The Collecting Condition | Collectors | Physical Media | Collecting 2.0 |

[@endresee]

I relate! I have so many movies and not enough time to watch. It’s important to clear out stuff you really don’t like, but I’ve come to terms with having a large collection that I may never fully watch and keeping movies I may not watch again. I do watch a lot of the films, and so often I really love the experience. And it is a joy to look at my shelves and see so many things I love and so many things I may love when I get the chance to watch. If you can afford it, and you have the space, and it’s not causing problems in other parts of your life (say, by crowding out more important things you need to focus on) then I say why worry. Enjoy your glorious library without reservations. If the above are not true, maybe start small by just eliminating 3 films. Give it a week or two and see how you feel. If you don’t miss them, get rid of 3 more, or 5, or 10, etc. You’ll learn pretty soon what you really want and what you only think you want.

[@andykaufmoon]

Because theres an emotional attachment to when you watched it. By owning it on physical media is like owning a piece of your memory outside your head which is triggered by seeing it.

[@CoinOpTV]

the struggle is real!

[@PaulLBerriman]

Well said!! I’ve also been curating my collection recently.

[@superg50zero32]

It's a physical media collector's dilemma for sure. Personally I get rid of movies that I know I'm not going to watch again. This happens every few months and most of them were blind buys. I've also gotten rid of some old DVDs and blu-rays because the superior 4K came out. There are some that are really rare In my collection and I doubt they'll ever get a release in the future. What it comes down to is I really don't have the storage space to keep all of them.

[@modestyblaise4167]

We, that is my husband and I, curate like crazy. It’s so very easy to become attached to those lovely box sets or limited editions but they’re worthless possessions if the movie itself doesn’t make you feel something special after watching it. That something special is talked about between us after the film, mentioned the following day or referred to weeks later at odd times. There must be some connection, emotion or respect you have for the film otherwise it won’t be watched again. We sell off our films on EBay and now with zero fees it’s become a lot easier to get an ok price. We find that a tighter more concise collection is just a better collection and one you ARE likely to experience multiple times. Hope that helps.

[@ADS0791]

I’m having a similar dilemma. Physical media is getting more expensive (as is everything) and the risk of the blind buy is now a more contemplative one. Critically acclaimed films that have been deserving of a boutique release that don’t resonate sit on the self while I tell myself that perhaps I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind and I’ll revisit it. Of course I don’t. Yet, the true joy (for me) of collecting is discovering something special outside of the streaming dross. I bought Lee Chang-Dong’s ‘Burning’ maybe 4 or 5 years ago and just watched it! Incredible film, and so I’ll carry on chasing these discoveries but there is little value in hoarding film you’ll never watch again. I will continue to buy, but I need to be more honest with myself and sell on if something is not going to get watched again.

[@sodem2810]

I got rid of most of my dvd collection and only kept the discs I really valued as I just bought for the sake of it. Now I only buy blurays I really really want. I try not to dwell on the money I’ve wasted. Good luck with your decision.

[@scavenger7646]

I collect and keep movies based on rewatchability value that’s why my collection is mainly made up of VS and Severin titles, personally I can watch trashy movie at any time. I don’t need Criterion’s masterpiece movie on my shelf which I gonna watch twice in my lifetime.

[@yournamehere6002]

I know I'll never get to everything, but I like having a library where I can always grab it if I get the urge. Space is more of an issue than time.

[@naturallawman2965]

Been there bro. Been there. I even created multiple schedules for viewing, and had alot of fun, but you eventually have to cut because you simply A) run out of room, & B) there's only so much time & energy in the day.

[@Davey0112]

Man, how you have hit the nail on the head with this! I am in the same situation. Space is a big problem. I'm trying to be more selective. The culture is wonderful though and the immersion within this feels great. It is such a contradiction and real quandary (of the best kind). There are films, albeit few that I sold and then bought again as missed them, it's genuine madness. I am working on prioritising. Not sure I've explained well but I completely understand you Graham. I've said many times your channel really covers it all and these questions are a good part of it.

[@patrickt6642]

I put half my collection in binders.didnt like doing that but felt a little better.

