I think this idea was brought up before but, what does everyone think about a small format convention of some kind? I mean, they have it for comic books and science fiction, etc. Why not for super8/regular8. Heck, we could even set aside a small 4x4 foot area just for 9.5mm as well. ;)
Seriously, there could be showings of super 8 projects as well as vendor and trade booths for people with gear, films, and what all. Also, I think it would be a hoot to have "think tank" seminars where people throw out crazy ideas for new equipment and ways to interface super 8 digitally, print back to film, synch sound, show off home made gadgets, dollies, booms, car mounts, etc.
Anyway, never having done something like this, how does one get the thing going? Where does the money come from? I guess you need backers for this sort of affair.
Well, money aside, what does everyone think? I vote we have it in Parsons, Kansas where Dewaynes is located so that we could maybe have some access to fast processing during the run of the show. Perhaps have a mini-flicker in-camera film contest where people shoot and come back on closing night with their finished product, processing courtesy of Dewaynes.
Just throwing out ideas here.....
Roger
Super 8 Convention?
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pelluet
Hello Roger
We are very fortunate in the UK to have just such an event. the British Film Collectors Convention; http://bfcc.biz/ Whilst the emphaisis is on film 'collecting' in both 8mm and 16mm, there is a lot of associated equipment on sale and display and film shows going on during the day, these show the real potential of projecting 8mm on to a large [last year 24ft] screen.
Flights are cheap at the moment.......
Mike
We are very fortunate in the UK to have just such an event. the British Film Collectors Convention; http://bfcc.biz/ Whilst the emphaisis is on film 'collecting' in both 8mm and 16mm, there is a lot of associated equipment on sale and display and film shows going on during the day, these show the real potential of projecting 8mm on to a large [last year 24ft] screen.
Flights are cheap at the moment.......
Mike
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Lucas Lightfeat
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basstruc not logged in
That's exactly why I would avoid any Super8 convention : I don't want to wear any giantic plastic S8 cartdridge-like ears.I mean, they have it for comic books and science fiction, etc.
Seriously, from what I saw, those conventions are more like a ultra-specialised super market once a year. Never saw any constructivity from a so-called convention.
matt
S8CON 200x!!!!
I laud the idea of a small format con. Conventions are great places to learn new things about your craft or meet others who share your interests. People like to make fun of Trek cons, probably because of the easy pickings.
In college some friends and I put together a game con (role playing, etc.). It is a lot of work but pays off in the end. Not in money though - as I recall the con barely made any money, if it did at all (I was the entertainment coordinator, not the treasurer). The pay off is in having done something cool.
Absolutely essential are sponsors or backers. Our con was backed by a large mail order gaming supply company, which happened to be a local business. We also got money from the university, as we had formed a student group years earlier to support gaming on campus, and used this as a form of co-sponsorship. Generous donations from gaming companies provided prizes. As you'd imagine, you can get lots of freebies but getting people to give you money for tossing in a guaranteed money-hole is near impossible. We also got some financial support from older gamers who had jobs.
I'd suggest some place other than Kansas, though. Since this would be a somewhat 'international' event, the best choice of a location would be a major city with cheap flights from most airports. I don't think Kansas is a cheap destination, but the way prices are going you never know. Another factor in choosing a location would be time of year/weather: Chicago might be a great city for it, but not in February! Then there is the cost of facilities, which are no doubt cheaper in Kansas than, say, LA.
This is a later decision anyway: first you have to line up potential sponsors, then beg for money. First step is sadly a committee. One person can organize a con, but s/he will go insane from it.
I have a pal back in Seattle who organizes very large SF cons. I'll drop him a line and get his advice, suggestions, etc. For now, here's a couple of useful links, including the WorldCon runner's guide, to give you an idea of what it's like to run a big SF con, and the astronomical pain in the posterior that fans provide (I think Super8 people are probably much more tolerable and tolerant than SF fans):
WorldCon runner's guide:
http://www.sflovers.org/wcrg/
International Festival and Events Association:
http://www.ifea.com/
Treasury on a Shoestring
http://www.apocalypse.org/%7Ephi/shoestring.html
Convention Planner
http://www.conventionplanner.com/
In college some friends and I put together a game con (role playing, etc.). It is a lot of work but pays off in the end. Not in money though - as I recall the con barely made any money, if it did at all (I was the entertainment coordinator, not the treasurer). The pay off is in having done something cool.
Absolutely essential are sponsors or backers. Our con was backed by a large mail order gaming supply company, which happened to be a local business. We also got money from the university, as we had formed a student group years earlier to support gaming on campus, and used this as a form of co-sponsorship. Generous donations from gaming companies provided prizes. As you'd imagine, you can get lots of freebies but getting people to give you money for tossing in a guaranteed money-hole is near impossible. We also got some financial support from older gamers who had jobs.
