Remembrance of the Avant-Garde: Archival Camera Collection
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Super 8mm and Experimental Films

Following in College Cine Club’s footsteps, Film Guard Association (founded in late 1971) and Phoenix Cine Club (founded in 1973) brought the second wave of Hong Kong experimental film movement. The surging popularity of Super 8mm cameras propelled the arrival of colour film era.

Independent Road

In 1965, Kodak invented Super 8mm film stock and many companies started to put out their own brands of 8mm cameras. The price of cameras dropped, making more youngsters to make their own independent films.

Film Guard Association organised two experimental film shows in 1973 and 1974 respectively. Most of the entries were Super 8mm films. In fact, during 1971 to 1973, a club named Experimental 8mm Club organised a showcase screening only 8mm films. From then on Hong Kong officially transitioned from black-and-white 16mm to colour Super 8mm era.

Joy of Filmmaking

Every 50-feet Super 8mm film cartridge lasted for 3 minutes and 20 seconds when shoot in 18 frames per second. So a 30-minute film could easily use up to 40 or 50 cartridges. Depending on the desired quality, the undeveloped film could be sent overseas to Japan, Australia or USA for processing. After editing, a magnetic sound track would be added for dubbing.

The whole process was quite complex but not complicated, but poor pre-production planning and all the extra gears for editing and screening could mean a financial disaster for the youngsters with just a meager income. Yet, the joy of going through the creative process was big enough to justify any sacrifice.

After years of screenings, the Independent Short Film Competition was finally born in 1978 with the aim to encourage more young people to pick up the camera. Super 8mm films rose in importance in cultural and entertainment sectors, and bred many new talents who went on to become members of the mainstream film and television industry.

Photos


  • Production still of Alex Cheung Kwok Ming, Li Y...

  • Production still of Li Yiu Ming and Ko Chun Chin

  • Production still of Alex Cheung Kwok Ming (1)

  • Production still of Alex Cheung Kwok Ming (2)

Audios


  • Interview of Alex Cheung Kwok Ming

  • Interview of Chan Tin Shing

  • Interview of Ko Chun Chin

  • Interview of Freddie Wong Kwok Siu

Videos


  • 16mm film clip with commentary by Alex Cheung K...

  • 8mm film clips with commentary by Chan Tin Shing

  • Super 8mm film clip with commentary by Freddie ...

  • Super 8mm film clip with commentary by Li Yiu Ming