8mm Forum: Film Ferrania

This is topic Film Ferrania in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=009480

Posted by Sam Margulis (Member # 1114) on October 10, 2014, 12:36 PM:

Hey guys...quickly because I feel this matters...it matters to those who shoot super 8 and 16mm for movies...as well as guys who use 35mm film for stills, and medium format 120 film. Film Ferrania is trying to get back on its feet, and looks to be getting very close. They are offering film as thanks for donations for their kickstart campaign...I put my $40 in for a couple rolls of 120 (I sold my Bolex H-16 RX5 and switched to medium format stills a year ago).

If anyone is interested, please follow the link. I don't normally share things of this nature, unless it matters. And to me...this matters!

I have no personal interest in this company...just an interested person looking out for our ever-diminishing film supply.

Putting this in the 16mm forum as well!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/filmferrania/100-more-years-of-analog-film

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on October 10, 2014, 01:15 PM:

Hello Sam ! They are already two threads about that, so you see, we are also excited about the Ferrania film stocks revival. So far, they got 238,582 $ out of the 250,000 $ they need.

Posted by Julian Baquero (Member # 2520) on October 10, 2014, 02:01 PM:

Happy to inform I have given my support for Ferrania backing the MOVIEMAKER 8 pledge - 3 x S8 film cartridges.

Posted by Julian Baquero (Member # 2520) on October 14, 2014, 02:21 PM:

I have just noticed that the Ferrania Kickstarter campaign has already surpassed its 250,000 USD pledge, still has 14 day to go, to this day (October 14) they have made $265,345 USD. So maybe we will have E6 film stock for another 100 years!

Posted by Ken Finch (Member # 2768) on October 14, 2014, 03:34 PM:

I remember Ferrania was bought out by the 3M company years ago and this colour stock on 9.5mm was discontinued despite promises made to Group 9.5 by the then U.K. manager. The MC 25 stock they produced has stood the test of time and none of my films have shown any signs of fading. Some of the processing was a bit dodgy as it was sold mainly non process paid. I always found Roy salmons was the best, and he is still at it as far as I know! Have they now started up again independently? I'm afraid its too late for us oldies because of the costs involved, particularly as digital is now "cheap as chips". However, I wish the project well for those who can afford to use it. Ken Finch.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on October 14, 2014, 04:32 PM:

Ken, nobody is never too old to shoot in 9,5 [Wink]

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on October 26, 2014, 07:54 AM:

A few days ago, I was doubting that the collected amount would reach 300.000 $ and now it is over that : 306,165 $ ! And still 3 days to go...

Posted by Doug Arnott (Member # 4049) on November 15, 2014, 04:33 AM:

Cant wait for thier new super 8 film to become available, the 120 too !!! Dare I dream that they may produce some super 8 sound film too ??? That would be awesome, would seem potentially profitable too since they would be the only company in the world making it. Lets keep our fingers crossed !!

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on November 15, 2014, 11:16 AM:

It's already a miracle to still have film. Of course, sound cartridges would be wonderful. I Wonder if the environment rules that made Kodak stop the production are the same in Europe. If not, if the manufacturing costs are not too high and the tape available, I hope these cartriges come back to live.

Posted by Dino Everette (Member # 1378) on November 17, 2014, 12:19 AM:

I gave $1500 to the campaign, and will be naming one of the new factory room's "Dino Everett's 9.5mm Room" in hopes of planting the seed for them to do some 9.5 slitting and perfing....

Posted by Bryan Chernick (Member # 1998) on November 17, 2014, 12:37 PM:

David with Film Ferrania is answering questions on APUG.

Ferrania on APUG

I asked this: I was really hoping to see Regular 8mm in the Kickstarter, any plans for it in the future?

This was the answer:

quote:
As with double-perf 16mm, if the market demands 8mm spools, we aim to be able to respond on some level...

I think we need to inundate them with requests for Regular 8mm and 9.5 so they know that there is a market for it. It's easy to contact them through their web site: film ferrania contact

Posted by Thomas Dafnides (Member # 1851) on November 17, 2014, 09:15 PM:

Possibly, someone like John Schwind will buy bulk 16mm, and re-perf it for the niche standard 8mm market.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on November 18, 2014, 04:38 PM:

Great, Dino !!!!

