8mm Forum: 61st BFCC, Ealing

This is topic 61st BFCC, Ealing in forum General Yak at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on October 06, 2012, 03:56 AM:

It's almost upon us. See ya there. Is everybody going?

Posted by Mark Williams (Member # 794) on October 06, 2012, 05:54 AM:

Yes I will be there Mike,look forward to seeing you then.

Posted by Darren Payne (Member # 1517) on October 06, 2012, 09:36 AM:

Yes! :-)

Posted by Fabrizio Mosca (Member # 142) on October 06, 2012, 01:36 PM:

I'll be there too!!

Posted by Antonio Costa Mota (Member # 221) on October 06, 2012, 01:50 PM:

count me in as well.See you there.

Posted by Steven Sigel (Member # 21) on October 06, 2012, 04:36 PM:

I'll be there!

Posted by Yanis Tzortzis (Member # 434) on October 06, 2012, 06:17 PM:

...me too; busy autumn-BFCC in October & Blackpool in November, feels like the good old times doesn't it! If only we could have DERANN's Xmas Open Day too....

Posted by Mal Brake (Member # 14) on October 07, 2012, 09:45 AM:

Booked my train tickets in August, so add me to the crowd.

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on October 12, 2012, 09:23 AM:

A northern collector kindly let me know yesterday a group of film enthusiasts have decided it's not worth making the effort to get to any of these convention events any longer because there are not enough dealers with anything worth buying. So here is a list of current dealers but I expect a few more to come out of the woodwork before the big day:-

Buckingham Film & Video Services
Classic Home Cinema
Tony Hutchinson
Perrys Movies
Rake Films
Gordon Ogbourne (16mm spares etc)
Guy Thomas & the Bournemouth Contingent
Roger Godden & Co
Malcolm Webb
John Wolthus (Dutch Cinerama Specialist)
David Groves
Ray Bruno
Bruce Latham
The Cinema Museum
PLUS an extra large Bring & Buy area.

So in case anyone believes the myth that Keith only puts effort into the film shows the above list puts paid to that. Keith is working on dealers to book tables many months in advance, long before any shows are put together.

Any other UK film collecting events got anything like this?

See you all in a fortnight.

[ October 16, 2012, 03:52 AM: Message edited by: John Clancy ]

Posted by Mark Williams (Member # 794) on October 12, 2012, 11:16 AM:

Well they will miss out big time then John [Frown]

See you in two weeks [Smile]

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on October 12, 2012, 01:59 PM:

It is unbelievable to me that collectors in the North of England would view a trip to the Ealing BFCC as being "not worth it". Here in the USA we are not as fortunate as the UK film collectors. We have no conventions at all of the scope of the BFCC. Doug Meltzer and others have the CineSea convention in Atlantic City, but it is still a small scale affair, and the vast distances of the USA make it difficult for many people to attend, even if they really would like to. A drive of a mere 150 miles from Manchester to Ealing would be a total non-issue for US collectors, and to make this the reason for not attending the best film convention in the UK is a joke. Need I remind our Northern collecting friends that people go to great trouble and expense to visit the BFCC, coming from France, Italy, Greece, Germany, and several of us have come from the USA more than once. In fact Steve Siegel from the USA will be there again this year.
So to UK collectors , I would say "you don't know how good you have it".

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on October 12, 2012, 02:09 PM:

I totally agree with Paul.

Posted by Mark Williams (Member # 794) on October 12, 2012, 02:20 PM:

Me too,its use it or lose it chaps so please please come if you possibly can.

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on October 12, 2012, 02:50 PM:

To be honest, I often come away empty handed form Ealing. It's the social aspect that I enjoy.

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on October 13, 2012, 04:24 AM:

You hit the nail on the head Paul - people in the UK don't know when they have it good! But to be fair the cost of fuelling a car now is out of this world (three times to the cost of doing the same thing in the US) so that is having a detrimental impact on just about everything over here.

As it is, it is a 500 mile round trip for us and just on that score alone a fairly significant expense. Of course, I supply the Super 8 projector and that costs too as the lamps are not cheap. I rarely use it at home now as I like to save its useful life for the convention but I had to replace the lamp a couple of years ago and that cost over £200. There was also the THX sound system I purchased mainly for use at the BFCC but it's no longer possible to transport which is a bit of a waste but it does still get used most days in our home cinema (although it's a bit over the top for a 12x8ft room).

But all we can really hope to do with a film collecting event today is help Mr. Wilton cover his costs. There is no money to be made out of this sort of thing any longer so please bear in mind it is a day put on by an enthusiast to help this wonderful hobby of ours live on. I'm really too busy to give up the time to help out but I'm not going to let Keith down. I will make every effort to get there, get that screen up, install the sound system and generally make sure everything is setup ready for a day of film collecting fun for all. And I hope to see as many of you there as possible.

