Ferrania Italy Kickstarter campaign

[analoguey]

Grazie Mille!

Welcome to APUG! Glad to see you thinking of 100yrs more of film!

Very interesting, I would have guessed that them wanting to save the film base machine was more a "what if" situation, but then again recall that Foma had some problems in getting enough "Clear" base for R100. Ilford and Foma and Filmotec mostly use GREY acetate. and EFKE had to use Poly base for the last few years which is borderline acceptable for 35mm cassettes because of the Light piping, and VERY annoying for movie use as it can only be tape spliced or by using an expensive Ultrasonic splicer. (filmotec uses Poly for their print film, but prints are not generally edited.) so perhaps the supply situation is closer to the bone than we realize. Colour Negative is generally made on a clear base with an AHU layer, but it COULD be made on a grey base.

They are now offering a chance for an official private tour. for 1500 bucks you get your name on one room in th eLRF and get a guided tour so you can see it. Perhaps more tempting is a double up of the "filmburner package" pay 375 US and get a dozen rolls of BOTH 135 and 120. (still don't have one with both still and movie film other than the "collector box")

Anyway, life is never boring.

They're really making a lot of sense with their projections and asking for funding. Or at least, exhibiting quite a bit of planning/thought into it.
Their rewards seem to reflect the same -that 15min filming video + edited bit was a great idea.
I wonder if it might excite someone who's getting married/having a baby around then!

Could you elaborate a bit more about the base-differences? Sounds quite interesting that.


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[AgX]

Very interesting, I would have guessed that them wanting to save the film base machine was more a "what if" situation, but then again recall that Foma had some problems in getting enough "Clear" base for R100. Ilford and Foma and Filmotec mostly use GREY acetate. and EFKE had to use Poly base for the last few years which is borderline acceptable for 35mm cassettes because of the Light piping, and VERY annoying for movie use as it can only be tape spliced or by using an expensive Ultrasonic splicer. (filmotec uses Poly for their print film, but prints are not generally edited.) so perhaps the supply situation is closer to the bone than we realize. Colour Negative is generally made on a clear base with an AHU layer, but it COULD be made on a grey base.

Such issue could rather be challenged by order of custom "dope" to be casted as film base than re-building a film-
base plant.

 

[cmacd123]

Such issue could rather be challenged by order of custom "dope" to be casted as film base than re-building a film-
base plant.

Indeed, going to all that trouble does seem like overkill. But

1) having the machine right there waiting to be scrapped, and being able to get it for the metal content would be tempting if you did not want to be depending on a third party. They have a now or never situation, as if they pass they will never be able to get such a machine for less than 10 times the price. 3M made a lot of acetate recording tape over the years, and also cellophane tape so a machine made on their watch may have better than average technology.

2) Scaling down that process like everything else means that could "run off" a batch to their exact specs rather than asking another manufacturer to schedule a run of film base on a machine that may be running full out making packaging products like cellophane for food packages..

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

Add to that the possibility down the road to perhaps become the go-to source for all film base for all of the remaining film manufacturing companies at some point. And if that doesn't happen and things don't work out for them, they can always recover the same scrap value they paid for it themselves. Or rather that we paid for it for them through the KS project.

It's a smart forward-looking business move.

Ken

 

[MattKing]

They may be able to sell the output of that machine to other film manufacturers.

Maybe that was why KA is interested.

EDIT: It's scary, Ken and I think alike.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

EDIT: It's scary, Ken and I think alike.

Heh, heh...

More often than you might realize.

I keep suggesting we should meet up during one of your southern excursions. We could compare Mamiya TLRs. There's that Tulleys next to the new Kenmore. I was at Kenmore just last week for something. Nice to see their darkroom section has significantly expanded from the old building.



Ken

 

[MattKing]

Heh, heh...

More often than you might realize.

I keep suggesting we should meet up during one of your southern excursions. We could compare Mamiya TLRs. There's that Tulleys next to the new Kenmore. I was at Kenmore just last week for something. Nice to see their darkroom section has significantly expanded from the old building.



Ken

Everything has expanded from their old building, except their used cameras section.

Next time a trip is in the offing, I'll pm.

 

[Henning Serger]

Please continue support

Hi,

well, back to topic, the Kickstarter campaign :
It would be very helpful if all who have not joined the Kickstarter yet would use the few remaining days to support the project, too.
The more partizipating, the higher the funding, the better the Film Ferrania team can manage all the challenges.
The earlier all the relocation and reconstruction of the machinery can start.

Come on guys, join in !