Posted by Julian Baquero (Member # 2520) on November 18, 2014, 07:26 PM:

WOW Dino, that amazing. If someone here has direct contact with Ferrania, it would be nice to see if they are up to the challenge of bringing Kodakchrome back to life. There has never been a slide film better than Kodakchrome, and how about those amazing Super8 films made in it 50 or 60 year ago, which still hold perfect color.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on November 19, 2014, 04:02 AM:

Julian, Kodak and Ferrania are two different makes. Only Kodak could bring us Kodachrome back.

Posted by Julian Baquero (Member # 2520) on November 19, 2014, 10:34 AM:

Dear Dominique, I know that Kodak and Ferrania are two different animals. Kodak for sure has no interest whatsoever in making Kodakchrome again. As far as I know Kodak has put all it's patents up for sale. Kodachrome might and Ektachrome film might be successful again if handle in a very different scale as the one Kodak is used too. The story is similar to Impossible project recreating Polaroid instant film again successfully, now available on the market. Ferrania will bring back to life the old factory on a scale much smaller that the one they used.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on November 19, 2014, 11:24 AM:

Julian, if it is legally and technically possible, no doubt there would be people interested in buying Kodachrome stock, including me.

Posted by Ken Finch (Member # 2768) on November 19, 2014, 11:42 AM:

I presume this will be reversal colour stock similar to the one they used to produce which as far as 9.5mm is concerned has held up quite well compared to other subtractive process film stock. The Kodachrome process would no doubt be better but is a much more expensive process. Which brings me to the next question. Is it to be sold "process paid" or is this going to be extra? As mentioned earlier, to use film now instead of digital is going to have very limited appeal because of the costs involved for the majority of us. Surely it would now be impossible to produce a sound film unless someone also revives a striping service!! Personally speaking , I thoroughly enjoyed 60 years or more of using film and learned a great deal in the process, which has enabled me to be able to do the same using the digital medium. However , as I said earlier, If you can afford it fine, but for me living on a pension it is a non no. Ken Finch.

Posted by Joe Balitzki (Member # 438) on November 19, 2014, 05:33 PM:

I'm hoping that they eventually sell their Super 8mm Silent cartridges prestriped as well as offering Sound Cartridges. If I remember correctly it was announced years ago that AGFA would be offering prestriped Silent cartridges if only in Europe. I have no idea if they ever did though.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on November 09, 2015, 12:09 AM:

Ferrania has just annouced a big step forward by installing one of the machines. It seems that there will be however nothing available before 2016. As they say in Italian : Chi va piano va sano e va lontano...(The one who goes slowly goes safe and goes far).

Posted by Doug Arnott (Member # 4049) on November 09, 2015, 12:50 PM:

Hello everyone and hi Dominique. Thanks for posting which made the system auto generate an email to me.
I haven't logged on to the site here for awhile, got kinda busy with summertime projects and a couple of family tragedies. But anyway Im getting pretty excited and geeked up again about the possibility of a new film supplier, (God bless you Ferrania !!) I think Im going to pull out my super 8 equipment and thaw out a couple rolls of film later today
:-) Dam, just remembered I've got a couple rolls or so I still need to send out for processing too :-o
Has anyone heard WHEN Ferrania will start actually shipping film ? I mean I understand they're working a big job with this and that good work takes time, but I sure would love to actually be able to buy some of thier product.
Also: has anyone heard anything at all about GK-film in Germany? Are they going to start making the velvia film available in super 8 again? For ages now everytime I go to thier online store page it always says the Cinevia is sold out. I wrote them awhile back and the owner said he was still negotiating with Fuji or something (doesnt seem to have happened yet). That velvia in super 8 is a really beautiful film, sure would be nice to be able to buy some more of it, at least untill Ferrania gets some film out to market. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks !!!!!

