My brother and sister with an adorable little me in the middle (c.1964)!
I’ve just had a
fantastic adventure involving my distant past, cutting edge technology,
passion, expertise, a missed flight and the discovery of lost treasure. Best of
all, the whole thing was pure Galway!
Last time I was
back in London I found an old 1960s vanity case in one of my mum’s cupboards.
Clicking open the little metal clasps revealed a collection of old cine
films.
Swallowing hard, I
tried to keep down deep emotion.
Nobody in the
family had seen these little babies for 40 years. I snuck them into a carrier
bag and brought them home with me.
Googling ‘Super 8
conversion to DVD Ireland’ brought up a link to a company called Super8Ireland.
Where were they based? How far would I have to drive, only to find out I
couldn’t afford to pay for the conversion?
Where else of
course than Dominick Street, Galway City! Any doubts I’d felt about the
enterprise vanished. This was starting to feel as if it was meant to happen,
and by the time I’d spent a half hour in the company of Julien Dorgere, I was
more than sure.
Even though he’s
from France and I’m from England I knew he was pure Galway. Passionate about
his work, brimming with love for music and film, he exudes a calm confidence
and no shortage of style.
How did he end up
in the West of Ireland?
“I came here
working as a translator and conference interpreter, missed the plane from
Galway back to France at the end of the year and decided to stay. I worked as a
translator, while having my Super8 website (http://www.super8ireland.com) on the
side.”
More pure Galway
than I ever imagined. There are many reasons we blow-ins end up here in Galway,
most of which start “Came for a few days, got drunk…” and end “… ran out of
money…” But the missing of that plane sounded more kismet that craic-driven.
Soon Julien was
working full time with Super8, bombarded as he was by customers who wanted to
digitise their old films. At the same time he kept his beloved 8mm format alive
by supplying cine equipment, films and advice to film shooters worldwide.
Having worked on
film and music collaborations with Donal Dineen, Vivienne Dick and Mike Smalle,
Julien performed as Mr Weasel at the Galway Arts Festival, DEAF, Tulca Visual Arts Festival, Artisit! and the Electric Picnic. But
that wasn’t enough for this French Galwegian. He also wanted to
celebrate the 8mm format, so he did what many Galwegians had done before: he
created a festival.
Set up in 2010,
Super8 Shots Festival is non-profit independent film festival, aimed at the
entire community, as well as Super8 film makers, enthusiasts, artists and
musicians. Running last weekend in Galway, the 2012 festival was a resounding
success.
Three weeks after
my initial meeting with Julien, I returned home with 10 beautifully formatted
DVDs, guaranteed to generate much happiness within my family this Christmas.
Plonking myself
down in my chair, I watched the first 10 years of my life unfold.
The 1960s were
special to me, because until financial crisis came along in 1970, we lived a
privileged life in a beautiful home with a huge garden. Dressed to the nines,
we took holidays abroad every other year, which back then was pretty
high-flying.
As when you look
at photos of your childhood self, I felt no connection to that adorable little
child I saw running around my TV screen, yet nothing could ready myself for the
tsunami of joy I experienced at seeing my late father as a young healthy man
once more. With a smile the size of Cyprus stretching my lips, I sat transfixed
as I relived my life of 5 decades ago.
So many long gone
now appeared alive in front of me. Grandmothers, uncles and cousins lounged
around that wonderful garden, as I watched the tenderness with which my big
sister played with me as a baby. I nearly fell off the chair in hysterics at
the sight of my father’s torturous efforts to climb down some jagged rocks.
It was absolutely
fantastic, and I know I’m far too excited to wait until Christmas to spread
this family magic. Those DVDs are already in England as you read this, bringing
loved-ones back into living rooms where they are still missed.
If you have old
Super8 films, please take them to Super8 Ireland. The experience is tremendous
from start to finish.
Back in 1970, my
world changed forever. Having never known anything apart from affluence, huge
gardens and posh holidays, the leaving of that lovely house and those splendid
grounds came as a brutal shock to 10 year-old Charlie. I’d never dreamed of the
possibility of losing that lifestyle, and now, 50 years later, I have it back
in my possession, to revel in at the touch of a button.
Thanks Julien -
and thanks Super8!
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