially not so much of an issue. The point being that there was no way that I could justify the cost of going to the BFCC without combining it with a one or two week vacation, and because of that my preference has always been for a May convention.
Which is why it is very hard for people like Osi and myself, who would really love to be there in October, to understand the grumbling from some UK collectors, who are noshows at the BFCC, because they have to drive a couple of hundred miles.
Osi and I would walk to the BFCC if we had to, if we lived anywhere in the UK.

Posted by Bruce Wright (Member # 2793) on September 17, 2013, 09:52 PM:

Paul-Osi -- Can I ride in the little
red wagon?

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on September 18, 2013, 06:53 AM:

A couple of hundred miles on England's roads is no picnic. I assume it does in no way compare with the equivalent mileage on US roads which according to road movies are an absolute joy.

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on September 18, 2013, 09:07 AM:

It's always difficult to clear time, no matter how much one wants to attend. I find that the best jobs come up right after I commit to a vacation.

Doug

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on September 18, 2013, 09:12 AM:

Correct on our road system Maurice. Went to the seaside two weeks ago. To go 25 miles on M1 took about 1 hour due to roadworks at Sheffield.

Once on the M18/180 up to 80mph fairly good too for traffic. Stayed at Sutton On Sea which is only 30mins from Cleethorpes, guess where I went Saturday morning.

Does the BFCC location come under London's congestion charging? And if it does and there's NO congestion do you get your money back. Because if I'm paying for congestion and I don't get any I would be very upset.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on September 18, 2013, 09:56 AM:

David
You're OK. The London congestion charge zone ends on its westward side on the east side of Hyde Park, i.e., Park Lane.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/roadusers/congestioncharge/whereandwhen/

Posted by Martin Jones (Member # 1163) on September 18, 2013, 10:58 AM:

For general information "Congestion Charge" does not apply on Sundays. AND... for overseas visitors... there are no roads in the UK where 80 mph is permissible: maximum speed limit is 70 mph (and only on some roads)!

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on September 18, 2013, 12:29 PM:

quote:
For general information "Congestion Charge" does not apply on Sundays.

...or Saturdays.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on September 18, 2013, 12:38 PM:

It sounds like to go to the BFCC would be a lot less nerve wracking if you can just take the train, (as well a fun trip enjoying the view?), if you live in or around the UK there?

I'm sure it must be expensive to take the train, but at least you'd get off in the town, and then simply head to the hotel or hostel, or am I simplifying the whole scenario way too much?

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on September 18, 2013, 01:33 PM:

80 mph just following a police car they had no flashers on so not going to emergency, plus very quiet for traffic.

I used to go to London 4 or 5 times a year when we had BR (British Railways) Stardust minibreaks £5 extra for 1st class. From Wakefield to King's Cross about 2 hours. Intercity 125 very good, then they privatised it service went down price went up.

I always had a walk up to 55 Shaftesbury Avenue for some reason.

The price not too bad if you book in advance, but they do make it difficult to find cheap ticket.

Went last year on Megabus cheap, but not cheerful. Stayed at Hostel near Lancaster Gate was OK and near where we needed to be. Its a German Hostel Near Hyde Park tube quite near too. And it was clean. Though it could be too far away for Ealing.

If I can persuade the wife we need to go to London I'll be there. If not it'll be Blackpool.

Are any overseas members planning on visiting Blackpool too?

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on September 18, 2013, 01:36 PM:

Then everyone come to CINESEA - Do it for John Black, forget me

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on September 19, 2013, 12:42 PM:

Hell Shorty, though I know the history of one Mr. Black, (and a good man he was!), I would show up at Cinesea to see YOU, Doug and the many other fine fellows I have met on here and other forums!

(and have folks ogle my lovely wife, (she's a cutie!), who has a fascination for anything concerning projectors. She can't work on them, but loves to watch them running!)

Buying films would just be secondary!

Posted by Mal Brake (Member # 14) on September 19, 2013, 01:27 PM:

Just to pick up on Osi's comment about going by train.
I live in Neath, South Wales, our station is the first stop after the western terminus at Swansea (8 miles). So we travel almost the whole length of the line to London Paddington which takes just a little under 3 hours. By booking advance tickets, the cost was £34 for the round trip.

Fortunately my wife has family living in Romford so we stay with them for 3 days so no hotel bills.The downside is I have travel from there on overland train to Liverpool Street station then take a tube to Ealing Broadway then catch a bus to the BFCC venue which takes about 2 hours (I am disabled and can't move very quickly). Of course I have to do it all again at the end of the convention - but it's worth it.

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on September 20, 2013, 03:59 PM:

Found this while scanning some of my film mags

From Film Making magazine dated February 1978

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on September 20, 2013, 04:45 PM:

I enjoyed that. Thanks, David.

"...finishing at around 10pm"

How about it, John and Keith?? [Smile]

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on September 21, 2013, 10:18 AM:

Almost twelve hours to buy films. Wow!

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on September 21, 2013, 11:14 AM:

You are quite right Paul about grumbling collectors as witnessed at another southern movie event. A couple of chaps were moaning about the 20 mile trip they had to a cine event a couple of years ago and the traffic, my pal and I interrupted them and explained we had a 500 mile round trip to do the bash at which point and I quote ‘you must be bloody mad’. Hardly, but enthusiastic yes! I think it was young Mr Wilton who once quoted these events keep the Thermofilm (a popular film cleaner of its day) running through your veins and he was right. We would be silly not to say Ealing is the largest home movie event in the UK and if you are in a position to make it do not miss it. It has always been excellent and professional beyond the limit with screen presentation way beyond anything else here and frankly is legend.

The crowning moment for me looking back was the presentation of Brainstorm some years ago. We had not seen 8mm on such a big screen and moreover with such excellent sound, probably the best I had heard anyway and what a day that was to remember. For me the Ealing team are professional and dedicated to one single cause which is to make for a memorable filmic experience like no other. I love all the cine events in the UK but Ealing is something special..

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on September 22, 2013, 10:26 PM:

We wouldn't be human if we didn't like a good moan!

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