8mm Forum: Derann.. What it's All About

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Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on May 29, 2015, 08:09 PM:

Nothing new here, but as we are adding new members to the team on a daily basis, I thought this would act as a timely reminder to most and an educational insight to a few new members here as to what made Derann just so special to so many of us who are Super 8mm fanatics.

Obviously, this is now historical text but very much worthy of revisiting occasionally as well as demonstrating to everyone new just how buoyant Super 8mm actually was in it's second 90's - early 2k heyday :-

History

It all started some 40 years ago - way back in 1964 - with a £50.00 maternity pay cheque, a great deal of hard work and sheer determination.

Since then Derann (the name is made up from the husband and wife team who started the company 'Derek and Anne') have gone from strength to strength and are now the largest independent electric retailer in Dudley and the worlds biggest Super 8mm film distributor.

The family owned business was set up when cinema projectionist Derek Simmonds and his wife Anne, started hiring out 8mm films from a bedroom at their Stourbridge home. Soon the couple had built up a steadily growing army of customers - many of which still buy all their electrical goods from Derek's son Adrian who now manages the audio visual side of the business - and the business started to grow and grow.

It was with the issue of an exclusive B pictures movie 'City of the Dead' which could only be rented from Derann, that proved a major step forward. The response was amazing and Derek realised that it was the selling of movies not renting, that would put Derann on the map.

After securing a deal with MCA - the very first package movie bearing Deranns name being 'Psycho' - Derek went on to make a deal with EMI and release the best selling film ever issued by Derann. This was an edited version of 'The Scars of Dracula' starring Christopher Lee and sold well over 1,400 copies (available at that time in both colour and black & white). Derek always believed that by keeping as much of the production of 8mm prints "in house" careful quality control would also be maintained. To this end Derann still carry out all their sound transfer and magnetic striping. The 8mm prints are made at a high quality lab.

With a steady stream of EMI releases under his belt, Derek added more and more lucrative film deals to his now impressive catalogue - the biggest of these being United Artists, 20th. Century Fox and Disney, although Disney did take some 14 years to succumb.

Now the company supply all of the classic and up to date Disney animated features on 8mm not only to collectors in Britain, but also across Europe and the rest of the world. Derann are privileged to be one of the few companies in the world that Disney has loaned out negative material to.

In the late seventies the whole country witnessed a dramatic change to the viewing habits of the people, now for the very first time they were able to record items off the television set - the video age was born!

It wasn't too long after that the film companies would see this as a huge revenue boost for them and so the pre recorded video was released. Very soon video libraries were springing up everywhere, but who had the largest library in Dudley? - it was Derann boasting an impressive 10,000 titles. At this period Derek decided that if he could release 8mm film successfully, then why not video?

Over the next seven years Derann released over 110 titles on both VHS BETAMAX, and V2000 formats. Amongst the most popular of these were the Alistair Maclean thriller 'Caravan to Vaccares', the hugely successful 'Cannibal' and a soft porn romp with a very young Sylvester Stallone aptly titled 'The Italian Stallion'

It was at this time that Steve Simmonds Derek's eldest son (who's maternity money had started the whole company) decided to branch out and form his own company Derann Video Facilities, specializing in video tape duplication, mastering, editing and general production work - (some of the Derann Video Facilities step aerobic, cooking and DIY videos can be bought from such places as Woolworth and W H Smith).

Along with the advent of video Derann decided it was time to go into the electronics market with a new audiovisual department. Sony and JVC products were amongst the very first to be sold.

It wasn't until the mid eighties that terrestrial companies made a dramatic improvement in the sound quality that was transmitted - stereo was at last available to people in the comfort of their own homes. 'It was at this time' comments Adrian ' that we noticed the general public had started to return to the cinemas. Pictures were getting bigger and better with spectacular computer generated effects and people wanted to try and create the feeling within their own home of the experience of once again 'going to the movies', rather like my father had noticed some 25 years ago when he started the company and was hiring out 8mm movies.

People were buying larger and larger sets, so we decided to go one better and started to sell liquid crystal projectors. This enables people to show, from all the various formats available - television, video, laser vision disc and now DVD, a 6,7 or 8 foot picture onto a tripod or wall mounted screen. The quality of which is absolutely stunning.

We now have a fully functional demonstration room with Dolby digital sound and an impressive 6 foot picture. "Everything has come full circle" comments Adrian "people still want a big picture and find that by running digital technology alongside film they get the best of both worlds, fantastic sound and picture and rare and interesting titles unavailable on other formats". With the advent of digital terrestrial television programs the picture and sound quality has once again leaped forward and as usual Derann are at the forefront with an excellent shop display area and knowledgeable, friendly staff. "We pride ourselves on being a family owned business" comments Derek " and strive to provide our customers the best after sales service in the area - after all anyone can sell a box".

Derann organize one of the most popular of all Film Collectors Conventions, this is held at the Savoy Hotel, Blackpool each November, and is the most eagerly awaited event in the film collectors calendar. In addition, a new Film Collectors Convention is now being held at The Clarendon Suites, Edgbaston, Birmingham each March.