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on November 09, 2015, 01:27 PM:

Hello Doug. First, I'm sorry to hear about the familly matters you had to face. Ferrania doesn't want to announce any date anymore as they had several unexpected problems that made delays. I guess if they were about to start the production they would have said it, so I think that nothing will see the light before 2016. Cinevia was, indeed a good stock but has been out of stock for a while. I heard also about the rumour that Fuji could re-manufactured some stock but I doubt about that as nothing has been officially announced. As I know, the only super 8 reversal colour cartriges made in Europe are the Agfa 200 and (in a limited quantity and not available from the manufacturer unless you're in their file !) the Kahl 50 asa.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on February 10, 2016, 01:51 AM:

Ferrania has made an update on its site. http://www.filmferrania.it/news/2016/what-happened-to-2015

2016 should be the year :-)

Posted by Mike Newell (Member # 23) on February 10, 2016, 07:23 AM:

Don't think I will place a takeaway pizza order from them! [Razz]

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on February 10, 2016, 10:46 AM:

Will the new film stock be low fade? Any of my old home movies that were not Kodachrome, such as Gevacolor, Anscocolor, have now faded to pink.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on February 10, 2016, 11:00 AM:

Agfa Movie chrome is still holding up ok on mine Paul as well as Kodachrome. I would imagine the Single 8mm films will still be ok also.

Surely the product can only advance if anything in terms of its Chemistry. I would like to think it couldn't possibly go backwards Paul from lessons learned years ago.

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on February 10, 2016, 01:19 PM:

Good work they are doing. Well they will do.

Sorry watching Return of the Jedi tonight.

Posted by Jesse Lafleur (Member # 5220) on February 15, 2016, 05:17 PM:

They are going to be using E6 chemistry so the fade factor will be probably comparible to modern fujichrome products.

Remember, Kodakchrome and other reversal types of its nature were additive - special B&W films in which a fade-resistant dye was added during development, not manufacturing.

I'd love to see a very powerful, stable dye that doesn't need to be frozen in perpetuity but...

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on February 19, 2016, 01:35 PM:

An interview of the boss. It seems that film will be available this Spring. Could anyone tell me what R&D means in that sentence : "this time was actually used for R&D that will prove useful later on" ? http://www.filmferrania.it/news/2016/the-cine-8-16-interview

Posted by Rob Young. (Member # 131) on February 19, 2016, 02:36 PM:

Research & Development - but Development of the product, not Development of the film (although...) [Smile]

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on February 19, 2016, 02:39 PM:

Thank you, Rob !

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on June 29, 2016, 02:25 AM:

Ferrania made an update. Still no filmstock but they are progressing. http://www.filmferrania.it/news/2016/lessons-of-a-naive-new-father "Chi va piano va sano e va lontano" (Who goes slowly goes safe and far). Hope the next update will contain the new we're all waiting for.

Posted by Maurizio Di Cintio (Member # 144) on June 29, 2016, 06:18 AM:

Yeah, Dominique, I saw that and I let them know I'm kinda fed up (of course - who cares?).

What bewilders me is the fact they originally set a deadline by APR 2015 and suppsedly the first delays were due to bad weather conditions and asbesto in their premises; they'd never mentioned other climate problems and/or all of the logistic issues they claim to be struggling with at the moment. Why didn't they factor them in in the first place before launching the kickstarter campaign??? The most benevolent thing that can be said right now is they lacked a lot of common sense and underestimated things that a serious factory refitting project should consider very carefully. But mine seems to be the only voice out of the choir.
In the meantime more than one more full year has passed and no film yet. I just hope the next time I hear from them will be because the film is ready to be shipped.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on June 29, 2016, 08:58 AM:

Maurizio, I cannot say I'm happy nor with the way they communicate nor with this very long delay. The thing is : have we another choice than waiting ? I expected to be able to shoot with Ferrania this Summer but that will not happen :-( Trouble is that in Super 8 you have some alternative, not in 9.5 (or at least, not cheap ones). I have still Super 8 cartridges but only a very few quantity of 9,5 filmstock.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on June 29, 2016, 11:27 AM:

Not good all round I'd say! [Confused]

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on June 29, 2016, 03:10 PM:

Although delays are frustrating, I found the latest post quite encouraging. If the photos are genuine - and I'm certainly not suggesting they are not, but I believe there was a dubious 'rumour' that the Kickstarter campaign might not connect to a genuine project - at least it's reassuring to see that this is something on a scale that needs quite an infrastructure supporting it, and the new Ferrania won't simply be someone with some equipment in a shed!

Posted by Tom Dee (Member # 4468) on July 01, 2016, 10:01 PM:

Now I understand... why Rome was NOT built in a day!!!

UBB.classic^TM 6.3.1.2