smallformat ends its run

[Juergen]

Berlin-based Fachverlag Schiele & Schön has decided to cease printing our magazine at the end of 2008, after three years of publication. smallformat – the international journal for fans of Super 8, Single-8 and 16mm film – was founded by editor-in-chief Jürgen Lossau in 2005. Unfortunately, the number of subscribers and advertisers in this difficult and shrinking market did not reach our expectations. Therefore, economic survival is not possible. The lack of financial support from the only remaining film manufacturer was also a deciding factor behind the publisher’s decision.

smallformat has endeavored to present small gauge film topics in a high quality publication with modern design. From the arrival of the first issue in 2005, we won over many subscribers from around the world who embraced smallformat enthusiastically. The publishers and the editor-in-chief would like to warmly thank our readers for their trust and often enthusiastic reactions. We also owe a great deal to the advertisers who made this magazine possible through their continuous ad placements. We would especially like to acknowledge MWA Nova, MovieStuff, Wittner Cintec, Andec Filmtechnik, Spectra, Laboratoires Cine Dia, Nano Lab, Retro Enterprises, single8film.com, Pro8mm, Clive Tobin, onsuper8.org and filmshooting.com.

smallformat will bid farewell to our readers with issue 6/2008. Editor-in-chief Jürgen Lossau would be remiss not to take this opportunity to acknowledge translator and proofreader James Grahame for his great work. The German publication schmalfilm – which celebrated its 60th anniversary this year – will not be impacted by the cancellation of the international edition. smallformat readers interested in schmalfilm are asked to contact our editorial staff.

[super8man]

You've added immensely to the knowledge base of super 8, regular 8 and 16mm movie making and collecting. The legacy of the magazine will continue to teach people in the future. That's something to be proud of.

Best wishes in the future.
Cheers,
Mike

[natxo]

really a sad new. Smallformat is a referring one, by quality and contents, for all the users of small gauge formats. It will be difficult to cover that hollow.

Congratulations, Jurgen, by the magnificent work developed during this walking. I wish you the best oluck in your future projects

[copefan]

tis a sad day...... i'm a subscriber and i look forward to receiving my magazine

thanks Jurgen it will be missed by all

Russ

[Lunar07]

This is very very sad. I always enjoy reading this magazine. Thanks for this publication Juergen. Its glorious memory will live on for ever and ever and for all eternity

[Juergen]

Thanks for your really nice comments. We've still got two issues to go! And please be assured: Those issues will be great as always!

[Rollef]

Damn, and damn again. That is very sad inded. I have all issues and have read them all twice or more. I'll re-read them again for sure. It's a great magazin. Any chance or some english on-line articles from the german version? May have to look into getting a copy of the german issue just to test if my understanding of the german language is still present somwhere behind all the super8 knowledge in my brain. Any possibility for a adding a german article from the german issue to the next english issues?
Maybe some of us will think, "I have no problem reading this! - I'm ordering the german issue!"

[David M. Leugers]

Bummer! What a great magazine, I will miss it immensely. It goes to show that in this small film community - use it or lose it. Shame more people didn't find a way to buy a subscription.

[Uppsala BildTeknik]

Really sad news, indeed.

[Jean Poirier]

Like the others I will miss a great publication. My guess is that even an online edition would not be an option? Thanks in advance for the few next issues. Jean

[Juergen]

Hi Jean,

an online version needs a lot of money, too: a translator, a layouter, etc. but nobody wants to pay for an online version and the advertisers are also very reserved. The printed version of smallformat needs appr. another Euro 20,000 per year to survive. This means 300 more subscribers or some major advertisers. Unfortunately, we could not find this support. I have to thank my publishers that they gave me the chance to try this project and that they have been willing to support the magazine with the power of their staff free of charge. Layout, marketing, shipping - this was all done free of charge with the hope that this project might get strong enough to finance itself one day and will have a balanced budget. We worked hard to achieve this aim but after 3 years I cannot promise any improvement.

[avr]

Very sad new, when I went to home and see SF in my mail box, then it was a great happy day. hope that you return some day with a new SF to make smile to us.

[mr_x]

am very sad to hear about this - at one point i was regularly picking up Small Format from a film supplier (shop / no names) and was very disappointed when the shop stopped stocking SF; in fact they'd stopped stocking anything in print to do with 8mm film-making at all :evil: UK - home to Fox Talbot - seems to be doing its best - with a few welcome exceptions - to turn its back on 8mm film: i am unaware of any labs in this country. when you consider the amazing growth in interest in 8mm over the last decade, i'm afraid it is testament to a complete failure of the imagination inside these shores by many: when will people learn? you can pick up vhs equipment for a song today which people would have mortgaged their homes to acquire in the 1980's. nothing touches the depth and richness of colour film, however detailed the 'high definition', it is a graphic medium, and comparing celluloid (derived) technology to video is like translating a poem from the original into another language: both are good poems but something always gets lost in translation: you cannot replicate film.

so thanks and well done Jurgen - your magazine was a bright light on the film-making horizon, and will be sorely missed

Ric

[etimh]

...nothing touches the depth and richness of colour film, however detailed the 'high definition', it is a graphic medium, and comparing celluloid (derived) technology to video is like translating a poem from the original into another language: both are good poems but something always gets lost in translation: you cannot replicate film.

Agreed.

Check out the link below on the Kodak site to read/listen to an interview with filmmaker Sam Bayer. He talks about some of the material as well as philosophical qualities of real film and disses the "future" of HD. Some great thoughts.

http://motion.kodak.com/US/en/motion/Hu ... erview.htm

Kodak's new tag: "Film. No compromise." We can only hope.

Tim

[mr_x]

Kodak's new tag: "Film. No compromise." We can only hope.

Tim

thanks Tim,

and well said Kodak! - Fujichrome where are you?

Sam Bayer ought to catch up with the ZC-1000, sexiest ciné camera i know ;)

R