[@magicalmovies4363]

I've been collecting the Boutique Labels for about 1½ years, but have been collecting films much longer than that. My rule is that I only puchase the movies I plan to watch, and usually Standard Editions (Only exception to both of these are select boxsets and everything from Radiance film). As my oollection has also grown, and have got many more movies to watch - any movie that I don't feel move or expand my emotion, shouldn't be in my collection. I'm using that metric, as I have experience in editingn and only wants to own movies I want to watch. That's why i curate my collection while watching through the many movies I own, that I've yet to see. It's also why I describe myself as a cinephile and not movie collector (Cereal at Midnight had a excellent discussion regarding these terms). I purchase to watch them, not to own (and/or collect) them.

[@manvfilm]

This is always something I struggle with. I started this self reflection and collecting topics about 3-4 years ago. The more things change the more they stay the same. I’d recommend this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/r16Ug4eZrL6bl80si=ufUAuhLFod37eR6w

[@johnbear100]

Once you sell them and they are gone you will be grateful it's the initial challenge of getting to that point that's difficult. I have sold hundreds now thank god but i have bought more which sounds crazy but not as many so i'm still better off in the long run. Here is something else to consider on Dvd's i have been sorting through mine finding ones to sell and have come across some with Disc Rot only played them once but over time it happens had them for many years now they are totally useless.

[@TheMooglamachuck]

I think the biggest problem is when you're literally into film, like every genre. I tend to stick to horror, action, thriller, and sci-fi, which helps keep costs down

[@paulcoe8461]

I don`t own that many films, but every couple of months I go through what I have to see what needs to go. It`s the whole keeping nice items vs how often am I going to rewatch these. Whenever I get rid of a batch I always feel much better afterwards. I`m heading down the route of picking a certain number of films to keep and get rid of the rest. Ebay or Vinted are the best two I`ve used to sell items, plus there is always the CEX cash/voucher option if you want to save time. Good luck.

[@manvfilm]

I’m not a fan of selling to CEX the undercut the price and then jack it up when selling it.

[@michaelnelson7350]

Short but sweet answer for me I've been buying movies since I was 15 and now at 47 it's so hard to stop. I definitely have way too many movies in my collection and getting rid of some is so damn hard. Movies are a huge part of my life and I want them around me.

[@manvfilm]

I’m the same but it’s at odds with my family life.

[@hopi5]

If it wasn't for boutique labels such as Arrow, 88, etc., many of these films would never see the light of day and would probably have disappeared from circulation by now. So by purchasing them you are helping to keep them alive. When they appear on streaming services, it is probably one these restorations that is being shown. As for collecting, I try to restrict myself to certain genres of films in the main, such as gialli, film noir. This reduces the amount of purchases that I make in a year.

[@jimmulvihill5272]

I don’t think this is going to help you, many years ago I worked in South Kensington selling laser discs and Home cinema equipment. I had one customer who was very knowledgeable about films and he said to me your collection is part of you, when you bought a particular title that was how you felt at the time, even if you don’t like the film, it’s still meant something at the time and I’ve never forgotten that consequently my collection is huge laserdiscs, DVDs Blu-ray 4K.

[@KirkRedgate]

Space and money is a big factor. I’m a selective collector nowadays and only want to preserve films/ TV shows that I like and can watch at any time. If the film doesn’t mean anything to me it has no purpose being on my shelf. I will rarely blind buy unless I am certain I want to own it, or sometimes I will rent or stream first just to be sure. Most of my collection are films I’ve already seen and love, or upgraded. To give an idea of size I’m nearly at 100 4Ks, around 300 blu-rays, and 100 DVDs (about 40 of those are limited edition). Always quality over quantity. I’m proud that my collection is curated to my taste. There’s no space for filler.

[@devononair]

I freed up space in my house by taking the less loved films out of their boxes and putting them into sleeves. I then put them in little crates so I can flick through them like records. This is a good "halfway house" between getting rid of films and keeping them as they are. Obviously, it's still a good idea to clear out and sell items you will never be watching again. You wouldn't keep clothes you're never going to wear, would you? Curating means you have a more honed and personal collection that represents your taste. You're not a library. You're a person and this is your home.

[@karlleibfacher5367]

One reason I never sell the films that I didn't care for.... There have been several cases where I didn't like a film on its initial release but later on I saw it in a different light. But really I like having a collection that's more about the depth of titles not just my love of them. I don't mind that occasionally I spot a film in my collection, one I'll never go back to, but still enjoy that it's there if I ever have a change of heart. All in all, I have one more expansion plan. At that point I think I will have to start boxing some of them up and storing them elsewhere.

