This is your chance to SAVE FILM (SPA SVEMA)

[bmattock]

Svema is a Ukranian company that makes B&W photographic film. Most in the West have never heard of them, nor of their Russian competitor, Tasma:

http://www.tasma.ru/

Here's some info on Svema:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svema

They may not actually manufacture their own film anymore, it seems to be unclear:

http://konvas.org/faq/svema-film-tasma-film-orwo-film.html

They're up for sale. Buy them and save B&W film. And export to the West! That's something the current Svema never seemed to be interested in doing.

Time to put up or shut up, boys and girls. You want film to last forever, buy the company and make it happen.

http://www.kyivpost.com/business/34286

State Property Fund unveils schedule for sale of companies in 2009
Yesterday, 18:36 | Interfax-Ukraine

Kyiv (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine's State Property Fund (SPF) is to call tenders in February for the sale...

...91.595% of the stocks in cinema and photographic film producer Svema,

...

The entire list has 232 facilities, including 40 that will be put up for sale in the first quarter.

Such schedules are usually reviewed several times during the year.

 

[Goldorak]

I'll do my part: You buy the company and I'll buy a few rolls from you. If your film is not up to my expectations, I will ask for a refund on the unopened films. But if it's good, I'll buy some more.

 

[Spider67]

Oh yes nostalgic remembrance of my time in Soviet bloc Bulgaria when Svema was 64 ASA and all the Photographers desperately tried to get ORWO NP22....

 

[bmattock]

I'll do my part: You buy the company and I'll buy a few rolls from you. If your film is not up to my expectations, I will ask for a refund on the unopened films. But if it's good, I'll buy some more.

Nope, I already did my bit. I imported B&W film from Shantou Era in China for awhile. Tried to make a go of it, but I was harassed by a few loudmouths until I just decided it wasn't worth the hassle.

Some people actually do things, others just run their soup-sucks.

 

[bmattock]

I don't know... Sounds like their film sucked and they're out of business for a reason. 😉

Those grapes were probably sour, anyway.

 

[kully]

I'm using some Svema A2-SH at the moment, nice thick base and nowhere near as bad as the Lucky films.



and

 

[varjag]

Svema was actually bought out by a French company in mid-90s, who removed film coating line and sold it somewhere. Since then it was re-nationalized, but it is mostly high grass and decaying buildings now. Their last film products were rebadged Fortepan.

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

Since then it was re-nationalized, but it is mostly high grass and decaying buildings now.

Someone should go take a picture of that. Meta!

 

[kully]

If anyone wants to read a good, very interesting article on Svema, the plant and the workers, download it from here:

http://superkully.com/misc/_FINISHED_THE_DECLINE_OF_THE_SVEMA_FILM_WORKS.pdf

(I've tried contacting the people who wrote it but it's been nearly a year with no reply).

EDIT: Just realised this is not everything I have, I had some other articles on the workers - I'll dig them up.

 

[zgeeRF]

Very interesting article and well written! thanks. I don't know the magazine (?) where it was published. Any info on that?

 

[kully]

Very interesting article and well written! thanks. I don't know the magazine (?) where it was published. Any info on that?

Unfortunately I don't know the magazine, I would subscribe though - can you imagine how cool they are if they go to the Ukraine to research this? Sure makes a change from 'Autumn Colours'/'Portraits'... specials that most of the mags here in the UK tirelessly re-run.

 

[zgeeRF]

Unfortunately I don't know the magazine, I would subscribe though - can you imagine how cool they are if they go to the Ukraine to research this? Sure makes a change from 'Autumn Colours'/'Portraits'... specials that most of the mags here in the UK tirelessly re-run.

That's too bad, I totally agree with you.
Maybe someone else who reads this knows about this magazine.

 

[zgeeRF]

more sad news...

more sad news...

I found the magazine's website. It seems it ..was an english language german publication dedicated to super8 etc. but as this links shows it's over...
http://smallformat.schiele-schoen.de/home/zeitschrift_detail.asp?id=6662

 

[charjohncarter]

Unfortunately I don't know the magazine, I would subscribe though - can you imagine how cool they are if they go to the Ukraine to research this? Sure makes a change from 'Autumn Colours'/'Portraits'... specials that most of the mags here in the UK tirelessly re-run.

I think I just read a 'get ready for spring' article in one of my photo magazines, but the point is more film makers. You spend all this time adjusting your exposure and development times, and then the company goes under, or re-brands. I know this is shake out time for film. But consistency is the key for me. I friend of mine sold micro-brew beer when it was the thing. He told me that all he wanted was his product to be as consistent as Budweiser. He said he couldn't believe how 'Bud' can taste the same everywhere with so many brewers/bottlers.

 

[jmkelly]

He said he couldn't believe how 'Bud' can taste the same everywhere with so many brewers/bottlers.

Because they have raised ISO 9000 beyond science and back to art. Something film producers don't have the resources to do. Think how many Buds are cracked for each canister of Ektar 100. AB (oops! sorry... InBev) makes so much beer that their marginal cost is asymptotically near zero.