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Topic: No Interest In My MINT "Bonnie Scotland" On E-Bay
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Michael De Angelis
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1261
From: USA
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted March 12, 2006 11:48 PM
Tom,
Here is my opinion:
1.) I could not find this title, without your link on the 8mm Forum.
Remember the adage in selling a home: Location, Location, Location.
2.) After searching under 8mm Laurel, - 29 items came up to list.
I did not see the print of Bonnie Scotland there. Which tells me,
that you are not listing it correctly to get full exposure and advantage
of prospective sales.
3.) Listing it as: 'L&H' is obscure at best. - Not many people refer to them as
'L&H', or would think of searching under 'L&H.' If it was listed as 8mm
Laurel and with with possibe phrasing of
'Hardy' in the listing, it would reach a broader audience.
4.) The description turned me off. I do not wish to read a book, I wish to
become convinced on how hilarious the film is. In short, you spelled out
how long it may seem from the thick plot. If you do not think that
Bonnie Scotland is hilarious, (and from your description it's not funny) then
the buyer is not going to hop on to the sale.
This film is Hilarious, and you need to convey that in the description.
If you tell me that there are two funny scenes, that is not going to get
anyone to purchase a film at your hopeful cost.
You also need to convey somehow in the description, that the print is of
the finest quality, and it is unmatched by the high quality standards that
had been set by the famous Blackhawk Films Company. The film is
complete with roaring MGM Lion in the pre title sequence with a wonderful
score as the titles unfold on the screen. And who cannot not chuckle in
seeing the famous bowler derby hats at the beginning and end of the film,
is a treat that completes the film as a full length feature.
I find that this is important to me. I own this Super 8mm feature, and
have watched it, and I can vouch for the contents in my print.
5.) It is important to mention the sharp quality which rivals the best in Super 8
sound, and equaled to the finest in 16mm.
6.) I do not understand what is meant by: Mint to near Mint in the description.
This is something that you will need to defend if people ask questions.
7.) Have you watched this particular film recently? Do you have an 8mm
Projector to view it on? I know when I enquired about the Mary Poppins
print, you seemed to have a vague idea, how it appeared on the screen.
But that is neither here or there, you sold it. That's in the past, and it is not
important now. What is important is that you know your onions, and are
prepared to sell, sell, sell.
Michael
--------------------
Isn't it great that we can all communicate about this great
hobby that we love!
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Michael De Angelis
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1261
From: USA
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted March 27, 2006 12:22 AM
Tom,
Sorry to hear that it did not go
the way that you had planned.
Agreeably it is not what anyone would hope
to receive after investing $300.00 for a
title of this caliber and beautiful quality.
But it is only a matter of luck and
timing on how eBay sales reach record highs.
Will the format die? Only if collectors wish for it to die.
At least I know that it will always live on in my heart.
That is the romance of film; especially this specific
small gauge format, and film collecting.
8 mm is a neat compact format. I compare it to books,
because it's easy to store, they can fit neatly
under your arm, and the box artwork is at times memorable.
The quality of features, shorts, and trailers
in today's age is definitely unsurpassed in quality.
Today's collectors realize the potential in this small gauge,
and they demand it, expect it, and receive it.
Undoubtedly, they / we pay a premium for
the services, and for the product that we receive.
It may not always be perfect, but for most of the time,
this gauge brings great satisfaction to the collector.
Collectors are always looking to upgrade
and pursue titles that they suddenly realize
are worthy of obtaining and keeping in a collection.
Some people have gone to great lengths
to acquire complete collections,
only to find somewhere down the road,
that they wish to liquidate the library, for some positive
reason during that moment in their lives.
These collectors sometimes find themselves
thinking of that special title, which they had once owned,
and then begin to find the need to hunt for it again.
A few months ago, I accompanied my brother-in-law
and his friend to a model train collectors show, where
they were selling some of their 'O' gauge trains.
During the day, they did not sell one train.
However, his friend sold an old toy Erector Set,
which was made by the Gilbert Company here in the USA.
Why you may ask?
Because some gentleman remembered how
wonderful it was, when he once owned this
toy as a child.
I guess collecting is not only the romance,
but it is also the hunt for that special elusive item.
It's the 'toy,' that keeps us going.
Keep your chin up, it will get better.
As in the Maltese Falcon: It's the stuff that dreams are made of.
Michael
--------------------
Isn't it great that we can all communicate about this great
hobby that we love!
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Jan Bister
Darth 8mm
Posts: 2629
From: Ohio, USA
Registered: Jan 2005
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posted March 27, 2006 09:07 AM
Michael, what a beautiful post. Well written and to the point. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
All I can add here is that it really isn't about the money, i.e. the monetary value of a film (to you or to the general public). That's just the thing about eBay... you win some, you lose some. Look at it this way: as long as you owned the movie, at least you got $173 worth of use out of it. ![[Wink]](wink.gif) Even if you just watched it once or twice, then that's one or two expensive screenings, but - who can ever take that from you? The special memory of watching a film on the big screen from real film, not a VHS tape or DVD? And when it comes down to it, isn't that worth more than any $$?
OK, maybe not necessarily, but it helps rationalize the loss.
--------------------
Call me Phoenix. *dusts off the ashes*
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Michael De Angelis
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1261
From: USA
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted March 27, 2006 06:39 PM
Jan,
Thank you, and I appreciate your comments and support.
Indeed, collecting 8 mm has never has been
about the money. Think about the cost of features
now, and the cost of features thirty years ago.
If anyone has a copy of a Blackhawk Bulletin
from the '70's, do they think that they would
be able to afford the prices of those new prints
back in the seventies?
For some of us, and I for one was not able to afford
Bonnie Scotland when it was initially released
in Super 8 mm.
So, I'm glad that the film will find a good home,
and that someone will appreciate watching it on
a big screen. Tom should feel the same way too.
Jan, as you mentioned, it's the format and watching
film on a big screen. That is the fascination
and enjoyment to film collecting.
On another note, finding a
16 mm complete version
of Bonnie Scotland in excellent condition,
is practically impossible.
There are 16 mm reductions of Bonnie Scotland
floating around, and they do not include
the opening MGM Roaring Lion with the complete titles.
Many of these 16 mm prints also have printed-in TV
cue marks within the body of the film,
and at the end of the print.
If a collector cannot find a complete
reduction, or one of the rarer MGM Lab Prints,
that were made for film rental libraries,
then last alternative is to assemble the
cut-down versions that were made for
Television.
The titles are:
1.)All Wet
2.)In a Mess
3.)The Rookies
4.)Bang, Bang
Assembling these editions, would still
not guarantee a complete version
of this feature film.
If you only appreciate some segments,
then you could also hunt for a 16 mm
print of Robert Youngston's -
MGM's Big Parade of Laughs.
The Youngston footage is good,
but it is filled with sound effects,
and narration.
Also for those nay sayers, that complain about the
romantic subplot, those episodic scenes only last for about
two minutes at length.
Ken Films had the most complete version
of Bonnie Scotland in Super 8 mm.
It is by far, the most accessible version available to those
collectors that are completists to this series,
and that enjoy and collect film.
It easily fits on two 800 foot reels.
Michael
--------------------
Isn't it great that we can all communicate about this great
hobby that we love!
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