Hello APUG from FILM Ferrania (PART 2)

[kb3lms]

have to try yet Lomography CN in 120, supposedly their paper is different and not as "waxed" as Kodak, Fuji & Ilford. But they also ran into the same problems, even more pronounced, saw reports about paper issues.

I have used some. The backing paper is more like thin construction paper. We bought a paper light blocking shade for a window that is made of the same stuff.

 

[FILM Ferrania]

Excited because the packaging surely is one of the most beautiful film boxes ever designed. Whoever designed this, deserves an award. Really classic, it looks 2017 and 1960s at the same time.

PS: Dave, they deleted the team pictures section on the website!! What happened?

I was just backtracking to make sure I answered everything before answering the new stuff...

Thanks so much for the kind words about the packaging. I've been a designer most of my life and I came up with several packaging versions based on elements of the classic packaging and adding my own twist. But I can't take all the credit - it was truly a collaboration with Nicola Baldini, who also has a very fine-tuned design sense, if not the same level of Adobe Suite skills as me. In fact all design you've seen so far, the Kickstarter packaging, our website, the random infographics, etc. all start with me and pass through Nicola's filter before they go public. So far, we have been a very good team - but at some point, we hope to hire a proper agency.

The team pictures were removed from the press page because they represented the team from 2014. As I think I've noted in a few places, the size of the team has remained unchanged for budgetary reasons, but the composition of the team has changed based on the needs of the day. Right now, the team is focused entirely on synthesis (Corrado, Louisa and Ivano), building maintenance (Beppe and Marco and sometimes Ezio), and running the coater (Ezio with help from Marco, Corrado and Luisa). Some people in the old photo will return, some will not, based on how their lives have progressed since we began this project so long ago...

 

[FILM Ferrania]

Already did that.

For Christmas 2014 the backers were supposed to receive a gift, a postcard I assume, I haven't received it, wrote to their mail and never got an answer.

As at the moment I am located in Italy I wrote to their main email address, as I understand you take care of the NA market.

Sorry, unless you contact me again directly with your actual name and the email you used on Kickstarter, I can't look you up to figure out what went wrong...

I'm not confined to the NA market. We are too few to be so specialized.

 

[Nzoomed]

I was just backtracking to make sure I answered everything before answering the new stuff...

Thanks so much for the kind words about the packaging. I've been a designer most of my life and I came up with several packaging versions based on elements of the classic packaging and adding my own twist. But I can't take all the credit - it was truly a collaboration with Nicola Baldini, who also has a very fine-tuned design sense, if not the same level of Adobe Suite skills as me. In fact all design you've seen so far, the Kickstarter packaging, our website, the random infographics, etc. all start with me and pass through Nicola's filter before they go public. So far, we have been a very good team - but at some point, we hope to hire a proper agency.

The team pictures were removed from the press page because they represented the team from 2014. As I think I've noted in a few places, the size of the team has remained unchanged for budgetary reasons, but the composition of the team has changed based on the needs of the day. Right now, the team is focused entirely on synthesis (Corrado, Louisa and Ivano), building maintenance (Beppe and Marco and sometimes Ezio), and running the coater (Ezio with help from Marco, Corrado and Luisa). Some people in the old photo will return, some will not, based on how their lives have progressed since we began this project so long ago...

Hey, look I agree.

I think the retro 60's ferrania logo looks awesome. Nothing wrong with the design, and I wouldnt be bothered if it were to stay!
Although I know some people probably wouldnt want to be reminded of the 3M era too much, although we still have them to thank for the LRF!

Anyway, we did have some discussion whether or not the original retro ferrania logo was ever to be retained, I personally would love to see it remain in some shape or fashion, (particuarly on the film edge along the frame numbers) your conversion equipment probably still has the masks on the sprockets to expose the logo still intact!
Ive got some of the very last solaris film and this is still on the frame edge!

