'50s Super-8 footage of roadside attractions + "Murder Was the Case" = joy

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On Friday we watched a whole bunch of Super-8 and 16mm footage from everyone's collections. What a great time. As mentioned above, some of my favourite was home movies of one family's trip to various attractions (Wild West-themed, diving bears, miniature trains etc) around Quebec & Ontario, while listening to "Murder Was the Case." Strangely poignant (especially when one guy briefly flashes a pistol).

Also:

Raw footage of disco-era fur commercials (some of the best stuff I've ever seen--I don't know if I can even describe it)
A weirdly ominous pre-'76 Olympics Montreal tourism film
16mm footage of a family having a party in their kitchen--lots of babies running around--my friend has movies spanning 30 years or so of this family's life--the babies eventually grow up and marry bikers
B&W musical numbers from the '30s
'50s footage of downtown Montreal--loads of neon signs & such and all the streets strangely empty

Does anyone else like to do this? It's the best thing ever.

― slutsky (slutsky), Tuesday, 13 May 2003 02:18 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh, wow.

Fur as in fur coats?

― rosemary (rosemary), Tuesday, 13 May 2003 02:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah, there was TONS of straight footage from the shoots, and a bunch of smaller reels of the final cuts of the commercials. They were so priceless, I don't know how to describe them.

The best was a longer subject called "Rendezvous," which had this semi-glamourous woman travelling all over the world, with her voice-over talking about what a free spirit she was, how no one will ever catch her etc. We thought it was going to be some softcore porno or something but no: in the last five minutes she finds happiness modelling fur! It was a surprise fur commercial!

― slutsky (slutsky), Tuesday, 13 May 2003 02:44 (twenty-three years ago)

sounds way cool.my dad used to film holidays and that kinda shit on his 8 ml movie camera in the 50s and 60s in australia and nz.

― hellbaby (hellbaby), Tuesday, 13 May 2003 04:47 (twenty-three years ago)

Do you still have/watch the films?

― slutsky (slutsky), Tuesday, 13 May 2003 04:51 (twenty-three years ago)

two weeks pass...

I was just reminded of another great thing we watched that night--a short documentary on 16mm (probably made as a student project) from the late-'70s/early '80s about the then-burgeoning Rocky Horror Picture Show phenomenon. Specifically about the RH cult in Montreal as revolved around the old & beautiful, Egyptian-themed Cinema V in NDG. Lots of interviews with proto-Goths and high school drama types; puzzled theatre attendants and other folks in costume. Weirdly compelling.

― slutsky (slutsky), Thursday, 29 May 2003 20:01 (twenty-three years ago)

ten months pass...

this was still the best thing ever.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 16 April 2004 02:20 (twenty-two years ago)

i mean is still was the best thing ever.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 16 April 2004 02:22 (twenty-two years ago)

stills plz!

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 16 April 2004 02:22 (twenty-two years ago)

i wish! maybe i'll rig something up when i have the time

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 16 April 2004 02:23 (twenty-two years ago)

ANY super8 stills then! Anyone?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 16 April 2004 02:24 (twenty-two years ago)

i'll make some from my own stuff when i have some time

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 16 April 2004 02:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Man I'd love to get my hands on my grandad's old super8's of us as kids.

Video footage of kiddies just isnt the same as good old grainy super8.

― Trayce (trayce), Friday, 16 April 2004 02:27 (twenty-two years ago)

it is kind of magical.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 16 April 2004 02:27 (twenty-two years ago)

man alive, this sounds cool

― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Friday, 16 April 2004 02:28 (twenty-two years ago)

i wish you could see this stuff jody, i know you would love it

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 16 April 2004 02:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I was hoping to post some stills from stuff I shot in Michigan, but I forgot it's on my old Mac. Maybe soon, though.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 16 April 2004 02:35 (twenty-two years ago)

please!!!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 16 April 2004 03:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Just to be the historical asshat, either the stuff wasn't shot in the 50's or it's not Super8. Super 8 didn't exist until 1965, so if it predates that, it must be regular 8 (split 8). And that's supa-vintage. (I actually shot some split 8 on Tuesday.)

― Girolamo Savonarola, Friday, 16 April 2004 04:32 (twenty-two years ago)

You can get it split still, though!

