8mm Forum: 57th BFCC

This is topic 57th BFCC - MAY 16th in forum General Yak at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by David Pannell (Member # 300) on April 09, 2009, 06:55 AM:

So, who's coming/going to this 'shindig'?

I'm pulling out all the stops to be there myself, as I couldn't make last October's event, and I hear, sadly, that the numbers were down a bit.

Let's all try to rally round this time and give Keith all the support he deserves.

Cheers!

Posted by John Edwards (Member # 1333) on April 10, 2009, 03:36 AM:

yes david its only twice a year
and ian of perrys movies will be there
as he didnt make it last october due to
back injury quote:theatre is live film
is art television is furniture.JE.(eddie) [Smile]

[ April 11, 2009, 05:01 AM: Message edited by: John Edwards ]

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on April 10, 2009, 03:46 AM:

I'll be there! In fact, I ran one of the 35mm programmes last night just to check it in preparation. I have some work to do on the Elmo but hope to get that sorted in the next couple of days... yes, it's all expense for the twice yearly event but hopefully it's kept the hobby going for longer than it otherwise would have done.

By the way, Classic seem to be putting out a raft of new releases lately so the new releases show should be interesting.

Posted by Mark Williams (Member # 794) on April 10, 2009, 06:45 AM:

And here's a list,some great tiles here..

THE FOLLOWING NEW RELEASES ARE AVAILABLE

PATHE NEWS - THE DAVE CLARK FIVE COLOUR NEWSREEL OF 60'S POP MUSIC £35
DRACULA(1958) ORIGINAL HAMMER HORROR TRAILER FROM A NEW 35MM MASTER - THE USA TITLE OF THIS WAS HORROR OF DRACULA £20
CORN CHIPS HIARIOUS CHIP AND DALE PLAGUE DONALD WITH EXPLOSIVE POPCORN !£29.99
BUMBLE BOOGIE - CLIP FROM MELODY TIME £27.99
THE MAGIC UMBRELLA AWARD WINNING CZECH CARTOON 400 FULL REEL
A NEW ITALIAN CARTOON - CALL FOR DETAILS
INDIANA JONES 4 SCOPE TRAILER - CALL

AND SOON

A HARD DAYS NIOGHT EXTRA LONG B/W TRAILER

Posted by Mark Norton (Member # 165) on April 10, 2009, 10:32 AM:

Got in quick last year and booked a days holiday as soon as I found out the date! looking forward to another great day.

Posted by Yanis Tzortzis (Member # 434) on April 10, 2009, 08:00 PM:

Count me in too [Smile]

Are we having a meeting as usual @1 or 2 o'clock in the show room?

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on April 11, 2009, 02:14 AM:

I believe a reel of Star Wars 6 is also available for a screening.

Posted by Panayotis A. Carayannis (Member # 1220) on April 11, 2009, 07:07 AM:

Add, at least three more members of the "Greek Mafia",myself included of course. [Cool]

Posted by Paul Tivy (Member # 836) on April 11, 2009, 12:36 PM:

I shall be there too of course, looking forward to seeing how Keith has edited the 3d footage I shot in Blackpool.

Tiv

Posted by Yanis Tzortzis (Member # 434) on April 12, 2009, 05:21 AM:

I'll be waiting for you Takh [Big Grin]

Posted by Guy Taylor, Jr. (Member # 786) on April 12, 2009, 08:13 PM:

I was planning to attend but the hurricane problem we had here in Galveston, Texas has postponed my trip.

My business is doing fine and I am putting money aside for the next one. I will attend the one in 2010. I already have planned where I am going to stay in London. I plan to make a 10 day vacation of it.

Hope that some of my American friends will be there as well. This will be my first trip to the U.K. and I hope will be the first of several.

Regards.

Posted by Jean-Marc Toussaint (Member # 270) on April 22, 2009, 10:25 AM:

Finally, after missing both 2008 editions, I'll be back in Ealing in May...

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on April 22, 2009, 04:18 PM:

I also plan on being there. Lets hope Clancy gets that burning torch of his sorted before the day.

Kev.

Posted by David Erskine (Member # 1244) on April 22, 2009, 05:19 PM:

..... And I shall also grace the event with my presence (if anyone notices!) Hope some of you will spot me and say 'hello'.
Cheers, David E

Posted by Christopher P Quinn (Member # 1294) on April 23, 2009, 08:00 PM:

Yep, i see no reason not to be there as of yet, but my job is a little rickety at the moment [Frown]

so can't promise, but will do my up most. [Wink]

Chris.

Posted by Mark Mander (Member # 340) on April 24, 2009, 12:21 PM:

I'm hoping to make it as well,i've got the day booked in the diary and not long now....Mark.