I understand that you felt there potentially could be some copyright issues (and or confusion) with using the original logo, because Ferrania technologies still use it. I thought I should also mention that Ferrania Solis are also using the same logo, and they are both two separate companies!
It was probably retained after the company was spun off, so there may not be any issue either if Film Ferrania were still to use it.

 

[Agulliver]

I would love another supplier of 127 film and since Ferrania has a history as a maker of 127 cameras, would be a perfect fit. Lots of the old cameras like my Bell and Howell are actually set up to optimize exposure on 80ASA film.

I know it's a big if....but if Ferrania introduces 127 film, I'll buy a roll just to try out the Ferranina Tanit camera that I inherited a few years ago

 

[ME Super]

Hey guys,
I just got a second 35mm Pentax body. So now I can try out some of that P30 alpha when it's available and still have 35mm slide film in my primary camera.

Darn GAS - at least it has a purpose, and film bodies are cheap now too!

 

[Nzoomed]

Hey guys,
I just got a second 35mm Pentax body. So now I can try out some of that P30 alpha when it's available and still have 35mm slide film in my primary camera.

Darn GAS - at least it has a purpose, and film bodies are cheap now too!

I got myself a couple of pentax spotmatic's with a huge number of hoya filters and some really nice zoom lenzes!

 

[Arklatexian]

Yes this is possible, although Fuji and kodak had different printing, and this would make it harder.
You would need the master roll printed in one go with fuji, ilford and Kodak and then would have to be slit between each section, I guess this is doable, but would need to be agreed on by all parties, I think something like this could potentially work for all the brands if they come to some sort of agreement, its going to help everyone (and the cause for film) if such an arrangement was made.

And if they come to some sort of arrangement, that might interest another party here in the USA. I refer to the U.S. government who might consider such an arrangement some sort of impairment to competition and therefore illegal. It certainly has happened in other industries.....Regards!

 

[Nzoomed]

And if they come to some sort of arrangement, that might interest another party here in the USA. I refer to the U.S. government who might consider such an arrangement some sort of impairment to competition and therefore illegal. It certainly has happened in other industries.....Regards!

I can see alot of options on how they could get away with such an arrangement.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Thanks David for the Kickstarter update.

 

[Berri]

I Just saw the P30 Package arived. Good, now we need something to stick inside!
Hey @FILM Ferrania, was the test roll processed at Movie and Sound by Mr. M.P.?

 

[Nzoomed]

Thanks for the update Dave!

 

[DaveTheWalker]

Hey, Dave...just one thing. Why does the packaging say 80 ASA, rather than ISO?

 

[Larry Cloetta]

I know it's a big if....but if Ferrania introduces 127 film, I'll buy a roll just to try out the Ferranina Tanit camera that I inherited a few years ago

I loved the look of some of the P30 examples, so just bought a Rolleiflex 4x4, with the hope that Ferrania actually would start making 127 again. Seems logical, or at least as logical as this whole wonderful undertaking.

 

[Nzoomed]

Hey, Dave...just one thing. Why does the packaging say 80 ASA, rather than ISO?

I think its more of a "retro" thing, many older films were marked that before ISO became standard.

 

[FILM Ferrania]

Hey, Dave...just one thing. Why does the packaging say 80 ASA, rather than ISO?

It was a quiet nod to the days before ISO was the norm. Thanks for noticing!

 

[cmacd123]

I used ASA for many more years than I encountered this ISO speed thing.

 

[Berri]

I think the box should be in italian, or at least both italian and english. Film Ferrania is getting on the nerves of many here in Italy because of this. I do not mind it because I can speak english, but not all my countrymen do. Also It looks too hipster with that ASA thing, I understand it is a reminiscence of an old emulsion, but I'd rather sound more professional than "lomo"

 

[Nzoomed]

I think the box should be in italian, or at least both italian and english. Film Ferrania is getting on the nerves of many here in Italy because of this. I do not mind it because I can speak english, but not all my countrymen do. Also It looks too hipster with that ASA thing, I understand it is a reminiscence of an old emulsion, but I'd rather sound more professional than "lomo"

How does ASA become "lomo" may I ask?