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on October 13, 2012, 07:10 AM:

I know there are collectors from Plymouth, Northern Ireland, Scotland, etc, etc going to Blackpool and I know of one from Tyne & Wear coming to London, so I'm sure it works both ways and northern collectors will be represented at Ealing, but it's disappointing to hear of the people mentioned. I find it's completely unpredicatable whether I'll find much to buy - sometimes I do and sometimes I don't - but if the latter applies, it's still an enjoyable day out and it's not entirely bad to go home with some money, especially if you have put films on the Bring and Buy. If we 'lose it' because we don't use it, we won't have the luxury of worrying about what dealers are present.

Needless to say, I'll be there!

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on October 13, 2012, 11:03 AM:

I agree Adrian. The best part of the BFCC is meeting and chatting with other collectors, and of course the great film presentations by John and Keith. If you pick up a couple of film purchases while your there, then that is icing on the cake.
Yes I understand John's comment about the cost of gasoline, but I can tell you that if I lived in the UK, there is NO WAY that I would miss out on the BFCC. I wont be able to make it this year, but I will be thinking all day on the 27th about the fun you guys are having. And hopefully Mr. Wilton has fixed that shutter pin and Mal Brake will finally get to see that last reel of 'Zulu'! [Big Grin]

Posted by Yanis Tzortzis (Member # 434) on October 13, 2012, 01:50 PM:

...don't let's forget that collectors come to almost every BFCC from as far as Greece, Italy and Portugal too!....

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on October 14, 2012, 03:54 AM:

Well said Yanis! Yes, if it weren't for all the overseas visitors we've been honoured to have over all these years then the conventions would not have been the success they are considered to have been.

Adrian is right about some of us not getting to Blackpool. It used to be difficult for me because whilst in London I was always on call for work and playing football for my local team too. Now we're at the end of the earth (i.e. Cornwall) it is hundreds of miles to get anywhere and I have to be at the NEC Classic Car Show for my TriumphDVD business. Blackpool is either usually on the same days or a weekend apart and it's just too much to keep doing the long treks. From what I have been told by other collectors the Blackpool convention is now on the way back after years of decline so it's probably worth giving it a new look if you gave up on it years ago. Even that chandelier obscuring the screen has gone!

Posted by Simon McConway (Member # 219) on October 14, 2012, 03:21 PM:

These people who aren't coming...I hope the money they'll save gives them more pleasure by being in their wallet than we will all get from the same money spent at the BFCC. See everyone there...well, all expect the tight-fisted ones...

Posted by Darren Payne (Member # 1517) on October 14, 2012, 03:35 PM:

Look out for some goodies on Guy Thomas' table. I know that an excellent GS1200 Xenon Super 8mm projector will be going for a very reasonable price..

Posted by David Guest (Member # 2791) on October 23, 2012, 05:14 PM:

northwest film fair fair 18th nov will be bigger and better than ever .bring and buy stall will be extended this year due to lack of space last year. more dealers this year booked in including 35mm .there will be over 33 tables this year selling films of all gauges projecters and cine equipment .doors open 10am sunday the 18th nov cliffs hotel blackpool
just one more thing there will be a very important anoucement made at 11am in the main dealers hall re this film fair . please do not miss this annoucement it it most important and will last about 10 mins thanks

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on October 24, 2012, 02:49 AM:

Here David, don't forget there's a rather important film convention coming up this Saturday. That's the one to help promote right now and then once that's out of the way let's get onto the Blackpool gathering.

Be under no illusions everyone, if these film fairs are not supported they will not exist. Susanne and I will be travelling 500 miles all around just to help Keith in his efforts. Like most of us now, we cannot afford it but do not want to let the hobby die or just fade away.

Posted by David Guest (Member # 2791) on October 24, 2012, 06:45 AM:

yes john heard very good reports anout this convention and i would like to attend but being in the fairground buisness is a busy time for with halloween and the bonfires .thats why i always have mine after the nov 5th .hope all goes well on saturday

Posted by Terry Sills (Member # 3309) on October 25, 2012, 02:06 AM:

Great to hear positives from so many enthusiasts. I just love the Ealing event. It's like a big party! So glad it has been resurrected

Posted by Mal Brake (Member # 14) on October 26, 2012, 03:03 AM:

I'll be leaving home in about an hour or so to catch the Swansea-Paddington train, the big day is nearly here.

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on October 26, 2012, 04:21 AM:

This isn't a good time for me to be away from my business as a lot of vital things are up in the air right now. As a result I managed to leave home without a stills camera so could I have volunteers to take photos during the course of the day of everything they can possibly snap and then email them to me so I can put them on the convention web site.

Any help in this regard will be very much appreciated.

Fortunately at the last minute Susanne remembered we didn't have the HTI projector so at least we didn't leave without that. However, it is a 250 mile journey so it's always pot luck if it survives the trip. Fingers crossed everyone!

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on October 26, 2012, 07:26 AM:

Best of luck to Keith, John, Susanne and all involved with putting on the BFCC. I hope my third visit will be at number 62.

Doug

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