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I was watching TechTV today and "Screen Savers" was on. I don't know much about the show, but they had some guy demonstrating how to reprogram a Tivo. Earlier in the day I had seen someone showing how DJ's can scratch MP3's while still using a turntable to do so.
This got me thinking. Why can't we get on TechTV with Roger's Workprinter and show people how at home they can still shoot Super 8mmm and use a Workprinter to transfer it to a digital format. We could also use other programs people have made to compile the files into a video and sync audio. Why wouldn't they put us on the show? I'm sure they are always looking for something else to show. I mean I don't watch the show on a regular basis, but they must always be looking for new technology to show off.
Anyway, it's just a thought. TechTV is just down the street from me. Too bad I don't own a Workprinter. Hey Roger! Would you give me a discount if I got to promote your product on TV?
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Wait a minit, Konton. Elsewwhere on this baord you wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#DDDDDD"><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> Do I really have a cult like devotion to Super 8mm? I mean I have only spent about five digits on equipment and made a website dedicated to it. I mean it's Super 8mm. Who wouldn't? </font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>
You've dropped five digits on S8 stuff and you haven't bought a work printer yet? Dude! ;O
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Hey Cal,
Very funny. You've seen most of the film equipment I have owned. And yes, I need to get a workprinter. When are you getting a Workprinter? I keep hearig you guys are planning to as well.
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I'm scraping my pennies together, selling extra body organs (anybody need a slightly used gall bladder?), and praying to the gods of money to let me save enough to get the work printer. Getting hit by a $700-plus camera repair bill didn't help. Neither did cuts in work hours or the heart attack of the friend who was going to loan me the money. A summer of bad luck, or not-so-good luck at any rate.
I think you're right about the work printer and TechTV. It's a perfect fit. Doesn't somebody in the SF area have one? (It's very difficult for me to believe no one in LA has one yet.)
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Why don't you try the film department at SFAI on Chestnut St? They may want to buy one if they KNEW about it. My bfa was painted there.
Michael
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Hi, all!
Okay, there's a line in "The Right Stuff" (arguably one of the greatest films ever) where Grissom is warned, "Careful you don't screw the pooch."
The whole WorkPrinter phenomenon has totally blown me away. I am approaching almost 200 orders and the year isn't over yet. I have had to hire a couple guys to come in and give me a hand a few days a week and I am finally seeing some daylight but my turnaround time on each unit is still a very stressful 30-45 days. At this point, I pretty much do nothing else but build WorkPrinters and CineMates and I've got a few more 8mm related items on the drawing board that sometimes seems like I will never have time to implement.
I think the idea of going on Tech TV with the WorkPrinter is great and terrible all at the same time. The exposure would be terrific. But a good friend that's wise in business once warned that it was a very dangerous thing for small companies to grow too fast. I am seeing exactly what he was talking about. If the orders get too thick too fast, it will create more revenue but not enough to justify hiring (and training!) more guys. Then I risk getting too far behind in my orders, which is never good for business where people can trash your reputation on the internet and start wildfire rumors that are virtually impossible to put out.
Also, there is a security issue related to the whole WorkPrinter concept. I mean, this isn't Norad or anything but I know at least a dozen people that have tried to copy what I am doing. While they may have failed and several ended up sheepishly putting in an order of their own, it underscores a concern about waving the success of the WorkPrinter in front of those that have less than noble intentions regarding intellectual properties of others or the future of 8mm.
I may have a couple of guys helping me out but, in the end, I hand build each and every transfer unit I sell. My wife and I personally pack, label and ship each unit. One of the reasons for the 30-45 day lag in orders is that each unit is built as the order comes in. That is the only way I can keep the costs of these units under control. If I back stocked items and had to carry the overhead, the price would simply skyrocket. I take great pride in the craftsmanship of what I produce and I frankly do fear losing that connection with my constituency through either greedy competition or premature growth.
I think that going on TechTV is a sensational idea but at this point, I don't know that I can handle any more success without "screwing the pooch". But I'll ponder the idea. Good business is where you find it, I suppose.
Regarding LA: I do have some WorkPrinters and CineMate units in the LA area and the San Francisco area. However, they belong to individuals and I have to respect their privacy. Let me say that the enthusiasm shown on Mike's and Andreas's forums regarding the DV8 transfer service as well as the units we sell means alot to me and to my wife, Annette (she does all the great transfers). I hope that we can continue to provide services worthy of your admiration and support.
My best,
Roger
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Too bad there's nobody in the Bay Area that has a WP...
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"Success is a double-edged sword..." eh, Roger?
I'm glad you are doing so well...
Do you think you can e-mail the LA WorkPrinter owners and ask them if Cal Godot and I could possibly check out their setup sometime? We'll bring beer, presents, and other substances (if so desired) to check out this exciting piece of technology...
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I will consider it but, again, I really don't want to bother my clients with sales related stuff. It makes me uncomfortable. But I'll see what I can come up with.
Roger
