8mm Forum: film grading

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Posted by Dan Mollise (Member # 1875) on January 03, 2010, 07:04 PM:

I have a number of L&H prints I am about to sell and want to be honest about them - but I am not sure how to grade them.For instance, I have a feature - not mint has a few light scratches - just bought from Phil Johnson of PARDON US and it is in really good shape. Most of my films fit into this category - i rarely see a really "mint" print - but maybe I am a little to fanatical about this. What do you guys consider an excellent print - no splices at all? - no even hairline scratches? I guess even one splice to me moves it into the very good category at best - what do you think?

Posted by Dino Everette (Member # 1378) on January 03, 2010, 07:24 PM:

probably the most subjective part of any hobby....

I say just be accurate about what you see on the film and worry less about the category...I think you are safe to use very good on the ebay choice..using mint or like new I think makes people suspicious......but yes it is a very hard thing to do. there is another forum for film where all they really do is argue about this very topic...

Posted by Gian Luca Mario Loncrini (Member # 1417) on January 04, 2010, 05:00 AM:

Dan, Dino is totally right.

My opinion is to give as much details as possible about the real condition of the movie/s. Supplying pictures is even better (when possible, of course).

Some wears? Well, state it. Poor sound? Say that. Excellent print? Be happy to describe it.
The potential customers for every kind of auction are absolutely wide-ranging. You can always find someone interested in what you have for sale.

This is only my opinion, of course [Wink]

.
Ciao.

GL

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on January 04, 2010, 05:31 AM:

Some of the later prints (I'm speaking of Blackhawk) contained a much sharper image due to new negs struck and these can be categorized as darn-near mint (to coin my own expression) - Above all, screen any prints you are ready to sell and make notes accordingly. You'll find many appreciate that extra effort. A splice or two is okay if a feature is put together, usually this is at the reel-change section, but if it's within the action, that's different - Stay in touch and good success

Posted by Christian Bjorgen (Member # 1780) on January 04, 2010, 05:54 AM:

I have sold very few reels so far, but my rating system is pretty much like this:

MINT - Reel is free of splices and damage, has minimal to no visual wear, except for maybe a small stripe or two. Colour is nearly perfect with good contrast and no fade. Sound is very good.

VERY GOOD - Reel has no damage, but may have one or two splices. Small stripes, albeit not many. Colour and sound is very good.

GOOD/AVERAGE - Reel has wear damage, splices and lines. Sound is a little worn but still decent. Colour is beginning to fade, but still decent.

FAIR - Reel has some damage but still very playable. No sprocket damage, but lines and splices occur several times. Sound is fair but could be better, and the colour is faded.

POOR - Reel is badly damaged but still playable to a certain level. Damaged/missing sprockets and many splices and stripes. Colour is badly faded and the sound is poor. Reels of this grade is only sold if very rare or for specially interested.

This is quite similar to the system I use for vinyl records when grading them.

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on January 04, 2010, 06:32 AM:

The thing is, Christian, that if a print has even minimal wear it cannot be considered as being in "mint" condition.
I like your grading system but would substitute "excellent condition" for "mint".

Posted by Christian Bjorgen (Member # 1780) on January 04, 2010, 06:43 AM:

Yes, you're probably right on that, but I usually leave comments aswell as the grade. I sold a Chaplin short recently, and graded it like this:

"Very good / mint - has no splices or damage, comes with the original factory leaders and the standard EuroFilm 200' box featuring Chaplin on the cover. Has a few lines in the beginning, but barely noticeable."

Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 892) on January 04, 2010, 01:59 PM:

To me the most lacking area of film grading are considerations of the source material. A mint print of a fuzzy or worn source just isn't the same. Or a grainy mint print (not grainy from the source but the duping process) is only a little better.

If it has few scratches, looks sharp, and has gorgeous color, a splice is irrelevant to me unless footage is missing. Then again, it seems seldom that prints in otherwise decent shape are splicey.

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on January 04, 2010, 02:09 PM:

Yes, as Bill says there's a difference between print condition and print content.
As I've said in the past, a print can be in excellent physical condition yet contain a horrible dupe or a film which has faded badly.

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