Will Kodak’s Filing For Chapter 11 have an effect on Super 8 film?

-A personal statement from Phil Vigeant, President of Pro8mm

When I first worked at Super 8 Sound in the early 1980‘s the problems were the same for Super 8 film as problems Kodak faces with 35mm film today. The market for super 8 film in the early 80’s had dropped so dramatically due to the overwhelming success of VHS that everything crashed. We are not talking about a little dip in sales. We are talking about a crash in sales that resulted in a 90% drop in business. http://www.dtvgroup.com/Super8Sound/

At that time all companies involved in the super 8 industry either went out of business, filed for bankruptcy or where part of a larger company that could absorb their losses. In this predicament you have to make a decision: Do you believe in the future of your product or it is just time to call it quits?

I believed that there was a future for Super 8 film and so I went through the pain of taking the company through bankruptcy so that I could re-start the business. If there was no Chapter 11 then Super 8 Sound ™ could not have been reorganized. There would be no Pro8mm, and at the risk of sounding boastful, there probably would be no Super 8 film today. This is the point of bankruptcy. It gives you a chance at life; a new beginning for those that believe in their product for future generations. For us, it gave us the opportunity to invent super 8 negative film, Max 8, and complete workflows so that Super 8 film could be used as a professional production medium.

There are risk to all this and there will not doubt be lots of changes at Kodak. Sometimes the people that take over are not interested in the future of the company and are only interested in disposing of the valuable parts of a business If you have watched the movie Wall Street (the original) you know what I mean.

We are already feeling some of these changes, which we must intern, adjust to.

As for Super 8 film, Pro8mm has its own Super 8 film manufacturing process, and we have been making Super 8 film since 1992. Although Kodak is our premier supplier and we work very close together we have other vendors. We have successfully been making super 8 films from Fuji film stocks as well as Kodak film stocks for 20 years now.

Since the big crash in the use of Super 8 film in the early 1980’s as a format for home movies and intro film classes. it has enjoyed a steady growth in other applications. Super 8 is not part of the crash of current 35mm film sales. It is in fact “It’s own thing”. We hope the leadership at Kodak has the right intentions for the future and will re-start the business, as we did at Pro8mm so generations in the future can enjoy their products.

Why People Use Super 8 Film To Create Hip Campaigns for National Brands

Recently, various members of the press who have been curious about who uses Super 8 in 2011 have interviewed me. Their curiosity has been sparked by the release of the recent J.J. Abrams Film, Super 8. The press usually starts their inquiry about Super 8 with people at Kodak, or some college professors who may have taught a super 8 class “in the day.” They may have spoken to an archivist who works with home movies and historical collections that represent a fabulous montage of our history and culture from the 40’s, 50’s 60’s and 70’s. But then, invariably, the get referred to me, a director of marketing for a company that has specialized in Super 8 film for over 35 years and who has had the privilege of knowing first hand that thousands of projects of all kinds, from various industries, are shot on Super 8 film every year.

A few days after the Super 8 movie came out, I was called by MSNBC who wanted to do a segment at a real Super 8 camera store. They were hoping to see an enormous collection of vintage camera models, both obscure and common. When I told the person that called that we didn’t have any cameras like that or any projectors– she said, ok then, we will have to get back to you. Which they didn’t. They didn’t get it.

Unless the interview is being done by one of the film industry trade magazines, (which has a little more understanding for the desire to work with a variety of mediums), the conversation usually goes something like this.

Interviewer: “So, is Super 8 back?”

Me: “Back? Where did it go?”

Interviewer: “Well, who shoots this stuff? A few people who want to create a sense of nostalgia, right?”

Me: “Well no, actually it is being used in some very hip campaigns for companies such as Roxy, Billabong, Whole Foods, Swiffer, Ford Automobiles and hundreds of other national brands for food, beverage, clothing, sports teams, fast food restaurants, and more. You can see it in TV shows such as American Idol and True Blood, and Music Videos for some of today’s hottest artists such as Katy Perry and Beyonce, as well industrials, independent projects and political campaigns.”

Interviewer: To create a sense of nostalgia, right?

So instead of feeling frustrated and defensive for the umpteenth time that “they just don’t get it” or offended that no matter how much time I spend explaining about how we upgrade the cameras with things that modern filmmakers would want, state of the art negative film stocks which we reformat, 16 x 9 aspect ratios, native 1080 scanning and Pro Res files off our state of the art scanner, I started thinking about it. What is nostalgia from more if an intellectual perspective? And I decided, maybe these interviewers are more intuitive then I thought.

Nostalgia is by definition as a sense of longing. I decided to embrace this possibility. What is it that makes me nostalgic? What is it that I long for? For me it is a wish or desire to connect with people in a way that is engaging, organic, and intimate. To get away from the Facelessness of Facebook and the 500 people in my network, many who I really don’t know that well, or in some cases, at all.

I think that purveyors of National Brands get this. Modern society tends to be very isolated and spread out. Many people are looking for a simple way to communicate their product or brand. This perhaps may be the fall out from all the corruption we have seen in recent years in the finance industry, bailouts, and sex scandals among the politicians.

I think there is a movement happening. A shift toward taking back our power in small ways individually. It’s an awakening that does make us feel nostalgic for the corner store or a place like “Cheers Bar,” where everybody knows your name. The needs and wants that have been created by a corporate-driven culture that feed our egos are being replaced with a need to feed our souls. 


Community. Connectivity. Individuality.

Big brands are caught up in this, and now have to re-brand themselves to fit in with this movement and economic cycle. They want to embrace the local farmer; small bank and many in the face of unemployment are themselves cultivating entrepreneurship. They want people to see them as committed to sustainability and protectors of the environment.

So how does a company like Wal-Mart portray themselves as the local hardware store? Personal story telling. Focusing on individual contributors as opposed to corporate culture. What better way to do this then with Super 8 film?

So yes, bring on the nostalgia. Everyone loves a good story and that “feel good” feeling especially shot on Super 8 film!

The Power of Super 8 FIlm - Events, Events, Events

“The Power of Super 8 Film, Insider Secrets Every Filmmaker Should Know” is taking the country by storm, and Pro8mm has kicked off 2011 with a series of seminars, teleseminars, and boot camps to continue the education process on Super 8 filmmaking.

Over the past few weeks Pro8mm has been traveling the country – visiting cities such as Philadelphia, New York City, Tampa, Austin, and of course Hollywood!

The Power of Super 8 Film seminars teach filmmakers (and potential filmmakers!) that if you want a real film look you have to use real film; but you don’t have to use large expensive film equipment and stock to get these looks. With the right advice and guidance, film can be used very inexpensively and add aesthetic value to any video or digital production project. Guest speakers in the industry frequently appear at these events – showcasing their work and experiences.

The Power of Super 8 Film seminars lead up to one big event that takes place semi-annually , called “The Power of Super 8 Film Boot Camp!” The boot camp is a 3 day all-intensive event that emerges those interested in learning film into every aspect of the process. Phil presents 90 minute in-depth sessions on all components of the Super 8 workflow – including cameras, film, processing and scanning. 6 to 7 guest speakers join Phil on stage – including filmmakers in the wedding, fashion, commercial and music video industries. The 3 days includes a hands-on workshop (giving each participant a chance to shoot a roll of film), tours of the Pro8mm facility with face-time in the lab, scanning room, and tech rooms, 2 full days of sessions, take-home materials, networking opportunites and more. The next boot camp will take place in just a few weeks, March 25, 26 & 27 at the Beverly Garland Hotel in North Hollywood. Check out The Power of Super 8 Film website for more information. http://thepowerofsuper8film.com/events.php

In addition to Pro8mm’s own events, they are participating in SXSW in Austin, TX next week, presenting a panel on the making of “It’s About You” with filmmakers Kurt and Ian Markus. “It’s About You” is a feature documentary on John Mellencamp, premiering at SXSW. This film was shot on Kodak film and scanned at Pro8mm. Pro8mm will also be collaborating with Kodak for a few hands-on workshops called “Do A Shot with Pro8mm and Kodak.” Sign ups will take place at the Kodak Booth, #530 and will take place twice a day, Monday – Thursday. More info about “Do A Shot With Pro8mm and Kodak” is available here.

http://motion.kodak.com/US/en/motion/About/SXSW/index.htm

A Special Thank You Message from South Bay Filmmakers

South Bay Filmmakers would like to thank guest speaker Phil Vigeant from Pro8mm for sharing his passion on Super 8 film and the excellent video presentation. Added thanks to his wife, Rhonda, for a flawless execution.

WHAT YOU MISSED

Phil Vigeant gave an overview of the Super 8 format and its place in the past, present, and future of film making. I particularly enjoyed the reel of Super 8 projects which really demonstrated the format is, and has been, all around us from music videos to feature films.

A lucky attendee won a free ticket to the upcoming Super 8 Boot Camp being held March 25-27, 2011. Phil promises new things at this Boot Camp so take a moment to check it out and register.


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Pro8mm Now Announces Teleseminars!

Pro8mm now announces teleseminars! Our first one will be next Wednesday, December 8 at 4:30pm Pacific (7:30pm Eastern.)

Attendees will learn how they can make films look more unique by using Super 8 film.

Pro8mm’s Phil Vigeant, Super 8 expert and author of "The Power of Super 8 Film, Insider Secrets Every Filmmaker Should Know," will take you on a journey through the evolution of Super 8 and teach you his secret tips about how The Power of Super 8 Film has been the foundation for some of thebiggest film careers in Hollywood.