[@manvfilm]

I feel that once they’re boxed up, they’re gone. Would I ever bring them out again!

[@karlleibfacher5367]

@manvfilm you're probably right. But I'll still keep them, at least for now. I feel your pain though.

[@johnyoung7763]

My compromise was to get rid of the plastic cases and store my dvds and studio blu rays along with their covers in plastic sleeves. Works okay but would love to have them all on shelves

[@karlleibfacher5367]

@@johnyoung7763 I just can't take them out of the sleeves. The collection is about 3000+ titles at this point and can probably add another 300 titles before I'll have to start pairing them down.

[@andypickeringmusic]

I've sold films thinking "I'll never watch that again" and then regretted and re purchased it 😂😂😂 POINTLESS behaviour

[@manvfilm]

That’s the fear

[@andypickeringmusic]

@manvfilm turns out the phrase "you always want what you've not got" also applies to disks you've sold cause you think you won't watch them again 😂

[@analogblues]

I’ve done that several times, too. I’ve often regretted it. So, I have a very high bar now for selling a movie or show. I have to truly dislike it.

[@paulr9562]

Make 5 piles: 1 expensive, 2 personally love, 3 in queue to watch, 4 iconic for some reason, 5 not expensive & don't want to watch. Run back through the 2 personally love pile to see if more should just go into 3 iconic for some reason pile. Get rid of piles 3, 4 and 5. If required you can take discs from piles 3 and 4 and put them in a binder. Slips could be boxed separately. Boxes discarded. In a day a third of your stuff will be split between shelves, binders, bin/charity. Think about it again then.

[@HRilho]

I had a small dvd collection that somehow survived several phases in my life. At some point i forgot about buying movies at all but then all of a sudden I started searching the clearance bins and found hundreds of blurays for dirt cheap. The the 4ks started to come in and the double and sometimes triple dips... KZbin has been feeding me with buyers remorse by watching videos like this and I tend to deal with them as waking up calls. I don't want every movie but they keep coming. I am not spending 200 euros on imprint's neverending story and i bought the normal version of second sights blair witch project with just the discs. Keep it within your reality and you'll be fine.

[@Apollo_Reed]

I suffer massively with sellers remorse once something has sold haha. Has to be done though and I’ve been selling quite a few recently. Sold my 88 films slasher collection only for them to then announce more which only increased my sellers remorse… first world problems hey!

[@Russman1966]

I've got a very small collection of films that I actually love, I would like a bigger collection but I simply can't afford it. The last extravagant film I bought was Tombs of the Blind Dead steelbook. I love Italian films also, but there are so many and unfortunately I don't have a budget big enough. I have missed out on so many boutique one offs I would have loved to own. I have just learned to live with it.

[@Michael64425]

I am luckily able to detach from items I purchased but then just sit on a shelf.I sort of have a timeline that in general means anything not viewed (no matter how great is supposed to be ) I would resell .I have a core collection perhaps say 25% that I feel are wonderful and know will return to view,the rest at some point may go.I don’t really get buying thousands of Items just to look good on shelves and that applies to anything . Saying that must go 😊now where’s my latest list of wanted items!!😂🎉(and remember this should be something we enjoy doing and brings us happiness)

[@NoirFan84]

I feel there's a number of different reasons for people collecting & hoarding titles, there's no one right answer for all. I love physical-media & love having a collection which represents my taste, but I rarely blind-buy & often if there's a really interesting film announced by a company that I'm not familiar with but feel would be something I'll really like then I'll check it out ahead of time then will buy it when it comes out if I loved it enough. I grew up with a huge DVD collection of a lot of titles I'd buy in order to watch for the first time & the majority would just not be ones I'd love enough to bother wanting to check out again. You end up with a crappy collection of a lot of mediocre titles weighing you down. My collection now is very much quality over quantity & I've never been the sort of person to get drawn into FOMO or getting giddy over overpriced packaging. To too many collectors, it seems they are in it for the thrill of just stockpiling physical-media & to boast of a big collection than they are there for the love of film.

[@manvfilm]

I personally love the blind buy mentality. It’s the discovery aspect for me. A lot of the films I watch just aren’t available on streaming. But I get how you feel about the community. People just want to have the biggest collection. It’s pointless. It’s the people who get the films and never watch them that really irks me. That’s a whole new level of insanity.