― @d@ml @ssh@t (nordicskilla), Friday, 16 April 2004 04:44 (twenty-two years ago)

split this

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 16 April 2004 14:52 (twenty-two years ago)

sit and spin

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 16 April 2004 14:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Kodachrome>Ektachrome

― Girolamo Savonarola, Friday, 16 April 2004 15:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Morris Day>Prince

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 16 April 2004 15:03 (twenty-two years ago)

lovers>fighters

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 16 April 2004 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

living/loving>just a woman

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 16 April 2004 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

river deep>mountain high

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 16 April 2004 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Beatles>Jesus

Living on the edge>taking up too much room

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 16 April 2004 15:09 (twenty-two years ago)

brass monkey>that funky monkey

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 16 April 2004 15:16 (twenty-two years ago)

games without frontiers>war without tears

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 16 April 2004 15:24 (twenty-two years ago)

somebody stop me

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 16 April 2004 15:24 (twenty-two years ago)

this really does sound like it was the best thing ever, found footage is wondaful - have you seen a movie called Decasia?

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Friday, 16 April 2004 16:27 (twenty-two years ago)

no, but i want to see it SO BAD. have you? where?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 16 April 2004 17:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Rented it from the local video rental place last night, actually - it's on DVD, and it's so completely absorbing - my wife and I sat with our jaws open for a little over an hour. Some of this has to do with the Q.R. Ghazal-like soundtrack but the images that ghost up through the decaying film are completely incredible, as is the decay itself.

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Friday, 16 April 2004 17:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I must see this! probably won't be available in quebec for a year though, sniff!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 16 April 2004 17:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Decasia is wonderful.

Can I divert this thread in order to talk about Super 8 processing? The place that processes my film in SF has stopped offering this service and as I am leaving my job, I am losing all of my transfer/equipment privileges. Does anyone in the US or Canada know of a decent place for these services? Good prices? Reasonably fast turnaround? Maybe even a three-bladed projector? I know of Super 8 Sound in LA and I've been recommended another place in Seattle, but the name escapes me.

I expect s1ocki and Girolamo to maybe reply, but if anyone is lurking or googling - plz help!

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 23 April 2004 15:22 (twenty-two years ago)

the black & white film factory in toronto is relatively cheap and they're really friendly and fast. for colour stuff they send it along to a place called exclusive, which you can deal with directly but they're dicks so you might as well do it through the B&WFF people who are sweet as hell.

(and you get to deal with a guy who's name is pronounced "dragon"!)

www.blackandwhitefilmfactory.com

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 23 April 2004 21:07 (twenty-two years ago)

I usually go with Dwayne's Photo, but that's me. I dunno...a good idea might be to try looking around at the labs listed at Little Film, a great site btw for this sorta thing.

― Girolamo Savonarola, Saturday, 24 April 2004 01:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw into the future!

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Saturday, 24 April 2004 02:15 (twenty-two years ago)

you built it/we came

― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 24 April 2004 15:45 (twenty-two years ago)

I hear great things aboutRocky Mountain Film Lab for processing, especially their old stock processing, if you shoot that sort of thing. They have inexpensive transfer services too, but only to VHS.

I saw this thread just as I was wondering if it'd be an appropriate use of ILX to post a volunteer call here for Home Movie Day. We need people in regions not yet represented to host open screening events where you set up projectors for 8mm, Super 8, 16mm, and 9.5mm if you've got it, and then put out an open call for people to bring in their home movies to screen. It's worth it for the stuff you get to see, and watching with the families who may be seeing these for the first time in decades or ever, adds something that you don't really get watching anonymous found home movies (much as I love that).

<1>I saw into the future!</1>
s1ocki and Girolamo: check. Anyone lurking: check.

― brian patrick (brian patrick), Saturday, 24 April 2004 17:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Er, I saw into the future!

― brian patrick (brian patrick), Saturday, 24 April 2004 17:19 (twenty-two years ago)

that sounds pretty cool brian!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 24 April 2004 23:03 (twenty-two years ago)

three months pass...

Finally, S8 stills

http://home.comcast.net/~saellow/PierBlur.jpeg
http://home.comcast.net/~saellow/SarahPierBlur.jpeg

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 01:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Cheap transfer.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 01:18 (twenty-one years ago)

It looks very...C86.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 01:18 (twenty-one years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00009V7QN.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 01:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I once went to see the shoegazer band Saxon Shore, and for the entire concert they rear-projected a Super-8 strip from the Ackron 1963 Memorial Day Parade (if I remember correctly) in reverse. So, in closing, droney music and pot and anachronistic backwards-playing filmstrip and that's the reason why Huck Finn made the choices he did at the end of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."

