Call for concrete suggestions re: super 8 society

Post by **flatwood** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 2:35 am

MovieStuff wrote:.... perhaps one criteria for joining the Super-8-Society is knowing how to use a light meter? Perhaps the second would be knowing how to use a tape measure to ensure focus? I know these two items seem persnickety but, honestly, if the purpose of the "society" is to ....

Yes, Im inclined to agree with you, to make it mean something like the recording academy.

Post by **etimh** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 3:29 am

flatwood wrote:
MovieStuff wrote:.... perhaps one criteria for joining the Super-8-Society is knowing how to use a light meter? Perhaps the second would be knowing how to use a tape measure to ensure focus? I know these two items seem persnickety but, honestly, if the purpose of the "society" is to ....
Yes, Im inclined to agree with you, to make it mean something like the recording academy.

I guess I'm out then, because I've never used a light meter. Nor a tape measure to "ensure focus." :?

And since I think I'm one of only two people to request membership as a dues-paying member (according to studiocarter a couple of days ago), there goes 50% of the membership!

Until more of you real "light-meter and tape-measure using" filmmakers step up to legitimize the group, I say membership is open to whoever pays their dues. Their monetary dues, that is.

Tim

Post by **flatwood** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 3:40 am

etimh wrote:And since I think I'm one of only two people to request membership as a dues-paying member (according to studiocarter a couple of days ago), there goes 50% of the membership!

Haha.... good point!!!!

:lol:

Post by **studiocarter** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 4:47 pm

To quote a famous movie,

"We don need no stinking badges."

or treasurers?

Even before tape, focus the diopter! How to focus a diopter is very important, especially for those who don't use tape.

whine, I can't get my focus right!

Post by **MovieStuff** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 7:20 pm

etimh wrote:
I guess I'm out then, because I've never used a light meter. Nor a tape measure to "ensure focus." :?

If that works for you, then as long as your footage comes out in focus and properly exposed, that's all that matters. I was referring to users that endlessly repeat the same exposure and focusing mistakes over and over yet see themselves as "film makers" but refuse to do what is necessary to correct an obvious problem. Since we are talking about a "society", you're only as good as the company you keep. I personally would like to think that being a member means something more substantial than paying dues just to belong.

Roger

Post by **etimh** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 7:58 pm

MovieStuff wrote:Since we are talking about a "society", you're only as good as the company you keep.

Oh man. Where does that come from?

I'm sitting here reflecting on all of the really "bad" company I keep, in all of the various "societies" that I'm a part of.

I guess I'm not very good. :twisted:

Tim

Post by **fogo** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:49 pm

If anyone would pass on a few quid (thats Her Majesty's Pounds Sterling), I think I could possibly arrange for this to become a 'Royal Society of...... and with cachet like that, who knows whose society we'll be keeping in the future??!!!

The truth is we are already a society or community, however imperfect..

At the end of the day its about participation...

I've learned a great deal from loads of the posters here, and heres a thankyou for that!!

Go shooot some SuperOtto!

Post by **Mitch Perkins** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 8:17 am

flatwood wrote:
Mitch Perkins wrote:...of S8 feature-makers [dogma style] producing films of undeniable quailty would be an...undeniable testament to the format's potential. Set some rules, shoot some films - Super 8 Society...
That's the direction I would like to head with it. Im not so concerned personally with being a champion for the format but more with the films and film makers after seeing what you and Rick have gone through with Sleep Always and what I will face when we get done with Tylerville, Georgia.

A buncha great movies shot on S8 would champion the format like nothing else, eh?
studiocarter has a point too, though, with the legal staus and such...I have no experience with that type of thing, hence me not being a good choice of president.
I just think it's a neat idea with possibly some great potential, and was interested in what kind of positive suggestions folks might make...and whether the suggestions might form into something real...I'd certainly chip in however I could...

Say Flatwood, what's your film gonna be about? Shot on S8? Just finished "Light in August" [Faulkner] and "A Man in Full" [Wolfe], so Ise all hepped up wid da South and all...[have been a "states-o-phile for long time now]...pm me if'n ya don think it fits in here.

Mitch

Post by **studiocarter** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 5:16 pm

studiocarter has a point too, though, with the legal staus and such...I have no experience with that type of thing, hence me not being a good choice of president.

Actually neither do I; mine was with a Superintendent and HE presented the idea to the Board of Education.
Carnegie Mellon University regularly graduates people with Masters Degrees in Arts Management. The university also has a film department. My teacher makes Robot movies for the Robotics Institute there. CMU sends their film students to Pittsburgh Filmmakers. We should be able to draft someone to do the legal technical stuff from CMU or someplace like it. I imagine they want a job, too.
A president only chairs the meeting, banging the gavel is the most fun. You recognize speakers, call for the minutes to be read, and get everyone else to do the work. It is really the easiest job. That and finding a VP to do it when you need to be somewhere else.