We send out regular newsletters and new release information to all our regular customers, do make sure that your name is on the mailing list!, you are then assured of being kept fully up to date with not only new release news, but also what is happening on the "Film Convention" scene. We also publish a magazine for film collectors, entitled "Film For The Collector, this is issued about once every 3 or 4 months, subscription rates are £14.00 per four issues.

Our regular Open Days are always very popular, with hundreds of films & accessories on sale, and films being shown throughout the day in our cinema. We also organize the now famous and popular Northern Film Collectors Convention, this takes place in Blackpool, every March and November. Derann also support and attend the British Film Collectors Convention, these are organized by Keith Wilton, and are held twice each year, usually April and October in Ealing. Within the magazine "Film For The Collector", is a magazine entitled "Super 8 Film Review", this magazine is edited and produced by Keith Wilton, and is packed with honest film reviews, so if you want to find out about a release - this is the section of the magazine to read. From time to time we also import super 8 releases, usually these are very limited prints, so all of the titles available will not appear in our catalogue, due to the limited quantity of prints available. For these rare releases you should refer to our news letters.

We hope you enjoy the rest of your stay here at the Website and feel free to drop back at anytime to find out the latest happenings at the Worlds Biggest Super 8mm Film distributor - Derann.

Derek Simmonds - Founder Derann Film Services
In Loving Memory 1935-2002

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on May 29, 2015, 10:56 PM:

I stumbled upon them roughly 2002. It was as if time had stopped in its tracks for them and they continued to do this very 1970s thing long after everybody else had stopped. It seemed impossible!

For me it was a tipping point: how could I keep puttering around only in silents when there was this huge resource of brand new sound prints? Once again I could pick up a catalog of films, wonder what each title was like and gradually find out.

-but they really weren't immune to the world around us after all. It was almost an extinction, the last survivor finally finding its mortality.

I was afraid after they were gone my days in film would soon dry up and I'd be doing something else pretty soon. (-always wanted to try radio controlled boats...)

-didn't happen, but while they were still here they made a difference, and it seems to have lasted.

(-and maybe I'll get a boat someday anyway...)

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on May 30, 2015, 04:00 AM:

It's only a shame Steve, that you didn't discover them even slightly earlier. Their used lists were extremely addictive when I was buying regular from them in the late 80's and 90's.

Many fabulous recent release titles could be purchased for a fraction of what you need to pay now for them (if you can find them at all) and there was never really a shortage of these type of films as people's turnover of films was far higher to fund their new releases or move to the brand new digital alternatives offered by them back then.

It's true to say feature releases did dry up a little apparently in the later years before they closed for good, but the sheer volume of top titles that they put out there in that second period of growth leaves us with a fantastic legacy from "the largest Super 8mm distributor in the world".

Posted by David Skillern (Member # 607) on May 30, 2015, 04:14 AM:

Andrew,

As I've said on previous posts when I worked in a 6th College in Birmingham and in the Summer term when things were quiet - I often popped over to Dudley and chatted to Ged and Garry. It was on one of those visits that I acquired a pristine full length copy of "Carry on Screaming " and the 4x400ft release of "Enter the Dragon" - happy days - and I can honestly say that I've got quite a lot of Derann's back catalogue in my collection - and will continue to enjoy them for many years.

David

Posted by Steve Carter (Member # 4821) on May 30, 2015, 05:38 AM:

Very good write up Andrew, I had 'Key Largo' and 'The Uncanny' amongst others from Derann, and our local super 8 library had all the Derann titles,the 4 x 400ft 'Lust for a Vampire' was one of my favourites, was 'Hands of the Ripper' a Derann or maybe Powell?...

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on May 30, 2015, 05:39 AM:

Just a copy and paste Steve, but nice to revisit from time to time. [Smile]

Its also nice to see David has a lot of Derann titles in his collection, keeping at least a decent amount here in the UK close to their origins.

Whenever a collection is sold by one of the dealers these days, they usually declare that the vast majority of the titles travel many thousands of miles all over our globe.

I seem to be on a solo mission to bring one or two back again! [Big Grin]

Posted by Robert Crewdson (Member # 3790) on May 30, 2015, 08:12 AM:

The heyday of Super 8, always seemed to me to be 70s and early 80s. I think by 1982 it was coming to an end; when Movie Maker ceased publication, and Portland Films had their closing down sale, then it all stopped for me. It was many years later that I got back into the hobby with 16mm.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on May 30, 2015, 08:37 AM:

You're right of course Robert, but Derann definitely gathered a second wind in the 90's with their exciting contracts with the likes of Orion Films (a subsidiary of MGM), 20th Century Fox and of course Disney.

By then also, they had purchased all the remaining Kempski negatives as well as Red Fox etc etc. Their catalogues were very impressive indeed in the 90's.

Some of their releases back then we're right up to the minute in film terms.

[ May 30, 2015, 12:25 PM: Message edited by: Andrew Woodcock ]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on May 30, 2015, 12:59 PM:

I never saw a picture of Derek, (nor had the pleasure of meeting him), so thanks for the pic!