[@gratefulblac]

I have been in a similar position to you having a large collection and then selling it. This has occured a few times and I think the best way is in future do not buy a film unless you have seen it and like it. I know there are lots of boutique labels doing eg Japanese gothic films from the 1960s that no one has seen or ever heard of. But until you actually see the films, they may not be to your liking, in expensive box sets, and with loads of boring extras. Yes I bought the Shinobi box set, because I had seen them before and liked them. I broke my own rule and I bought the Agitator (Mocky) boxset that I had not seen before. I thought the film with the football referee was rubbish. The first film - average and have not seen the third film in the set. Be brave, be ruthless and ask yourself if you really like the film and then decide to keep/sell.

[@andygardner3910]

Hey Graham. It’s the never ending story (and I don’t mean the overpriced Imprint release). Maintaining that balance between collecting and watching the movies. Coping with the shrinking shelf space. Trying not to submit to conspicuous consumption and FOMO. Collecting within a budget. Sculpting a curated collection V jumping on every fancy edition blind buy. Continue those spine numbers. Huge watch piles Buyers remorse Etc etc……….. Personally Graham, I try not to worry too much about the relentless pressure of today’s market. Listening to you and others has slowly calmed my anxiety. Actually, probably because I know I’m not alone with my irrational behaviour I just don’t feel so bad. My two biggest concerns are; Lack of shelf space & Procrastinating on too many titles on my watch pile. As for getting rid of unwanted titles, It is a bit of a chore. My system is very unsophisticated. I have a small box to store my unwanted titles. Once that fills up I fire them on EBay. Honestly I wish there was a reliable way of swapping than selling.

[@manvfilm]

I’d say space is the biggest concern for me. If I had more space would I keep adding, probably.

[@Horror_Collector4Life]

I can understand it well, you want to keep up with everyone and always be up to date, but that's not possible because you obviously have other things to do than expand your collection. I still like to buy and collect, but I'm very careful. Often I don't put more than 2 films in the collection. Other films are also removed when they no longer seem important to me and these days I'm more interested in used items than buying new. Now that everything has become more expensive, even the discs, especially in the 4K range, which I personally have no interest in, which is fine because this format is a premium product.

[@Gary.North.ElectroBrain586.]

Everything could go in my collection if needed. All I wouldn't let go would be my 80+ blu-ray and DVD collection of Monica Bellucci films.

[@filmmad0076]

I am really starting to fear my film library owns me, not the other way round. In summary i get it and can very much relate! i also need help!

[@CodyHutto]

Where did you get your shelves? Do you have a link?

[@manvfilm]

They’re from ikea and it’s the bulky bookcase range

[@eddybadblood]

I’ll pulled a bunch of titles and then a day later look through them and put them back. Most of my collection is stuff I liked, stuff I haven’t watched, or stuff I didn’t like but want to give another chance…and when will that day come to revisit? Probably never as I keep getting blind buys. Ugh. It’s rough.

[@manvfilm]

Yeah I’m in the same boat here.

[@chrisjohnston8910]

I’m trying to slow down. If I don’t want to watch something at least once a year I’m going to (try) and not by it. Time, money and space are major constraints on me. Collecting can be unhealthy

[@garyrobinson8665]

I only keep the films I love. If you get rid of something and you decide later you want to rewatch it then buy it back.

[@84paratize]

But if it goes out of print, then it could become quite pricey! The collector's dilemma! 😅

[@maartenlemmens8628]

So recognisable it,s frightening! 😱 i got rid of some titles recently, but still left with 95 %. It s FOMO once again. There,s no easy answer. Maybe grade your movies and sell anything below 6 out of 10.

[@jamboshangotherandymolesmo5913]

Going through the same dilemma myself pal. I find Facebook groups to be good community to sell on movies.

[@manvfilm]

I’ll get on a few of those and give it a try.

[@cheebagardens1759]

I just need to get rid of some of my duplicate copies.

[@johnyoung7763]

9154 thats the amount of movies in my collection and that doesn't include all the mill creek 50 pack dvd box sets I have. The reason I have them is two fold, the first is if I want to watch a movie I want to be able to watch it without having to source the movie. The second reason is I am a bit worried about being able to buy movies in the future for example on the 13th December the GPSR goes live which could have a large effect on being able to buy movies from the likes of eBay for anyone in my country (northern Ireland), charity shops barely sell movies now and workers in different CEX stores reckon in the next few years dvds may not be sold in their stores. A few years ago I had a hugh clear out, I have rebought about a quarter of what I sold so good luck with getting rid lol

[@brunoKenzer]

The best reason to keep physical media is that you can hand it down to your kids and grandchildren. The only reason I sell discs is if a new special edition 4k comes out of a film I really like. I'll sell the old bare bones blu ray release for the 4k version.

