Promote Super 8 (and 16mm)

[Will2]

Why don't we get some of the great labs & transfer houses to work together with Kodak and try some promotions for the format? Almost like a trade association with user support from us.

First create a simple, clean world class web site explaining the benefits of small format film with samples and point to great resources like this one.

Then advertise in these video magazines targeted towards hobbyists and wedding videographers and show Super 8 is alive and better than ever.

Show three tier approach to costs on the site simply and clearly;

1) It can be reasonably affordable to a hobbyist with a Dwayne's processing and transfer type deal (possibly have these companies run promotions for first time film users)

2) Mid level with better quality and a modest bump in cost

3) On the high-end there are houses like Cinelicous & Lightpress (FSFT) that can knock it out of the park for people willing to spend the money

Some companies might have to reorient their service to accommodate neophytes but places like Spectra already do a great job at helping newbies.

We're all filmmakers, we could also have a contest to create a film that best shows off the benefits of Super 8, even comparing it to video. I'd bet Kodak would run that on their Cinematography site if we approached them, perhaps even giving some exposure on their main consumer home page.

[aj]

Why don't we get some

Who would be we?

The 25 posters of this forum?

[Uppsala BildTeknik]

I already try to help promote Super8 with the special prices we have for Telecine transfers for new films. I don´t want to post links in this thread though, I got a warning from the admin when I did so in another thread.

But I don´t think it makes any sense to pay for advertisement in magazines. It cost too much money for the small amount of new super8 shooters that might give.

[aj]

That is a bit odd that you, as a main poster of tips etc, got a warning about links.
People post in the wrong sections all the time and all kind of links for auctions and advertisements. With little correction noticable.

Advertising on paper is likely best in local newspapers or ad-magazines. Aim for people living close enough to comeby. Every street in every town has several kilometers of film in drawers waiting to be transfered. Then all these VHS Hi-8 tapes etc...

Spending Euro 1000+ on half a page for a one time advertisement in the ciné glossy is never going to pay for itself.

I built a 3 page website for a friend. Hosting takes only some Euro 50 per year and it brings in per year more customers than 10 years of advertising in a photographica magazine.

[Will2]

Why don't we get some

Who would be we?
The 25 posters of this forum?

The proverbial we, of course. Or is it the Royal We?

I agree magazine advertising may not be the place, just throwing it out there if Kodak wanted to throw some money around. Perhaps getting visibility on something like Engadget might be more appropriate.

[BigWorm]

That is a bit odd that you, as a main poster of tips etc, got a warning about links.
People post in the wrong sections all the time and all kind of links for auctions and advertisements. With little correction noticable.

I'm guilty of this. Just recently recognized this fact... I haven't been warned but probability should have been.

[Blue Audio Visual]

Well at least Kent didn't do this:

Buy cheap Viagra here!!!

[Uppsala BildTeknik]

Haha, now that is what I call biulding a professional image! :mrgreen:

[wahiba]

Promoting 8mm film making would be like that comedy act where the comedian is meant to be Raleigh trying to explain what tobacco is!

Explaining 8mm film making to someone used to solid state HD cameras sounds much the same.

8mm film making, the paraphalia and the lore is for art and technical enthusiasts alike. It is fun. Fortunately there are still enough around for there to be a market which is provided for.

Let us hope that 8mm enthusiasts will be like the Russian church. Stalin did not attack the church becasue only old women went to church and when they died there would be no one left to go to church. He forgot that that old womenstart off as young women.

So will hi-tec camcorder users migrate towards the simple life of 8mm film making? Only time will tell.

[Will2]

So will hi-tec camcorder users migrate towards the simple life of 8mm film making? Only time will tell.

I run into people all the time who would love to work with film but don't even realize it's still available. Everyone wants to use a plug-in to get "film looks" when the real thing is still out there. These are obviously not pros, but video enthusiasts who just shoot video of their kids all day long.

I know it is a loosing battle but it would be nice to make these people aware of the possibilities.

[Charlie Blackfield]

it would be nice to make these people aware of the possibilities.

