Beachcombing the podcast

(Click to watch in Flash or Quicktime)

A few weeks ago we posted Paul Beard's 'My Mini' on the podcast and promised another of his Super 8mm shorts.

The Beachcombers (by Paul Beard and Tom Wright) is a charming seaside tale of metal detector enthusiasts and was made under straight 8's strict single cartridge rules. For more on Paul's films see www.windmillfilms.com.

Remember, you can also;

• Subscribe to the Super 8 podcast via iTunes here
• See our Blip.tv channel for non iTunes solutions
• For more on the onsuper8.org podcast click here including how to get email updates

My Mini - on the podcast

(Click to watch in Flash or Quicktime)

Paul Beard's brilliant and personal documentary about his pride and joy, an 'E' reg. (1966) original Mini, makes it's appearance on the podcast this week.

Originally shot for straight 8, this accomplished short film tells the story of how Paul and his Dad literally re-built this style icon with hours of love and affection. Click the image above to watch 'My Mini' in Flash or use the drop down to watch it in native Quicktime.

For more on Paul's films see www.windmillfilms.com - or see www.minipaul.co.uk and we'll have another one of his Super 8mm films in a few weeks time.

Remember, you can also;

• Subscribe to the Super 8 podcast via iTunes here
• See our Blip.tv channel for non iTunes solutions
• For more on the onsuper8.org podcast click here including how to get email updates

Going East on the podcast

(Click to watch in Flash or Quicktime)

'East', Sean Blosl's DVD of Asian Super 8mm shorts is a truly sublime collection of films. Travelling across Tibet, Nepal and Thailand, his beautiful imagery is coupled with delicate music and high quality field recordings that seamlessly melt into a wonderfully ethereal piece of work.

The use of Super 8 film adds to the sense of other worldliness, and sensitive observation, enhanced by the use Sean's trademark slow motion techniques, produces almost hypnotic visuals.

'East / A Series of Shorts From Asia' is a hugely accomplished production that provides a privileged insight into the lives of those inhabiting areas which many of us will never get to see.

We're proud to have one of the nine films that make up the DVD, 'Pilgrims' on our podcast. This fascinating short provides a rare glimpse into the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, Tibet as visitors flock to this most sacred of Buddhist shrines.

The observant amongst you will know that we've already featured Sean's work before with the beautiful 'Monks', which now also appears on this DVD collection.

'East' can be bought from the Golden Flower website, and we think that if you want to buy a DVD that really shows the potential of the Super 8mm format, this is probably the finest around. Formats aside, 'East' is one of the best collections of observational documentaries and is an absolute must watch DVD.

Click the image above to watch 'Pilgrims' in Flash or use the drop down to watch it in native Quicktime, and click here to watch 'Monks'.

Remember, you can also;

• Subscribe to the Super 8 podcast via iTunes here
• See our Blip.tv channel for non iTunes solutions
• For more on the onsuper8.org podcast click here including how to get email updates

28 Costumes on the podcast

(Click to watch in Flash or Quicktime)

We love Will & George's Super 8 work and have featured a few of their films on the podcast in the past. They've recently branched out into video production with a short for the single 'Erika' by Liverpool band, 28 Costumes, which is released on 14th July.

This clever video features Will & George's trademark stop-motion animation and was shot entirely on Kodak's Vision 2 200 T stock over a few weekends in an undisclosed basement location.

For more on 28 Costumes visit their MySpace page and catch them live right across the UK including appearances in Capital of Culture hometown Liverpool as we as on the Late 'n' Live stage at this year's Glastonbury Festival.

Click the image above to watch the film in Flash or use the drop down to watch it in native Quicktime.

Remember, you can also;

• Subscribe to the Super 8 podcast via iTunes here
• See our Blip.tv channel for non iTunes solutions
• For more on the onsuper8.org podcast click here including how to get email updates

Ol' Roy on the podcast

(Click to watch in Flash or Quicktime)

Ol' Roy is Pete Tews largely b&w short film telling a slightly disturbing tale of long lost loyalty. Shot on Kodak's Plus-X and Tri-X Super 8mm stocks, enhanced with a little post production, it's his first venture in the world of 8mm.