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on May 30, 2015, 01:25 PM:

There's plenty of Derek on the web Osi. The most famous being the one where he is holding " A Fistful Of Dollars!" [Wink]

He was an extremely charismatic and very driven man from all that I have seen of him on video footage etc etc , however one of my regrets, whenever I went to Dudley, I never dealt with Derek himself always one of the other members of staff.

All of which were great might I add.... but just would have loved being as well versed with the hobby then, as I am now and would have loved some of the experiences and conversations that a good friend of mine shared with him.

I am truly fascinated with Dereks tenacity to stick by his instincts in striving to perfect the Stereo track in house on poly stock when nobody else in the industry gave him a chance.

Speaks volumes of just what an incredibly determined character Derek truly was!

Posted by Mark Silvester (Member # 929) on May 31, 2015, 03:12 AM:

Derek was a smashing - very decent man and I was happy to call him a friend.

Spoke to him only the day before he passed away - he was going into hospital for a scan he did tell me he was going to watch "Dam-busters" on his DVD player whilst in there. Sadly he didn't make it.
Adrian his son is also a friend and decent guy.

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on May 31, 2015, 05:53 AM:

Hi Andrew
I greatly enjoyed this article on Derann.
I started film collecting and buying from Derann via mail order in the late 1960s when I was still a young lad. I would save up my pocket money and paper round money in order to buy prints. I still have their early catalogues from that period.
I really miss the monthly Newsletters and chats over the phone with staff such as Ged and Steve and of course now and again Derek.
It was indeed a very sad time when Derek passed away.
Then later Derann finally faded out for good.
Still I have my happy memories and also the prints I bought from Derann.

Dave Hardy

Posted by Paul Barker (Member # 4318) on May 31, 2015, 06:13 AM:

Derek Simmonds was a man who was liked and loved by many many collectors.and not just for what he managed to release for title hungry collectors. he had great charm and personality. i was lucky to know him. he helped me through a life threatening illness that he had also had himself. he invited me round to his house with a fellow collector friend where we stayed overnight watching films. he gave my son 3 bags of films for FREE. when he had bought the remaining TECHNO film stock. i could go on and on. it seems many of us has a story to tell of MR Derek Simmonds.one things for sure. things were, and never will be the same again.

[ May 31, 2015, 08:13 AM: Message edited by: Paul Barker ]

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on May 31, 2015, 06:56 AM:

Fabulous and fascinating stories by Mark, David & Paul.
Thank you all for sharing your memories of your time spent with this wonderful man.

I, and no doubt many others on here, would welcome any others from our members.

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on May 31, 2015, 12:13 PM:

I was on a business trip to Glasgow in 1995 and decided to drive down to Wales before flying back to the USA. My drive south of course took me past Dudley and I decide to take a break off the freeway and visit Derann. I was greeted in the shop by Gary who showed me all the shelves of newly printed films, and how each one was checked out on a projector before shipping. Then Derek showed up and we had a long conversation about film collecting and his various visits to the USA to capture contracts with Disney, MGM, and other major studios. He then took me upstairs to show me the screening room and GS1200 XENON, which I had never seen before. And then I got an in depth tutorial on super 8 film striping and recording. Derek spent over an hour with me up there demonstrating all the striping and recording machines.
I liked Derek immensely, as others here have said he was a charming man, full of enthusiasm for his business. I concluded then, and have not changed my opinion, that Derek was very much like Walt Disney. They were both very successful business men, who did what they did because of their love of film, and profit was a secondary consideration.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on May 31, 2015, 01:03 PM:

Superb story Paul and I totally agree with you that there are certain similarities that can be drawn up when comparing "Sir Walt" & Derek in the charm, personality and determination departments from an outsider's viewpoint. [Wink]

Posted by Robert Crewdson (Member # 3790) on May 31, 2015, 03:47 PM:

Pity I didn't subscribe to Keith Wilton's mag, and see what new releases there were after I had stopped collecting in the 80s. It was a major coup when Derek did a deal with Warner Brothers to bring out the Errol Flynn titles; up to that point, collectors mainly had to settle for the lesser known titles of most artists.

Posted by Kevin Hassall (Member # 2352) on June 01, 2015, 05:37 AM:

i met derek twice such a lovely man i met him by off chance i was opening my car door and he nearly walked into it and we got chatting so glad i met this wonderful man

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on June 01, 2015, 06:58 AM:

I met Derek at many film conventions and the shop open days, he always looked after his customers and went out of his way to make sure they had a good deal from him (something other businesses should learn from) and that they came back.
I remember telling him about a good deal on a new London - Birmingham coach trip that included all day travel on West Midland buses - the next open day they magazine had a flyer from the company attached.
Sadly missed.

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on June 01, 2015, 06:32 PM:

Derek and I exchanged emails here and there. He once sent me pics of his home theatre! That man definitely loved film.
I wish I could have met him in person but since he was so far away I never got the chance. But just the memories I had of him are very dear to me. When I heard of his passing I was floored and was in a funk for a little bit.
You know that if a title was produced by Derann the quality is going to be up there. One of his many legacies on Super 8. That and the wonderful Disneys among others.
He was a great, great man.
Rumor has it that I now own his personal copy of "Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind" Scope/Feature.

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