A very simple way of doing this is to shoot away with your Super 8 camera (or other film camera) in public places where you meet lots of people. Over the past year I had plenty of conversations with video shooters that were triggered by my shooting Super 8 at friends' celebrations, at a big political protest in London, and on other occasions. Back in 2007 I had a very long conversation with a French videomaker in Paris, while I was filming at the Opera. He didn't know that Super 8 was still around and asked me lots of questions. Not sure if he took up Super 8 filming as a result of this, but I certainly pointed him in a lot of useful directions.

Festivals are also a great way of bringing Super 8 to the attention of the wider public. As one example, the Cambridge Super 8 Group does a lot of good stuff with press/media work in this respect. And, of course, every Super 8 film that gets picked up by a mainstream festival will have the effect of telling people that the format is still alive.

I find that the best way of promoting Super 8 is to keep making films and get them out in the open.

[jpolzfuss]

Hi,

Why don't we get some of the great labs & transfer houses to work together with Kodak and try some promotions for the format?

ROTFL! Kodak? Have you been to http://www.kodak.com lately? All they do is advertising their digi-cams and inkjet-cartridges*!
When you know that the Super8-products are listed under "Cinema & Television" -> "Motion Picture Film", it's even easier to find them than to find information about e.g. Kodak's slide-films! It's like the whole company forgot about their non-digital products!

Jörg

* Okay, they currently advertise the sundance festival, too...

[mr.skull]

In the past I have shot many super 8 and 16 mm films for my personal projects, but gradually switched to video by the mid nineties. Until recently it could be argued that super 8 delivers a better image than standard definition video, provided that you are filming with a high-end camera with excellent glass. Not any more. Now that HD video has taken over, even low-end prosumer HD cameras completely blow away the super 8 image. The other problems with super 8 like cartridge jitter, scratches, telecine costs, editing hassles and synch sound difficulties all add up to a format that has less and less appeal. So I'm going to take the devil's advocate position here and ask why would anyone want to keep using super 8? Yes, its "fun" to work with physical film, and there is the old-school retro aspect as well as the "film look". However, anyone wanting quality imagery, sound, and ease of editing will not hesitate to use HD. 16 mm may have some life in it, but unfortunately super 8 filmmaking is dwindling and I can't imagine why Kodak would keep making the film for much longer. Sad, but it's the reality.

Best Regards,
Joel

[Uppsala BildTeknik]

Well, to quote the Norwegian guy who was here last week transferring a buttload of super8 for his latest film, I´d say:

"A clean crisp image... It says nothing. Anyone can get a crisp quality image these days, all they need to do is shoot it with a HD camera. Just like everyone else. Your films blends in with the rest.

Now with super8, you can get images that look different. They look like nothing else, they stand out in the crowd. Funny things happend, things you don´t plan for happend. You get art by accident."

I think that is a prety good answer. By the way, the super8 will be intercut with different HD format, blown up to 35mm film and will air on Norwegian TV. Perhaps some other coutries too (I guess that depends on how well the film is received by the audience).

[Pj]

I believe that people who use Super 8, whether they are hobbyists or professionals do promote it as much as they can, but I do think companies like Kodak should promote Super 8 more. It’s an interesting time as currently filmmakers have a lot of choice with film and digital. If they want to then they can choose to shoot Super 8, soon this choice might dwindle, especially if the use of Super 8 diminishes, so I think we should use it as much we can and promote Super 8.

A lot of people new to film and Super 8 get worried and anxious as they are so used to things being immediate and instant, which video is, but Super 8 isn’t. After all it can take weeks before you see what you’ve shot. Obviously Super 8 needs processing and often transferring before it can be seen, it’s just a longer process. I think eventually this culture of immediacy will kill film and Super 8.

As for the quality, it varies some people prefer the popular often jerky and gritty retro look while others want a fresh glossy approach, which surprisingly can be achieved. I have shot stuff where people often can’t believe they are watching Super 8, I know others who use Super 8 and some have posted on here and their stuff looks great, nothing like the usual jerky, gritty retro images that we’ve come to know as Super 8.

Super 8 is very versatile; companies, filmmakers and hobbyists should promote it to emerging filmmakers as a useful tool for storytelling rather than constantly highlighting problems and weaknesses of the format. Obviously there are many issues with Super 8, but most can be easily dealt with.