Post by **flatwood** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 8:35 pm

Mitch Perkins wrote:Say Flatwood, what's your film gonna be about? Shot on S8? Just finished "Light in August" [Faulkner] and "A Man in Full" [Wolfe], so Ise all hepped up wid da South and all...[have been a "states-o-phile for long time now]...

This is all off topic but maybe not totally??

Tylerville, Georgia is basically a love story/adventure written to utilize the uniqeness of my southern location. I believe Ive come up with a compelling story. etimh has offered to shoot super 8 for the movie at his location out west probably in the fall. I am looking across all formats looking for the best way to tell the story and havent ruled out 35mm and/or HDV along with the super 8. I want to give the film every shot at making it and dont want to be held back by technical limitations. I have to put the $$$ on the screen. I watched some friends put several hundred thousand in a 35 mm feature. its been cut on video but not on film and I think they are broke.

My budget is much lower and I will have to wear many hats but its very possible you could have a gig for a month down south in spring 2007 if you want. Also Im worried that I might have to do sound myself and I dont see how someone can shoot and do sound at the same time on location.

I plan to shoot location for a month only. So far, I only need to build one set, the interior of a small rural 70s era radio station, but dont have a building yet..... hell, I havent even gotten moved yet and I cant get ahead of myself but Im thinking about the logistics of the film constantly. Fortunately my cousin works for a small rural radio station about 30 miles away if it should come to that.... but preferable to build my own.

Post by **Mitch Perkins** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 2:41 am

studiocarter wrote:
studiocarter has a point too, though, with the legal staus and such...I have no experience with that type of thing, hence me not being a good choice of president.
Actually neither do I; mine was with a Superintendent and HE presented the idea to the Board of Education.
Carnegie Mellon University regularly graduates people with Masters Degrees in Arts Management. The university also has a film department. My teacher makes Robot movies for the Robotics Institute there. CMU sends their film students to Pittsburgh Filmmakers. We should be able to draft someone to do the legal technical stuff from CMU or someplace like it. I imagine they want a job, too.
A president only chairs the meeting, banging the gavel is the most fun. You recognize speakers, call for the minutes to be read, and get everyone else to do the work. It is really the easiest job. That and finding a VP to do it when you need to be somewhere else.

Okay [bang bang] somebody get this legal business taken care of...Next! ~:?)

It's not surprising we don't have the background for this. Somebody does though, as you point out. May be a matter of turning a law person on to S8...much easier than the other way around.
What I can do is a little of the research mentioned in the OP. Doesn't have to happen overnight, though that would be cool, wouldn't it?

Mitch

Post by **Mitch Perkins** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 2:44 am

flatwood wrote: My budget is much lower and I will have to wear many hats but its very possible you could have a gig for a month down south in spring 2007 if you want.

I am so there. Keep us posted...

Mitch

Post by **flatwood** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 2:49 am

Mitch Perkins wrote:I am so there. Keep us posted...

Ok, you're on. Thanks.

Post by **fogo** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 5:51 am

Ok Ok I confess. I was 'formerly' a lawyer. Obliged to wear a wig in pubic! Think what that would do to you! But yes, I'm happy to assist.

As you might notice from my earlier post, I favour a looser, flexible scheme. Once money is involved, this becomes more difficult of course. It may even be counter-productive if one of the concepts is that the 'society' represents 'us' to the outside world. Even so, one thing thats clear from the slightly OT posts on this page and indeed the success of Pass the Cart and Super8Cities projects is that the co-operative aspects are real highlights of what the 'community' can do at the moment. I'd hate to see this drown in a sea of politics and legal nonsense.

Anyway, as a relative newbie here I'm certainly not gonna shout my opinions too loudly, but as I said, Im happy to give some advice and sharpen my quill should some basic documents need to be drafted.

Ade

Post by **Mitch Perkins** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:30 am

fogo wrote:
As you might notice from my earlier post, I favour a looser, flexible scheme. Once money is involved, this becomes more difficult of course. It may even be counter-productive if one of the concepts is that the 'society' represents 'us' to the outside world. Even so, one thing thats clear from the slightly OT posts on this page and indeed the success of Pass the Cart and Super8Cities projects is that the co-operative aspects are real highlights of what the 'community' can do at the moment. I'd hate to see this drown in a sea of politics and legal nonsense.

Anyway, as a relative newbie here I'm certainly not gonna shout my opinions too loudly, but as I said, Im happy to give some advice and sharpen my quill should some basic documents need to be drafted.

Ade

I'd say shout as loud as you like...

Loose is good - could tighten it up as we go...

Your offer is pretty amazing, a really valuable asset for the group, such as it is/will be. Gotta think some more...

Mitch