British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[bleedandtrim]

Originally Posted by scala

So, I just realized the new office I work in is a stones-throw away from the BFI. Excellent news - I'll go and see what books and blu-rays they have in their shop on the Southbank. After looking at the in-store images attached to Google Street View (and the stacks of box sets they had behind the counter) I understandably had high hopes. Except they are closed week days and only open for very limited hours Friday to Sunday. Damn.

Yeah their hours got majorly limited over lockdown and it's been the same AFAIK since. Still well worth a gander, always some OOP stragglers and decent discounts to be found (esp. if you have the membership discount). The book selection is top-notch too!

[scala]

Originally Posted by bleedandtrim

Yeah their hours got majorly limited over lockdown and it's been the same AFAIK since. Still well worth a gander, always some OOP stragglers and decent discounts to be found (esp. if you have the membership discount). The book selection is top-notch too!

Yes, I was on the hunt and in hope of discovering a few OPP titles. In my deluded mind I was going to walk in and find an OOP 3-disc copy of Killing of a Chinese Bookie just waiting for me on a velvet cushion, but I doubt that will happen.

Book shops with a solid movie section are few and far between these days and I refuse to order off Amazon because they don't package weighty items (such as hardback books) that well. Think there are a few smut dealers in Soho still that hide behind a quality window display of film and movie books. Henry Phordes used to be quite good as well on Charing Cross Road but even they have downsized recently.

Hope it returns to more regular hours soon.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by scala

So, I just realized the new office I work in is a stones-throw away from the BFI. Excellent news - I'll go and see what books and blu-rays they have in their shop on the Southbank. After looking at the in-store images attached to Google Street View (and the stacks of box sets they had behind the counter) I understandably had high hopes. Except they are closed week days and only open for very limited hours Friday to Sunday. Damn.

After years of walking past it several times whilst visiting Southbank, I decided to visit a few months ago whilst I was in the area and of course it was closed (was a Monday IIRC). Oh well! I had an unlucky trip to London that time as Fopp had literally no exclusive offers on somehow (of course a few weeks later they did that £6-a-title BFI one).

[scala]

Originally Posted by rapta

After years of walking past it several times whilst visiting Southbank, I decided to visit a few months ago whilst I was in the area and of course it was closed (was a Monday IIRC). Oh well! I had an unlucky trip to London that time as Fopp had literally no exclusive offers on somehow (of course a few weeks later they did that £6-a-title BFI one).

These days I go shopping for nothing in the hope I'll at least find something unexpected, instead of shopping with a extensive wants list and finding bugger all.

However, based on your impressive consumption (3779 discs and counting) I have to ask: do you have a film fetish or physical media fetish? Think I'd have to words with myself if my collection got that large.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by scala

These days I go shopping for nothing in the hope I'll at least find something unexpected, instead of shopping with a extensive wants list and finding bugger all.

However, based on your impressive consumption (3779 discs and counting) I have to ask: do you have a film fetish or physical media fetish? Think I'd have to words with myself if my collection got that large.

I don't personally make lists as I did used to, so often come out empty handed unless there's a particular offer on where I'm after a few things (usually just Criterion, Arrow).

As you point out I have a huge collection now so am curbing it a little at a time, and now tend to only get stuff that I'd like to watch and can't easily anywhere else (streaming, theatrically etc), the logic being that later if I decide I don't like it enough I can easily sell it on (weighing up longevity/rewatch value alongside actual value). But yes, my interest in both film and physical media feeds into one another, as has been the case with music too.

I've been collecting Blu-ray for almost a decade now and my habits have changed over that time (for the better, more recently), so obviously in retrospect I should've been far more selective and probably just stuck with boutique labels as much as possible (that had been the gist of my collecting, but I wasn't strict enough). There are portions I will likely downsize/sell on, but it'd only make a dent to be honest. Collecting physical media as long as I have, I'm fully aware the most daunting aspect - as well as the most alluring - is usually the physical bit!

[CelestialAgent]

One of the reasons I like theatrical is it gives me less discs to buy. No doubt, there are some 2021 films I wouldn’t mind getting on disc, but so many studio discs will only give you a half hour of featurettes now, and I don’t always care enough. Of course I might buy something a few years from now if I want to rewatch or it has some good extras, but it makes owning it a less immediate thing. The other reasons I’m so obsessive about extras is it gives me less discs to buy (though, arguably, it gives me more too.)