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Dave in Kansas]

OK. I'm in for 2 rolls of film.

Dave

 

[Film-Niko]

Thanks for the reminder.
I have not supported it yet.
But I definitely will give them my money to support them. Outstanding project!
I just have to decide which of the bigger film packages I take .

Hopefully lots of others will join, too.
Would be very nice to get over the 300,000$ mark!

Go Ferrania!

 

[analoguey]

Whats the current counter?

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[Dave in Kansas]

$287,658. 8 days to go. It seems to have slowed a bit.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

I remember hearing during the New55 project that there is often a burst of pledging in the final five days or so. However, that project pretty much went to the wire, so there was an added urgency factor not now in play with Ferrania, who made their published goal in something like 12 days or less.

Ferrania have probably secured sufficient pledges thus far to cover the inevitable rollback due to pledges that go uncollected after the period ends. That's not an insignificant amount. If memory serves, the New55 project page number says ~$415,000 on a goal of $400,000. But the actual amount collected may have dropped into the upper $300,000s. Apparently this is standard and expected.

Ken

 

[analoguey]

Also, their new rewards are quite unconventional - if a fancy wedding photographer can convince a client or two - better, even offer one of those for a client or two, I think it'll pick up well.

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[ChristopherCoy]

Officially $40K over the goal....

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

It's reached the stage now where as many people are withdrawing their pledges as there are people newly pledging. This was something I also noticed in the New55 KS project.

I don't understand it myself. I make my decisions based solely on my own judgments. If I click submit, it's because I mean it. And if one first thinks an incurred expense through completely, there should be no reason to second guess oneself.

But there seem to be many others who contribute, then waffle and change their minds when it gets closer to having to actually pay up. And quite a few who waffle and change their minds after the KS projects close, and then never pay up.

It's kind of like what Yoda said. You either do, or do not...

Ken

 

[Trail Images]

If I click submit, it's because I mean it.

Totally agree Ken. I would be puzzled I guess as to what the need would be to pull out. Oh well, I cannot second guess ones need to in the end.

 

[film_man]

I guess a lot of people get hyped up and want to appear "cool", look what I gave money to today some keeeeeewl project about doing some film stuff for cameras that hipsters use. Then after the Facebook/Twitter/whatevs post is up they cancel the pledge as they really have no money to spare on such frivolous things that they'll never use... :-/

I hope they end up with at least the money they need, kickstarter should do something so that once you pledge you can't cancel, only go up a tier. It may keep some from giving but at least once the money is in, the money is in.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

Well I'm not canceling my pledge. I WANT that numbered roll!! LOL

 

[film_man]

I'd love to have $1500 so that I can name a room...

 

[Pioneer]

I think also that some people forget things in the heat of the moment. A couple of weeks after they pledge the car insurance bill shows up in the mail. "Oh drat! I don't have enough in the account to pay that without withdrawing my pledge."

Others may pledge and then, when the project is funded, they decide their pledge isn't quite as important so they withdraw it. Besides, that new red purse is beckoning and they didn't buy their insurance from State Farm or whoever.

I suspect there are also some who pledge, and then their significant other reads the e-mails and objects. Silly reasons like; "Do you intend to leave us enough money to buy groceries?" Or; "Is someone giving you a ride to work for the next couple weeks?" Finally, the most important; "$70 for 4 rolls of film!?!? Are you trying to tell me you really thought this through? For that much you could probably buy stock. Did you intend to ask me whether or not I thought this was a worthwhile way to spend our money?"

 

[analoguey]

I want those rolls but more importantly, I want film production and sale to be sustainable. My plans on film usage are predicated on film being available in more places, different ways in the forthcoming years.

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[mnemosyne]

Finally, the most important; "$70 for 4 rolls of film!?!? Are you trying to tell me you really thought this through? For that much you could probably buy stock. Did you intend to ask me whether or not I thought this was a worthwhile way to spend our money?"

Given the recent price hikes in Fuji's E6 offerings, $70 for 4 rolls of 35mm slide film including shipping isn't such a bad deal at all, at least here in Europe.

 

[madgardener]

I think you nailed it Pioneer. Don't forget about that $1500 car repair bill you were just handed because the head gasket blew (true story). When I pledged, I was very conservative in what I gave so I could follow through. The wife and I are living on a very limited income. What goes to one hand usually means something else isn't going to get it for the month, but this was important enough to be worth it.

I only got 2 rolls, I intend to shoot one and put the other on the shelf.

 

[Chris Livsey]

It will be interesting to see when the film is distributed how much it sells for on that auction site.