8mm Forum: Why so few women?

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Posted by Mark Howard (Member # 870) on January 13, 2010, 05:19 PM:

Here's a question that has always bothered me - why is film collecting a pastime mainly dominated by men? I know there are a few ladies who are members of the forum, but it is more often than not a private members club for discerning gentlemen. Whenever I've been to film fairs the only ladies one tends to see (and apologies if this sounds sexist, it's not meant to) are either serving tea or are following their husbands round making sure they don't spend too much!

My good lady wife enjoys a good film, but she'd rather just throw a dvd in the player and has no interest whatsoever in the technicalities of mechanical projection or film handling, etc. Could it be boys-toys syndrome, where blokes just have to have some kind of gadget to play with, even if it's fifty years old? Or could it be that most of us were bitten by the cine bug at a young age and just refuse to grow up? What do you chaps (and chapesses) think?

Posted by John Almond (Member # 1782) on January 13, 2010, 05:38 PM:

That seems to be so very true........ I do think it is a case of "boys toys" its the same in our house with the cinema I built which has a Very large screen and a panasonic lcd projector with full 5.1 sound system. Its simple to use but in the last 4 years Ive had it she has only been in it about 4 times. But like you say, in the house she will throw in a dvd and watch it on the TV no probs.
And another thing that puzzles me is the fact that most women are tone deaf, many a time Iv'e come home from work and she is listening to a cd on a very expensive sound system and all the controls for the bass and treble are turned right down.......it might aswell be the sound from a cheap tiny old cassete player. God bless em [Big Grin]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on January 13, 2010, 06:12 PM:

Caution! This series of posts may annoy women. (giggle)

I agree with both posts, though my wife does enjoy sitting down to her own movie theater in the house! She also loves just how projectors run and adores studying the gears.

It really does seem to be something that men adore as a general rule. Don't ask me to explain it, though.

(My wife seems to be a little tone deaf as well)

Posted by Gian Luca Mario Loncrini (Member # 1417) on January 13, 2010, 06:29 PM:

I agree with all previous posts, though Chiara does not like sitting down to my own movie theater! She can stand only it for 10-15 minutes [Roll Eyes]

...

- USUAL QUESTION: 'Why do you spend so much money for a movie you can have on DVD for 10 euro???'...

The question was the same 5 years ago.
The question was the same 10 years ago.
The question was the same 20 years ago (referring to VHS).
The question has always been the same [Roll Eyes]

...

Posted by Marshall Crist (Member # 1312) on January 13, 2010, 07:16 PM:

I've noticed that men and women are different. It's annoying.

Posted by Rob Young. (Member # 131) on January 13, 2010, 07:17 PM:

I have come to think of my other half as my own personal "quality control department"; my very own THX if you like...she loves our home cinema, but every time I try to project something barely passable she watches it, considers it for a moment, then declares something like,

"Well.......I enjoyed it, but with all the problems with the ****** and the ****** and the ******, you wouldn't show it to anyone else, would you...???"

Then she merrily goes off to watch "Eastenders"... and I spend the evening crying into my projector and latest (usually expensive) film purchase.....then vow to get up very early the next day and fix all those problems.....

The worst part is that when SHE criticises something I actual DO get up first thing and spent ages putting it right...

Damn, when SHE is right she IS RIGHT!!! [Smile]

That's why I luv 'er!

Then, of course when I've fixed everying and the film is running perfectly she's, "seen that one already".

Ah well...I go off and watch my latest film purchase for the twentieth time and she goes off to watch "Eastenders"...happy ever after!!! [Smile]

EDIT: Damn...I just re-read my post and it occurs to me that there's NOTHING freudian in there at all is there!!! Seriously...she enjoys it as much as I do...I hope [Smile]

Posted by Claus Harding (Member # 702) on January 13, 2010, 07:21 PM:

I think it is very much about the mechanics, and we have to admit, that does tend to be us (the guys.)

I dabble in music and do some home recording, and it is the same thing in that area: try finding female recording engineers or, barring that, women at home who do this....they do exist, but they certainly aren't common. There is nothing sexist about saying we have different instincts and interests, it's just how it is.

Now, sitting down to a good movie on DVD, we can both do, and both enjoy it too. But come the reels and projection stand, I am pretty much on my own [Wink]

Claus.

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on January 14, 2010, 01:59 AM:

My missus loves to watch film though she has little interest in the mechanics of projection.
When she knows there is a new print on the way, she looks forward to it immensely - at times, more than I do! [Smile]

She enjoys the social aspect of Ealing twice a year and is really into the fact that there is such a large group of us interested in keeping the hobby of film collecting alive.

As to why there are relatively few female collectors I think that's largely down to the fact that we men like the "tinkering" aspect of the hobby, and are more likely to have been exposed to this during our youth.

