NBC short film documenting rise in film use

[miha]

Thanks, I wasn't aware of the interview (have never heard of Manny Almeida either).

 

[138S]

Thanks, I wasn't aware of the interview (have never heard of Manny Almeida either).

What is interesting in this shot in that Harpo Marx has an Star Wars' Light Saber in his left hand



Light Sabers were constructed by John Stears from old Graflex press camera flash battery packs...

https://wannawanga.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/SW_LS_bible_7.18.pdf

Sorry for the off topic... but I'm amazed every time I see a graflex with the torch in place...

 

[AgX]

"The film market peaked in 2003 with 960 million rolls of film, today it represents roughly 2% of that,” says Manny Almeida, president of Fujifilm’s imaging division in North America."

The emphasis should be on roughly.

 

[138S]

The emphasis should be on roughly.

yes... and since 2017 figures we had an steady two digit % growth...

This is only to know the context in what we are, Kodak and Fuji have lost roughtly 98% of his film production form consumer decline, while ilford operated in a way more stable niche, and "new" operators designed the business model for the new situation. Kodak an Fuji still treasure an scientific knowledge and technical know-how developed in the good times with investments only possible in a ultra big corporation, making quality color film is near a miracle...

So the former giants (Fuji/Kodak) are those treasuring the high technology, but they have the vulnerability of having lost 98% of their market, and if one of them stops making film then a lot will be lost because noboby will be able to replace them in what they do. For this reason it is important for many of us that they have long term plans.

 

[foc]

Isn't it just great the way a thread like this one about film revival, (glass half full) descends into a "discussion" (glass half empty) about which film company is the worst, most stupid, doesn't listen etc.

Can we not be happy with our lot?
Be happy that we still have film to shoot and chemicals and labs to develop and scanners to scan, enlargers to enlarge.?

 

[AgX]

yes... and since 2017 figures we had an steady two digit % growth...

The problem is, who is "we".
Definitely not the photo stores I frequent, Instax aside.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Isn't it just great the way a thread like this one about film revival, (glass half full) descends into a "discussion" (glass half empty) about which film company is the worst, most stupid, doesn't listen etc.

Can we not be happy with our lot?
Be happy that we still have film to shoot and chemicals and labs to develop and scanners to scan, enlargers to enlarge.?

No matter where a sympathy one points Kodak has messed up its grand accomplishments and if there is a chance why not take another shot at them? Public displeasure with what Kodak has done to itself ought to be on display at Kodak Museum.

 

[Trail Images]

Thank you for sharing this video.......

 

[138S]

The problem is, who is "we".
Definitely not the photo stores I frequent, Instax aside.

Instax aside, "we" is the community of film users which are mainly enthusiats (and some true artists).

Can we not be happy with our lot?

Personally, I'm totally happy...

Still I like it when I see a manufacturer make a long term bet tending to assure film survivability for the long term, we may remember those times when the that survivability was at challenge, today there is less a concern about that, but things may change for the good or for the bad.

 

[AgX]

But some of us see and report this rise in sales. Others not.
Those few young newcomers I come across, too few for any statistic, though buy online.

 

[138S]

But some of us see and report this rise in sales. Others not.
Those few young newcomers I come across, too few for any statistic, though buy online.

There is a clear film flourishment, no doubt, the Ektachrome comeback proves it.

A question is if those very high price increases may damage that flourishment or even provocate a decline, challenging long term viability. For example we have the EK exclusive distributor (KA) that has remarkable troubles and it's selling the exclussive distribution rights to "who knows?", probably they are not interested in long term plans, but in making all possible cash in the short term, not mattering if this damages the long term customer base and thus the EK survavility, this is something personally I don't like, still they are free to do what they want, of course.

 

[MattKing]

No matter where a sympathy one points Kodak has messed up its grand accomplishments and if there is a chance why not take another shot at them? Public displeasure with what Kodak has done to itself ought to be on display at Kodak Museum.

This will surely help going forward - not!.
Lets blame the people still working at trying to make product available for everything that went wrong before - because they are handy, and our venting our frustration is much more important than keeping Kodak film, colour paper and photo-chemicals available for us to purchase, if we so choose.

 

[DeletedAcct1]

making quality color film is near a miracle...

which rules out the Ferrania project of reviving the chromes

 

[BradS]

But some of us see and report this rise in sales. Others not.
Those few young newcomers I come across, too few for any statistic, though buy online.

The increase in demand for film and film related supplies is dramatic and easily observed here in the US. One need only walk into a camera store and 'shop' for an hour or so....or speak with an employee/manager. Although brick and mortar camera stores are still relatively few in number, those that exist are swamped with customers and the film sales are brisk. Store managers that I've talked to all report that all Kodak and Ilford film sells almost as fast as they put it on the shelf. Even now, I'm shopping (on-line) for my yearly film purchase and many of the films I'm looking at as sold out, back ordered, etc...

 

[halfaman]

which rules out the Ferrania project of reviving the chromes

As far as I was informed, chromes project was left aside by Ferrania people themselves some years ago. It is not the priority anymore.

