8mm Forum: Of Cell Phones and Super-8

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Topic: Of Cell Phones and Super-8

Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted May 06, 2011 11:41 PM

So...

I was talked into doing a film show for the little kids at Church tonight.

A part of me really despises doing Super-8 shows away from the house because every last thing I need has to be hauled out to the car, set up somewhere else and in the end put back. Another part of me (the masochistic part...) loves doing it because of the challenge.

So I did the due diligence: I actually wrote a list of everything I might need. I did a two projector show and I brought my sound interface (...and cabling, and switch box...) because there is a stereo there. I brought my big screen and the two tripods I hang it from when I'm doing a road show. Didn’t do 'scope because frankly I thought I overdid it more than enough! I brought spare takeup reels to avoid rewinding while the other machine was showing a short reel. I even brought the small brush I clean the gates with.

I remembered everything except the small flashlight I like to have when I'm running two machines. I use it to see around the table so I can find films in the dark. I shine it through the leader to see when I am at the start of a film without bringing up the lights while the other machine is running. I use it to see what I am doing when threading up and rewinding.

I forgot it...(Oh Crap!)

I learned that the lighted display on my cell phone did the job: not as well, but good enough in a pinch.

-at that moment it was like finding yourself with a Swiss Army knife while you are stranded on a desert island! (-had that too!)

So a 21st century tool solved a 20th century problem: it actually makes my happy I have the thing!

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All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

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Scott Mallory
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 146
From: Montreal, QC
Registered: Jan 2011

posted May 07, 2011 01:44 AM

Steve, I had a similar experience a couple of weeks ago. I woke up to the sounds of tornado sirens. The place was pitch black. I used my phone to find that there was indeed a tornado warning and then hurried upstairs to get the kids. Once they were safely in the bathroom I searched for candles and a flashlight with working batteries-none. Then I remembered not only could I use my cellphone for limited light, but it also had a flashlight function. I kept the kids distracted from the storm with cartoons on Itunes on the Mac (which also lit the room up pretty good), while I used my phone for weather updates.

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Scott

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Graham Ritchie
Film God

Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted May 07, 2011 06:25 PM

Scott
The terrible destruction of those Tornados has been on the news out here and hope all is well with you and your family. Last year when the city lost power from the 7:1 earthquake, it was my wife cellphone that really payed off. Like you, we had to find our way around in the dark to find the torches etc, "always flat when you need it" but also to be able to text everyone to make sure they were ok as the cellphone towers have battery back up for a while as all the land lines were off as well.

I used to poo-hoo people and there cellphones but not now. I have even seen staff at the cinema use them to show someone to there seat.....amazing [Smile]

Graham.

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Scott Mallory
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 146
From: Montreal, QC
Registered: Jan 2011

posted May 07, 2011 07:12 PM

Thanks Graham, everything's well with me and I glad you guys are alright too. I live just outside Evansville, Indiana which is kind of in a valley. Tornados come through all the time, there was a real nasty one that touched down in 2005. Cellphones definitely have their place, I just wish I could get my wife to stop checking FaceBook on hers. Take Care!

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Scott

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted May 07, 2011 07:19 PM

We like to have a few of those LED flashlights with crank capacitor charging around the house. No batteries: no batteries to go dead.

They aren't as bright as any decent battery flashlight, but they are certainly brighter then a cell phone.

...you just need to remember to bring one!

(Excellent for kids: if they leave one turned on the worse that happens is the capacitor discharges.)

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All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

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Michael De Angelis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1261
From: USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted May 07, 2011 09:26 PM

Steve,
Bring extra lamps, just in case.

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Isn't it great that we can all communicate about this great
hobby that we love!

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted May 07, 2011 11:53 PM

Hey Michael,

I covered that contingency: one EFP plus one EFR, and I already had changed the lamp in my ST-1200 because the image was starting to dim and the lamp's envelope was graying.

It had the feel of starting a long drive with a leaky tire, so I swapped it out as a precaution.

What I didn't mention was actually we were Multiplexing it here. Upstairs they were running ladies' movie night with a laptop and a video projector. Problem was the woman that usually runs it was away so I had to set up both shows.

-for a guy who had never used a VP before I did OK!

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All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

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Michael De Angelis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1261
From: USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted May 08, 2011 10:54 PM

cool:

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Isn't it great that we can all communicate about this great
hobby that we love!

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