Exotic Super-8 film from Northkorea

[Juergen]

[Angus]

Maybe they're still using E4 out there?
Perhaps we'll have to send our film to North Korea for processing!

[tlatosmd]

If actually necessary, even that wouldn't be much different from sending to Fuji Japan for Single8.

[Angus]

If actually necessary, even that wouldn't be much different from sending to Fuji Japan for Single8.

Not so sure...Japan is a country with good international ties and business links...it's taken us a month to actually ascertain that this film even exists. It's not like we can easily contact the company that manufactures it.

[tlatosmd]

I was relating to the process of sending our films there as soon as the Western Deal(tm) will be worked out.

[audadvnc]

Oh, yeah. US Homeland Security will be pleased as punch to hear you're doing deals with North Korea. :evil: What's your SSN, again? (edit: Oops, you're not US citizens, never mind. We in the states assume that everbody's 'Merkin like me.)

[Mogzy]

Just a thought- given that North Korea is such an isolated place and this company is unlikely to have any form of modern communications such as internet or phone access, it might be an idea to send a letter in both your native language and Korean (again, someone would need to translate it) to "Kim Chaek film, Wonsan, North Korea" (might get further by using their "DPRK" acronym.) It might take months but it's got to be worth a try.

Of course I address this to anyone who lives in a country where you're not going to get arrested for trading with North Korea (i.e. If you live in the USA better not try it)- I'm not sure what the British position is on this but I know they use Euros in North Korea so there's bound to be another European Union country which will allow you to send a letter there. Also if there's any Swiss readers- you'll probably be fine. It's just too interesting a quest not to! Now anyone know any Korean...?

[tlatosmd]

Just a thought- given that North Korea is such an isolated place and this company is unlikely to have any form of modern communications such as internet or phone access, it might be an idea to send a letter in both your native language and Korean (again, someone would need to translate it) to "Kim Chaek film, Wonsan, North Korea" (might get further by using their "DPRK" acronym.) It might take months but it's got to be worth a try.

What about Russian or Saxonian (clichee dialect of former East Germany)? :lol:

Now, joking aside, I figure English might be more effective than any other native language beside Korean. However, using any third language might be worth a try.

[Mogzy]

Yes, you're right English probably will be the best known, though you never know what they're taught over there!

I've had a look on the UK Foreign Office website and there doesn't seem to be a UK trade embargo on North Korea as with the USA. The only EU countries without diplomatic representation in the North appear to be France and Ireland, and the EU itself has diplomatic representation over ther so it looks like it's up to us Europeans to get our hands on the stuff first!

One idea might be to send a letter via the British or German (or any other for that matter!) Embassy in Pyonyang.

The British Embassy address is:
British Embassy
Munsu-dong Diplomatic Compound
Pyongyang
Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Now, anyone know any Korean/ Koreans to translate the letter?

I'd be interested to know who actually USES Super 8 in North Korea though... wouldn't have thought there would be much of a market...

UPDATE! Wonsan is a City on the East Coast and Kim Chaek was some kind or other of revolutionary hero apparently. I've found net references to there being coal & steel and chemical works there- still no full address though sadly...

[Juergen]

Please be so kind to wait because I have asked German Authorities in North Korea to help with research. A second approach of the English embassy at the same time may make all involved people angry. I will inform you after the German Embassador has answered.

[Mogzy]

Certainly. I shall await any news before doing anything- I would have to find someone to translate it into Korean anyway! Excellent magazine by the way, do you know when the next issue (2) of SmallFormat will be available?

[etimh]

Of course I address this to anyone who lives in a country where you're not going to get arrested for trading with North Korea (i.e. If you live in the USA better not try it.

I know this sounds unlikely, but someone recently told me that the US Post Office must deliver any flat letter submitted to it, regardless of destination location. This guy has been mailing letters (parcels are a different story) to various countries on the US watch list for years.

In the case of North Korea, it may be a situation of the article being delivered to some secondary service (probably in S. Korea) who would then deliver the item to what they call the "frontier." From there, who knows, maybe they just dump the mail sacks on the edge of the DMZ.

Regardless, I'm tempted to try it just to see what will happen. I'd love to watch the insane political theater go down as I'm arrested for sending a letter to North Korea inquiring about...Super 8 film.

Tim

[Lunar07]

The 13 DIN/16 ASA topic of the film makes it possible that this might be a very old formula of ORWO or AGFA. That would be something that nearly nobody in the Western World is able to process anymore. Maybe Frank Bruinsma of Rotterdam (Netherlands)...

This could be substance for an essay in a future SmallFormat issue - while the world is polarized with talk of terrorism and Bolton-Like poses and nuke this and nuke that, filmmakers discover that there is actually someone in North Korea who makes Super8 film. Maybe we'll get Super8 diplomacy (like that ping pong thing with China) - while everyone talks bullshit politics, Juergen is at the frontier boldly transporting a box full of S8 carts made in Wansoon. Of course, there must be roses and flowers somewhere in the picture :-D

[tlatosmd]

And bombshells? Not a scene that I'd like.

[Lunar07]

And bombshells? Not a scene that I'd like.

Why not? It adds <b><i>Contrast</i></b> :twisted: