8mm Forum: Who shares your hobby?

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Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on January 01, 2018, 08:54 AM:

I think we are a minority here as i often read, with a little sadness, that a lot of peoole enjoy the hobby alone. I myself got into the hobby some years after my Brother but now its a shared hobby, my wife very much enjoys watching films with me and occassionaly my three grown up kids do. Oddly enough the one thing that appears to put my Daughters and Son off is going to the film room. I find this so odd as its a normal room with heating and carpet etc. I think because its downstairs they always assume its cold, Having said all that i am more than happy to enjoy the films on my own, its my peace and quite time. Generaly thursday evenings is when my Brother comes over for a full on film evening. [Wink]

Posted by Robert Crewdson (Member # 3790) on January 01, 2018, 10:06 AM:

I watch on my own as well Tom; the wife works as a carer, so she is out most of the day, and doesn't get home until well after 9pm. I find it difficult enough to get her to sit still long enough to watch a DVD. I'm happy to watch them on my own, with only the dog for company. I must say that i'm fortunate in that my wife never complains about all the films I have bought and the space they take up, she says that she knows how important the hobby is to me.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on January 01, 2018, 10:34 AM:

My wife and son both watch with me, even more so since I mixed digital projection into the mix. It's a lot easier sell when I can offer them a feature they've never seen before in addition to Super-8 and 16mm shorts.

My son has a silent machine and he joins in sometimes too.

Posted by Melvin England (Member # 5270) on January 01, 2018, 11:11 AM:

My viewing experience has changed somewhat over the years.

Once upon a time, there were two large camps in the super 8 world where I live. Those that made their own super 8 films, and those that collected package movies. These camps were probably 90% incompatible. The film makers were not that interested in buying movies. I, and one or two others, had a foot in both camps,so to speak.
Consequently, in the 1980's and early 1990's, my audience for home made films consisted of either my local cine club, so we are talking 25 to 30 people on average, unless it was competition night, when the ranks swelled even further as members brought along visitors, or my audience was my own family, who were only really interested in the family films. In those days my "package movie" audience would only be a selection of about 10 people at different times. Once in a blue moon I persuaded the cine club to have a package movie night but, although enjoyed them 'coz it was still super 8, the reception was a lot cooler.

Time moved on.People either left the cine club, or went to meet their maker (no new input of people)so it closed down,and my "package" friends either dwindled or moved away, leaving me with an audience of myself or myself and Mrs.E. On rare occasions a couple of other friends may pop over for a show, so long as they know what they are seeing....... and that is it.

I think the moral to this story and,indeed, this hobby, is that if you are watching on your own.... don't worry.... you are in the majority!

.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on January 01, 2018, 11:15 AM:

That's why it's so great to go to conventions: in day to day life you pretty much fly solo, then all of a sudden for a few days you are with dozens (maybe hundreds) of others. It's a lot of fun.

My family does shows at the house for our friends once or twice a year: the first couple of times two or three showed up, the last time: twelve!

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on January 01, 2018, 06:34 PM:

Back in the 1970s I used to take the ST1200 plus films etc mostly Disney and T/J shorts, that were joined onto larger reels and do films shows around the place. The response was always good and it was fun doing it..."I should add there was no money involved"... Of course that was in the days of small TVs and before VHS tape, so to watch films on a 7ft screen, even digests was really something. Those days are now long gone, but apart from family, I still make our wee home cinama available to various groups.

One lot last year, turned up to a "mystery movie night" sixteen of them to a Titanic 1953 Barbara Stanwyck blu-ray screening, they thoroughly enjoyed it. I left a small donation tin out and later found $115 dollars in it...wow..so folks they can come again next year [Smile]

....The main thing is to find a movie that works for everyone and that's the hard part. One lady from a group asked me if I would be willing to make things available to a dance class she coaches and they would go to the video library and pick the title themselves...which is a great idea, takes the pressure of me.

Its a hobby you can share with others, but I can easily just sit back and watch something on my own which I do often. The thing is with a lot of Super 8 and 16mm, is that the subject I might be interested in, might not be of any interest to others, so I dont push it. With video projection and blu-ray, well that does open up a huge range of movies that others can watch as well. Super 8 and 16mm is great for shorts, and there is a huge range of interesting stuff on those film formats. VP/Blu-ray for the features...so its really getting the best of all worlds.

