8mm Forum: Super 8mm Sponsored Film Collecting

This is topic Super 8mm Sponsored Film Collecting in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=008816

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on December 19, 2013, 09:09 AM:

As the 2013 film collecting year gradually draws to a close I wanted to touch on collecting Sponsored films, a subject rarely mentioned on here.

In the 1970’s I like many others used to enjoy the free loan of super 8 sponsored films. These were welcome films which used to add variety and bolster out my shows as I only had a very few films of my own way back then. I was starting to look at the various company’s who produced these documentaries and having recently located a super 8 print of ‘Why don’t you paint it green’ 1980 looked up Sailorman Films of London who made this particular doc for British Gas in 1980. It’s turning into quite an interesting time researching the Sponsored films although I was sorry to learn David Gowing who produced three films had passed away at only 39, the other two films being ‘Eastbourne quality resort’ and ‘Curtain Up’ which looked at theatre life. As a introduction its worth looking up this site which is interesting www.filmpreservation.org/dvds-and-books/the-field-guide-to-sponsored-film Most of the SF were produced using 16mm cameras in the UK at least and its good news so many made it onto super 8 with some also having optical sound tracks.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on December 19, 2013, 09:35 AM:

I have "Lucas Service" on Super 8. It advises viewers to ask that Lucas parts are used in their forthcoming car service.
I don't know where it would have come from, perhaps car dealers used it?

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on December 19, 2013, 09:57 AM:

I borrowed quite a few from 'Barry Wiles' Plus I have a few I bought over the years. "I'm Glad You Asked That Question" from British Gas is one that springs to mind.

On a different thread I mentioned the 'trade test transmissions' on BBC2 about them showing them.

A pity more weren't available though.

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on December 19, 2013, 02:38 PM:

There must be a ton of Technicolor cassettes out there somewhere loaded with promotional films for various products. In the 1970's it seemed that the portable Technicolor projectors were all over the big department stores advertsing all kinds of stuff from brasierre's to lawn mowers.

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on December 20, 2013, 02:17 AM:

Ah remember Barry Wiles very well with my weekend visits to his shop in the 70’s. Yes he had quite a stack of sponsored films to loan and always a warm welcome when I turned up on my 49cc moped. Trying to trace who distributed these films is difficult and its turning into undiscovered country, but one thing is certain with our hobby there is always new ground to cover. The Technicolor promo cassettes sound interesting as well and sound like they were produced in large numbers then.

UBB.classic^TM 6.3.1.2