The Kodak Petition

[Matt Pacini]

I think you guys are blowing it here.
Kodak recently released a new product: Vision 200T neg stock.
This is a very big deal that they would do this, and a sign that they in fact are behind Super 8, otherwise, why would they bother?

The worse thing you can do, when someone is actually doing what you want, is to whine that they're not doing enough!

Just what products EXACTLY do you want Kodak to make in Super 8?

Just emailing them, and saying "make more Super 8 products" is meaningless.

If you, being the consumer, can't figure out what you want them to make, then they aren't going to sit down and guess. You're the consumer.
If you want them to make a particular product, then be specific.
You cannot expect them to start manufacturing a new dream Super 8 camera, for instance, so I'm assuming that you are referring to new film stocks.

I would guess that they released the 200T as a test, to see how the demand is for Super 8 neg stock.

If it sells well, then they will probably start making other stocks, so whiney emails are not going to make this happen.

If you want it to happen, then buy shitloads of the 200T, otherwise, STOP PISSING OFF KODAK!
And this is from someone who only shoots K-40, so I don't really personally care about the 200T, because it's too grainy for what I'm doing, but for Gods sake, leave the guys alone.
If you want Super 8 filmmakers to be taken seriously as Professionals, then barraging them with trivial complaints, when you don't even know WHAT you are complainging about specifically is not doing any of us any good!

Matt Pacini


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[Alex]

Good Point Matt.

Previously on this board there was discussion that 200T may replace Kodachrome 40.

A Cruel twist of fate, wouldn't you say...we get a new good thing, and they take away kodachrome in exchange....

Yech!

It would still be nice to acknowledged by Kodak Reps when we e-mail them.

But as you say, the more film that is bought, that speaks volumes.

-Alex

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[This message has been edited by Alex (edited August 22, 2001).]

[Matt Pacini]

Well, if they take my Kodachrome away, I'm going to flip out!!!!
I seriously doubt it though, since I have a feeling (I don't know this for sure) that Kodachrome probably outsells all other S8 stocks by leaps and bounds.
I would say this is probably one of those online "Super 8 Urban Legends" propogated by the paranoid. I doubth they are selling that much vision 200T S8 yet, since most people seem to not realize they can get it from Kodak directly yet.
However, there are those freakin' environmental regulations about Kodachrome processing though....

Keep in mind that Kodak is a HUGE company, and when you're dealing with a company that large, one hand doesn't know what the other is doing.
I have called and ordered Kodachrome 40 from their motion picture imaging dept., and asked questions about where to get PK-59 mailers, and the person had no idea what I was talking about!
So I imagine it's like dealing with the government, there are a zillion different departments, and if you don't luck into contacting that one person who knows what your concerns are, you won't get answers.
Still frustrating though. (They still have better customer service than Super 8 Sound. At least Kodak won't lie to you!!!)

Matt Pacini


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[c_77]

I signed the petition under my various email names and addresses and even used some friends names! WE WANT SOUND FILM BACK! Anyway, I think Kodak was just trying to get a piece of the market held by those Super8sound guys with their new Vision stuff. I would imagine this new film is pretty much useless to many of us because it's negative, and can't be projected. But if it is cut from 35mm stock, why is it negative? Don't they use reversal film for those Panavision cameras? - Chris

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[c_77]

Okay, I'm gonna be a real dork and reply to my own message (i'm talking to myself). I just realized 35mm filmmakers use negative stocks and transfer from the original; right?...Keep those petitions coming folks! P.S. - Whatever happened to super 8 cartridges larger than 50ft.? Which cameras take these?

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[Matt Pacini]

Yep, all professionally shot films (i.e. studio films, etc.... everything you see at the theater with very few exceptions) are shot on negative, then prints are made for theatrical projection.)
In Super 8 land, almost nothing is projected, it is transferred to video, & then we hope we get picked up by a direct to video distributor!

I don't care about sound film, but it would be cool to have the 200ft loads.

Anyway, I will partially retract some of my earlier statement, because I just read through the Kodak cinematographers guide, and they did not list Kodachrome FOR ANY FORMAT, NOT JUST SUPER 8!!!! (Some 16mm guys love Kodachrome also)...
So, that makes me a little paranoid!
They also didn't list the visio200T Super 8 stock either, but did list the 7240 (Ektachrome 125) for both 16mm and S8.
(The guide came out before they released the 200T).
As far as releasing the 200T just to compete with Super 8 sound, I think it's a little different than that.
They don't really care about Super 8 Sound, it's a miniscule company compared to Kodak, no competition at all, and Super 8 stock is probably one of the lowest profit generators for Kodak.
I think that they saw that there was a market, and decided to answer that demand & see what happens.
I see it as a good sign, although I certainly do not want to see it replace Kodachrome. I would shoot 200T any day over Kodachrome IF it were not grainier, but that's not the case.
Anyway, I think we need to investigate this further.
In the meantime, I think I'm going to start stocking up on K-40!!! (I've already got 25 rolls in my freezer, but that's only about 2 days worth of shooting!)

Matt Pacini

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[8th Man]

For what it's worth,
My understanding from Phil Vigeant having posted to another forum is that v200 in super 8 exists because the Japanese use it in their atm machines. Thus it's survailence film. If this is true, it fascinates me that they would use kodak film instesd of video or Fuji's single 8 format. Also it means there is some form of super8 camera in a bunch of atm's all across Japan. Who knows if this is the absolute truth or not but I would sooner believe this than Kodak spontaneously deciding to through it to the market on its own.

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PRM

[Matt Pacini]

It's a half truth.

It's true that Kodak has been selling ASA200 S8 "surveilance" stock in Europe.
I bought some from Yal in N. Hollywood, and also they were selling it at the Widescreen Center in London.
However, it is not VisionT, it's EXR, which is not as good of stock.
I never did hear where they were using this surveilance stock, but the boxes I had were printed in English.
I would like to hear more about it!
But the vision 200T S8 stock isn't the same stuff at all, even though it's ASA200.

Matt Pacini



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