Edward G

Hi Modular,
I take your point about specialist interest. Hope something can be done, though in the long run...before these prints etc. are out of any active archive. It is tantalising to think what treasures lie dormant beacuse of this kind of situation.

I'm as mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!

Modular

Indeed, I'd love to see this kind of material released commercially Edward.

And I wouldn't want people to think I'm in any way knocking suggestions that stuff like the BP library might some day appear on a shiny new silver disc.

There is however a certain misunderstanding among enthusiasts of archive television/films etc, that hitherto unreleased material can somehow just be lobbed out into the market.

There is also the common misconception of exactly how commercially popular such material is likely to be. Even established companies sometimes get their sales projections wrong when a released title completely 'bombs'.

That's not to say a viable market doesn't exist. Tiny specialised companies such as Panamint CINEMA and Beulah have certainly proved that to be the case.

One also needs to consider if the BP library has any 'copyright clearance issues' that would need to be successfully negotiated before any release could be contemplated.

As you can see, there are many (though few insurmountable) hurdles to jump before such a release could happen.

Personally, I doubt we'll see an official release anytime soon, but I hope I'm wrong.

booby trap

I wonder if Network DVD would be interrested in releasing these brilliant films?
they seem to release some specialist disc's.
Could we not ask them to consider trade test film's?.
Some of them are from the Shell library, my fav being 'Paint'.

Modular

Well... I suppose they could. Network did release two volumes of PIFs a while back.

However, as their hands are currently full with the Granada Ventures library deal, I'd suggest it would be unlikely right now.

Mark O

I'd certainly be willing to sing a petition to have these mini-gems released!

I can only remeber snippets, but they obviously captured my imagination, I recall old Cottages in a Country Lane in Kent, and a Car being dipped into a Paint-tank.......after years of Monochrome TV it was like a Miracle!

Mark

Modular

Oh by all means start up a petition for the release of this material.

I have to say that it's unlikely to achieve anything though.

BP aren't a DVD producer, so you'd stand a greater chance of success if people were to contact the various specialist DVD producing companies out there with the suggestion rather than petition BP directly.

Just an opinion...

The Muffin Man

You may have already spotted this but we may have a split thread...there's a very active TTT thread already running indicating the availability of many of the films you've discussed.

well worth checking!

tellingbone

I have manage to obtain a lot of these trade test films. I'm quite sure that BP hold the copyright for the BP and National Benzole titles such as The Home-Made Car and A Journey Into The Weald Of Kent.

keysandyk

To add to the above, I believe that not only are there complex copyright issues involved in many of the trade test colour films, but because of their 'corporate' nature, many of the organisations who sponsored or made them would prefer them not to be in the public domain - simply because much of the content is so out of date and commercially sensitive. I think this is certainly true of the petro-chemical companies. I did hear that certain travelogue numbers 'were no longer representative' of the location, and are generally unavailable for that reason. I know the NFB of Canada does not distribute "The Splendid Domain" anymore because it was meant for a specific purpose which no longer exists.

My experience that direct personal contact with the original producers can give positive results, but it costs. A sell-thru DVD would be difficult ro achieve to say the least.

Another problem lies in the quality of the original films - some very expensive preservation work would be needed on much of the TTCF catalogue to bring it up to scrutiny for a commercial DVD. And some are just plain missing.

The BFI holds much of the catalogue, but I received a quote for producing a viewing copy for research purposes which was £400 for a single VHS of a 20 minute film, and that is before copyright issues were addressed, in the understanding it was for personal use only.

Best to keep looking where you can, and aim for the source. Research can pay dividends.

tellingbone

I agree with the above completely.

Besides, there are many trade test films available out there, you just need to know where to look.
Apart from several titles, Land Of The Sun Returning, Algerian Pipeline and Oil Underground spring to mind here, I think most of the best remembered test films are 'gettable'. You must however, be prepared to compromise on quality. I think it's fair to say that most are not up to 'moder day' standards picture wise, even when obtained from direct sources such as the BPVL.

julian_craster

Some of the SHELL films are on the R2 DVD of Geoffrey Jones films from the BFI, which includes the BTF film short SNOW.....

Modular

Yes indeed. It's a very fine release...

AceofWands

I would adore to have the trade test transmissions on dvd if anyone has them available for purchase please pm me i remember the weald of kent, one set in australia on a beach another about colour paint and many more
kindest regards
AOW

Hello, Bomb? Are you with me? Are you willing to entertain a few concepts?

keysandyk

Hi all,
I'm not sure if anyone has pointed this out yet, but the TTCF film "Expo '70" (Showings 5/2/73 - 14/8/73) is now available to view on Youtube alongside 'Evoluon'. I cant get the link to paste, so just type in 'Expo '70 and select the Expo 70 OSAKA entry that runs for ten minutes! Apologies if this is old news already, but for dedicated TTCF fans this should be a welcome appearance. Perhaps there are more hidden gems in there...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYfMl6zioZQ

tellingbone

Thanks for this Andy. I also found Pan-tele-tron and Evoluon on Youtube a while back!

YouTube - "Pan-Tele-Tron" (1957 animation)

YouTube - Evoluon promofilm 1967

Evoluon is also freely available for download here:

http://www.belgers.com/vaxarchive/evoluon/evoluon(vcd).mpg