Click the image above to watch the film in Flash or use the drop down to watch it in native Quicktime.

Remember, you can also;

• Subscribe to the Super 8 podcast via iTunes here
• See our Blip.tv channel for non iTunes solutions
• For more on the onsuper8.org podcast click here including how to get email updates

'The Last Trip' - straight 8 on 3 Minute Wonder

(Click to watch in Flash or Quicktime)

Well, all good things must eventually come to an end, and Channel 4's straight 8 stint in the 3 Minute Wonder slot finished with a bang tonight.

Malcolm Finlay's 'The Last Trip' tells the charming tale of one Welshman's very personal trip into space. We've heard on the grapevine that despite the change in running order of films this week on Channel 4, Malcolm had always planned not to watch, waiting for straight 8's 2008 premiere tonight in Cannes. Nerves undoubtedly will be jangling later when the projector rolls!

With the kind permission of the filmmaker, straight 8 and Channel 4 we've uploaded the film onto our podcast - just click the image above to watch a Flash or full sized Quicktime version - for everyone the world over to see.

Click this link to see all four films that screened during this fabulous week of Super 8 on TV.

Remember, you can also;

• Subscribe to the Super 8 podcast via iTunes here
• See our Blip.tv channel for non iTunes solutions
• For more on the onsuper8.org podcast click here including how to get email updates

'Springlove' - straight 8 on 3 Minute Wonder

(Click to watch in Flash or Quicktime)

Day 3 of the straight 8 season on Channel 4's 3 Minute Wonder slot...

Herrjapmans 'Springlove' is an amazing stop motion tale of hovering love and on first sight makes you think "how the hell did they do that?" It's simple yet poetic.

With the kind permission of the filmmaker, straight 8 and Channel 4 we've uploaded the film onto our podcast - just click the image above to watch a Flash or full sized Quicktime version - for everyone the world over to see.

Bookmark this link to gain access to the last in the series of straight 8 films tomorrow (Thursday) night - just in time for straight 8's Cannes screening of the best of this year's entries!

You can also;

• Subscribe to the Super 8 podcast via iTunes here
• See our Blip.tv channel for non iTunes solutions
• For more on the onsuper8.org podcast click here including how to get email updates

'A Piece of Heaven' - straight 8 on 3 Minute Wonder

(Click to watch in Flash or Quicktime)

This is getting good!

Tonight's UK small film tombola in Channel 4's coveted 3 Minute Wonder TV slot revealed the 2008 straight 8 entry 'A Piece of Heaven'.

Unless you've been in a cave the last few weeks, you'll know we're carrying four straight 8, in camera edit, Super 8mm films this week, showing each just after they've screened on Channel 4 at 7.55pm. And why are they on the telly? Well, it's all part of the build up to the fabulous straight 8 screening in Cannes on Thursday night!

Tonight's Super 8mm short, shot entirely on location in Mexico by directors Felix Alejandro Barbosa Vazquez and Yuri Misael Barbosa Vazquez, weaves a dark story around the appearance of a strange eyeglass in a small rural village.

With the kind permission of the filmmakers, straight 8 and Channel 4 we've uploaded the film onto our podcast - just click the image above to watch a Flash or full sized Quicktime version - for everyone the world over to see.

Bookmark this link to gain access to the other fantastic straight 8 films as they're added each night through to Thursday.

Note: the order of broadcast has changed since our earlier post so more tomorrow at 7.55pm on Channel 4 - or here a short time after!

You can also;

• Subscribe to the Super 8 podcast via iTunes here
• See our Blip.tv channel for non iTunes solutions
• For more on the onsuper8.org podcast click here including how to get email updates

'Looking for Marilyn' - straight 8 on 3 Minute Wonder

(Click to watch in Flash or Quicktime)

Tonight was a momentous night for Super 8 film here in the UK with the first of four 2008 straight 8 entries screening at 7.55pm in Channel 4's 3 Minute Wonder strand in their pre-Cannes screening tie up.

'Looking for Marilyn' (directed by Anna Blandford and Anna Valdez Hanks) is a cautionary yet stylish tale of what happens when celebrity goes wrong, shot on a single cartridge of Super 8mm black and white film with in camera edits.

With the kind permission of the filmmakers, straight 8 and Channel 4 we've uploaded the film onto our podcast - just click the image above to watch a Flash or full sized Quicktime version - for everyone the world over to see.

Bookmark this link to gain access to the other fantastic straight 8 films as they're added each night through to Thursday.

Note: the order of broadcast has changed since our earlier post so it's going to be a week of surprises!

You can also;

• Subscribe to the Super 8 podcast via iTunes here
• See our Blip.tv channel for non iTunes solutions
• For more on the onsuper8.org podcast click here including how to get email updates

Super 8 week = straight 8 + Channel 4 + podcast

Kate Vogel, commissioning editor of Channel 4's '3 minute wonder' TV programme (UK), has selected four of this year's straight 8 entries to screen in the prime time slot of 7.55pm as part of the build up to straight 8's Cannes Film Festival screenings next Thursday night (22nd May).

onsuper8.org is thrilled to announce that each evening next week, immediately after the films have screened on Channel 4, we will be making these Super 8mm, single cartridge shorts available via our podcast - allowing viewers the world over to see this unique selection of some of the best of this year's straight 8 crop.

The running order is;

Mon 19 May: ‘Springlove’ – set in Amsterdam, using an amazing ‘stop-motion’ technique, two people hover as they meet for a date.
Director: Herrjaapmans

Tue 20 May: ‘Looking for Marilyn’ – an intimate black and white portrait of a Marilyn Monroe look-a-like, but when the whole neighbourhood dresses up as Marilyn the paparazzi get out of hand.
Directors: Anna Blandford and Anna Valdez Hanks

Wed 21 May: ‘The Last Trip’ – a charming tale of the wannabe first Welshman in space and how the village work together on a home-made space programme to take his ashes up to space.
Director: Malcolm Finlay

Thu 22 May: ‘A Piece of Heaven’ – a strange eyeglass arrives in a Mexican village giving people a troubling snapshot of heaven in this dark, epic tale.
Directors: Felix Alejandro Barbosa Vazquez y Yuri Misael Barbosa Vazquez

We're hugely grateful to all the filmmakers, straight 8 and Channel 4 for making this unique Super 8mm / TV / podcast tie up happen, and we hope you'll swing by each night next week and watch these fantastic films.

Bookmark this link to gain access to each film as they're added right through the week.

• Subscribe to the Super 8 podcast via iTunes here
• See our Blip.tv channel for non iTunes solutions
• For more on the onsuper8.org podcast click here including how to get email updates

50 not out - Super 8mm podcast

Just a quickie - today's posting on the onsuper8.org podcast marks our 50th online film or music video.

That's a total running time of 4 hours, 37 minutes and 48 seconds, all shot on Super 8mm film, from all round the world in every style and every genre.

We'd like to thank each and every one of the filmmakers who've contributed thus far - and if you want to get your work to a truly international audience get in touch.

Click here for our Blip.tv channel where you can watch them all - or subscribe via iTunes and let them appear automatically!

DVD + podcast: Super 8 Diaries Project

The Super 8 Diaries Project is a DVD collection of Australian indie bands shot on 85 cartridges of Super 8mm film over the period 2004 to 2007.

Featuring eleven groups, the self funded underground DVD has one track by each band plus interviews which examine their independence, creativity and survival with all firmly leaning towards DIY ethics.

Included on the disc are;

• My Disco!
• Love Of Diagrams
• Tucker B's
• Colditz Glider
• Mukaizake
• Aleks And The Ramps
• Eddy Current Suppression Ring
• Bang! Bang! Aids!
• Die! Die! Die!
• The Tigers
• Baseball

The DVD was launched back in January with over 400 people turning up to hear some of the bands play live and there are plans to repeat the event in Sydney later in the year.

The DVD comes with a great little booklet giving some background to the project and the challenges they managed to overcome over the lifetime of the project plus it details each band and their shoot, including cameras and film stocks used (predominantly Tri-X black and white).

The Super 8 Diaries is a fantastic example of DIY attitude and dogged determination - the result being a great little package that documents some great Aussie indie music which also shows just what can be done with Super 8 in the challenging conditions of a live gig.

