Pro8mm Film stocks.......

[Matt5791]

Now from what I can see I'm posting this on a video forum. However if you are after some really professional results for the minimum amount of outlay, find youself a decent Super8 camera (Ebay, Beaulieu or Nizo) and go and get one of Pro8mm's film packages (www.pro8mm.com) these include professional telecine, to mini DV if you want. I shot a load of this earlier this year and utilised the new amazing range of film available for Super8 ranging from 50ASA daylight to 800ASA tungsten! (ps I don't work for pro8 or own any shares! Film is just my drug!)

[Nigel]

Pro8/Super8Sound has in my opinion done more to destroy Super8 than to help it. The guys are $hitheads--At least the US division has been and will be.

Now that Kodak sell the 7274 in S8 directly there is no need to buy neg stocks from Pro8. Plus, the Kodak is cheaper.

Stay away--Run away from Pro8. If you look at the Brantley forum you will know my feelings about this company.

Good Luck--Shoot Film!!

[Alex]

Having briefly worked at Pro-8mm a long time ago I believe they have both helped and hurt Super-8mm.

However, the fact that they still don't have direct competition points to some other issue that nobody likes to talk about.

That issue is how notoriously cheap super-8 filmmakers can be and how a certain percentage get off on getting all of their services as cheaply as possible, and if they have money to spend, they'll spend it on 16mm "thank you very much".

Pro-8mm identified this trait a long time ago and decided that to cater to that portion of the Super-8mm market would cause them to go out of business. Virtually every other competitor of theirs has gone out of business, most of them 15 years ago!

Almost any price or service that someone whines about when it comes to Pro-8mm is probably still less than if one rented or pursued a video version of the same service Pro-8mm offers in Super-8. (examples include camera rentals, repair or post-production services)

The few successful Super-8 enterprises are routinely criticized on most Super-8 forums (except mine) because it's a cause celeb to do so.

Everyone bonds by whining about the establishment.

[img]graemlins/camera.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/film.gif[/img]

[Nigel]

It has nothing to do with their prices. I have paid more for services at other places. What it is--Is their attitude to the customer. They treat you like $hit. Pro8 should be avoided in my opinion. You can find services that are better and people who will meet/treat you with professionalism.

They cater to the A$$holes. Look at CinePost. They do a great job with their transfer services. I am going to Flying Spot on Monday for a transfer--They will go to HD Pro8 won't do that. Forde will soon process ECN 8mm stocks so there goes what they might have had with that portion of the market. They offer standard services at inflated prices with poor service.

Good Luck

[Alex]

It has everything to do with their prices.

If you don't balk with their pricing structure, then once you use them you are an ally to them for future work.

What they try to avoid, in my opinion, is dealing with the person with no money and a lot of questions who has no intention of spending any of their money at their place even if they have their questions fully answered.

Their company policy has "evolved" year by year. I am sure when they started they were the way everyone expected them to be, and slowly they changed when they realized how time-consuming it was dealing with each customers vast amount of questions and minimal income.

Their professional customers know the drill, you pay, you play. As you say, other super-8 options are slowly opening up. It's possible that in time competition will force them to change their viewpoint.

It's important to realize that the more questions a newbie asks, the higher the chance they will misremember something and then complain about it later. Less questions asked, the easier it is to conduct business.

I'm not saying I agree with that philosophy, but that tends to be the way business enterprises succeed.