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Author
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Topic: What IS IT about SUPER 8 ?!
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Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted November 23, 2006 11:30 PM
I've written many a post about our little film fettishes here, I'd love to hear, form all of you what is it REALLY about super 8, that makes us stay with it?
Think about it, even with film guages, there are other higher better guages of film, and yet we stick with.
I could give my quickie answer, "The mystique of film", but that would cover all film guages. What is it about this particular film guage (and standard 8mm) that grabs us and won't let go, (that is, WE won't let go.)
So, I'll give it a little thought before I give a serious answer, and I would love to hear from all of you, (especially the recently illusive Kevin Faulkner, I haven't seen many posts from you, film bro!)
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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
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Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted November 24, 2006 09:08 AM
Those were interesting reasons, (and very practical).
It depends on the film, but I do like the idea of watching, for instance, "Ben Hur" on the 1X400ft. version, as I get the scenes I really wanted to see, without struggling to make the time to watch a 4 hour film.
I'm still thinking about why, but nolstalgia is definitely one of the reasons. I remember those, well, simpler times, watching, for instance, "Cinderella's Cinders" (Silent movie) on my Dad's Eumig P8, (A magnificent little standard 8mm projector) with him. I miss those times. Putting that screen up and watching those films again is wonderful. I have noted that one of the first things I did was to find most of gthe films I once had years ago.
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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
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Graham Sinden
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1131
From: Kent, UK
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted November 24, 2006 06:38 PM
Osi,
I was thinking about this during my trip to blackpool. And I agree with Winbert about the boxes. One of the reasons I was initially put off by 16mm was all those boring brown boxes the dealers had. They didnt even have stuck on artwork, like some super 8 collectors/dealers do. Just the brown box with the name of the film in marker pen along the side.
But for me the main reason is simply because I get more of a buzz using my super 8 projectors than my 16mm ones. I only have a smallish 16mm collection due to lack of space (another reason) and my main 16mm projector is an eiki slimline optical only. Its a big clunkier projector with an unappealing brown finish, but very reliable.
My super 8 projectors not only sound but look better with lots of nice shiny controls and a nice paint finish. On top of that my GS has a lot of features that the 16mm dosent have like Stereo, Mag/Opt, Pulse sync, level meters, frame counter, Piano key controls, Nice charcoal grey finish, the list goes on. My ST HD also looks good with its silver finish and looks nice on the projector stand. Overall I just prefer my Super 8 projectors in use and looks. However I do find that super 8 projectore require a bit more TLC than 16mm ones.
On top of that there is a much greater range of modern films available on super 8 which are also cheaper and most come in nice boxes. There is also something in watching a top super 8 print that is equal or better than some 16mm prints. Its like your watching the impossible from a very small frame size.
I would admit that 16mm is generally better quality but I just prefer Super 8, that gives me the real buzz.
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Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted November 25, 2006 10:35 AM
I agree. The prints being struck these days are magnificent, milkes above even some of the best quality of the 70's. My Derann prints I wouldn't part with.
I hope that, if any of us forum members have had time in-between movie reels to have a kid or two (haha), I hjope we pass on this love to them and it sticks with the next generation.
Otherwise, this wonderful film fetish will die with our generation, and that would be a shame.
Yeah, DVD is easier to buy and watch, BUT, once again, you've lost something in translation!
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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
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Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted November 30, 2006 10:17 AM
Part of this hobby that fascinates me is the very invention of film, how the quick progression of images creates the illusion of movement. While you can see that by going frame by frame with a DVD, I love just handling film, looking a seperate frames, that and even the challenge of finding good prints.
I think I went through three prints of "Island of Dr. Moreauh" before I found a print with good colour, (though it does have one irritating line ... still looking for the ultimate print!)
It's a fun challenge to search for the "good print" and then the wonderful satisfaction of finding a vintage mint print of a title that you've craved for years. Getting a "restored" print on DVD takes all that fun out of it!
That and, as others have stated, the cost for super 8 tends to be somewhat affordable!
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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
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Keith Ashfield
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 997
From: U.K.
Registered: Dec 2006
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posted December 19, 2006 09:20 AM
My love for this addictive hobby of ours started as a very young child when attending the Saturday afternoon matinees at our local “fleapit”. I was lucky enough to gain access to the “magic booth”. For a long time, I sat in the auditorium with the other minions who stamped their feet and shouted when the film broke and I always wondered what happened where that beam of light that transported these magic images came from. Images that took our young minds to “open plains with redskins behind every hill, or to distant planets where you battled with Mole Men or to a world where a cat and a mouse could batter each other to a pulp and still survive”.
I always found sympathy for the poor old projectionist when things went wrong and complete admiration at the showmanship when it was fine.
I suppose, when I put on my film shows, I see myself as “Old Quill – the projectionist from Smallest Show on Earth, played by Peter Sellers (but without the “drink problem” I hasten to say).
I do not know of many hobbies that are as friendly as ours. We have one goal, it appears – to preserve the origins of cinema and the medium it uses, to provide a service, be it to others, or merely to ourselves, by showing our films and most of all maintaining a camaraderie, second to non amongst ourselves.
Long may it continue?
Keith
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"We'll find 'em in the end, I promise you. We'll find 'em. Just as sure as a turnin' of the earth".
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Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted December 19, 2006 10:12 AM
You know, Lee had a good point. He has a Digital projector, and so do I. It's a "Sharpvision" 200 inch projector, and it was one of the best around about 5 years ago, (and still is good).
and yet ... I haven't taken it out in two years.
So what does this say? Even with all the modern technology, even with all the big bucks spent on it and all the advances, it immediately takes a back seat to that actual celluloid image being projected!
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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
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