Posted by Dino Everette (Member # 1378) on January 14, 2010, 02:21 AM:

My wife is asking me to read a book called "men are from Mars women are from venus" which she says states that women want to be heard and men want to always fix it. In the book it is referring to disputes but I think the message is relevant.....

My wife enjoys the films, and attends the festivals with me as well. (Which often legitimizes me). The best was when I was fawning over actress Julie Adams, and telling her how much I love Creature from the Black Lagoon, and how I've seen all her films including the obscure ones like The Looters and even Francis Joins the Wacs etc, etc...and my beautiful and patient wife just stood there and then said, "and I know you from the TV show Murder She Wrote."

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on January 14, 2010, 02:34 AM:

Aaaaah Dino, I've just spotted something. Your reference to Ms Adams connected - is your sig from CREATURE??

Posted by Dino Everette (Member # 1378) on January 14, 2010, 03:01 AM:

YEP....I always loved the double meaning of that line uttered by Nester Paiva on the ship during what I consider the inter species under water sex ballet.....Of course I first saw it as a kid in the late 1960's and "far out" was a little more common then... [Big Grin]

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on January 14, 2010, 03:28 AM:

Women don't go in for hobbies the same way men do, it's really as simple as that.

Posted by Keith Ashfield (Member # 741) on January 14, 2010, 03:45 AM:

I have to say that I consider myself "blesssed" to have a wife who has always given me her utmost support in my film collecting hobbies. She enjoys our film shows, whether they be film or digital, on the "big" screen, or on the TV.

She loves attending the various Film Conventions and "Open Days" with me and she does all of this, despite the fact that she suffers most terribly with Arthritis.

She views my "hobby" as a "distraction from the pain", rather than the attitude adopted by most ladies, that the "hobby is a pain"!

Yes, she does pass comments on some of my purchases, film or digital.

The most common one is -

"Why have you bought yet another film, when WE have'nt watched the last ??(quantity), yet?

She has her own hobbies, of course, and my big "regret" is that I do not involve myself in her hobbies(other than from a monetary point of view,)to the extent that she is involved in mine.

But then again, I'm not very good with a sewing machine or knitting needles!! [Wink]

Posted by Gary Crawford (Member # 67) on January 14, 2010, 08:42 AM:

I have noticed that many women I know do not have "hobbies" per se....especially collecting type hobbies. Although some I know do collect decorative angels..or dolls....or there is one woman who I know collects anything to do with the movie, Wizard of Oz. My wife encourages my hobby and buys me things and goes with me to film conventions. She fully understands my interests.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on January 14, 2010, 09:17 AM:

Keith ...

Shoot me an e-mail ... (toac2001 at hotmail dot com)

I might have a partial "cure" for your wifes arthritis. It's not a quack cure, but it might help. I'm sorry to hear about your wifes condition.

All the best

OSI

Posted by Chris Batt (Member # 1880) on January 14, 2010, 09:33 AM:

Well what can I say ? only that the Projector I bought was sold by a lady in England, my partner loves 8mm movies...........I don't think that 8mm movie collecting is male dominated, but I haven't investigated this, seems little point really. I really don't think it is important to consider the sex of an enthusiast. I enjoy watching my movies with my partner, who loves my trusted Projector just as much as I do. She wants to get a hand-held movie maker, so I guess she is hooked [Smile]

did I just say she ? wink [Smile]

Posted by Rob Young. (Member # 131) on January 14, 2010, 09:42 AM:

It's funny now that I think about it but I wouldn't go to a film convention now without her.

I remember when I first met her (nearly 20 years ago; where DOES the time go???) and took her to a film convention. I remember actually being a bit worried about what she'd make of it all...would she think I was a complete nutter?

Well she walked into the dealers hall, looked around and said, "Ohh, it's like a jumble sale but with films!"

Then promptly began seaching through the nearest box of reels.

Knew there was a reason we're still together!

Posted by Keith Ashfield (Member # 741) on January 14, 2010, 09:48 AM:

Osi, thanks for your good wishes and concerns. A PM has been sent.

Rob - that's just like my wife. I have to say that she has been instrumental in finding me lots of "bargains" at Conventions and Film Fairs. It's like having an extra pairs of eyes, ears and hands to assist you.

Posted by Dino Everette (Member # 1378) on January 14, 2010, 12:06 PM:

what about knitting, scrapbooking, baking, gardening, book clubs, painting (all hobbies my wife enjoys) etc, etc..I think women have easily as many hobbies, just perhaps not ones that involve the mechanical tinkering that a film collector in this day and age is inevitably involved in..

Posted by Mike Peckham (Member # 16) on January 14, 2010, 12:17 PM:

Dino, I think you're right, all the women I know have hobbies but they probably aren't the sort of thing us boys would enjoy so we tend not to think of them as such.