I have a lot of discs to clear out - sometimes I’ll add a few more to the pile, with some of the recent Imprint announcements like The Gift, The Wicker Man, The Contender, or with the prospect of Paramount upgrading The Weather Man to Blu, or I have a moment of clarity that I didn’t like something that much. But it’s intimidating having several boxes worth, not wanting to list everything on eBay and Facebook and Marketplace as it’s time consuming with envelopes, addresses and trips to the post office - but also not wanting to give everything to the charity shop where I could get a decent amount for some discs.

I would say I’m about 7 years into my journey now. One of my clear out hacks is I’m thinking of selling some Arrow LEs as now they have 4K releases, but that doesn’t mean I’ll get the 4K releases right away, or even ever.

[scala]

Originally Posted by rapta

I don't personally make lists as I did used to, so often come out empty handed unless there's a particular offer on where I'm after a few things (usually just Criterion, Arrow).

As you point out I have a huge collection now so am curbing it a little at a time, and now tend to only get stuff that I'd like to watch and can't easily anywhere else (streaming, theatrically etc), the logic being that later if I decide I don't like it enough I can easily sell it on (weighing up longevity/rewatch value alongside actual value). But yes, my interest in both film and physical media feeds into one another, as has been the case with music too.

I've been collecting Blu-ray for almost a decade now and my habits have changed over that time (for the better, more recently), so obviously in retrospect I should've been far more selective and probably just stuck with boutique labels as much as possible (that had been the gist of my collecting, but I wasn't strict enough). There are portions I will likely downsize/sell on, but it'd only make a dent to be honest. Collecting physical media as long as I have, I'm fully aware the most daunting aspect - as well as the most alluring - is usually the physical bit!

I think your Blu-ray collection is probably equal to my vinyl record collection, but as I get older and listening habits change (I no longer have the time to sit around listening to records, but instead listening to music on the go via YouTube on a mobile device) I only hang on to it all for nostalgic reasons. Nearly all of it was sourced pre-internet which took a lot of hard work and time spent in record shops. Like yourself I keep threatening to downsize it all and sell it on eBay, put it would take years to list it all plus the hassle posting it all out. Not quite the same with film-based physical media as I only buy stuff I know I'll want to rewatch over and over again, which I'll always make time for. Plus a carefully curated film collection of mostly limited or collectible titles makes for nice interior decoration, IMHO.

EDIT: then again, so does all that vinyl. Hmm.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

One of the reasons I like theatrical is it gives me less discs to buy. No doubt, there are some 2021 films I wouldn’t mind getting on disc, but so many studio discs will only give you a half hour of featurettes now, and I don’t always care enough. Of course I might buy something a few years from now if I want to rewatch or it has some good extras, but it makes owning it a less immediate thing. The other reasons I’m so obsessive about extras is it gives me less discs to buy (though, arguably, it gives me more too.)

I have a lot of discs to clear out - sometimes I’ll add a few more to the pile, with some of the recent Imprint announcements like The Gift, The Wicker Man, The Contender, or with the prospect of Paramount upgrading The Weather Man to Blu, or I have a moment of clarity that I didn’t like something that much. But it’s intimidating having several boxes worth, not wanting to list everything on eBay and Facebook and Marketplace as it’s time consuming with envelopes, addresses and trips to the post office - but also not wanting to give everything to the charity shop where I could get a decent amount for some discs.

I would say I’m about 7 years into my journey now. One of my clear out hacks is I’m thinking of selling some Arrow LEs as now they have 4K releases, but that doesn’t mean I’ll get the 4K releases right away, or even ever.

Yeah I barely buy newly released films unless they're relatively cheap and/or something I missed in the cinema and know I'll enjoy. An example of things like that I got recently would be both Minari and Judas and the Black Messiah, which I wanted to see but neither were showing that close to me. I do now try and see what I want to at the cinema though, and in the past 6 months I've seen more than I did since COVID hit so I'm doing pretty well at that these days.

True, it is a pain to sell stuff off. Sometimes it takes me months, but I do gradually sell some stuff and often actually make a profit too. I wish there was an easier way to clear things out but I guess that's my fault for being so eager in the first place!

Originally Posted by scala

I think your Blu-ray collection is probably equal to my vinyl record collection, but as I get older and listening habits change (I no longer have the time to sit around listening to records, but instead listening to music on the go via YouTube on a mobile device) I only hang on to it all for nostalgic reasons. Nearly all of it was sourced pre-internet which took a lot of hard work and time spent in record shops. Like yourself I keep threatening to downsize it all and sell it on eBay, put it would take years to list it all plus the hassle posting it all out. Not quite the same with film-based physical media as I only buy stuff I know I'll want to rewatch over and over again, which I'll always make time for. Plus a carefully curated film collection of mostly limited or collectible titles makes for nice interior decoration, IMHO.

