Mike Crane Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Just got the usual Spam-mail from Pro8mm dealing with a number of topics. Of particular interest was the section admitting to making super 8 from re-cans and short-ends. Here it is: "Several Internet sites (including Filmshooting.com and Cinematography.com) insist we use ALL recans or short ends which has not been true for 3 years now. (Let's keep up to date and accurate chat room people if you are advising filmmakers.) Short ends are used only for the Pro8/05, Pro8/17, Pro8/18 and Pro8/12. " Years back (beyond 3 years), I had asked the people in charge at Pro8 about this and was assured the all film made by them was "fresh from Kodak". Now, after years of dealing with mysterious damage and defects (including X-ray damage), I get to hear the truth... possibly. I think this is total BS and feel that a full refund should be offered for their defective products and deceptional business practices They should have never repackaged cheap re-can film as new product to begin with! I am sure this has caused grief to many filmmakers - pushing them away from film forever. Sadly, it appears they still continue to sell re-cans as some films they offer (at new film prices). I hope they at least plan to clearly mark each box that the film is "not fresh" and "made from recans and short-ends of undetermined age". It might give a DP a fighting chance! As for their claim that they now make many of their other film products from fresh film... how do I know I am hearing the truth this time around? How do I know they will start feeling cheap again and stuff their carts with junk to save themselves a dime or two? Of this I am certain - all my future production plans will not be including Pro8mm! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Will Montgomery Posted June 25, 2009 Premium Member Share Posted June 25, 2009 It is what it is. Just go into it knowing what you're getting. Caveat emptor. Too bad they weren't forthcoming before, but at least they are offering a huge range of stocks which can still help artists achieve what they are looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Garner Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 They've always been forthcoming with me, as far as I know. I always knew that Kodak stocks were re-cans and Fuji were new. They explained that to me a few years ago. ??? Maybe only some of the people are forthcoming... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Hyde Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 Ha! I Knew it!! They have always been wishy-washy about revealing the truth! I myself asked them numerous times and was unable to get a forthcoming response. Others either writing film articles or from the forums have also gotten misleading or no response. Only now do they admit the truth publicly. I notice the announcement seems to make it a point to mention "3 years". They probably had to wait for some 2 or 3 year statute of limitation law to kick in to avoid getting sued. Pro8 is just the worst when it comes to fair and honest customer relations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Daniels Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 What's the appeal of Pro 8 anyway? It's Super 8. If people don't like the look they get with "regular" super 8 film, why even shoot with it? Perhaps I am naive, but it seems like a waste of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandro Malfatti Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 What's the appeal of Pro 8 anyway? It's Super 8. If people don't like the look they get with "regular" super 8 film, why even shoot with it? Perhaps I am naive, but it seems like a waste of money. I completely agree with you, I've never bought and will never buy anything from them, all one gets to hear is about their bad business practices and their prices are ridiculous. They're just ripping off people who apparently think that spending those amounts of money on Super8 will make their movies look better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Oberdorfer Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 I completely agree with you, I've never bought and will never buy anything from them, all one gets to hear is about their bad business practices and their prices are ridiculous. They're just ripping off people who apparently think that spending those amounts of money on Super8 will make their movies look better. Double that. Prices are inflated, especially for their made over cameras. I inquired about mailing film internationally and about my worries of film getting exposed by xray, they just replied me a generic, should be fine. After another question I didn't even get any reply anymore, I wouldn't want to do business with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Burke Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 What's the appeal of Pro 8 anyway? It's Super 8. If people don't like the look they get with "regular" super 8 film, why even shoot with it? Perhaps I am naive, but it seems like a waste of money. The scanner they now have is a rather sweet one. I know there are other folks out there doing Super 8 to HD, but Pro8mm's Millennium is quite good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Hyde Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 The scanner they now have is a rather sweet one. I know there are other folks out there doing Super 8 to HD, but Pro8mm's Millennium is quite good. Pro8 may have a somewhat decent scanner, but the people behind it are cheats and liars who could care less about a struggling film maker and their project. Besides, Pro8 uses old tube technolgy for their HD machine because they are less expensive to buy. Tube machines produce noisier, softer pictures compared to CCD based Spirit Datacine telecines. If someone else in LA were to get a Spirit to run affordable 16 and super 8 transfers leaving Pro8 behind forever would be an absolute no-brainer. They better hope that never happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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