Posted by Christopher Gillan (Member # 1440) on April 26, 2009, 03:52 PM:

Is there anyone from Devon that is thinking of going to Ealing
that would like to share the trip let me know.

Thanks

Posted by Graham Sinden (Member # 431) on May 02, 2009, 12:43 PM:

I will also be there as always. But I have just heard that all the dealers stalls will all be in the main hall where the refreshments are (no bring and buy room). Mr Clancy can you confirm this?

Graham S

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on May 02, 2009, 01:06 PM:

Are there going to be less dealers than usual?

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on May 03, 2009, 03:30 AM:

The dealers will be in the restaurant. Not sure if we will be one or two dealers down but hopefully not. What happened was hardly anyone returned their booking forms in the usual timeframe and given that costs are always increasing and it is to the benefit of the hobby to keep the BFCC going as long as possible we decided the best solution was to lose the Liz Cantell room on this occasion.

A major benefit of this will be that it will be harder for all the people who don't pay to come in to do so again.

Should be a cracking atmosphere with the changes for this one. And it means that once you're in the dealer room the back staircase is the way up into the cinema so we'll be completely self-contained. Keith has some cracking shows lined up including all the other UK film collector conventions in 3D so don't miss it.

Posted by Graham Sinden (Member # 431) on May 03, 2009, 05:29 AM:

Yes I agree the atmosphere should still be good and I am very much looking forward to the whole day. I think we should all give Keith and the team all the support we can to keep the BFCC going.

On the minus side, I did hear that Ken Mayes will not be there but it will still be a fantastic day out so dont miss it!

Graham S

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on May 03, 2009, 01:43 PM:

Do we have a Bring & Buy stall this time?

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on May 04, 2009, 04:03 AM:

Yes, there will still be a bring and buy... and the dealer room on the whole should be thronging with activity - something we've been a bit lacking in recent years.

Posted by Steven Sigel (Member # 21) on May 06, 2009, 04:03 PM:

I may be in London next weekend - if so, I'll be there... Would love to meet some of the UK guys I've been buying and selling films from/to over the years.

Can someone email me a link to the location/directions on how to get there? steven (at) 16mm-films (dot) net.

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on May 07, 2009, 03:51 AM:

Email sent. Let me know if it doesn't arrive Steven.

Posted by Steven Sigel (Member # 21) on May 09, 2009, 08:22 PM:

Thanks John!

Looking forward to meeting a lot of the UK collectors I've known electronically for years. And Mike O -- looking forward to going for a nice curry and a pint!

Posted by Simon McConway (Member # 219) on May 10, 2009, 06:01 AM:

I will be there for certain. I am bringing two projectors for sale, but please, don't haggle, I know what these machines (very rare) are worth:

Eumig P8...no lead, lamp or lens...a steal at £800 or £875 with two take up spools.
Boots Super 8...smokes when switched on, otherwise perfect £500

Posted by Martin Jones (Member # 1163) on May 10, 2009, 06:16 AM:

Why should anyone even consider haggling? They sound like real bargains to me It's as well I'm not going or nobody else would get a look in.

Martin

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on May 10, 2009, 10:08 AM:

I'll be there - I don't think I've missed one since the early 1990s.

The "use it or lose" it warning is something that I hope we can view as motivating as well as alarming. The BFCCs - and of course the NFCC in Blackpool - are the 'jewels in the crown' of the UK collecting events and I'm sure that all keen collectors would agree that it would be severe blow to the hobby to lose any of them, although I suppose it would be understandable if the BFCC reverted to being an annual event in the spring (much as I would prefer to see two a year).

Without being at all critical of the good publicity already given to the BFCCs in various ways, I thought I could put forward a few ideas that could potentially help to boost the attendance, although some might already be happening, and some - even if considered valid - would be impractical in the limited time before Saturday, but could perhaps be considered prior to October.