EDIT: then again, so does all that vinyl. Hmm.

I too collect records, and have done for roughly 15+ years now, but I do tend to listen to them whilst cooking or doing housework (and even more so when friends or family visit). I will admit, I could probably shift about a quarter of it quite quickly if I spent the time listing it all on Discogs or eBay, but who has the time to do that. I might try and find a collector or DJ who's into specific genres and see if they're interesting in buying some in bulk (I shifted most of my DVD collection when I switched to Blu-ray by selling large amounts of it to friends).

[Omnipresent]

The BFI has been appointed as exclusive sales agent for the Associated Rediffusion Television catalogue.

https://www.bfi.org.uk/press-release...press-releases

The BFI has closed an agreement with Archbuild Entertainment Limited, for the BFI to be the exclusive worldwide sales agent to represent the historic and extensive Associated Rediffusion Television catalogue rights held by Archbuild.

A significant name in early British television history, Associated-Rediffusion was the first Commercial Broadcaster in the UK serving the London area weekdays from September 22nd 1955 until 1968. Known for their groundbreaking shows such as flagship current affairs series This Week, Associated Rediffusion’s cutting-edge programming provided a contemporary snapshot of the period, exploring the hot topics of the day including racism, homosexuality, industrial unrest, the Profumo Affair, Cold War tension, Vietnam and more.

The Associated Rediffusion catalogue is an invaluable record of the early days of commercial television, holding material of enormous historic and contemporary interest to documentary makers, academics, archive TV enthusiasts and audiences alike. It includes surviving editions of the two precious pre-Python sketch shows Do Not Adjust Your Set and At Last the 1948 Show (both released on BFI DVD), scores of single plays including material written by Harold Pinter and Joe Orton, examples of experimental drama series Half Hour Story featuring the talents of writer Fay Weldon and director Alan Clark, as well as fascinating interviews with leading public figures such as Orson Welles, Robert Kennedy, Henry Fonda, Oswald Mosely and Ted Heath.

Following the demise of the company in 1968 most of the surviving programmes from Associated Rediffusion’s catalogue were lodged with the BFI’s National Archive, where the film materials have been held and preserved ever since. One of the most important television collections in the BFI National Archive this exciting new deal between Archbuild and the BFI allows for investment into the collection to open up access to Associated Rediffusion’s catalogue. As well as highlights from the franchise being available through the BFI, further work will take place to enable wider research and rediscoveries from this historically significant collection to be foregrounded.

[CelestialAgent]

Worldwide Sales doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll get a bunch of DVD boxsets from the BFI though. Although I suppose This Week could be good for bonus features.

[mande2013]

Hm...I assumed The 400 Blows would be a UHD...as it was hinted Criterion would be giving it the 4K treatment.

[minister_x]

Another slight delay for The Proposition, according to an email from the BFI this morning (pre-ordered with them):

Due to some further production delays, and our efforts to ensure that this title is released to the highest possible standard, we have had to move the release date of The Proposition back to April 11. We apologise for any disappointment caused and appreciate your patience.

[mmarczi]

Originally Posted by mande2013

Hm...I assumed The 400 Blows would be a UHD...as it was hinted Criterion would be giving it the 4K treatment.

If they're not willing to do Wild Strawberries and The 400 Blows, it has to make you wonder what they are willing to put on UHD.

[Sterling450]

Originally Posted by mmarczi

If they're not willing to do Wild Strawberries and The 400 Blows, it has to make you wonder what they are willing to put on UHD.

It could be that the Seventh Seal UHD had not sold fast enough... Let's hope that they will continue to give us UHDs.

[Yami]

Ben Stoddart said several months ago that they did not think the master for the Antoine Doinel films justified a 4K UHD.

[mande2013]

Originally Posted by mmarczi

If they're not willing to do Wild Strawberries and The 400 Blows, it has to make you wonder what they are willing to put on UHD.

Wild Strawberries I don't think has a 4K master.

[wabrit]

I'm more concerned that there are no HD releases for anything beyond the usual Truffaut suspects.

[TheDot]

Out of the Blue 'Out of Stock' at Zavvi. Wonder if this is just a stock issue, or whether there's a chance this first pressing might be going at some retailers.

I am on the fence with this release.

[CelestialAgent]

What are you on the fence about? Severin has more film related extras but BFI has shorts and a booklet.

[Nedoflanders]

I don't think we're at the stage of the LE going OOP yet. BFI titles generally take their time to sell and the £18-20 price tag is bound to make some hesitate.