― x j e r e m y (x Jeremy), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 01:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Lately I've been consumed with an urge to find mysterious old photos and things, and scan them - if I could also find some super8 film it'd make my day.

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 02:24 (twenty-one years ago)

scan your local garbage, trayce, that's where the good stuff always is! also look behind schools, they're always throwing out wicked old shit

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 13:51 (twenty-one years ago)

the stills look cool adam, how did you make them? did you get a transfer to dv and just make stills in fcp?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 13:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I got them transferred for free while I was still working at the AAC and then made the stills in fcp, yes.

Have a lot more stuff to transfer, I love Super 8 again now!

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 13:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Trying to decide if I want a "pro" s8 camera, with a decent lens for a change...

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 13:54 (twenty-one years ago)

OR SHOULD I KEEP IT OLD SCHOOL???

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 13:55 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm always drooling over the cameras at pro8mm.com!!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 13:57 (twenty-one years ago)

though it gets to the point where you might as well shoot in 16

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 13:57 (twenty-one years ago)

ten months pass...

40th Anniversary of Super 8 film

Kodak celebrates 40th anniversary of super 8 film announces new color reversal product to portfolio

ROCHESTER, NY, May 9 -From its beginnings as the home movie medium of the 1960s, Super 8 film is alive and well, and serving a vital segment of today's filmmaking industry.

Eastman Kodak Company remains committed to providing Super 8 camera users a range of products and creative choices. As such, Kodak has added a new color reversal film to its Super 8 portfolio-the super-saturated, fine grain KODAK EKTACHROME 64T Color Reversal Film 7280 will be available in August of this year.

"Introduced in 1965, Super 8 film has found new life with each new generation of filmmakers that continue to embrace the format," said Bob Mayson, general manager and vice president for Image Capture products, Entertainment Imaging division at Eastman Kodak Company. "Forty years after its introduction, this small-gauge film still provides an easy, inexpensive way for students and enthusiasts to work at film resolutions and color depths as yet unmatched by the latest digital technologies."

"In fact, many of today's great cinematographers and directors began their careers decades ago, at the counter of their local photo shop, buying a cartridge of Super 8 film."

"That's why Kodak has continued to invest in the Super 8 business," he added. "We're just thrilled to introduce this vivid, new emulsion to the marketplace. It's a great new product with very high image quality and excellent color reproduction, providing our Super 8 customers another creative tool for their toolbox."

The new KODAK EKTACHROME 64T film expands the current Super 8 portfolio that includes two black-and-white reversal films in medium and high speeds covering a range of lighting situations. Super 8 customers will also find the latest KODAK VISION2 motion picture films available in 200T and 500T speeds, incorporating the highest quality images, improved sharpness and grain, along with a full systems approach, optimizing the entire imaging chain.

"With Super 8 gates now available for high-end scanners, coupled with the KODAK VISION2 film technology advancements, Super 8 is what 16 mm film used to be," says Mayson. "Super 8 color negative film has become another option for professionals with low budgets."

As part of the portfolio revamp, Kodak will discontinue sales of its S8 KODACHROME 40 Movie Film. Final sales of KODACHROME Super 8 will be based on product availability over the coming months. Sales of KODACHROME 16 mm films will continue, unaffected by this announcement.

The decision to discontinue KODACHROME in Super 8 was driven entirely by marketplace dynamics.

"Because the 'home movie' market has shifted to digital, sales of KODACHROME Super 8 film have declined significantly," according to Mayson. "In tandem with that decline, the availability of processing for KODACHROME Super 8 cartridges has diminished. In other words, fewer and fewer labs worldwide have the machines and the chemistry necessary to process this film emulsion in the Super 8 format."

Kodak will give customers at least a year to process their KODACHROME Super 8 film with Kodak or seek an alternative.

Kodak remains committed to the Super 8 format, as evidenced by the new film announced today. Kodak is building on a product line that covers the needs of enthusiasts, from a choice of stocks in negative, black and white, and reversal films. Kodak's intent is to maintain the format as long as it is supported by marketplace conditions.

