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Topic: How Many Film Collectors In The World?

Dan Lail
Film God

Posts: 2110
From: Loganville, Georgia, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 21, 2006 03:53 PM

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I've read estimates of around 2000 film collectors world wide. I guess there is no accurate way to know. Anyone read any articles or seen any online info pertaining to this? I'll bet the number is much larger than 2000. There are 525 on this forum alone. If you count 8mm, 16mm and 35mm together the numbers are probably much higher than 2000.

[ March 21, 2006, 06:35 PM: Message edited by: Dan Lail ]

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Joe Taffis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1592
From: United States
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 21, 2006 05:27 PM

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hey Dan, most folks who crank or run a projector probably don't even know how to turn a PC on. [Smile]

[Smile]

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Joe Taffis

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 21, 2006 05:53 PM

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It would be interesting if Derann and Classic were to publish circulation numbers for their newsletters and magazines. Are we talking tens, hundreds, or thousands of subscribers? 'The Big Reel' magazine ( who's target readers are specifically film collectors) here in the USA is to be found nationwide on the bookshelves of national chains such as Borders Books and Barne's and Noble, so it must have circulation numbers in the thousands.

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Jan Bister
Darth 8mm

Posts: 2629
From: Ohio, USA
Registered: Jan 2005

posted March 21, 2006 06:37 PM

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Really??? I can't say I've ever seen The Big Reel at my local Border's or Barnes & Noble, and I've browsed their magazine stands many a time...

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Call me Phoenix. *dusts off the ashes*

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 21, 2006 07:24 PM

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Hi Jan,
Well I can tell you that 'The Big Reel' is on all the Border's book shelves that I have been to in Orlando. Perhaps they target different magazines for different locations. After all Orlando used to be called 'Hollywood East', that is until Disney and Universal decided to cease the pretense of meaningful film production at their theme parks. But there is still a fairly big film school here at UCF.

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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
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Jan Bister
Darth 8mm

Posts: 2629
From: Ohio, USA
Registered: Jan 2005

posted March 21, 2006 11:09 PM

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I see. Even so, you can be sure I'll take a REALLY close look next time I'm at Borders. [Smile]

[Smile]

BTW, maybe it's just me but I almost think we're better off NOT knowing what kind of circulation those super-8 publications of ours enjoy... The result might just be depressing, and it seems easier to support one's hobby by buying/subscribing to said publications if we can just assume/hope that our choice makes a difference... [Big Grin]

[Big Grin]

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Call me Phoenix. *dusts off the ashes*

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Jean-Marc Toussaint
Film God

Posts: 2392
From: France
Registered: Oct 2004

posted March 22, 2006 01:39 AM

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quote:
most folks who crank or run a projector probably don't even know how to turn a PC on

You're probably right, Joe...

There must be a few hundreds over here in France. There's an association of film collectors with 200+ members and a 'dissident' one with a few tens of members.
I used to be a member but some smelly old geezers were really looking down on some of us 'fresh blood', so I didn't renew my subscription...

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The Grindcave Cinema Website

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Antoine Orsero
Master Film Handler

Posts: 374
From: marseille france
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 22, 2006 03:43 AM

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Hello Jean-Marc,
I know of what a association you want to speak! But the dissidents created a new association CINESCOPIE and currently + of 100 members!
Amitiés,

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Tony

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Ian O'Reilly
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 737
From: London
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 22, 2006 08:59 AM

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Re your question on how many collectors are in the UK, we send out a total of 380 list
per mailing shot, to which I would think about one third are active, (order when they
receive a list) one third order every other list or occasionally, the other third are either
dead or like just receiving mail. [Confused]

[Confused]

Gone are the days when we used to up date our list out every week, and as we are the
only dealer in the UK who sends our list free of charge I feel we are not compelled to
send the same list out week in week out.
I think about 30% of sales are internet based which gives our overseas friends a chance
of obtaining that rare feature instead of relying on snail mail.
And as the reference about "smelly old men" incontinence gets us all in the end.
So don't take the Piss. [Big Grin]

[Big Grin]

