8mm Forum: Blackpool 2010 excitement building up!

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Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on October 25, 2010, 01:39 PM:

With less than 3 weeks to go, it seems a good time to find out who will be attending this exceptionally enjoyable weekend, and discover if there's anyone who might respond to some gentle arm twisting? Any overseas visitors this time? It was great to see in the latest Derann newsletter that apparently all the places at the dinner have been booked, and the room allocation is full. If this puts off anyone from making a late booking, I could suggest a comfortable, good value hotel that's just round the corner, and maybe Ged will accept names for a dinner waiting list, in case there are cancellations.

As everyone says, we really need to use and not lose such events, so I wondered if there will be any new faces from this forum, or will anyone who tends to say "I can't make it this year but I'll do my best to go next year" make it this time? I've travelled from London every year since 1984, which either means I'm mad or it's a fantastic weekend, but unless you see for yourself, you won't find out!

Finally, does anyone know if the half price fees that greatly boosted the size of the auction last year will be maintained this year?

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on November 03, 2010, 03:53 PM:

Having checked, I can add that the half price acution fees won't apply this year as the dealers last year were not happy about the auction lasting so long.

Surely I CAN'T be the only one here going, other than David E??? Don't forget, if we don't use it, we will lose it, and imagine how grim November would seem without Blackpool to look forward to!

Posted by Yanis Tzortzis (Member # 434) on November 05, 2010, 08:39 PM:

.......agree, especially in a year without BFCC in Oct & DERANN open day in Dec.....you can count me in..... [Smile]

Posted by Rob Young. (Member # 131) on November 09, 2010, 05:33 PM:

Less than a week to go!

SUNDAY 14th FOR ALL YOUR CELLULOID DREAMS COME TRUE!

I've being attending since I was, well, er...too young to even admit [Smile]

... never a year goes by when either one of my "brigade" (ie: dragged along friends / family members!) or myself spent FAR too much money on REAL film at Blackpool.

DVD...Blu Ray...whatever...when you enter that big hall at Blackpool your senses will be seduced with the look, sound, smell of celluloid...overcome with a desire to watch and buy REAL film, yet with a common sense passion all round for showing big screen quality presentation, regardless of format.

Whatever your BIG SCREEN PRESENTATION needs, you're going to find a bargain here; it never fails!

And one thing is assured; having attended for over 25 or so years, you'll take home the memory of a GREAT day out and many happy exchanges shared with like-minded friends.

And no, don't sponser them, just love it. [Wink]

I know my own life has changed so much since I first went to the "BLACKPOOL BASH"...who else here is going???

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on November 09, 2010, 08:54 PM:

Rob, thanks for injecting some much-needed enthusiasm here. Even people saying they are NOT going would be better than no comment at all! So that's at least three of us here that will be there, but David E must surely also be attending, or we have no MC on Saturday night. And it would be unheard of for Barry A to miss it, so hopefully he will be another. And Ricky D? And is Lee M - another great Blackpool 'promoter' still around? But what about everyone else in the UK; surely you can't afford to miss it?

Anyone at the dinner is welcome to come over to table H to say hello.

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on November 10, 2010, 03:44 AM:

I'd like to be showing my support but unfortunately it's just not possible. It's clashing with the Classic Motor Show at the NEC and I'm on a stand for all three days. It's also just so far from Cornwall to Blackpool and really the only viable method of getting there is driving for about 8 hours or so. Trains are out for just about all of us nowadays and there's no airport.

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on November 10, 2010, 05:46 AM:

Like us at John Black's Wildwood Shows, we must also have more screenings with you chaps coming over to share in the pleasure - We'll take turns - What say? - Cheers, Shorty

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on November 10, 2010, 12:58 PM:

Do they show any movies at Blackpool? I'm sure it'll be a great weekend even if they don't.

However, I'd really like to see a convention along the lines of Cinevent which has a weekend of classic movie screenings. Nobody seems to do this here in the UK.

Posted by Gary Brocklehurst (Member # 606) on November 11, 2010, 03:56 AM:

Hi Michael

The Blackpool Convention has two cinemas. Cinema One uses a
GS-1200 Xenon and a 22 foot screen. Programme Number One commences at 10.30am, Programme Number Two commences at 12.00pm and Programme Number Three commences thirty minutes after the end of the famous auction (auction commences at 1.15pm). Cinema Number Two is used for video projector and Blu-ray demonstrations, etc. Fourteen dealers will be in attendance, plus there will also be the usual large Bring & Buy stall. I hope that this helps

Kindest Regards

Gary Brocklehurst

Posted by Ricky Daniels (Member # 95) on November 16, 2010, 03:23 AM:

Unfortunately I couldn't make it to Blackpool this year but would be interested to read how it went... does anyone here care to post a few words about the weekend?
Best,
Rick

Posted by Rob Young. (Member # 131) on November 16, 2010, 04:35 AM:

Absolutely top day out Ricky.

The gales that had been battering Blackpool earlier in the week had calmed for Sunday, although it was still a bright but breezy day by the sea!

