PRIVATE SCREENINGS
I just stumbled across this segment of a film collecting magazine from 1975 in pdf format:
The article by Edward Shaw deals with the 'problem' of film piracy and the effect that trying to crack down on the pirates has had on legitimate movie fans. It paints a grim picture of the FBI raiding homes on behalf of the studios but also provides a brief history of film piracy pointing out that the studios themeselves were at one time open to 'duping' movies if there was money to be made in it.
There is also talk of the future which is I guess where we are now:
"Videodiscs? This is a new form of entertainment that will allow a person to watch any show or movie he wants to on his tv set. The outfit, not unlike video-cassettes is simpler because the object is a record played by either a laser beam or needle on a unit attached to your set. Records or "discs" would contain new and old films and tv shows along with many specially done items."
Makes me want to head back to 1975 and hand over a DVD player and a copy of The Exorcist for the guy to watch. He goes on to say that "Discs would be sold for $2 to $10 or rented for smaller fees."
The story also points out that it is often the movie collector who cares more for the movie than the people who 'own' it and cites examples of movies being destroyed due to the neglect of the studios that are supposed to care so much that they are willing to unleash the FBI on people.
If the BBC ever gets around to opening it's archive to the public then perhaps we won't have to worry about them erasing old episodes of Dr Who anymore.
I'm hosting the file here:
right click save as
But here's a final word from Private Screenings' editor, Mr John Cawley Jr:
"There are many film collectors in the country today, and if we stand together and demand the right to view these films, we will be heard. However, if each one begins to accuse the other of having caused the problem, we will be taken one by one until the hobby will no longer exist".
Mike is blogging to: Sonic Youth
I just stumbled across this segment of a film collecting magazine from 1975 in pdf format:
The article by Edward Shaw deals with the 'problem' of film piracy and the effect that trying to crack down on the pirates has had on legitimate movie fans. It paints a grim picture of the FBI raiding homes on behalf of the studios but also provides a brief history of film piracy pointing out that the studios themeselves were at one time open to 'duping' movies if there was money to be made in it.
There is also talk of the future which is I guess where we are now:
"Videodiscs? This is a new form of entertainment that will allow a person to watch any show or movie he wants to on his tv set. The outfit, not unlike video-cassettes is simpler because the object is a record played by either a laser beam or needle on a unit attached to your set. Records or "discs" would contain new and old films and tv shows along with many specially done items."
Makes me want to head back to 1975 and hand over a DVD player and a copy of The Exorcist for the guy to watch. He goes on to say that "Discs would be sold for $2 to $10 or rented for smaller fees."
The story also points out that it is often the movie collector who cares more for the movie than the people who 'own' it and cites examples of movies being destroyed due to the neglect of the studios that are supposed to care so much that they are willing to unleash the FBI on people.
If the BBC ever gets around to opening it's archive to the public then perhaps we won't have to worry about them erasing old episodes of Dr Who anymore.
I'm hosting the file here:
right click save as
But here's a final word from Private Screenings' editor, Mr John Cawley Jr:
"There are many film collectors in the country today, and if we stand together and demand the right to view these films, we will be heard. However, if each one begins to accuse the other of having caused the problem, we will be taken one by one until the hobby will no longer exist".
Mike is blogging to: Sonic Youth
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