The end is near part 2.

[mr8mm]

Kodak posted a loss of $2.56. The stock price is about $2.70. The price of silver is skyrocketing. Film prices are scheduled to go up by 10%. Perhaps we should start a pool on when Kodak declares bankrupcy.

J.S.

[woods01]

Egads!

So you're suggesting that we should all put in a large order before the price hike?

[Tscan]

Looks like losses were in digital camera sales and rising silver prices. Hopefully the smallness of S8 and 16mm will keep them intact while they focus on bigger issues. Here's the article
http://seekingalpha.com/article/266781- ... transcript

[Tscan]

"On to our traditional business, Photofinishing and Entertainment Imaging Group. FPEG's revenue declined 14% to $367 million and posted a loss from operation of $15 million for the first quarter. FPEG's revenues and earnings for the quarter were impacted by the industry-related volume declines across each of the businesses as well as significantly higher silver and petroleum-based raw material costs. Operating margins were down 9 percentage points when compared to the prior year. This decline was primarily the result of increased commodity costs, particularly silver. To mitigate the rapid rise in silver price, we've implemented an index pricing model for most of our color negative paper products.

Also in March, the business announced a price increase for many of FPEG's products, including motion picture film. And we will continue to consider pricing modifications in line with silver price changes. Also, we will continue our ongoing hedging program to reduce the volatility within the year."

[beamascope]

I could see Kodak bailing on super 8 mainly because they were such a HUGE company for so long they really don't know how to become a viable small company. I think when you are that big of a company with as many employees as they once had turning that much of a profit it's tough to change directions. GM would be another example of that. As one who shoots movie film from time to time just for the fun of it I have to say I have not purchased super 8 in ages. I grew tired of the occasional jamming carts and the finicky issues of the Super 8 cameras I had. I went back to good old reliable Dbl 8 and bought a Bolex P1 and a D8L.
I will say I would be sad to see it go if it happens. Losing Kodachrome was depressing enough as my whole family history was filmed on that stuff! My issue with digital is the constant change that comes with it. Video cameras have become like computers in that they become "obsolete" in just a few years. I think people are so hung up on image quality that they forget that it doesn't matter how good it looks if it's not interesting enough to watch.

[nickrapak]

I could see Kodak bailing on super 8 mainly because they were such a HUGE company for so long they really don't know how to become a viable small company.

This is one of the biggest problems with Kodak today. Currently, they only have high-capacity coating machines, as they scrapped their lower-capacity ones about 10 years ago. Their thinking at the time was that since it was cheaper/ft^2 to coat on the larger machines, economics of scale would work in their favor. However, volume has dropped to the point that the coating machines need to stop, which wastes about 50,000 ft^2 at a time.

[slashmaster]

My issue with digital is the constant change that comes with it. Video cameras have become like computers in that they become "obsolete" in just a few years.

That's right, on top of that mankind knows film is playable for about 100 years. We know videotape is not playable nearly that long and I don't think anyone knows how long all the digital formats are good for.

[beamascope]

My issue with digital is the constant change that comes with it. Video cameras have become like computers in that they become "obsolete" in just a few years.

That's right, on top of that mankind knows film is playable for about 100 years. We know videotape is not playable nearly that long and I don't think anyone knows how long all the digital formats are good for.

I have Ampex VHS tapes from 20 years ago that are barely watchable. I'm told if you replace the housing it will run better. I have no idea why the plastic housing fails. Couple that with coating failures on the tape and it becomes a VCR ruining nightmare. My family films on 8mm from the 50s still run fine through the trusty old Revere!

[S8 Booster]

still... i think "we" will be gone long before film production ends....(at least some of us )

really, i can not se that happen although prices.... now, that is the other side of the story...

shoot....

[beamascope]

I guess as long as there is a market some company will be willing to turn larger formats into smaller ones I guess. I assume 35mm and 120 will be around for at least the rest of my "short" life. :lol:

[slashmaster]

My issue with digital is the constant change that comes with it. Video cameras have become like computers in that they become "obsolete" in just a few years.

That's right, on top of that mankind knows film is playable for about 100 years. We know videotape is not playable nearly that long and I don't think anyone knows how long all the digital formats are good for.

I have Ampex VHS tapes from 20 years ago that are barely watchable. I'm told if you replace the housing it will run better. I have no idea why the plastic housing fails. Couple that with coating failures on the tape and it becomes a VCR ruining nightmare. My family films on 8mm from the 50s still run fine through the trusty old Revere!

Is Ampex a brand of tape? if so will this trick only work on Ampex tapes?

[beamascope]

I have Ampex VHS tapes from 20 years ago that are barely watchable. I'm told if you replace the housing it will run better. I have no idea why the plastic housing fails. Couple that with coating failures on the tape and it becomes a VCR ruining nightmare. My family films on 8mm from the 50s still run fine through the trusty old Revere![/quote]
Is Ampex a brand of tape? if so will this trick only work on Ampex tapes?[/quote]
Ampex was a brand generally regarded as pro tape back then. You couldn't buy them in normal stores I just happened to get some from the little production house I worked at. I was told they were the best but who knows. I think this trick will work on any tape provided the "new" case is in decent shape. I'm told it has something to do with the tape path and settling over the years. I wish I could explain it better. I have transferred tapes to newer cases and the problem has gone away. It's actually pretty easy to do, screwdriver and a bit of patience.

[grainy]

Making one stab at being a grouch -- I think there should be a separate chatroom specificially for people who want to obsess about the demise of film (and/or whether digital is "better").

As far as keeping things going with the medium, there's nothing gloomier than trying to see what's going on with people's super 8 projects/ideas and reading endless yowling about The End is Near. And it really is endless -- it's been going on since Avids became the hollywood staple. Meanwhile, the iPhone video shooters triple daily and boy are they happy about it.

The truth is, more people care about super 8 now than they did 20 years ago, and certainly the fact that SOMEONE cares about regular 8 is a miracle, not impending doom.

regards --
Grainy

[reflex]

Everything comes to an end -- good and bad. The Super 8 format has had a good, long life and will one day reach a point where it's no longer viable from a business perspective.

And therein lies the rub -- we're emotionally involved. To us, film is about grain and color and texture. It's about memories from our youth and experimenting with light. It's about telling stories.

But for thousands of people at Kodak it's about making a living. They're accountants and physicists and warehouse personnel, not cinematographers. Film is simply a means to an end.