― I'm bad and dirty and going to hell (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 16:17 (twenty years ago)

Everyone owes it to themselves to see a Charles Phoenix show

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 17:41 (twenty years ago)

yay

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 17:52 (twenty years ago)

seven months pass...

This is sort of a test (with poor compression) but here you go - just what you always wanted, Super 8 footage of planes landing at Oakland accompanied by Uusitalo!

http://www.youtube.com/w/?v=E4cBiDqvnyU

― Serge Protecteur (nordicskilla), Saturday, 28 January 2006 07:12 (twenty years ago)

that was one of the most beautiful things ive seen in years

― Anthony Easton, Saturday, 28 January 2006 09:16 (twenty years ago)

thanks!

― Serge Protecteur (nordicskilla), Saturday, 28 January 2006 16:59 (twenty years ago)

Wow! So pretty!
I took a super-eight animation course in college, way long time ago. I still have all the movies I made. I made a movie of a monopoly game playing itself and ending in chaos and destruction.

― Beth Parker (Beth Parker), Saturday, 28 January 2006 20:28 (twenty years ago)

Related videos: Snoop Dogg with the Oakland Raiders

― Erick Dampier is better than Shaq (miloaukerman), Saturday, 28 January 2006 21:18 (twenty years ago)

http://www.geocities.com/jedivideomike2003/ChargersRaiders009.jpg

― Serge Protecteur (nordicskilla), Saturday, 28 January 2006 21:20 (twenty years ago)

http://eck650.tripod.com/images/adrizzle.jpg

― Serge Protecteur (nordicskilla), Saturday, 28 January 2006 21:21 (twenty years ago)

http://www.crailtap.com/c3/newrandoms/1-3-05/hyphy.jpg

― Serge Protecteur (nordicskilla), Saturday, 28 January 2006 21:23 (twenty years ago)

How much did it cost to get the film (Kodak reversal?) developed and transferred? I keep wanting to try Super-8, but the costs seem prohibitive if you want to do any editing.

― Erick Dampier is better than Shaq (miloaukerman), Sunday, 29 January 2006 05:46 (twenty years ago)

i will upload my super-8 buenos aires football footage

― s1ocki (slutsky), Sunday, 29 January 2006 05:51 (twenty years ago)

How much did it cost to get the film (Kodak reversal?) developed and transferred? I keep wanting to try Super-8, but the costs seem prohibitive if you want to do any editing.

This was not reversal film, but I guess that's what I'll be working on in future.

This was the now-defunct K40. :(

15$ a roll, which is 50ft of film.
$4 for processing at Calla foods.
$50 for DVD-ROM transfer of six rolls k40.

It's not cheap but it makes me very happy. It's what money is for!

― Serge Protecteur (nordicskilla), Monday, 30 January 2006 16:46 (twenty years ago)

Reversal film is much more expensive, at least to process.

― Serge Protecteur (nordicskilla), Monday, 30 January 2006 16:47 (twenty years ago)

yeah but you don't have to make another print of it

― s1ocki (slutsky), Monday, 30 January 2006 16:53 (twenty years ago)

That's actually less than I expected, thanks. $28 for Plus-X or Tri-X and processing seems reasonable from pro8mm (I can't find anyone local to develop Super-8), I can find someone to transfer to DV or DVD later.

― Erick Dampier is better than Shaq (miloaukerman), Monday, 30 January 2006 19:42 (twenty years ago)

kodalux premium processing services
3131 manor way
dallas, texas 75235
(214) 352-5900

format stock process print

super-8 kodachrome $9.13
ektachrome $9.13

― Serge Protecteur (nordicskilla), Monday, 30 January 2006 20:13 (twenty years ago)

whoa, thanks, the professor I asked couldn't think of any that still existed.

― Erick Dampier is better than Shaq (miloaukerman), Monday, 30 January 2006 20:23 (twenty years ago)

I'm sure there are more. There's a big lab in Oklahoma that does my film and has SUPER quick turnaround - would be even faster for you. I just can't remember the name!

― Serge Protecteur (nordicskilla), Monday, 30 January 2006 20:27 (twenty years ago)

SUPER 8 WILL NEVER DIE

― Serge Protecteur (nordicskilla), Monday, 30 January 2006 20:30 (twenty years ago)

There's actually a new Kodak super 8 stock, though they dropped K-40.