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Graham Sinden
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1131
From: Kent, UK
Registered: Aug 2005

posted March 22, 2006 11:22 AM

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Jean Marc,
The cine club you are refering to might be Group 9.5 which I am also a member of here in the UK. Im not sure about the numbers but some research was done and it was found out that GROUP 9.5 was the largest Cine club in the world with members in the UK, France, Spain, Holland and The USA. Surpriseingly there are more members in the UK than in France, seeing that 9.5 film was a Pathe invention. Each year GROUP 9.5 holds international festivals all accross Europe. Seperate to that there is also the Spanish 9.5 festival which is held each year in Calella over 3 days. On top of that there are also film fairs held twice a year. There is also an open competition at each event. (you can still buy the film, fugi velvia and get it processed) Amateur films shot in 9.5 can look as good as 16mm and if you get the exposure right, the picture can be awesome. There must be at least 400 members in the UK alone.

As for the previous remark, I would agree that most cine collectors couldn't operate a computer. Certaintly not Group 9.5 members whose average age is around 75.

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Jean-Marc Toussaint
Film God

Posts: 2392
From: France
Registered: Oct 2004

posted March 22, 2006 12:42 PM

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Graham, thank you for your input but, no, it's not the club I'm refering to. The French club is called ALICC (200+ members) and the second one is called (merci pour l'info Antoine) Cinescopie (100+ people). There's also a strong french chapter of the 9.5 club. Considering the strong activity of Super 8 in Germany, and what I'm earing from Italy and Spain, I suppose that Dan's original 2000 figure must be exceeded. 98% of them must be dealing in second-hand stuff and do not buy new releases.

quote:
I think about 30% of sales are internet based which gives our overseas friends a chance
of obtaining that rare feature instead of relying on snail mail.

Yeah, right, providing:
A - Time is taken to answer our emails (ahem...)
B - Lists are properly updated when customers ring you up. [Big Grin]

[Big Grin]

Sorry Ian, hope I didn't piss you off... I'll still buy stuff from you at the BFCC (providing you're not vacationing in France... Hihihi)

[Razz]

[Razz]

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The Grindcave Cinema Website

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Tony Milman
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1336
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 22, 2006 02:35 PM

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Ian,

Now you mention it, there was an odd odour last time I was over and there was me blming the poor dog [Wink]

[Wink]

So, 380 eh? Why not make it 381 and send me a copy?

BTW, I did notice quite a number being delivered to Highgate crematorium [Eek!]

[Eek!]

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Tony

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Dan Lail
Film God

Posts: 2110
From: Loganville, Georgia, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 22, 2006 02:35 PM

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We are getting a lot of interesting numbers information on this post. How about feed back on ebay. Some people who sell film exclusively have feed back in the thousands. If you're a repeat buyer your feedback comment cannot register twice beside the user ID.

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Trevor Adams
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 763
From: Auckland,New Zealand
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 22, 2006 02:44 PM

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The NZ Film Buffs Assoc.boasts a couple of hundred members.They collect all gauges to a greater or lesser extent. I think younger collectors may be put off by the age of buffs........... [Razz]

[Razz]

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Trevor

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Tony Milman
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1336
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 22, 2006 03:50 PM

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Trevor,

More likely to be the "odour" [Big Grin]

[Big Grin]

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Tony

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Steven Sigel
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 701
From: Massachusetts
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 22, 2006 03:57 PM

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I think there are more than 2000 collectors -- I've sold films to 1500+ on ebay alone. That means that there must be substantially more than that overall -- plenty of collectors never go on the internet - especially the older ones....

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Ian O'Reilly
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 737
From: London
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 22, 2006 05:26 PM

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Jean
No you didn't piss me off, in fact you just reminded me to book my Ferry crossingto France for July's classic Le-Mans.
And no I will not be vacationing in France at the next BFCC I will be in Portugal. [Cool]

[Cool]

Now I always respond to e-mails maybe not in the time scale that most wish, but patience is a virtue.
And as to not updating our list, the list is updated monthly, it's stock control that is the
problem.
Tony......... that smell you refer to on your last visit I think it came from those out of
date five pound notes you gave me. [Confused]

[Confused]

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