Some of the kids from that dance class I mentioned. The photo was taken a couple of years ago, they gave both myself and Yvonne a quick demo what they actually do...very impressive...and have again been back since this photo was taken.

Posted by Clinton Hunt (Member # 2072) on January 01, 2018, 08:17 PM:

I watch my films on my own,I live with my brother but he has no interest in my hobby.That's OK though.One of my sisters loves my hobby and every now and then I take a projector and some films to her and we watch them [Smile]

I have a friend who lives in the South Island (I live in the North Island) and we chat all the time about projectors and the bargains we find or the rarities!
But I'm happy to sit on my own and watch my films in peace and quiet - that's from people who chat too much lol

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on January 02, 2018, 12:19 PM:

I would like to do shows but with moving equipment around i dont think it does any good and you have the added risk of damaging so for us it's strictly left permanently set up in the film den, but it is shared with my Brother weekly and when i can persuade others to join in they usually do. [Wink]

Posted by David Skillern (Member # 607) on January 02, 2018, 12:46 PM:

Hi Guys,
This Christmas I was joined by my wife and daughter for Santa Claus the Movie on 16mm - then over the festive season - my daughter joined me for Small One, Its a Wonderful Life, Scrooge, A Walt Disney Christmas and Thank You Very Much - the scrooge extract. But for the rest of the year unless its something they want to see - I'm on my own - I get more chance if ive got something on blu ray they want to see - then i'll use the NEC.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on January 02, 2018, 12:56 PM:

I'd say my days of road shows are basically over. I did at least one a year back in the days when the "sound system" was just the internal speakers in the projectors. With an external sound system it's just too much stuff to bring and connect, and all it takes to stop the show is forgetting that sixth cable that ties it all together.

-besides, the family car went from being a minivan to an SUV: too short to carry my screen!

Posted by Robert Crewdson (Member # 3790) on January 02, 2018, 01:26 PM:

I'd never thought about the two camps before, but now you mention it, I only came across 2 people in the 70s who had home movies, they never mentioned package films, so I think they went into it just to record the family.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on January 02, 2018, 02:11 PM:

Robert, i think a lot of people only had projectors to view films of there own families, i find it quite sad to see so many people on ebay actually selling off there private made family films. Even more odd that anyone would want to buy them [Confused]

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on January 02, 2018, 02:54 PM:

Steve...all about a roof rack [Big Grin]

Tom..thats terrible that people are selling of there home movies that is a definate "no no" in my book, those are personal films, and should be stored away by a family member....sad.

Looking back to the 70s mixing package movies like Star Wars [Cool]

and taking home movies, were all part of the fun of 8mm. I was watching some stuff last night that I took back in the 1970s and unlike those long ago faded Star Wars films The stuff I took still looks great.

Magazine like Moviemaker, Film Making, of those times covered not only making your own films eg striping etc, but included excellent reviews of films to buy as well, they covered all aspects of Super8, for me that's what its about

I never had a problem with puting on a away film show, but always used a couple of single 8 ohm extension speakers for the ST1200. The screen was a old 7ft wide roller blind with a painted black border...everything was make shift.

The time taken to put those short films onto larger reels prior to the screening, with only one stop for a single reel change did pay of. Its a lot of work, but if you intend to put a show on for others you need to get things right. [Smile]

otherwise it all falls apart. [Smile]

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on January 02, 2018, 03:20 PM:

Blimy Graham thats almost a ditto for our super 8 past, we still often get out the home made movies, our first one, a test of the winde up standard 8 silent camera, was simply my Brothers and me kicking a football about in the local park, filmed by my Mum, complete with the overexposed bit when we had to turn the chunky spools over for the second half so to speak, i was 9 years old and the colours are as good today as they were then.
Our own films, except the war effort, we did were nothing more than us having a laugh. Great fun, and in between our collection of package movies were beginning.
I will dig out a photo of my very early days later and get it up here. [Wink]

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on January 02, 2018, 03:22 PM:

-interesting you should say that Graham!

