An interview with George Campbell of Orwo North America

laingsoft · Nov 12, 2020

I recently had the opportunity to speak with George Campbell, who is responsible for distributing orwo films to North America. I got the chance to ask him about how he got involved in with orwo, as well as some of the history behind the company. We also spoke about some of the future projects and direction for orwo (hint: new color negative films)

If this is against the rules, I'm sorry in advance, photrio just doesn't have a way to upload and store an hours worth of audio. You can have a listen here:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1MutskCziBINrOLdEtZwA1?si=ZQUcPnsAQNW_6WrVUajiFg

Or here

https://anchor.fm/analogfilmclub/episodes/Episode-1---George-Campbell-em9hj5

removedacct3 · Nov 12, 2020

Is there an option to listen without creating a Spotify account?

AgX · Nov 12, 2020

MrclSchprs said:
Is there an option to listen without creating a Spotify account?

First time I am on Spotify, but I just waited for the green "run" button to appear. The further controls though are hardly visible right below a pop-up.

EDIT: did so with Opera

AgX · Nov 12, 2020

Thank you for your effort on that interview. But I stopped listening, when he started speaking on the history of Orwo. As that mostly was nonsense (as far as I could understand him) and more important shows his lack of technical understanding.

AgX · Nov 12, 2020

As the interview is very long, not a pleasure to follow and seemingly Spotify not easy to access, you might take out two or three important points and sum each up in a sentence or two.

Deleted member 88956 · Nov 12, 2020

Well, I cannot see a way to listen in without account. But ... 96 minutes chatting with a one-man show? One who is reportedly THE sole source of ORWO film in NA, yet still does not even show on his cheap web site the N75 film that's been under distribution and production for several months now?

miha · Nov 12, 2020

AgX said:
Thank you for your effort on that interview. But I stopped listening, when he started speaking on the history of Orwo. As that mostly was nonsense (as far as I could understand him) and more important shows his lack of technical understanding.

Some of the ORWO history available on their site (I don't know how factual it is):http://www.orwona.com/about-us/

Larry Cloetta · Nov 12, 2020

Tough crowd.
I have not listened to the entire thing, just started, but I don’t have a Spotify account, and don’t intend to get one, but the podcast played immediately on my ipad. Just press the start arrow like anything else, no need for an account, at least not in my experience here.
I can’t comment on the history of ORWO, but have been happily buying UN54 from ORWONA for the past several years. There have been a couple of immediate supply issues in the past, but Mr.Campbell has always been very good about resolving those personally, and in a timely manner.
I’ll admit 96 minutes is a long time to commit to a podcast, and I’m retired with a long attention span; a written synopsis would be nice.

Deleted member 88956 · Nov 12, 2020

Larry Cloetta said:
Tough crowd.
I have not listened to the entire thing, just started, but I don’t have a Spotify account, and don’t intend to get one, but the podcast played immediately on my ipad. Just press the start arrow like anything else, no need for an account, at least not in my experience here.
I can’t comment on the history of ORWO, but have been happily buying UN54 from ORWONA for the past several years. There have been a couple of immediate supply issues in the past, but Mr.Campbell has always been very good about resolving those personally, and in a timely manner.
I’ll admit 96 minutes is a long time to commit to a podcast, and I’m retired with a long attention span; a written synopsis would be nice.

It does NOT come on in Chrome, that is all I know at this point. I am prompted to log into Spotify.

Secondly, I'm critical of people who project themselves as important without any evidence. So if someone is said to be "involved in developing ORWO business globally" ... doing what? Zero evidence on orwona.com. Is this covert operation? I wish him all the best distributing/selling Filmotec products to American market as I want ORWO to remain an option in film choices, so more sales usually helps. I have no patience though for bullshit claims.

AgX · Nov 12, 2020

Witold said:
Well, I cannot see a way to listen in without account. But ... 96 minutes chatting with a one-man show? One who is reportedly THE sole source of ORWO film in NA, yet still does not even show on his cheap web site the N75 film that's been under distribution and production for several months now?

As a side note:
Orwo (Filmotec) at their website since a few weeks for the first time explicetely hint at direct sales, for/from Germany. Though they still offer no pricelist. They now also name distributors for several contries.

laingsoft · Nov 12, 2020

For those having issues with spotify, this link may help.
https://anchor.fm/analogfilmclub/episodes/Episode-1---George-Campbell-em9hj5

The length and unedited nature was deliberate on my part. I want the podcast to be conversational and natural rather than edited and fake.

AgX · Nov 12, 2020

miha said:
Some of the ORWO history available on their site (I don't know how factual it is):http://www.orwona.com/about-us/

That one (originating from Filmotec) is flawless.

Deleted member 88956 · Nov 12, 2020

AgX said:
As a side note:
Orwo (Filmotec) at their website since a few weeks for the first time explicetely hint at direct sales, for/from Germany. Though they still offer no pricelist. They now also name distributors for several contries.

As long as I can buy direct the way I just did I'm OK. It actually works fine unless they allow some sort of credit card/PayPal payment option which would help. Ordering process is also a back and forth, so perhaps that would help Filmotec too to have an on line shop an automate that process.

pentaxuser · Nov 12, 2020

Larry Cloetta said:
Tough crowd.

He might be an OK guy but the legitimate questions and comments from members so far would hardly seem to qualify as tough in any sense other than penetrating questions.

This is no reflection on your good intentions in offering the podcast to us

pentaxuser

Pentode · Nov 12, 2020

Orwo film can be purchased in cassettes from the Film Photography Project. It can be purchased in bulk rolls from Colorlab in Maryland. I'm not 100% sure whether or not George is involved with the distribution to those companies.

Larry Cloetta said:
Mr.Campbell has always been very good about resolving those personally, and in a timely manner.

My dealings with George have been odd. His emails are always manic, one or two word outbursts. He is always very nice and, when I had a shipping issue, he bent over backwards to resolve it. He seems to me to be a very honorable guy but I get the sense that Orwona is a bit of a hot mess. The website is almost never up to date, stocking issues are constant and, whenever I deal with him, I get the sense that George is perpetually overwhelmed. I like George and I appreciate how hard he tries, but I really wish Orwo would establish a real distribution network in the US rather than the one-man operation that is Orwona. I know that's a tall order; Filmotec is not such a big operation themselves and film - both movie and still - is a small market so I understand that setting up distribution overseas is not so simple but it sure would be nice to have a consistent supply chain. Orwo films are really very nice. I think they would sell very well if they were more available.

AgX · Nov 12, 2020

Orwo see themselves as supplier of industry and institutions. Only very recent changes at their site hint at some interest at private, small scale customers.

laingsoft · Nov 12, 2020

AgX said:
Orwo see themselves as supplier of industry and institutions. Only very recent changes at their site hint at some interest at private, small scale customers.

In the interview, George told me that recently there was a change in ownership, this was likely the reason for the change, and likewise was the reason for their recent decision to pursue color films.

AgX · Nov 12, 2020

I rather see a restructuring of the industrial landscape than a new interest. But time will tell.

laingsoft · Nov 12, 2020

AgX said:
I rather see a restructuring of the industrial landscape than a new interest. But time will tell.

The new owner is deeply involved in the cinematography space rather than the NDT or technical film space, so I think for photographers, this is a good thing.

warden · Nov 12, 2020

AgX said:
As the interview is very long, not a pleasure to follow and seemingly Spotify not easy to access, you might take out two or three important points and sum each up in a sentence or two.

Ditto.

In my opinion a show this long needs show notes with time stamps to give a feel for the content. Without that a person with only average interest in the product won't listen to an hour of talk just to find the information they're interested in. Anyway I clicked in the middle of the interview to preview the conversation and found the Orwo guy dismissing Ferrania and their uphill climb to produce a product, including suggesting Ferrania investors should get their money back. I stopped listening there.

AgX · Nov 12, 2020

laingsoft said:
The new owner is deeply involved in the cinematography space rather than the NDT or technical film space, so I think for photographers, this is a good thing.

How many movies are made on colour negative film and how many prints of these are made? This is a very limited market. The small gauge colour market too. Similar for b&w cine films. Been there, seen that. Though I wish there would be growth.

ic-racer · Nov 12, 2020

I have used the ORWO film and found it to be a great product. . It is amazing we (USA) have a distributor for any B&W film, let alone a good film. I intend on buying more.
From my 45 years involved with exposing B&W film I still believe we are in the Golden Age of film presently, with more B&W film choices easily obtained then I ever recall in the history of USA B&W Photography.
I still recall when I got my Yashica 124g with the $115 dollars I collected from mowing lawns. I could not use it right away because I had no 120 b&w film. It was hard to come by in the 1970s. If the local photography store (not open on weekends) did not have it, one would have to order with a paper-mailed-in form and a cashier's check. With the bank open only during school hours, obtaining the check was a formidable task.

Larry Cloetta · Nov 12, 2020

pentaxuser said:
He might be an OK guy but the legitimate questions and comments from members so far would hardly seem to qualify as tough in any sense other than penetrating questions.

This is no reflection on your good intentions in offering the podcast to us

pentaxuser

My “Tough crowd” comment was intended to be light hearted. Yes, good questions and objections have been raised, no doubt. But, I feel I am not remiss in having a strong sense of “the perfect being the enemy of the good” here, which was my only reason for commenting, aside from noting that the podcast, for whatever reason, doesn’t necessarily require a Spotify subscription to listen to, as I had no trouble accessing it on an ipad, even if it was too long and wandering even for a retiree such as myself.
I used to have to go to eBay and buy ORWO UN54 out of Japan if I wanted “easy” access to it from the States. Now, I can get it more easily from ORWONA. That’s “good”. The company might very well not be the perfect distribution source that any of us can imagine in our heads, as has been pointed out. It’s made my ORWO film buying life easier, and, in this world, that’s enough for me until something better comes along, if ever. I’m just glad he’s there any other considerations aside.

laingsoft · Nov 12, 2020

Larry Cloetta said:
My “Tough crowd” comment was intended to be light hearted. Yes, good questions and objections have been raised, no doubt.

Imo most of these questions are answered in the podcast. I will break down some clips and post them on youtube. Perhaps those may be more digestible.

Kino · Nov 12, 2020

Sorry. This is just riddled with inaccuracies.

I don't doubt your intentions and understand you have no control over what is presented to you, but it's still not representative of the history of interaction between ORWO and the LOC.

I'll leave it at that.

An interview with George Campbell of Orwo North America

Deleted member 88956

Deleted member 88956

Deleted member 88956

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