1. Something collectors can do (that I've done for some time) is to send an email publicising the event, with an electronic flyer and a BFCC website link, to everyone they know that might respond to encouragement. Some recipients I contact are people on the fringe of the hobby, who don't subscribe to publications or make a point of attending events, but will sometimes do so if they're free and get a reminder.
2. Encourage fairly local film enthusiasts that are NOT collectors to attend. The spectacular shows and talks that the BFCC specialises in can of course also be of interest to non-collectors. I told woman I know that lives in Ealing about it and she rarely misses it, partly because she always finds some film-related memorabilia that appeals to her on the stalls.
3. This might already happen but posters/flyers in a few specialist shops might be worthwhile, if the places in question would accept them. E.g. Umit Films in Hackney; the Widescreen Centre; Sendean Cameras in St Anne's Court off Wardour St (packed with Super 8 cameras and sells camera stock); PEC in Dean St, etc. It might also be worth placing some flyers on the table provided at the Westminster Central Hall film memorabilia events.
4. Posters/flyers in film schools might be desirable; one of the most enthusiastic 'younger' collectors I know started as a film-making student. Students are unlikely to already be collectors but might well be attracted by the shows and the equipment on offer. Appropriate colleges include the London Film Academy (in Fulham Broadway so not very far from Ealing) and the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield. I have a contact who collects film at the latter who might be willing to display material. He told me a while back that they were having difficulty finding enough 16mm cameras for the students wanting to learn how to shoot on film. To attract this sort of audience, it might be worth placing more emphasis on the dealers and the bring and buy stall on the publicity material.
5. Maybe the Blackpool approach of selling advance tickets for a slightly cheaper price is worth considering, as someone who has already bought a ticket is very likely to turn up on the day.
6. Finally, I'd suggest having a show of new and recent releases on 16mm, featuring releases from Derann plus perhaps one or two from CHC, Robbies Reels etc. Not only would this be a first at a UK event, it might also help to attract the significant number of 16mm collectors who don't collect on 8. Many 8mm collectors may not know how good modern 16mm prints can be. It's worth noting that Derann have not released anything new on 8 for some time, but are still making additions to the shorts available on 16.

If you have any further suggestions or comments that John could consider discussing with Keith, please put them forward, and let's see if we can start building up the numbers attending again!

[ May 10, 2009, 05:27 PM: Message edited by: Adrian Winchester ]

Posted by Graham Sinden (Member # 431) on May 10, 2009, 12:33 PM:

Some interesting points Adrain. I like the blackpool idea of selling advance tickets, but this would require a fair bit of work. As Keith dosent have a shop, Im not sure how he could take credit card payments over the phone. And you would also need to post out every ticket naturally or you could reserve a ticket and collect it when you arrive. I agree with you about printing or emailing flyers/adverts and sending them to as many places as possible.

One point I notice about recent collecting events I attend is that a lot of collectors arrive early and initially the halls are packed, but after only 1 hour or 2, people start leaving whereas years ago collectors would hang around for the whole day drinking tea and chating etc. Why this hapens today is anyones guess. Mabye their excuses are the traffic on the roads, got food shopping to get, DIY work at home, football on telly, nice sunny day, busy day tomorrow etc. I think the 3D shows at the BFCC will make people stay (the last one I remember was packed) and mabye what we need is some more shows like that, but then the dealers will get fed up if everyone is in the cinema!

What I would like to see is a return to the old days of the BFCC where films are projected in the middle of the hall and the dealers stop trading during those shows but start up again when finished. That way the dealers can enjoy the shows and still sell films, and everybody is in the same hall will make for a nice atmosphere. There could even be a fish and chip meal as well. It might just work again.

Graham S

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on May 10, 2009, 01:23 PM:

Nice points Adrian makes.

I would particularly like to see more 16mm in the film show.

IMO, the whole event is mainly geared towards the 8mm collector - not a criticism, just making an observation. I always enjoy the day.

-Mike

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on May 11, 2009, 04:16 AM:

If anyone would like to purchase the new 16mm releases so we could put them on that would solve that issue. We don't get review prints of 16mm material.

Other than that there are some very good suggestions. I used to get flyers in plenty of central London stores (including the Virgin Megastore at one time - almost 500 people came to that convention) but as I no longer live there that's out of the question.

We'll see how this Saturday goes but assuming enough people attend to warrant Keith continuing then any volunteers to help spread the word would be gratefully received. I have to say though that there is no chance of the cinema and the dealers being in the same room.

Posted by Fabrizio Mosca (Member # 142) on May 12, 2009, 02:23 AM:

Personally, I believe that 16mm collectors don't need to see samples of what is on the market, just because quality is usually very high.
Maybe it would be nice to know what prints are available in 16mm and who are the dealers. Derann usually indicates new 16mm prints in the newsletter but it's not clear if these prints are the one and only they have, and CHC usually doesn't keep the site updated (for example I discovered 2 weeks ago that One man band is available also in 16mm and no indication is reported on the website).

BTW, John, have you already decided the list of the super8 new and recent releases show? I would like to know what I'm missing

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on May 12, 2009, 03:11 AM:

Keith hasn't put it together yet Fabrizio. He has it all worked out in his head though. Hopefully I'll be able to get the programme up on the site before we leave here early Friday morning.

Posted by Stuart Reid (Member # 1460) on May 12, 2009, 06:12 AM:

I'm really looking forward to this convention. I hope Keith will include one or two of the 16mm prints I lent him last week, poor guy looked knackered at the 9.5 meet!

