Films for swapping

Hi John,
Thanks for getting back to me. Yes - I do understand the piracy problems.

Films for swapping. . . .
I went through a spell a several years ago of recording just about anything that took my or my wife's fancy on TV. I would later then re-record them through a video enhancer, cutting out all the pre film and post film transmission and all the adverts so I would have a complete film from start to finish with any interruptions.

.......................wonderful. Just the man we need.

As a result I have over 800 (yes, eight hundred) four hour video tapes.

.................did I just say only crazy!!!

About 300 of these are the "finished article" with all sorts of programs on one tape in order to maximise the available space, and each tape labelled.

...................that at least is a start.

The rest are "as recorded" and still need trimming and tidying, and worst of all - these tapes are all unlabelled - so I don't know what is on each tape

...................mmmmmmmm, a tiny problem.

I have most of them stored away in boxes. . . . and "one day" I will complete the job . . I hope!!!!

...................aaahhh, one day, how many time have I not only said it, but had it said to me.

I looked through the list you sent.

I have "Carlton Brown of the F.O". (watched it a few weeks ago)

..................excellent, just what we need. YES PLEASE.

I think I have the "Music Lovers".

...............part made in West London at the Russian Orthodox Church Notting Hill, I believe. YES PLEASE.

I think I have "Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines".

..................yes please. That should be in CAPITALS.

I'm almost certain I have "The Optimists of Nine Elms" (wife's favourite)

.................Marc Maitland wrote a lovely article on this film about a year ago. It should soon be up on site. Talk about "one day". Marc never sent me a copy of the film, so YES PLEASE

I have all of "The Prisoner" - (the TV series set in Portmerion)

.............No, TV, and I'm not into that.........................yet!

I think I have "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (another of the wife's favourites)

............YES PLEASE..............Edinburgh (Saw Danny the Dog last eventing on Sky here in Italy. Fabulous shots of Glasgow. It'll be really interesting to add to the site in 17 years time. I have a 20 year time lapse to ensure signifigant changes to location, street furniture, vehicles, clothes etc etrc)

I have "Terminus" - (sort of documentry of 24 hours at a London Railway station)

................Documentaries, without "stars", thanks but no thanks. I've got lots of the 1930's GPO documentaries, wonderful stuff.

I may have "First of the Few" ( WWII Spit & Hurrican film - maybe with John Gregson??)

................Locations? or just hangars, Nissen Huts and airfields. If yes, then yes please

I have started putting some of these onto DVD.

................Goodie

Trouble is, I like to produce a proper menu etc., and record at the highest quality.

...............You perfectionists!

Unfortunately this means that I'm limited in time on DVD's so long films get split over 2 discs. I do also have a VHS/DVD recorder/burner which allows me variable recording time up to about 6 hours on one DVD - the the menu arrangement is pretty basic though.

...............I only want a few grainey, jerkey, black and white grabs!!

I would probably put the films for you on to DVD

.............YES, YES, when?

- (1) its a much smaller package.

...........YES, YES

(2) a disc is far more durable than tape.

............YES, YES

(3) there are far fewer signal losses - if any, when transfering digital

.............YES, YES

(4) Discs are significantly cheaper than tapes.

............YES, YES

I can kick off with Carlton Brown and Terminus - if you still require these. Let me know if you still need the others mentioned.

YES, YES, YES, PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEE

I will then start looking though the tapes . . . 500 tapes?? that will take whole afternoon to watch!!!! hehehheheheh

................He He indeed, one at a time will do me!

Kind regards
Malcolm Bartier

...............Thanks for writing in Malcolm, it is this sort of constant unstinting enthusiasm and help that lifts us a bit in our darker days, when, up to our knees in tapes, discs, cables, and all the other assorted impedimenta, we get overwhelmed with this tiger that we have by the tail.

Best wishes

John Tunstill