The dealers hall was bustling with collectors and dealers. Bought some Disney 200ft col/snd in perfect boxes for £1.00 each from Derann - and they gave away free a lot of B&W silent films; most new and sealed. Some useful new boxes to replace some of my older tatty ones [Smile]

.

The shows in the cinema were thoroughly entertaining, a Black and White show in the morning kicking off with the surreal but hilarious "Vincent" and later in the day a show which included Classic Home Cinema's "Yellow Submarine" trailer (which is a gem) and a re-print of their legendary release "Beer, Fags and Women"!!! This one is a riot of older, rauncy adverts and is hilarious. Many years ago I had a used and scratched copy of this so with brand new copies available at Phil's stall another purchase had to be made!

The auction was great fun as ever; my better half bidding for the first time ever and snapping up some bargain 16mm. Some nice and unusual titles came up this year and were obviously in demand from several collectors. A DVD was entered into the auction for the first time ever and the jeering and booing was hilarious! Auctioneer / projectionist Robert Nichols did a sterling job of keeping things moving and providing the well established humour at this infamous auction [Smile]

.

On the bring and buy, as well as loads of film and projectors was a SIM video projector. A few years ago these things were state of the art, costing £5000 upwards. There it was in excellent condition for £250.00!!!

The Derann team, Phil Sheard and all the other dealers were on top form and in great spirits and even the Savoy hotel was looking in better shape than it has done for some time. I even met a guy who used to own a film shop where I bought all my super 8 when I was 10 years old! That brought back some memories.

All in all a really great day and a huge thanks to all involved.

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on November 16, 2010, 04:04 PM:

Whilst I always enjoy Blackpool (which is just as well as I've been for 27 consecutive years!), I'm afraid I can't be quite so upbeat about it as Rob - in fact I spent much of Sunday evening participating in a frank discussion with other attendees, with a view to seeing if we can come up with some constructive suggestions to help support the event. Maybe it was 'blip', but we all felt it had a more 'low key' feel than previous ones and although the attendance at the Saturday dinner was good, the number on the Sunday was definitely not up to the usual level. I certainly managed to check all the stalls with film for sale quicker than ever before. I certainly don't want to encourage any 'doom and gloom' but I think it's better to encourage debate and do whatever we can to try to revive it, as there was a marked contrast between the relatively sparse room on Sunday and (e.g.) what we saw three years ago at the one with Dave Prowse and the Star Wars guests, with the hall 'buzzing' with collectors, memorabilia stands and some new faces as well as the regulars. I'm sure it took a lot of effort to pull off, but the event seemed to be gaining momentum and a new lease of life with these elements.

I know the hotel posed some problems in areas such the amount of rooms they were willing to allocate. Maybe the Cliffs Hotel could be reconsidered, if its policies and management may have changed since the convention had to move out of there.

One thing I must say, which is NOT a criticism of Robert Nicholls: one of the highlights of such events was always 'new and recent releases' shows. When there are such items (and Derann had some new imported trailers on offer, and CHC had at least one or two recent releases that have never been shown at a convention, plus a test clip for their forthcoming 'Hard Days Night' feature) on sale, what better opportunity can there be to promote them when people can come straight out of the cinema and buy them? Therefore, even if there are prints arriving at the last minute, I really feel (and I know others agree) that a way MUST be found to get new releases on the screen. It's crazy to watch old ones you can no longer buy instead, when the new stuff on sale for the first time is being ignored! The only release that has become available since the BFCC that was shown was the 'Avatar' trailer.

As always, I thank Derann for all the work that goes into making it possible and despite the above concerns, I wouldn't dream of missing it. But it's a challenge sustaining the popularity of the event when film collectors are an ageing group, and I hope we can all contribute whatever ideas we have to keep the 'Blackpool Bash' going for as long as possible.

[ November 16, 2010, 05:45 PM: Message edited by: Adrian Winchester ]

Posted by Colin Auty (Member # 231) on November 17, 2010, 03:26 PM:

Yes I attended on Sunday ,parked on the car park adjacent to the Savoy as normal to find the parking fees hiked to £7.50 for the day!I opted for 3 hrs parking instead for £3.50 and left at 1pm.
I think a few others did the same....
On leaving this year I had mixed feelings about the event,it was a little flat,not the same buzz as previous years where there was a theme & celebrities present, attendance I suggest was down,I to would like to have seen more in the way of new releases in the cinema programmes, there has been a lack of new releases from Derann this year due to the lab situation, though they did have some import trailers/shorts for sale which would have been nice to preview , Classic had some new releases which were in the 2nd programme including a nice Popeye title " For better or Nurse" excellent colour/sound recommended .Derann were promoting their dvd releases "On with the show" a compilation of 60's 70's adverts, trailers, day sets , great fun... & Derann at Pinewood, two very good releases.
I passed on refreshments , understaffed,usually well organised ,but the Savoy let us down this year.
Thanks to the Derann Team for keeping the tradition going for ourlove of film...... heres to next year(please!)

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