Poita, I think the donation thing is actually a very good way to tell who cares enough, but I also want to point out the other side of that. I actually want to donate to this, as I grew up watching the theatrical version on VHS, but I’m that outlier case that maybe can’t donate to something I really want to see happen. I’m a highschool senior currently without a job. I have no income and no money whatsoever. I donated ten bucks to the THX scan out of my Mom’s pocket, haha. I could do that for this as well, but that’s only going to happen if she’s feeling generous enough.
I just wanted to say that there is genuine interest even from those who don’t have the money to donate. I actually think this film is terrible, but I still enjoy watching the version that I grew up watching every single day on my CRT television, and having the complete widescreen theatrical cut from 35mm would probably be the most enjoyable way to rewatch it now. I also want to respect you and your time and money input, so of course there are more important films to get to, but I thought I should voice my interest in this. I’ll see what I can do about donating a bit.
Heya Dek,
No one is under any obligation to put anything towards any project, and there are certainly more important things out there to donate to. The THX donation is certainly appreciated by everyone working on it.
Please don’t feel under any obligation to donate to this project.
Generally though, I feel that if someone is passionate about a project getting done, nearly anyone could find $2 if they have the means to have internet access, a device to watch a digital file on, and time to hang out on forums etc.
I remember being 8 years old so and mowing nearly every lawn in our street, and washing neighbours cars to buy 8mm film stock to make short films on a wind up film camera (an old revere8) that I received from my Grandfather when he passed away.
I was really passionate about making films, and it was the only means I had to do so. I sold some of my action figures to other kids at school (not my Star Wars ones, I needed those for the films!) and once I scraped together the $30 or so required of 1979 money, I’d go buy my film, shoot the few minutes of it that you got for that money and would then post it off to Kodak and wait a few weeks for it to return to me in the post.
Once it came back, I’d breathlessly open the envelope, run inside and watch my (awful) creation, and then start finding ways to afford the next one.
One time the film came back blank, something went wrong with processing and I’d blown my dough, but another 3 months later I afforded another reel and made another short film.
However I would never have lifted a finger to get money to buy a chocolate bar, or somtehing like a radio control car, which my brother would have done nearly anyhting short of selling a kidney to get. (It took him six months to save up to get a Tamiya Hornet)
I thought RC cars were cool, but I never would have expended much energy, or sacrificed much to get one. I kinda wanted one, but I wasn’t passionate about it.
If one is passionate about something they really want, finding a dollar or two can usually be done, my 4 year old daughter gets a dollar a week pocket money if she cleans her room and makes her bed anbd waters the vege garden (her weekly chores) and she is currently saving up for a toy she wants really badly that costs $6. The 6 weeks feels interminably long to her, but she is now four weeks in and is excited that it is only 14 more sleeps.
That is kind of what I was waffling on about when I said it is an easy measure for me as to whether it is worth investing the large amounts of time into a project for me, if a solid amount of others are passionate about a film, willing to make a very small sacrifice for it to be preserved, then it feels worth it to me to go ahead with it.
If there aren’t a bunch of people passionate about the film, then it makes more sense to me to find one that people are really keen to have done.
I’ve been overwhelmed at times at the amount of work, sacrifice and support that strangers put into seeing films preserved both here and on other forums. Every one of you has my eternal respect and it warms my heart in these often selfish and divisive times to see people come together from all walks of life to share their love of film with each other. Amazing things have been achieved, if it wasn’t for everyone here, a laserdisc would still be the only way to watch the original Star Wars films for example.
Anyway, thanks again for the donation to THX, there will be news on that front soon 😃