For several years I put on a Christmas Film Show as part of my friends open house/craft sale and it was noticable then that there was a distinct difference in the sexes in terms of their interest in the film and projector. In a thread on here at the time I wrote;

quote:
An interesting development this year was that the Dads took an extra interest in the proceedings and whilst children were transfixed to the screen and partners were sorting through rough looking things made out of what looked like bits and pieces of nothing in particular, the Dads crowded round the GS 1200 and Oohhed and Ahhed over it and wanted to play almost as much as their little charges.

Quite telling I think [Wink]

. In addition, I remember the boys were equally as interested in looking at the projector as they were the screen where as the girls were interested only in what was on the screen.

Mike [Cool]

Posted by Keith Ashfield (Member # 741) on January 14, 2010, 12:30 PM:

Dino -

quote:
women have easily as many hobbies, just perhaps not ones that involve the mechanical tinkering that a film collector in this day and age is inevitably involved in..

Have you ever tried threading a bobbin on a sewing machine? [Eek!]

Give me my trusty GS1200 and film, anytime..... [Wink]

Posted by Dino Everette (Member # 1378) on January 14, 2010, 12:55 PM:

haha, yep. thank god the threading we do involves something a tad more visible...

Posted by Yanis Tzortzis (Member # 434) on January 15, 2010, 06:09 AM:

...would be interesting to have an idea: how many women work in the technical sector of cinema & TV, compared to men? That might offer an alternative explanation....
....as for wives,I'm single but the vast majority of women I'd date would find my film hobby interesting-for awhile;then they'd get bored with it [Frown]

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on January 15, 2010, 06:42 AM:

Exactly right Dino... they just don't go in for hobbies in the same way men do. Doll's houses is another almost exclusive female hobby. As much as I can understand the fascination with the miniature home hobby, it doesn't appeal to me much.

Times will change though. For instance, girls are now going in for engineering and in time some of them will rise to the top in that field. Perhaps when more and more girls get into that sort of work then they too will develop more interest in hobbies such as ours. I have noticed a few more into classic cars in recent years but only a few of them are interested in the mechanicals so far.

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on January 15, 2010, 11:55 AM:

I agree with what has been said regarding hobbies and the fact that men are more inclined to 'play' with the equipment involved. I'm sure that this applies as much to digital projection as film, and that very few digital 'home cinema' set ups have been created by women.

I also have to strongly disagree with Chris saying "I don't think that 8mm movie collecting is male dominated, but I haven't investigated this". You don't have to investigate it if you have spent countless hours at conventions and in film shops. I've been doing so for about 28 years and the total number of times that I've seen a woman buying a film probably still hasn't reached 10!

Posted by Stewart John Boyle (Member # 1785) on January 15, 2010, 11:59 AM:

Just so i dont get jailed or anything,I think most males are geeky selfish pigs.. [Wink]

Im sure women love collecting 50 year old technology as much as the next man..erm person.. [Smile]

Stewart

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on January 15, 2010, 12:45 PM:

John
Years ago when I worked on aircraft we had a young girl come to us with high hopes of getting an apprentiship as an aircraft engineer, she spent months doing "work experience" with us with no pay. It was hard for her to break into something that was mostly a male thing she really had a tough time to prove herself, near the end she came to me with the thought of giving up "I suggested not to" there was some opposition because she was female, soon after the engineering manager spoke to me and a couple of others with the question would I give her an apprentiship I said yes and later that day she was offered the job.

Over the years she turned out to be one of the best I have worked with.. myself I was surprised how narrow minded some people were, however in time all that changed for the better but it took a while.

Graham.

Posted by David Erskine (Member # 1244) on January 15, 2010, 01:17 PM:

Carol (my lady) used to shlepp to Ealing - and before that to Watermans, Red Lion Square and Derann - but now she only comes to Blackpool. She likes me to have my hobby - and does all the clever physical work in the cinema - she has all her own De Walt power tools! She has cost me a fortune! One Derann open day she said I didn't need any more films - then 'bought' 4 figures worth. Why 'bought'? 'Cos she left me to pay for them!!!
With her help, I'll get the cinema up and running properly - hopefully this year. And, yes, she still prefers to sling a DVD in and watch on a 23" screen. Go figure!
Cheers, David E

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on January 16, 2010, 04:33 AM:

Let's face it, women have only really had the chance to do traditionally male jobs in relatively recent years (thanks mainly to modern contraception). So many girls have opportunities undreamed of years ago if they wish to apply themselves. Currently few still go in for engineering but the last year I was at John Brown Engineers there were an increasing amount so I expect that will improve. Involvement in such jobs must surely increase interest in mechanical things and therefore mechanical hobbies. Time will tell. Whatever happens I don't see women being into film collecting to anywhere near the level of fellas!

Perhaps if we made soap operas illegal that would help!

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