Copies of the DVD can be ordered via email ($20AU postage paid, worldwide), just send a snail mail address with the subject heading 'MAIL ORDER DVD' to knomadix@gmail.com, or visit www.trainwreck2020.com where you can purchase online with PayPal.

We've included two tracks from the DVD on our podcast by Bang! Bang! Aids! and Colditz Glider, just click the image above to be taken to the Blip.tv page or;

• Subscribe to the Super 8 podcast via iTunes here
• See our Blip.tv channel for non iTunes solutions
• For more on the onsuper8.org podcast click here including how to get email updates

No Use - skate meets art?

Still from "No Use" - click to watch the trailer

Super 8mm film is synonymous with underground skate and surf films, with trademark hand held tracking shots making the most of the grain to vividly illustrate urban road and pool warriors.

As you know we love a good skate film, so when Phil Evans (he of Guitar=Magic Wand fame) told us about his new project we were more than a little interested.

"I've been working on a skate/art vid for quite a while now, and I finally completed and premiered it last week in Dublin. It's not like a regular skate vid, in that its not so trick based, so its far more accessible to those who wouldn't skate, its more a feeling of being out there doing it, the atmosphere, the fun, the strife, the triumph and of course the aesthetic of the whole thing"

Here's the thing - it's not like a regular skate film!

"No Use" is a brilliant mix of city centre montage, skate moments, intimate songs and audio snapshots. Whilst there's no particular narrative, it's immediately engaging. Sure the exposure's off and the focus soft in places - but that's what makes this film honest and very, very real.

Shot on the mean streets of Dublin town with a Canon 310 XL (sometimes with wide angle attachment) and a Nizo S48 for high frame rate stuff, Ektachrome 64T and Tri-X feature throughout. Processing was done by Frank Bruinsma in his Rotterdam lab, www.super.nl, and the film's Aul Blog tells of a hasty Dutch trip to retrieve the last reel as deadlines loomed.

But, it's all in the detail baby.

Hand made cover art

Each and every one of the DVD's for this 25 minute short comes in a hand painted sleeve, finished with a delicate wax seal - almost a shame to open it and ruin the concept that so much heart and soul has obviously gone into.

You can get copies from Phil by e-mailing aul.pups[@]gmail.com, after which he'll take a mailing address and send a Paypal money request. DVD's cost €10/£8/$15 and for the foreseeable future each and every copy will have its own individual artwork and beautiful wax seal.

Click on the image at the top of this feature to see the trailer on our podcast and remember you can;

• Click the image above to see the Flash and Quicktime (via the 'Select a format') versions of the film
• Subscribe to the Super 8 podcast via iTunes here
• See our Blip.tv channel for non iTunes solutions
• For more on the onsuper8.org podcast click here including how to get email updates

Echo Park on the podcast

On the podcast this week we're featuring the Echo Park Film Center's entry to last year's single cartridge classic, the LA Flicker Attack.

Their black and white Super 8mm film is a beautiful riverside exploration with some fantastic in camera fades and effects coupled with an ever so simple score and voiceover.

For more on the Echo Park Film Center and their activities, click here, and follow this link for more Flicker fun!

Remember you can...

• Click the image above to see the Flash and Quicktime (via the 'Select a format') versions of the film
• Subscribe to the Super 8 podcast via iTunes here
• See our Blip.tv channel for non iTunes solutions
• For more on the onsuper8.org podcast click here including how to get email updates

More Flicker on the Podcast

The second on the podcast from the 2007 Flicker Attack stable is Joshua Barash's accomplished interlinked observation shot on a single cartridge of Super 8mm utilising the trademark Attack in-camera edit technique.

Whilst reminiscent of the Massive Attack video for the track 'Protection' (click here for YouTube version), Barash's film stands as a fine piece in its own right and again shows what some careful planning and a single cart. of film can do!

Remember you can...

• Click the image above to see the Flash and Quicktime (via the 'Select a format') versions of the film
• Subscribe to the Super 8 podcast via iTunes here
• See our Blip.tv channel for non iTunes solutions
• For more on the onsuper8.org podcast click here including how to get email updates

Flicker Attack on the podcast

The Annual Flicker Attack in Los Angeles sees filmmakers pit themselves against each other in gladiatorial combat armed only with a Super 8 camera, a single cartridge of film and their naked creativity.