― andy --, Monday, 30 January 2006 20:31 (twenty years ago)

these guys are great, really fast turnaround, cheap, super-friendly. and in canadian dollars! i think it's... $10 for a b&w cart, $15 for colour?

http://blackandwhitefilmfactory.com/

and yeah despite the name they outsource colour stuff.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Monday, 30 January 2006 20:32 (twenty years ago)

there's lots of exciting new stocks and stuff. here's a good blog:

http://onsuper8.blogspot.com

― s1ocki (slutsky), Monday, 30 January 2006 20:33 (twenty years ago)

BERLIN SUPER 80!

― Serge Protecteur (nordicskilla), Monday, 30 January 2006 20:34 (twenty years ago)

Berlin Super 80

― Serge Protecteur (nordicskilla), Monday, 30 January 2006 20:35 (twenty years ago)

Wait, can you project reversal stock? I have a bunch of carts of Plus and Tri.

― andy --, Monday, 30 January 2006 20:35 (twenty years ago)

There IS a new stock but it's not good ole cheap and friendly k40.

Andy - where do you buy/process film? I usually go to Looking Glass on Telegraph.

― Serge Protecteur (nordicskilla), Monday, 30 January 2006 20:36 (twenty years ago)

I ordered all my film from Kodak but they sell it at Gasser's on 2nd. You can also drop off films there but they just send it out. There's a guy in SF that does the transfers, and they've been trying to do a Super 8 club at ATA (first tues of the month) but attendance has been pretty low lately.

― andy --, Monday, 30 January 2006 20:38 (twenty years ago)

Gasser's is a little pricey. I work only a few blocks from them. I've also been the ATA Super 8 thing once (I might be volunteering there soon actually), but I always forget when it's on.

― Serge Protecteur (nordicskilla), Monday, 30 January 2006 20:40 (twenty years ago)

you can totally project reversal! that's the whole point--no negative middleman

― s1ocki (slutsky), Monday, 30 January 2006 20:41 (twenty years ago)

I also use Photographer's Supply on Bryant, though they jacked up their prices once K40 was discontinued.

― Serge Protecteur (nordicskilla), Monday, 30 January 2006 20:42 (twenty years ago)

Color reversal films are basically the same (same developing even) as still-photography slide film. If people are worried about the saturation of Ektachrome (mentioned on that blog), they should petition Fuji to introduce Velvia in Super-8.

― Erick Dampier is better than Shaq (miloaukerman), Monday, 30 January 2006 20:44 (twenty years ago)

http://festival.sundance.org/2006/watch/film.aspx?which=428&category=F

― Serge Protecteur (nordicskilla), Monday, 30 January 2006 20:46 (twenty years ago)

Has anybody done old-school razorblade editing? I bought a little Prinz editor (need to find a new bulb) but I'm interested in actually doing the old block & tabs instead of Mac editing, to keep the whole process pure.

PS I have a bunch of carts of Ektachrome 160 sound films that I might trade for K-40, if anyone needs it. Stored in a drawer but I can't vouch for how it'll come out, or who would process it.

― andy --, Monday, 30 January 2006 20:48 (twenty years ago)

I have. It's fucking hard, especially if you are clumsy like me. And fussy about splices, like me.

― Serge Protecteur (nordicskilla), Monday, 30 January 2006 20:49 (twenty years ago)

I also have one of these for regular 8mm. It's a beautiful piece of kit:

http://www.originalanleitungen.de/shop/images/16-225%20Agfa%2088.jpg

― Serge Protecteur (nordicskilla), Monday, 30 January 2006 20:55 (twenty years ago)

Didn't AGFA just toss in the towel? Too bad, I like their 35mm film alot.

― andy ---, Monday, 30 January 2006 21:11 (twenty years ago)

4 Milo?

I said Oklahoma, I meant Kansas:

http://k14movies.com/

― Serge Protecteur (nordicskilla), Monday, 30 January 2006 21:15 (twenty years ago)

I did Super-8 editing about 20 years ago using a Hervic splicer, which uses pre-cut tape splices, all you do is put in a tape piece, position the two film ends in the editor, and then clamp it together. Very easier and gave good results. I don't know the status of Hervic now, though.

― nickn (nickn), Monday, 30 January 2006 22:05 (twenty years ago)

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