Flicker #16

Welcome to Flicker #16, Sept. 9, 1997

Tonight here are a few of the films we'll be screening

1. Eugene Bur, Steve Joiner "Picture in the House"
6 min. Super 8

2. Jillian Weiss
4 min. Super 8

3. Roby Newton "A Lack of Providence"
5 min. 16mm

4. Norwood Cheek "History of the Pay Telephone"
19 min. 16mm

5. Cory Ryan
3 min. Super 8

6. Roger Beebe "Suggs Must Die"
11 min. 16mm

There are several other films to be shown which we will announce as the program progresses.

Other films shown:

Joyce Ventimeglia "False Truths"
4 min. Super 8

Ard Margolis film trailer
3 min. 16mm

3rd Anniversary!

Flicker #16

Welcome to the big 3 year anniversary of Flicker! In early September, 1994, around 150 people crammed into the Local 506. Sitting on the floor and grabbing any extra bar stools, we screened around 10 Super 8 and 16mm short films by local filmmakers. Last fall I talked with Frank (who runs the Cat's Cradle), and he told me he had just bought around 200 folding chairs. Soon the deal was struck to make the big move into the Paris of the Piedmont and we're all super happy here at the Cradle - even some of our friends from the 506 make it over to check out the films. Thanks to Chuck and Mary from Catalog.com for upkeep of the Flicker web page which has allowed us to grow and be known all over the world - while I want Flicker to remain predominately a local film festival, I think it's great to have 2 or 3 films by folks from other parts of the country or world just to see where they're coming from - new ideas, renewed inspiration, getting the blood pumping about making a film - that's what Flicker is all about.

So there are a few key people to thank for making Flicker a real thing (perceivable or not). Frank and all the good people from the Cat's Cradle. Roger Beebe, who is my right hand man here on the East Coast while I do time on the West Coast - I'm setting up a Flicker in Los Angeles this fall, and despite the rumors, Flicker will continue here in Carrboro - every other month, the next will be sometime in November.

Yours for better films,

Flicker Film Grant #8 was given to Alan Colombo. His film "Camera-X" was super cool. Tonight, the 9th grant will be awarded to a filmmaker with that super 8 look in their eyes. If you would like to be considered for the next $100 grant, please send a film proposal to:

Flicker
6310 1/2 Primrose Ave.
Hollywood, CA 90068

Flicker Web Site http://www.chapel-hill.nc.us/flicker
The latest Super 8 and Flicker Festival news.
email flicker@mekons.com

Steve Osborne's Coming Attractions Super 8 fanzine has a new name - The Reel Image. Send $2 for the new issue coming out this fall.
2530 Blackhawk Rd.
Kettering, OH 45420

Kodak and the Super 8 Renaissance

In 1965 Kodak came out with a new film format called Super 8. This was an improvement in image quality and frame size compared to regular 8. Kodak had many plans for cameras, film stocks, sound capabilities, and accessories galore. And up until around 1979, Kodak was still developing and improving Super 8 film, cameras and projectors. Super 8 was dominating the home movie market, and everyone was happy except for a few people who hurt their eyes looking into the bright movie light on top of the camera. In the 80's, video cameras started becoming more affordable and people soon latched on to this as their new home movie format - of course every home "video" became a feature length film. The Super 8 market was dwindling and so was Kodak's ability to turn acceptable profit from Super 8. Starting around 1990, Kodak decided to begin cutbacks in Super 8 and 8 production. At this point, only one Regular 8 stock remained, Kodachrome 25 (color), and Kodak decided it was time to stop the perforators for good - you see, Reg. 8 is 16mm film with an extra perforation. That's all it takes to produce Reg. 8 film and Kodak decided that little hole puncher was too much. Super 8 at this point had 3 black and white stocks and 3 color stocks (2 of the color also available in a sound cartridge). In 1992, the 4-X black and white was discontinued - this was a very fast and beautifully grainy film. In 1994, Kodak announced they were going to discontinue every color stock except for Kodachrome 40. This includes the (pre-striped) sound film. Gone. Silenced. With all of this whittling away, I began to wonder what was next. Lots of people speculated that by 2000 Super 8 would be no more. Well folks, I have news and it's good news! This summer Kodak released a new Super 8 stock - its first new Super 8 stock in almost 20 years! It's called Eastman Ektachrome (125ASA), and is meant to replace the 160A and 160G Ektachrome stocks which were recently discontinued. This is a color reversal film which is cut down from 35mm 7240 stock. It's tungsten balanced and rated at 125ASA, (80ASA with an 85B filter). Kodak has also released, to limited dealers, Super 8 Surveillance film (color negative). This stock was apparantly made for the army and a Japanese Check Cashing firm.

I can only speculate that Kodak realized that there are still thousands of filmmakers around the world who rely on the Super 8 format. People who don't have the cash to shoot on 16mm, yet have the passion and appreciation for film to shoot on Super 8. There were protests outside of Kodak's Paris Headquarters last year after the announcement of the discontinuation of several Super 8 stocks. Maybe not all of our voices were heard, but our continued insistance on asking for the Super 8 format to exist by shooting film finally trickled down to the little button pushing CPA in the bowels of the Eastman Kodak Rochester New York main office, and this person, who only sees numbers, finally saw something pop onto his little computer screen - SUPER 8 RULES YOU FUCKER. NOW GO AND PRESS THAT BUTTON THAT SAYS "ADD", AND GIVE US ANOTHER SUPER 8 STOCK BEFORE WE DRIVE UP TO ROCHESTER AND KICK YOUR ASS.

You never know.

There's always a lot of talk, but you can hold this new Super 8 Ektachrome stock in your hands and put it in your camera, that's real, and that's what it comes down to. By any means.

B&T's Little Film Notebook

This is a cool pamphlet dedicated to Super 8. Full of news, info, rumors and advice. Send at least a $5 donation to:
IC8
P.O. Box 335
Rowley, MA 01969-0735

Pick up your Flicker ruler tonight - or order your very own through the mail - 25 cents each, 4 minimum.
810 S. Columbia St.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Where do I buy Super 8 film?

The cheapest and most dependable place to buy Super 8 is directly from Kodak. Order at least 5 rolls so that you offset the shipping costs. You can now mail order Black & White and Color! CALL 1-800-621-FILM

If you aren't sure what you want to order, ask Kodak to send you their film stock catalog - it's free!

Pac Lab processes the most beautiful Black & White Super 8 that I've seen.
212 505 7797
37 E. 1st St.
New York, NY 10003