I'd suggest some place other than Kansas, though. Since this would be a somewhat 'international' event, the best choice of a location would be a major city with cheap flights from most airports. I don't think Kansas is a cheap destination, but the way prices are going you never know. Another factor in choosing a location would be time of year/weather: Chicago might be a great city for it, but not in February! Then there is the cost of facilities, which are no doubt cheaper in Kansas than, say, LA.
This is a later decision anyway: first you have to line up potential sponsors, then beg for money. First step is sadly a committee. One person can organize a con, but s/he will go insane from it.
I have a pal back in Seattle who organizes very large SF cons. I'll drop him a line and get his advice, suggestions, etc. For now, here's a couple of useful links, including the WorldCon runner's guide, to give you an idea of what it's like to run a big SF con, and the astronomical pain in the posterior that fans provide (I think Super8 people are probably much more tolerable and tolerant than SF fans):
WorldCon runner's guide:
http://www.sflovers.org/wcrg/
International Festival and Events Association:
http://www.ifea.com/
Treasury on a Shoestring
http://www.apocalypse.org/%7Ephi/shoestring.html
Convention Planner
http://www.conventionplanner.com/
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pelluet
When I went to my first BFCC I was a little concerned by the predominance of elderly men in rain macs, I wasn't sure that my newly found hobby was altogether suitable for a [relative] youngster like me. I have been heartened though to see that over recent years the Wisdom of age has been increasingly complimented by the enthusiasm of youth and Octobers BFCC was notable for an altogether more obvious contingent of 'youngsters'! An illustration I suppose of the resurgence of interest in super 8?
The great thing about these conventions is that you can be selective and concentrate on those bits that interest you. Whilst I do collect package movies on super 8, my real interest is in the equipment and making films [albeit on an extremenly amateur basis]. BFCC is a great place to look at all those cameras, projectors and Gizmos and feel them, look through them, smell them or do what ever else you need to do before you decide whether or not you can't live with out them. Ebay is great and I have bought many great bargains on there but I have also bought more than one camera, projector and gizmo that I wouldn't have bid on if I had been able to see it in the flesh first........
I shall be there on the 17th of May but I shall be leaving my rain mac at home.
Mike
ps. Hello everyone, I've been visiting this site for a while but this is the first time I've posted. I'm very impressed by the range of topics covered and fantastic knowledge base amongst the members. It's good also to see a steady trickle of newcomers discovering the delights of the small guage.
The great thing about these conventions is that you can be selective and concentrate on those bits that interest you. Whilst I do collect package movies on super 8, my real interest is in the equipment and making films [albeit on an extremenly amateur basis]. BFCC is a great place to look at all those cameras, projectors and Gizmos and feel them, look through them, smell them or do what ever else you need to do before you decide whether or not you can't live with out them. Ebay is great and I have bought many great bargains on there but I have also bought more than one camera, projector and gizmo that I wouldn't have bid on if I had been able to see it in the flesh first........
I shall be there on the 17th of May but I shall be leaving my rain mac at home.
Mike
ps. Hello everyone, I've been visiting this site for a while but this is the first time I've posted. I'm very impressed by the range of topics covered and fantastic knowledge base amongst the members. It's good also to see a steady trickle of newcomers discovering the delights of the small guage.
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David M. Leugers
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I think the time is maybe finally right for a convention. I would like to see it as an opportunity not only for entertainment, but as an opportunity to really help advance our favorite medium. Given enough time and careful planning I am sure it would be a very successful. Just to throw out ideas I would suggest holding the first convention in Rochester, NY. It might help to convince Kodak to help sponsor the event, with maybe tours and rare films shown at the George Eastman House (one of the world's greatest film archives). Taking from an idea from the puppet master 8) , maybe hold a film contest where entrants pick an emulsion of available Kodak S-8mm film (provided by Kodak sponsorship) and shoot one roll with the object being to produce the most interesting, beautiful, unusual footage for that type of film. It would be fun, Kodak would get some positive exposure and all might learn some new ideas for producing their visions on film. Each type of film stock would have a winner. Clinics instructing on different aspects of film making today with S-8mm and R-8mm film. Discussion groups on aspects of film making and the challenges ahead such as ways to shoot double system with film projection etc. I am sure everyone has ideas and I for one will do everthing to attend.
David M. Leugers
David M. Leugers
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ericMartinJarvies
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sections:
1.camera catagories
bauer
beaulieu
bolex
canon
etc.
2. projectors
elmo
etc.