A couple of years ago I was considering putting the screen inside some PVC pipe and bolting it down to my roof racks.

-A one of a kind cinema accessory for sure!

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on January 02, 2018, 04:05 PM:

Melvin, package films reminds me of original boxes, there is the origin of Shorty - Sharing with others at gatherings and such is best - Look at all we've learned from each other right here on the forums! - Cheers, Shorty

Posted by Will Trenfield (Member # 5321) on January 02, 2018, 06:02 PM:

Regarding family home movies on eBay, there'll be many with films but no projector. So, they might well send them off, at considerable expense, to a company to put them onto DVD.
Having their films returned would be another expense so they might opt out of that leaving the company to dispose of their films. Maybe some find their way onto eBay as well as those from house clearances.

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on January 02, 2018, 09:23 PM:

Home movies being sold might seem a bit sad, but the far worse scenario are the ones thrown away by people unwilling to retain them, having decided that their DVD copy is not only the best way to view the films, but also a superior format with a longer life!!

But there are also people with no descendants or close relations who would want their films. Various archives seek home movies for social history, so anyone fearing their home movies are likely to end up in a skip could consider leaving them to such bodies.

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on January 03, 2018, 11:49 AM:

Steve thats a good idea for putting a screen into and having sealed capping at either end to keep any rain out [Cool]

One would hope that the places folk take there films to, inform them the reasons why they should retain the 8mm films even after a transfer. The fact is that "digital" wont last, but the film print will, and disposing of the film means that they will never be able to do any future transfer. I would go as far as to say, that its irresponsible for any transfer company not to state this fact to there customers.

Adrian thats a good point regarding any historical footage. I am doing just that at present for a heritage park.

By not having a projector anymore, is no excuse to dispose of the films, and making money out of selling them might just go down like a lead balloon, when other family members find out. Once sold you dont have any control as to how those films and more importantly the contents will be used...so dont sell them.

PS....About sharing a hobby..I added this to the facebook page of one of the places I once worked at 20 years ago yesterday. The quality of the Super8 I took was not good, I should have done a lot better, however it captured a time and place and gives those that once worked there a [Smile]

...I am sure, so there you go... its sharing [Smile]

https://vimeo.com/249484338

Posted by Will Trenfield (Member # 5321) on January 03, 2018, 04:56 PM:

I had a look at several companies offering cine to digital transfers. All would return the original films for the cost of postage or had included it in the price for the transfer. Only one company, though, explained why it was important to retain the original films. Going back to the original topic, I'm yet another who enjoys the hobby solo.

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on January 03, 2018, 06:00 PM:

I used to do shows out and about for kids birthday parties and Sunday School Church film shows in the past.

I also ran a film shows club...Hermes Film Club.. from my home away back in the day to members who contributed with the expenses of film hire and lamp spares.

Happy memories of these.

However these days I mostly watch shows on my own but I may be up and running again giving shows later this year in the Village Hall.

A lot of kids have never seen a film projector in action so this could be of interest to them. So I will need to get my 16mm and 8mm machines a good service soon if this comes off.

It will be great to get a larger audience once again. [Smile]

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on January 03, 2018, 10:12 PM:

And this is why we often watch films on our own.. [Big Grin]

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on January 04, 2018, 03:19 AM:

Graham ... I have seen that one before. Hahahahahaha !!! [Smile]

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on January 04, 2018, 11:25 AM:

Good one Graham,
Yes i must admit i did use to really like doing the films shows for the odd Birthday party and every year with the ST Johns Badgers when my three were kids and in that group.
This would have been around 20 years ago and lasted for around 17 years, (this is the third year i have not been asked to do it due to the group being so small with little interest, sad), as each year went by you could see more and more of the younger members looking totally baffled at the projector.
One thing was guaranteed though, no matter how hyper they were once the lights went down and cartoons started they were fixed to screen and laughed a out loud all the way through the show and never once misbehaved. [Wink]

Posted by Jake Mayes (Member # 3292) on January 04, 2018, 05:13 PM:

I often take the projector to friend's houses along with personal reels and have fun screening films. Some of my reversal prints have been played well over 100 times and look like new.

