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Topic: Super 8 bashing
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Paul Adsett
Film God
Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted May 27, 2006 09:17 AM
It currently seems fashionable for some film collectors who have sold out all their films and film equipment in order to jump into the digital waters, to then turn around and bash the format that gave them so much pleasure for many years. I simply do not understand this perspective. No one can argue that home digital video projection is a wonderful thing, offering movie lovers and collectors an abundance of DVD's to be enjoyed in pristine picture quality on a big screen. That is not even an issue any more, as I think most reasonable 8mm and 16mm film collectors would agree. The issue is, why then is S8 such an object of sniping and derision among some of the VP 'graduates'. Is it because, having now disposed of their previously prized projectors and films, they now subconciously regret it? Can they just not face the fact that they really miss those wonderful machines, which in comparison to the faceless plastic video projectors, look like glorious works of artistic design. Do they miss having to spend time cleaning their projectors and films, and making the significant effort required to put on a good S8 show? Because, lets face it,that is what is required if you are running super 8. A good S8 show requires effort and committment, it does not happen by chance. Super 8 was never designed for the things that collectors now demand of it. When John and Keith show S8 on a 25 ft screen at the BFCC, with stereo sound, they are pushing the little film way beyond what Kodak ever envisaged. Which is exactly why S8 is such fun. If you are not into apertures, lamp wattages, gate designs, sound heads, you will not be able to get out of S8 all that it can offer, and your presentations will be mediocre at best. But, pull it all together, with a great projector, a great lens, a belting sound system, and a great Derann print, and I challenge any of the S8 'downers' ,who have their heads buried in the digital sand, to critique the superb 'reel' results.
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The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj
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James N. Savage 3
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1375
From: Washington, DC
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted May 27, 2006 04:52 PM
Hi guys,
It is a real pitty that some people like to spread false rumors. Its a fact that some people feed off of 'negativity', no matter what the subject matter is, and so, enjoy creating and spreading negative rumors and such. It sounds like a personal problem, and something that they will have to eventually deal with within themselves.
Whatever the case, I think we may be over-reacting just a little bit. It is very obvious from this thread, and numerous other threads prior to this whole thing, that these petty rumors about event cancellations, or low sales, or whatever, are not going to have one bit of negative effect on this hobby. In fact, sometimes negative publicity can actually be a good thing. It's getting people's attention and putting a spotlight on the hobby (even if it's intended to be negative).
Anyhow, whether the culprit is found or not, I would'nt give it too much thought. The SUPER-8 hobby is here to stay!!!
Thats all I have to say about this matter.
Nick.
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Adrian Winchester
Film God
Posts: 2941
From: Croydon, London, UK
Registered: Aug 2004
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posted May 28, 2006 04:40 PM
I've thought about this topic a lot, partly because I wrote an article for 'Projections' which expressed some opinions, and I'm supposed to be doing one for FFTC that will be in the same vein. I completely agree with Paul with regard to the subconscious factors that might apply in some cases. I suspect some people feel they have moved on to something vastly superior, but they have still left behind something which may have brought them great pleasure for many years, and felt some attachment to. They think that any sane person would do the same thing. The only trouble is that the sort of upstarts using this board, even if they enjoy using VPs, insist on being provocative by contining to use Super 8 and getting the same amount of pleasure out of it. This could be quite challenging from a VP fanatic's point of view, particularly if they have sold a lot of good equipment, and films that may not be available on DVD, and perhaps deep down they wonder if they have been too extreme in not taking the 'best of both worlds' approach. However, most will think it's too late to embrace film again, so their energies go into trying to stop the provocation that us film users insist on inficting upon them. This can be in the form of ridicule and/or attempts to encourage us to witness 'proof' of how superior VPs are. Unfortunately, they fail to realise the the pleasure that film collectors get cannot simply be measured in terms of technical factors such as picture sharpness and sound quality, so although we appreciate what VPs have to offer, it doesn't diminish the fun we get from using film. Conventions can add further provocation, as the fanatics feel these should also have 'moved on' and become VP orientated, so that they can continue to enjoy events in the company of like-minded people. Ultimately, in extreme cases such as perhaps the mystery rumour-circulating person(s), the attitude becomes: 'If you can't beat them, destroy them'.
I must add though, that although the more fanatical VP fans that appear anti-film make considerable waves, their impact is probably out of proportion to their numbers. I'd have trouble thinking of more than 6 or 7 people in this category. I'm certainly not opposed to VP enthusiasts promoting their qualities and supporting initiatives such as the VP presentations at Blackpool - I'm only thinking of people who insist on being unpleasant and sarcastic.
Andrew: do you actually see home cinema magazines knocking Super 8 nowadays? If so, it's flattering that they think Super 8 is even worthy of mention!
[ May 29, 2006, 06:37 AM: Message edited by: Adrian Winchester ]
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Adrian Winchester
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Paul Adsett
Film God
Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted May 28, 2006 07:12 PM
Well to insert a little positive news, the current issue of 'Big Reel' here in the USA has a very nice prominent, and fairly lenghty, article on the history and current status of super 8mm film collecting. Obviously written by a 'reel' film collector, it has a very complimentary tone to the whole field of S8 film collecting (actually it was part 2 of a series on s8 collecting, unfortunately I did not get the issue with part 1 in it). There are still plenty of film collectors out there, and I suspect that the number who post on this forum (550)are just a small fraction.
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The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj
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