3. filmstock
4. lighting
5. sound
6. nle
i think the big problem right now is the lack of organization regarding who deals in what, and why. placing everything/everyone in their proper place would be a good start.
the actual techniques applied would be good for each camera type.
the actual accessories for that specific type of camera/projector/nle system, etc.
an overall breakdown of all the filter relationships with the available film stocks and lighting conditions/solutions/implimentations.
perhaps a start to finish assembly of info regarding super8 filmmaking, wherein each participant of the convention(who has a booth) has their applicable position(s) in the scheme of things. perhaps the convention is setup so that when you walk in, you are introduced to the cameras available. then, you are introduced to the accessories and film stocks available. then you are introduced to the attachments(filters, tipods, dollies, jibs, projectors, telecine and transfering, etc). then, you are introduced to the super8 filmmaking process covering home movies to documentaries to indy films to super8 use in major motion pictures. then, you are introduced to the processing/transferring options, like color correction, or other film effects during processing and transfer. then you are introduced to the editing capabilities be it traditional or current nle on computers. then you are introduced to the community, be they websites like this, film fests, whatever.
again, taking the same process each of us have gone though, or are still going through, and truning into standard protocol/proceedure, wherein the only varioables are the choice of equipment and various sources/processes/proceedure along the way and thorughout the process. this way, the convention not only is useful, it is simply and makes the new guy completely aware of the situation in less then a day, or the amount of time it takes to manuvuer through the convention in the logicol order.
just some ideas. good or bad
1.camera catagories
bauer
beaulieu
bolex
canon
etc.
2. projectors
elmo
etc.
3. filmstock
4. lighting
5. sound
6. nle
i think the big problem right now is the lack of organization regarding who deals in what, and why. placing everything/everyone in their proper place would be a good start.
the actual techniques applied would be good for each camera type.
the actual accessories for that specific type of camera/projector/nle system, etc.
an overall breakdown of all the filter relationships with the available film stocks and lighting conditions/solutions/implimentations.
perhaps a start to finish assembly of info regarding super8 filmmaking, wherein each participant of the convention(who has a booth) has their applicable position(s) in the scheme of things. perhaps the convention is setup so that when you walk in, you are introduced to the cameras available. then, you are introduced to the accessories and film stocks available. then you are introduced to the attachments(filters, tipods, dollies, jibs, projectors, telecine and transfering, etc). then, you are introduced to the super8 filmmaking process covering home movies to documentaries to indy films to super8 use in major motion pictures. then, you are introduced to the processing/transferring options, like color correction, or other film effects during processing and transfer. then you are introduced to the editing capabilities be it traditional or current nle on computers. then you are introduced to the community, be they websites like this, film fests, whatever.
again, taking the same process each of us have gone though, or are still going through, and truning into standard protocol/proceedure, wherein the only varioables are the choice of equipment and various sources/processes/proceedure along the way and thorughout the process. this way, the convention not only is useful, it is simply and makes the new guy completely aware of the situation in less then a day, or the amount of time it takes to manuvuer through the convention in the logicol order.
just some ideas. good or bad
eric martin jarvies
#7 avenido jarvies
pueblo viejo
cabo san lucas, baja california sur. mexico
cp 23410
044 624 141 9661
#7 avenido jarvies
pueblo viejo
cabo san lucas, baja california sur. mexico
cp 23410
044 624 141 9661
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David M. Leugers
- Posts: 1632
- Joined: Thu May 02, 2002 12:42 am
Reading calgodot's post brings up a good point. The financing and profit questions. Who'll put up the money for it, and if it makes money, who will get it? Making money is the last reason I see for this, it would be nice if it paid for itself though.
We have so many international devotees of the 8mm persuations and who contribute to this website (not to mention Andreas!). How do we have a convention available to most if not all? Maybe one in North America and one in Europe? Just some considerations to think about...
I think the convention would be incomplete if there were no film festival of 8mm films by the amateurs of the world. I would not object to a non-competitive film festival and it would encourage film makers to submit their work. A chance to get a real flavour of what everyone else is doing would be great. Again just some thoughts.
David M. Leugers
We have so many international devotees of the 8mm persuations and who contribute to this website (not to mention Andreas!). How do we have a convention available to most if not all? Maybe one in North America and one in Europe? Just some considerations to think about...
I think the convention would be incomplete if there were no film festival of 8mm films by the amateurs of the world. I would not object to a non-competitive film festival and it would encourage film makers to submit their work. A chance to get a real flavour of what everyone else is doing would be great. Again just some thoughts.
David M. Leugers
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flatwood
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good ideas david i think to have some form of film festival with the event and to take care of both sides of the world maybe we could do them simultaneously but there may be devotees who would want to attend both events. i would not be able to attend a european convention due to the fact that i dont feel safe flying commercial but i can drive to houston, rochester, kansas, denver, etc. do what yall want and if i can make it i certainly will. you can sign my studio up for a small sponsorship however. also i was involved in a large national convention and a number of small ones for ten years. basically find a hotel or motel and if we buy enough room nights they will kick in the banquet and meeting facilities as well as some comp rooms for some select presenters. venders can pay a table fee, etc. how many would possibly attend an event in the usa anyway??? fifty, a hundred??? maybe. i will; help anyway i can. good luck!!!
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