Posts: 70
From: Morecambe Lancashire England
Registered: Jun 2004
posted July 18, 2004 04:18 PM
Reading various topics in this Forum - the consensus seems tobe new digests please from Derann / Classic etc. Distributors are always telling us they don't get feed back on this issue (other than this forum). A solution to this maybe for one of the Distributors to form a Collectors club where members can give their input on new releases eg have exclusive news on possible future releases which members get to choose before the distributor releases. A way of funding this up front for Distributors would be for Members to set up a monthly savings subscription by direct debit to poole monies to cover upfront costs for the distributors, and show them our commitment to the new releases. This would benefit us collectors as the money saved via our subsciption enables us to purchase the new release straight away, and is less risk for the distributor, he already knows the supply & demand. I would be interested in your views on this, how about it Derann /Classic?
Posts: 1461
From: West Sussex, UK.
Registered: Jun 2003
posted July 18, 2004 04:25 PM
It's a nice idea Colin, I for one would be up for supporting such a move but I think a further problem that has been identified is getting people to agree on what they want released.
I would like to see stuff like Moulin Rouge and Priscilla on super 8, lots of colour and a great sound track but I know it's a minority view, others would like to see more horror which frankly, and excuse the pun, leaves me cold.
But as I say, great idea.
Mike
-------------------- Auntie Em must have stopped wondering where I am by now...
Posts: 372
From: England, Bedfordshire.
Registered: Nov 2003
posted July 18, 2004 04:30 PM
Sounds a good idea, if it would work is another thing. I personally would love to see regional clubs that are not run by the dealers, it would be great for collectors to get together just to show films and equipment off, have a drink and a good old cine chat. There are many hobbies that have clubs such as these why not cine, when we do get together it is either via the BFCC i know not dealer run, or derann open day's etc. which is great but not the same as people seem to be busy walking round visiting the stalls to see what film they can find. a club that just concentrates on enthusiasts showing off films they have collected and equipment would be even better. My day's at Mr. Elmo's and the Lightwater event have been my most memorable cine day's out.
Chris.
-------------------- The other half thinks i'm up to something. Shes right of course.
Posts: 4837
From: Plymouth U.K
Registered: Dec 2003
posted July 19, 2004 11:45 AM
It is a good idea but of course the big film companys are against super 8 as Derek said years ago, 20th cent fox, columbia, universal all abandond 8mm years ago so its unlikely we would have a repeat. pity! What is released is of course limited to what Derann and Classic can get hold of. Trouble down this party of the world is there's no one left to share our hobby with, I know John C does a couple near Plymouth from time to time so after the summer hols i may badger You John for that showing
posted July 19, 2004 12:15 PM
Yes i`d be happy to chip in towards future releases even if I didn`t buy odd ones. What you say Tom is very true about the film companies, they have even most of them I believe just about totally abandoned 16mm as well, and there was probaly just slightly more money in that, well a few years ago. Its all about business now, and what pays but you can see a logic in there as you can`t expect them to flog a dead and costly horse. Maybe buyer club power is the way. We`ve still not heard back from Derann yet( probably too busy) about the possibilities of a good cutdown or two or if they would consider a collector bond type thing. Hopefully they may see it as people being a bit commited and not just expecting them to lay cash on the line. Its all really the best chance the hobby has got. Maybe we on here could have a crack at doing say a small 400 foot digest ourselves. Must admit I fancy giving it at go just from my DVD to my VHS just to see how it goes. Maybe I will get hooked and do more of my films on DVD, especially if I get DVD recordable, could be fun. best Mark. Ps I did find a company who will put digital onto film and John was right it is very expensive about £4K-£5K for 30 mins so an edit from 35mm is probaly the only affordable way. I did email them about possibilites and just waiting to hear back but its obviously very cost prohibitive and aimed at fully commercial set ups. Maybe we could find a small 35mm to negative set up to do one and then ask derann to print it etc etc. Just thoughts but as I think we all know the only real hope for super 8 is probaly a case of "Back To The Future" and cutdowns. But I think edidting the sound just from DVD would still be the way to go there for the sound master. Best Mark.
Posts: 4837
From: Plymouth U.K
Registered: Dec 2003
posted July 19, 2004 04:14 PM
Mark, that was really good, i'm having a little snigger because we've all had a good little debate on the pro's and cons of DVD Vs Film, and i am not in any way being nasty or sarcky but that last post shows your a good old super 8 man, its in your vein's. You want to use you dvd to imitate super 8. Why have a feature on disc when 20 minuites will do. EXCELLENT. You made my evening mate. As i said, tongue in cheek, some of your views on dvd projection are very good, take it easy and get editing. Who knows we could get 20 minute cut downs on Disc's with no extra's. We dont always have time for a feature.
posted July 20, 2004 01:42 AM
Tom, I'll be at the Cornish abode the second week of August so drop me an email if you fancy a get together.
Mark, it's not a surprise to see digital to film costing so much. On top of that there is the addition of the degradation of quality the process entails. For us film buffs this becoming an increasing problem as the quality of modern 35mm is dumbed down to accomodate all the jiggery pokery. It's sad to see some of the duff prints displayed nowadays compared to how good they were only a few years ago. But then that's the way of the world now - this is the age of mediocrity.
I prefer the extract method Derann have employed for their recent releases. What I would like to see is a film selected and then a few extracts released from it enabling us collectors to put them together similarly to the old 3x400ft cut downs of years ago. Gladiator was ideal for this but it's a surprise to see another company from overseas releasing a full length copy when Derann have been importing extracts from elsewhere. It will be interesting to see how well the feature sells. Will the extracts fuel the feature as those who have seen one or more of the extracts want the complete film?
-------------------- British Film Collectors Convention home page www.bfcc.biz. The site is for the whole of the film collecting hobby and not just the BFCC.
posted July 20, 2004 12:33 PM
Yes I agree I`ve noticed a drop off at the cinema and attention to focus going along that way too doesn`t help. Our local multiplex goes to pot if anything other than a standard lens is needed and I`m unable to sit there watching a film with the centre in focus and the edges out or vice versa so have to got and tell them but nothing happens generally even when you do and sometimes its really quite bad. Speaking to derann digests from them are not going to happen again so maybe the import extracts can continue and like you say 3x400`s put together would give some sort of digest feel. I still long for a proper one though. OH well. Reading between the lines they are athing of the past, Shame. best Mark.