My friend Don Ramirez has a new book available on Amazon called A Super 8 Filmmaker’s Journal. It’s a how-to guide for anyone who thinks they might be interested in shooting with the old super 8 movie cameras. The book gives a historical overview of the super 8 film format, recommends labs that still process the film, and is full of stories and arcane technical information. Most importantly, it features Don’s distinctive perspective on super 8 and filmmaking in general. An excerpt:
My Canon 1014 XL-S is my all time favorite Super 8 camera. I can testify to its cinematic strengths and reliability. At the time it was manufactured, it was meant for the professional media maker- uncompromising in design and quality… I bought mine for $200 in 2004 from an ex-filmmaker and ex-con who had just finished an 18 month sentence in a federal penitentiary. He had been busted growing something like 70 marijuana plants in his suburban home! A dangerous way of raising your next indie film’s budget.
I got to know Don when I worked as editor on his autobiographical film “Trailer Trash: A Film Journal” which went on to win awards at a bunch of film festivals a few years ago. Here’s a link to a nice review in the Baltimore City Paper.