Last year, guru cum organiser, Norwood Cheek decided to stir things up a bit - the 2007 was documentary films only and there was an additional pitch contest to commission the best ideas for entry.

So, on November 29th at the Egyptian Theatre in LA, 19 Super 8mm films were screened for the first time - each made using the tried and tested in-camera edit technique, each with a pre-prepared, but separate soundtrack.

Over the coming weeks we've got some of our favorites from the 2007 Flicker Attack on the onsuper8.org podcast.

First up, it's Claudia Bestor & Tony Hall's miniature observation of the world of model trains as relayed through the members of the Pasadena Model Railroad Club. It's a retro mix of old school hobby and those who clearly enjoy it and a lovely example of a single cartridge documentary.

Remember you can...

• Click the image above to see the Flash and Quicktime (via the 'Select a format') versions of the film
• Subscribe to the Super 8 podcast via iTunes here
• See our Blip.tv channel for non iTunes solutions
• For more on the onsuper8.org podcast click here including how to get email updates

I Hate Cats

This week on the podcast, vintage stop motion animation from Darren Blin, illustrating that simple is sometimes best, and a reminder that digital do-hickies and worrying about image quality isn't a substitute for a good idea!

Shot with a Sankyo EM-30XL on the long discontinued Kodak Type G 160ASA the film was made back in 1987 for the British Columbia Student Film Festival in Canada (where Darren grew up before movin to Australia) and won best film in the Secondary Schools category. It was also screened the following night during the University film night at Robson Square in Vancouver.

Put together over a single weekend Blin used sheets of clear acetate and a black erasable marker for the main kitty action as well as supplementing the drawn action with cut out paper shapes for the unfortunate ending.

Darren told us that he's not shot anything for a while and he's itching to dig out his Nizo and start again... we say, don't think about it, go for it!

Remember you can...

• Click the image above to see the Flash and Quicktime (via the 'Select a format') versions of the film
• Subscribe to the Super 8 podcast via iTunes here
• See our Blip.tv channel for non iTunes solutions
• For more on the onsuper8.org podcast click here including how to get email updates

Abstractions No. 3

We featured Dan Monceaux and Emma Sterling's Supermarket audio visual DVD sampler a few weeks ago and we're thrilled that we've got one of those films, Abstractions No. 3, on the podcast. It's a blend of trippy Super 8mm visuals and relaxed retro grooves - ideal for destressing after a hard days graft!

To buy the Supermarket DVD hop on over to; www.danimations.com.au/supermarket where it's $15 in NTSC or PAL flavours - and they take PayPal!

Remember you can...

• Click the image above to see the Flash and Quicktime (via the 'Select a format') versions of the film
• Subscribe to the Super 8 podcast via iTunes here
• See our Blip.tv channel for non iTunes solutions
• For more on the onsuper8.org podcast click here including how to get email updates

Tattoo - hardcore Super 8 action

The latest on the podcast - it's not for the faint hearted, it's OchoReSotto!

One Nizo Pro, one roll of Super 8mm Tri-X, one tattooist and one tattoo - but what a tattoo... this is Super 8mm hardcore!

Remember you can...

• Click the image above to see the Flash and Quicktime (via the 'Select a format') versions of the film
• Subscribe to the Super 8 podcast via iTunes here
• See our Blip.tv channel for non iTunes solutions
• For more on the onsuper8.org podcast click here including how to get email updates

Super 8 Soup

Seeing as the UK media have gone food crazy of the last couple of week, we thought we'd join in with a bit of culinary magic on Super 8mm film via the onsuper8.org podcast.

Sam Giles' accomplished film, Soup, goes to show that there's more to a pan of simmering veggies than meets the eye! This well crafted film has some clever camera work including some fantastic underwater pan based action...

To hear an audio interview with Sam, which was recorded at last years Cambridge Super 8 Film Festival (thanks guys), click here.

Remember you can...

• Click the image above to see the Flash and Quicktime (via the 'Select a format') versions of the film
• Subscribe to the Super 8 podcast via iTunes here
• See our Blip.tv channel for non iTunes solutions
• For more on the onsuper8.org podcast click here including how to get email updates