Posts: 2211
From: New York City, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted September 08, 2003 01:26 AM
Ok. I know that I brought this topic up on the old forum, but it definitely is not my imagination. The list for used films is getting smaller and smaller. Does that mean that collectors are keeping their prints and not trading? I haven't seen a list that small in a long time. I remember when the lists used to be packed with titles like, Toy Story, Mighty Joe Young, Alien, Predator..I mean there were so many that I didn't know what to pick! Maybe we are just now starting to feel the effects of Derek's absence. Even though I never met him personally I was really, really sad when I heard of his passing. Anyways....Comments on the latest lists?
posted September 08, 2003 04:09 AM
Certainly nothing to do with Derek no longer being with us. There have been fewer releases in recent years which means fewer titles to come onto the second hand market. Ebay has also had an effect as more individuals try to sell their films themselves rather than trade them to a dealer.
Now if there were more collectors and a higher percentage of those prepared to buy films new from the releasing distributor there would be more films released, more to be traded up after a few years etc. etc. etc.. Personally I've never sold a single film (although I've given a few away). When I purchase a film it's because I want it and therefore it stays with me.
And I'm looking forward to the feature release of Terminator 3.
-------------------- 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.
posted September 08, 2003 04:24 AM
I would buy more new films, but (as I keep saying!) my main interests are b/w and I won't buy b/w prints on colour stock.
Posts: 1336
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jun 2003
posted September 08, 2003 01:01 PM
Firstly I do wonder if there is some seasonality involved here with the autumn and winter months seeing a greater level of activity? Ebay has really died in the UK over the last few weeks.
Dealers I suspect rely upon collections becoming available to swell the lists they can offer and unless some one dies or changes to (look away now.....) Video Projection..then large collections just won't be there. Ian at Perry's came across a large collection recently but was overwhelmed with the demand or so he told his bank manager!
With response to your posting let me assure you that the number of films on our lists is a constant 120 - 150 per month. I notice that the films you listed were all features, which at the moment we just don't seem to be offered. The types of collections we buy in can vary greatly, from newsreels and documentaries to glamour / stag films, which we are assured, are being sold on behalf of third party!! I suppose what I am saying is that we can never guarantee what second hand goods we will have for sale and we cannot please all of the customers with our selection. What I will say is that the second hand market is still incredibly vibrant with upwards of 90% of both Super 8 and 16mm films being sold. Thanks to John and Tony for bringing up some good points as well. Think that's all but don't forget Alan that we have a vast selection of new features for sale.
All the best for now,
Duncan
-------------------- Why not visit the Derann Film Services website on www.derann.co.uk
Posts: 2211
From: New York City, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted September 09, 2003 09:18 AM
Thanks very much everyone for the replies. I was just getting a little worried. BTW- how many of you out there are buying new feature length prints? I think I have only bought new trailers and shorts as the price of new prints seems a little out of my league these days.
Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted September 09, 2003 02:56 PM
I own exactly one feature, a red faded copy of "Cattle Queen of Montana" which I got for a song off E-bay.
The first thing I intend to do if I ever win the lottery is get on the phone to Derann and order a copy of the feature length "Toy Story". I think I'd just fly the Lear Jet over and pick it up in person. (Guess I'd have to actually play the lottery though.....)
And then I'd grab a matching pair of Elmo GS1200s to play it on.
But Seriously Folks, something about the features that makes me nervous is the finiteness of the lifetimes of our projectors and especially the soundheads. I think my machine will stay in business a lot longer if I keep it to films well under an hour. If I actually had one of the Elmos with their reputation for the soundheads lasting forever or if replacements were easy and cheap I'm sure I'd feel differently.
-------------------- All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...
Posts: 1336
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jun 2003
posted September 09, 2003 03:27 PM
I have to say that Toy Story is well worth the flight. I confess to having bought this and Lion King from new but I have also bought some great features from Ian at Perry's and a couple from Paul Foster at fair prices compared to new.
Yes there have been one or two problems along the way but the dealers have been most understanding throughout. Being fairly new to this lark and on a steep learning curve there has been ample opportunity for people to take advantage of my naievity (check spelling!).
Particular thanks to Mark ("Poly") Todd, Mike ("Umm Nice Box") Peckham and Kevin ("2 Blade")Faulkner and of course Trevor ("6 shot") Adams
Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted September 09, 2003 04:09 PM
I'll never forget the night we went to the theater to see "Toy Story". I was on a 10 year intermission from Super-8 at the time (a friend dropped my camera in the river!), but still I was so nuts over filmmaking that I had to go see this phenomenon.
The striking thing about it was that the novelty of the computer generated animation faded after about 10 minutes and I was really caught up in the quality of it, and how funny it was. It became easy to forget that it was animated at all at times. I kept catching myself asking "How did they film that?" When of course they can produce almost any image within imagination.
I'm going to buy the trailer for Toy Story, for now that's going to have to be enough.
-------------------- All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...
posted September 09, 2003 05:28 PM
I haven't been in super 8 too long about two years.I have brought new features from Derann and they are fantastic.I have "Terminator and Terminator II."Also "The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast."Just orderd "A Bugs Life" from Derann.They be a little expensive but I pay them off over three or four months.Just my .02 cents worth.
Posts: 1461
From: West Sussex, UK.
Registered: Jun 2003
posted September 10, 2003 12:50 PM
Tony, thanks for the mention! I've only ever bought a couple of new features, I really have to feel I have deserved it to splash out that much but every now and then, when I have been really good..... I got Bugs Life new and that is fantastic, Toy Story and Roger Rabbit I picked up at BFCC in new condition and they, particularly Roger Rabbit are well worth the money!
I'm hoping to buy Fantasia 2000 sometime soon, that can be my Autumn treat, otherwise I have to make do with second hand copies of everything.
Mike.
-------------------- Auntie Em must have stopped wondering where I am by now...
posted September 11, 2003 02:41 AM
About half of my features have been new purchases. I tend to get them when they first come out so those I've missed and still fancy get picked up second hand. Have about 40 Super 8 features in total.
Toy Story is not something I'm interested in but I will say the print is excellent. Just about all the Disney's put out by Derann are (Little Mermaid excepted). Remember features can be purchased over six months which can make it a little easier. I always make the effort to support the new releases for two reasons:-
1) We may need them for future conventions
2) The more new releases purchased the more likely further new releases are in the future.
And compared to years ago these films are much cheaper so I have no problem with the cost of them despite DVD and laser disc appearing so comparatively cheap.
-------------------- 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.