8mm Forum: Super 8 on the verge of a widespread comeback?

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Posted by Martin Dew (Member # 5748) on June 15, 2017, 02:48 PM:

Has anyone else noticed that Super 8 is increasingly finding its way into mainstream media, either being discussed as a format for capture or as a collecting medium?

Even the magazine I write for, Home Cinema Choice, has now referenced Super 8 in 4 or 5 articles in the past year alone. I now see that the Sinbad Blu-ray boxed set from Powerhouse Films, released next week, includes original Super 8 cutdowns in the bonus features.

It seems to me that interest is extending beyond our forums and events. I hope this trend continues.

Posted by Gary Baker (Member # 5862) on June 15, 2017, 05:04 PM:

I don't know about a major comeback but with vinyl taking up large amounts of retail shelf space again anything's possible. I tucked away a tv/vhs combo in the loft about ten years ago for the inevitable day I'd have a hankering for some old taped treasures and, right enough, that day arrived recently. My surviving vhs now share the shelves with my digital and cine collection.

I've noticed the inclusion of 8mm digests as extras on other dvd/blu rays I've bought. A German blu ray release of This Island Earth included some cut down 8mm material that was in a shocking state.I got the impression they were just using it as cheap padding for the extras section.

I've had my eye on that Harryhausen box set for a while (waiting for the price to come down!) and wonder, as I often do, about the sanity of paying over the odds for an essentially defunct format when I can get a relatively pristine and complete version for a fraction of the cost. And yet when I see an 8mm Harryhausen I don't yet own the temptation is still very strong. I suppose it's true that love is blind and if 8mm was your first love any shortcomings all become virtues in the end.

Truth be told though, digital cinema is just a clever emulation of film (I'm often amazed at the richness in colour in my family's old home movies) and I imagine there's a whole new generation who are coming to realise this and are willing to overlook the shortcomings in order to enjoy real film's very real virtues.

Hey Martin, I love that mag. Have some copies on my Kindle now. I'll have to see if I can find your work.

Posted by Martin Dew (Member # 5748) on June 16, 2017, 05:17 AM:

Yes, I totally agree, Gary. It's the colour that looks so amazing on a good film print. So much more lifelike and almost three-dimensional. The other great asset of film is the light blocking during dark contrasty scenes - the whole room or cinema goes black, something that you just can't emulate with video technologies.

I usually write something once every two or three months. Features mostly about immersive audio or film presentation standards. I did a long piece about Star Wars in the April issue this year, and one about Super 8 collecting at the end of last year. Next month, I have an interview coming up with a sound designer at Skywalker Sound. I also contribute news stories from various tradeshows and events, which aren't credited on the pages.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on June 16, 2017, 06:24 AM:

Fred from La Bande des Cinés (in Paris) told me once that he sold several super 8 digests to people who wanted to inculded them in dvds bonus.

Posted by Rob Young. (Member # 131) on June 16, 2017, 06:40 AM:

Hi Martin, I'm a long time subscriber to HCC.

Great publication. Keep up the good work.

With regard to the light blocking quality of film...very true, although don't you think that JVC D-ILA LCOS is remarkable in this regard?

Best,

Rob.

Posted by Martin Dew (Member # 5748) on June 16, 2017, 07:17 AM:

They are beautiful projectors, Rob.

One of our more scientific writers at the mag was telling me recently that despite the breakthroughs with Dolby Vision and other HDR systems, they're still far away yet from achieving the dynamics of a good 35mm film presentation. Film is still the benchmark and the reference all these years on.

Posted by Rob Young. (Member # 131) on June 16, 2017, 07:40 AM:

Indeed, Martin.

Although isn't it frustrating that we still have no Dolby Cinema screens here in the UK.

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