Posted by David Erskine (Member # 1244) on May 12, 2009, 10:51 AM:

Now - this'll cheer you all up! I've just realised I can't get to Ealing this time (due to other commitments (making money)) so you'll have to raise an empty cup to me. Someone tell Hutchinson that I'm sorry. Cheers, David E

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on May 12, 2009, 05:44 PM:

I'm trying my best to get along for a few hours but family commitments may prevent me. Mum having had a couple of strokes a few months a go means she needs looking after more now and also its the weekend my Daughter is over before her school trip to Morocco.
I had every thing worked out for the following weekend which the BFCC would normally fall on and then realised the date had changed. [Frown]

Hope to see you guys there but I cant promise.

Kev.

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on May 13, 2009, 04:41 AM:

Terrible news Kevo. I hope Mum fully recovers.

Everyone else bear in mind any convention you attend could be the last. Keith has worked miracles keeping the BFCC going on such a large scale for so long but given the constant cost increases and smaller attendances it's not going to carry on forever. I'm always amazed the hobby has survived as long as it has and in this regard we shall be carrying out a survey at this convention to see if it's worth continuing.

So please do everything you can to get there because then the BFCC has more chance of surviving to the 58th event and beyond. We'll all miss it when it's gone.

STOP PRESS!!! Keith's just emailed me the first draft of the programme so take a look at the next event page of bfcc.biz.

[ May 13, 2009, 06:51 AM: Message edited by: John Clancy ]

Posted by Mark Williams (Member # 794) on May 13, 2009, 08:52 AM:

Just seen the full line up on the BFCC site,looks like a really superb line up there John.

I have just posted links to the BFCC site on various forum sites I subscribe to,so hopefully we shall see a few new faces this time around.

See you Saturday!!

Cheers MW

Posted by Fabrizio Mosca (Member # 142) on May 13, 2009, 09:12 AM:

I'm quite sorry I'll miss this convention, it's an interesting program.

Posted by Mike Peckham (Member # 16) on May 14, 2009, 08:56 AM:

I'm hoping to be there - shan't know until the morning though if I can get away. If I can, I look forward to the lunch time meet up in the projection area!

(hopefully) see you there! [Smile]

Mike

Posted by David Pannell (Member # 300) on May 15, 2009, 07:15 AM:

Any further thoughts on wearing name tags?

I know this was mooted sometime ago, but I think it probably died a death.

I have only been to one previous BFCC meet which was in October the year-before-last, and can only remember a handfull of people - it must be an age thing!

If not, I do hope people will not be backward in coming forward to introduce themselves to one another.

Just a thought!

Posted by Stuart Reid (Member # 1460) on May 15, 2009, 07:20 AM:

So is everyone from this forum meeting at a certain place at a certain time?

Posted by Jean-Marc Toussaint (Member # 270) on May 15, 2009, 07:33 AM:

I suppose that it will be around the projection area at the end of the 12:15 show. See you all tomorrow.

Posted by Fabrizio Mosca (Member # 142) on May 15, 2009, 08:22 AM:

Please, shoot lots of picture! [Big Grin]

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on May 15, 2009, 01:46 PM:

I'll be there.
Anybody who doesn't already know me - just follow the Cork accent [Smile]

-Mike

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on May 16, 2009, 05:29 PM:

Thanks everyone who came along to show support. It's made all the difference and the atmosphere was wonderful today. I think the single dealer hall was a big success and the shows were as good as ever.

Posted by Stuart Fyvie (Member # 38) on May 17, 2009, 03:40 AM:

I had a great day. Got some bargains- 'The sea Hawk' - '42nd. St' for £25.
Also the latest Armchair Odeon Dvd. Spent my budget!
Good to meet up with some forum members, Jean-Marc, That film expo in Paris sounds worth a visit on Euro-star and your home cinema sounds amazing!
John C. Thanks for the cider, I think I needed a few more to make sense of the 'Purple Monster!'
Fish and chips with my old mate from the BBC Bob Greenwood for lunch, then back to the hall in time for the shows. The 3D film was quite effective. Lots of 'Depth' shots of lovely old projectors.
I'm having a showing next week of my 'spoils'.HD DLP projector running alongside 8mm GS 1200.
Thanks again to Keith, Ken, John and the team. It is quite an effort to pull this sort of thing of. Hope to be at the next one.

Posted by Graham Sinden (Member # 431) on May 17, 2009, 04:44 AM:

Excellent day out. Purchased some nice bargains and also the Armchair Odeons 4 DVD and the 3d show. John, you were right, the single dealers hall had such a buzz about it and it was rarely empty. Hopefully the october convention will be the same as the atmosphere was so good having everybody in the same room. I wish that was done last year. Im sure the dealers preferred as I saw a lot of sales taking place. My only complaint (nothing to do with keith) is that the toilets are disgusting, enough said.

Sorry I had to leave at the start of the 3D show, but I was going out in the evening and had to get back to pick up a mate.

Graham S

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