Many have fun on nights out and other stuff filming with and being filmed by it, a family or friend event becomes an art for me with Super 8.

Even tonight i just had a screening with some friends of all my reversal prints and our christmas ones at their house.

Posted by Douglas Warren (Member # 1047) on January 05, 2018, 02:30 AM:

I watch my films alone, but my wife fully supports and understands my hobby. Since I've been ill the last two years, it means a lot to me to relax with my films or working on my projectors.

Posted by Panayotis A. Carayannis (Member # 1220) on January 05, 2018, 04:46 AM:

I too watch my films alone,unless we,the members of the "Greek Mafia" as Tony Reypert calls us, gather together at each other's houses. Something that luckily happens about once a month.

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on January 05, 2018, 01:05 PM:

Stay well, Doug - Shorty

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on January 05, 2018, 03:14 PM:

Panayotis, im with you [Big Grin]

Posted by Mark Todd (Member # 96) on January 05, 2018, 03:36 PM:

On the other side of the coin my ex hated it with avengance to say the least.

I was often caught out hummimng the theme to a film I had reserved etc, so she would be on to it and a big oh no you don`t would come down on me.

Worst was when I was offered a mint barely used GS1200 cheap and she heard me on the phone. That was the end of that.

But my eldest son now again likes to watch more cine with me so thats really nice.

But he`s decided to stay out of the hobby more or less on the cost front with his family etc and just do it with me and just take a machine home now and again.

I was trying to get him a really nice machine to use but he can`t afford the films he would like anyway so hes staying LCD.

Just out of interest what is the youngest person you know who does cine now on a regular footing.

Of people who I know their ages I think the youngest is about 48.

Best Mark.

Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 892) on January 05, 2018, 05:26 PM:

I try to inflict the hobby on family and friends whenever possible. I'm blessed with audiences more times than not, and try to make the show worth their while. Or at least a "keep or sell" vote!

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on January 05, 2018, 05:37 PM:

Jake... its always a good thing to share your projectors and films with other people outside of your home. I have always found it to be a reward in itself. Good on you. [Smile]

Posted by Daniel D. Teoli Jr. (Member # 6043) on January 05, 2018, 06:02 PM:

No one shares and everyone shares. I'm not a projectionist. I acquire, conserve and digitize old reels to put online for free.

I get no help from anyone nor any family support. It is all what I can do...alone!

If I could put the hi res DVD's online I would, but can only put MP4. Even then YouTube takes half them down.

Film stock came as an offshoot from my still photo archive work in early 2017.

Posted by Panayotis A. Carayannis (Member # 1220) on January 06, 2018, 03:46 AM:

Tom,and everybody else in this forum,you are most welcome!!!

Posted by Richard C Patchett (Member # 974) on January 06, 2018, 12:29 PM:

Greetings

This is on my web site
My interest in the classic movie industry:

I started to repair projectors in High School. Carried my

talents into the USMC 1968. I learned more.

1st wife had no interest in film. For 12 years I sort of gave up.

May 1990 my new wife introduced me to the Classic Movies Cinevent in Columbus, Ohio and we continue to enjoy sharing this hobby and making an annual trip. Within a couple of years this interest expanded to buying and repairing projectors and doing film presentations. It didn't take long to discover there is still a huge demand not only for repair work but new and used parts. I started getting increased requests for repairs during Cinevent visits and during the year as word spread of my dedication and commitment to meeting repair demands. Initially, I sold parts from my room and the dealer floor as word spread of the availability. Eventually the director (Steven Haynes) of Cinevent approached me and asked if I would provide an ongoing repair service at the annual event and he has provided visibility to those attending by positioning my vendor table on the main floor for the past years. Currently, I display parts and equipment for sale along with the projector repair.

Over the course of time i have supplied projectors, parts and service of Bell & Howell, Elmo, Eiki and other projectors to those in the USA. Sales on parts have expanded to overseas at locations in Argentina, Denmark, UK, Spain, Italy, Poland and the Netherlands. Currently, I purchase parts from 7 different suppliers. Initial orders started with the purchase of bulbs. The demand for parts and suppliers has increased significantly.

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