[@filmnarr163]

Question is: Are Your kids interested,into all that "clutter" - AND space is more and more expensive nowadays...

[@outpost3178]

I purge my collection 2-3 times a year. It’s a question of being totally honest with yourself. Does the film have rewatch value? Most films are a once watch anyway. Set yourself free and purge, you will feel better for it knowing other people will get enjoyment from your previously owned collection. Good luck! 👍🏻

[@evanw7538]

If you want to avoid getting rid of titles entirely, then you may want to consider at least sleeving any standard edition blu rays that have just the insert art and the discs and nothing else. You can use a sleeve similar to the Tarifold ones, for example, which allow you to keep the insert art. You'll free up a lot of space and not have to sacrifice too much.

[@jordanmoran1983]

I genuinely buy films with the intention of watching them its just getting that time. I probably could offload a few Poundland titles I'll never watch again to thin the herd, so will get on that. Next stop 8K collection!

[@manvfilm]

Don’t even joke about that.

[@simonaleandri5707]

Great review Graham for collection 🎉. I keep all my physical media. You never know if want to watch it again 😉

[@analogblues]

Very true!

[@GRORGvideot]

I have about 300 or 400 movies + some series box sets as well. Just a week ago I watched Space Odyssey 2001, perhaps after a 10 year break. So I'm thinking, will I watch it next time in the year.. 2034? Should I even keep it anymore, considering the wast amount of other stuff left (2001 is a great movie but don't need to be constantly watched)

[@joaoazevedo1054]

I keep everything but I started boxing up movies that I consider “mediocre “ - I’ve watched them and know I’ll never watch them again. Everything else, I keep. Good luck, man.

[@jennifergrace9783]

Hi Graham, just wondered if you have ever watched Gregory’s Girl or Local Hero? Both very charming 80s comedy/dramas I discovered recently I think you might enjoy.

[@manvfilm]

I grew up watching Gregory’s girl but it’s been a number of years since I last saw it. Local hero I’m not sure I’ve actually seen that one.

[@amasvodka]

I have added every movie I own to a list on Letterboxd, and I will eventually arrange that list according to my own ratings, and unless I feel there is something more to be gained from a movie, I will get rid of it.

[@DEFIANT_FILMS]

Sounds very similar to an addiction.

[@bachtuna]

sounds like your something very similar to a virgin

[@phatsocallum]

I usually sell any film i rate a 6/10 or lower. Starting to think now should i up this to 7/10 which are just "good" movies, are these movies that are just "good" worth owning and am i going to watch these again if they were just "good". Most of them, i watch, think they are good and never think about again. Maybe I should be more ruthless and only keep the films i think are great and stick with me after i watch them. Maybe this would be good for you too ?

[@manvfilm]

Maybe, but I tend to like most films, so just now I get rid of things I hate.

[@simonogg1376]

Sometimes is just for the joy of having stuff as you mentioned. Maybe we get wired into it in primary school collecting football stickers, zx spectrum games or marbles. I'm guessing at some point you got rid of vhs tapes and dvds and at some point you believed vhs tapes had value to them until you probably gave them away or binned them?

[@manvfilm]

Well VHS were destroyed by a water incident. DVD’s are stored away in boxes and haven’t seen the light of day since 2016

[@devononair]

@@manvfilm Maybe your first step should be to look into offloading the DVDs? If you can do that successfully, it will inspire you to curate the blu-ray collection.

[@josephbeninati3991]

After watching your confession I feel I'm not alone! Periodicaly I go through my collection and think "Wow, I have the coolest stuff" and then never watch much. I believe it is a sickness.

[@Slipstreamer]

Well, I priced Future Cops twice what I paid for it... I don't know much I'll price my other 4 copies yet... aha, ahaha, MMWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!

[@garyturley2435]

Star trek the motion picture 4k steelbook usa 🇺🇸 release and mortuary slasher classics 88 films on the way in post

[@garyturley2435]

Pre order the haunted house 🏠 of horror with slip 88 films January