I dont remember seeing any Ferrania films packaged in Italian writing.
Perhaps they did for their local market, just as Fuji does in Japan, but even now ive seen a few sellers of Ferrania solaris in Italy listing it on Ebay and its all in English, with the instructions in various translations inside the box.

 

[Berri]

How does ASA become "lomo" may I ask?

I dont remember seeing any Ferrania films packaged in Italian writing.
Perhaps they did for their local market, just as Fuji does in Japan, but even now ive seen a few sellers of Ferrania solaris in Italy listing it on Ebay and its all in English, with the instructions in various translations inside the box.

I think this fashion of going back to the past and worship anything vintage is a hipster habit (I may be wrong, just an opinion) and using ASA instead of ISO goes the same route. As for the english on the film box I refer to the little sotory written on it; it could have been in both languages maybe, but I'm not a marketing person so, again, just a personal opinion. Also any comunication is done in english, any news, the website and so on, as I said I don't mind, but I see people in Italy getting frustrated about this. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those deractors of this project, I can't wait to see their film on stores shelves!

 

[Sal Santamaura]

...Film Ferrania is getting on the nerves of many here in Italy...

No problem -- just boycott them because you don't like something they've done and thereby decrease their chances of success. You will then have contributed to the destruction of Italian industry and can be proud, especially since you'll be able to discuss your 'achievement' in beautiful Italian.

This is something I'd expect from French 'defenders of the language.' As an Italian-American, it's sad to see a similar attitude in the land of my ancestors.

 

[Diapositivo]

Defending the language is right. Italians need to learn a lot from the French IMO. The amount and the gratuity of English words used by some Italian speaker is in certain cases quite disgusting*.

The case of the packaging of the Ferrania film is different: a film box is very small a real estate, and we cannot expect Ferrania to prepare specific boxes for specific markets, evidently. So no surprise the box is only in English.

Actually, as a pure marketing choice, the box could have been made with some Italian "forced through" to express the exotism, so to speak. Not the old same US or Japanese film. You see: "pellicola negativa"! (how refreshing, and how encouraging).

But that would be a marketing choice.

Personally, I would mark some part in English and the other in Italian, to stress that it is something different. I think Ferrania can stress its geographical difference and capitalize on it.

* Not to name names: from people from Milan, especially!

 

[Berri]

No problem -- just boycott them because you don't like something they've done and thereby decrease their chances of success. You will then have contributed to the destruction of Italian industry and can be proud, especially since you'll be able to discuss your 'achievement' in beautiful Italian.

This is something I'd expect from French 'defenders of the language.' As an Italian-American, it's sad to see a similar attitude in the land of my ancestors.

where exactly did I say it was my case? "I do not mind it because I can speak english" "Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those deractors of this project, I can't wait to see their film on stores shelves!" I actually said that. Quite the opposite of boycotting.
I am just reporting the feeling many non-english speaker italians have. It is not a question of defending the language (and I don't see anything wrong in that) I think, as an italian industry, they should have a better comunication in italian on their website to start with, and possibly in other languages too.

 

[Wallendo]

Kodak at its heyday had individual boxes for different markets. The US boxes were in American English, the word "color" was misspelled for the British market, and Canadians had "color" misspelled and French added.
Now Kodak, like others, has boxes with multiple languages. I don't know if they still misspell "color" in the UK.
It would be strange for there to be no Italian on the box, but I suspect the reality is that Italy represents only a small part of the international market that will be required to keep Ferrania in business. They do, however, play up the Italiam heritage of their new film on the website video (even though it is in English).

 

[pbromaghin]

The case of the packaging of the Ferrania film is different: a film box is very small a real estate, and we cannot expect Ferrania to prepare specific boxes for specific markets, evidently. So no surprise the box is only in English.

It would be pretty cool to have two "front" sides, with English on one side and Italian on the other.