 

[AgX]

The increase in demand for film and film related supplies is dramatic and easily observed here in the US. One need only walk into a camera store and 'shop' for an hour or so....or speak with an employee/manager.

As I repeatedly stated, the situation varies strongly between regions.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

don't let the dreamers foolyou wish their wishful thinking; film is dead!

Now this one is like inciting violence.

 

[Film-Niko]

My attempts to win young peole as members at Apug all failed.
One may argue whether this is due to me or Apug...

Both.
I have also regularly tried to motivate others, especially young photographers, to join photrio. But lots of them told me it is unattractive for them because of too much trolling (you remember RattyMouse, trendland, jtk etc.) which destroyed the discussion culture here for a much too long time. They also mentioned too much general negativity, too much grumpy old men who find a hair in any soup, and too much film-is-dead or the-glass-is-half-empty perpetual nagging.

And for years you belong here to the grumpy old men and film is dead group. Everytime when a positive news was posted, you posted a negative comment or a "but".
And you attacked members here who have real inside industry knowledge and know the data. You should finally realize that you are part of the problem, and not part of a solution.
Nobody wants to join a club which is permanently discussing about its own end!
Young film photographers see the film boom on instagram, youtube, facebook, reddit and so on. They see the new products which have been released recently and visit the new labs and shops. When they see all this crying and complaning here on photrio they only shake their heads, and disgustedly turn away.

 

[Film-Niko]

Well, as I'm already over 30 I might not count, but I always appreciated the knowledge found in forums. I tend to visit my main interest forums almost daily (cinematography.com , filmvorfuehrer.de and film making groups on Facebook). Very useful!

What tends to drive me away from this forum is the attitude here, which is perhaps best described to be quite cynical regarding the future of film. I'm not saying everyone is like that - but for some reason, that attitude often springs up whenever good news are told.

We young people don't want to nurture self pitying fantasies of how things were better in the 1960s and how everything is in decline, save for the film & chemicals hoarded for the coming next ten years after which The End will come...

Exactly.
You have hit the nail precisely.
Photrio has only a future if this attitude of lots this very vocal film-is-dead group here totally changes.
Or when the moderators finally have the backbone to ban these negative members which harm photrio.
Kodak is winning 1,000 new subscribers on instagram per day!! Photrio needs a full year for that. That tells you the whole story.

 

[BradS]

Exactly.
You have hit the nail precisely.
Photrio has only a future if this attitude of lots this very vocal film-is-dead group here totally changes.
Or when the moderators finally have the backbone to ban these negative members which harm photrio.
Kodak is winning 1,000 new subscribers on instagram per day!! Photrio needs a full year for that. That tells you the whole story.

Give it a rest. Your preaching and cajoling and criticizing other members and the mods is not helping. Take a few deep breaths and come back when you have something positive/ useful to contribute.

 

[pentaxuser]

Can anyone point me to a source that gives actual film sales volumes for, say the last 5 years worldwide? Is this broken down by film makers or even into actual films

There seems to be sources for such as car production etc in the public domain but I can't recall such sources for film

Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[Film-Niko]

Give it a rest. Your preaching and cajoling and criticizing other members and the mods is not helping. Take a few deep breaths and come back when you have something positive/ useful to contribute.

I have just recently contribute my tests of a certain film. Including density values and characteristiv curve. Was a lot of work.

And that those members, who have to a great extent caused the negative image of photrio in the last years, are now complaining that no new young members coming here, should at least give some thought to some people here.
I know that lots will not like my opinion. Sometimes the truth is bitter. But better to accept the reality and change things to the better in the future.

 

[BradS]

I have just recently contribute my tests of a certain film. Including density values and characteristiv curve. Was a lot of work.

And that those members, who have to a great extent caused the negative image of photrio in the last years, are now complaining that no new young members coming here, should at least give some thought to some people here.
I know that lots will not like my opinion. Sometimes the truth is bitter. But better to accept the reality and change things to the better in the future.

you don’t get it. You’re out of line and criticizing others makes you part of the problem...puts you in the same lot as those you so self righteously criticize.

 

[Film-Niko]

Can anyone point me to a source that gives actual film sales volumes for, say the last 5 years worldwide? Is this broken down by film makers or even into actual films

AFAIK H. Serger's market research company has generated this data. At least that is what I have heard of.
But as you have often bashed him here, made unfriendly and aggressive jokes about him, you shouldn't expect to get the data. And of course you want that for free, and you don't want to pay for it, despite the fact that generating such data needs lots of work, it is very labour intensive.

 

[Film-Niko]

you don’t get it. You’re out of line and criticizing others makes you part of the problem...puts you in the same lot as those you so righteously criticize.

Sometimes there is the point when critic is necessary. Members here have asked why photrio has become so unimportant in relation to instagram, youtube, facebook, reddit, especially for the strongly growing group of young film photographers.
I have asked the young film fans again and again over the years (I am a member of a regional, very active photographer group) and they have given me their answers. And I have just reported their answers here.
Like it or not, it is just the reality.