Under Pressure | Collectors | Physical Media | Collecting 2.0 |

[@wago70]

The big pressure I have is this: an all-time favorite film gets a boutique, limited edition release...at a time when you just don't have the money to secure a copy. Next thing you know, several are available on Ebay for bloated amounts of money and the original label is sold out. It's so difficult to decide what to do sometimes. You love the film, you want the label to have your money...but it's not possible and you have to decide: do you miss out and never have the film to enjoy or do you give some private citizen more money than they paid for the item? Bitter pill. I hate that.

[@manvfilm]

I pretty much won’t pay the scalpers prices. I just can’t do it. I can barely justify the regular price.

[@BryanLomax]

That pisses me off no end. They do the same with graphic novels.

[@night_speed]

It's better to wait. Once the initial buzz dies down used copies will pop up for fair prices. Trust me I just got a sealed copy of the Nekromantic limited edition from Arrow for 35 bucks. Have patience and the movies you want will find you.

[@manvfilm]

I’ve been after that for ages!

[@night_speed]

@@manvfilm me too in fact I have a short list in my wallet of movies to keep an eye out for which includes the limited editions of Night Breed and Creepshow 2 but I never put Nekromantic on that list because I thought I'd never find it. Last week it was just sitting there waiting for me on the shelf at The Archive.

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

VERY much feeling this, Graham. So many "boutique" labels and releases, but a lot of them are REALLY starting to lack. Lots of boutique releases out there with poor transfers that simply don't deserve the premium release or price point. Problem is, all these boutiques have realised that the physical market has swayed HEAVILY towards collectors recently, and they're all putting focus on big, elaborate, and EXPENSIVE collector's sets. Sadly this is the way physical is going - studios will start jumping out and this will become more niche and more expensive. One one hand, it's GREAT that so many long-awaited titles are hitting Blu... but... at what cost? Keep up the great work mate.

[@manvfilm]

My back up plan is a lottery win.

[@andygardner3910]

Hey Graham you’ve opened up a huge topic I feel a massive long winded rant ahead 😜. Beware……. Up until a couple of years ago there was absolutely no pressure at all with regards to collecting physical media. Many of the gang subscribing to your channel were probably in the same boat, the collecting was a more sedate & solitary affair. You kept an eye out in magazines or the few online forums and most of the pickups were from the various bricks & mortar retailers, from one of the video/dvd Rental shops, or from second hand sources. For me there was absolutely no pressure, some months I bought nothing, other months I treated myself to maybe a dozen tiles. There used to be a common name for my purchasing behaviour, I was a ‘£50 man’, that was where I would go into somewhere like HMV & spend over £50 every time. As we’ve discussed before the landscape is very different today. With the rise of the Boutiques collecting has now been tainted with this competitive edge. The Covid lockdown situation amplified the proliferation of this rabid conspicuous consumption amongst collectors. Working from home & ubiquitous Video calls & Zoom meetings invited strangers and work colleagues alike into our homes. Interviews on television and news reports had all of society commenting, judging, & sometimes mocking people on what was on their book shelves and decorating their walls. It was only natural that collectors of physical media were doing something similar. KZbin & forum videos and photographs let us see what our peers collections looked like. Solitary collectors with hundreds of dvds & Blu-rays we’re finally seeing their massive collections being dwarfed by images of collections in the thousands. Undoubtedly many of the community were suffocated by feelings of inadequacy and envy. The Boutiques have undoubtedly exploited these insecurities. The greatest marketing tool has been the FOMO aspect, tap into the vanity & pride of the collector by telling them there are Special Limited Editions that they must have, they must have it now because it could be gone tomorrow and if it’s not the in your collection then you’re really just an amateur. Personally, my collecting has traversed many hurdles in the past and my pride has gotten the better of me. As a young VHS collector my collection peaked at around 4400 titles. But the time I stopped collecting Videos I was fed up with the whole thing. That amount of volume was ridiculous, remember how massive some big box Ex-Rentals are or how big some of the Special Edition VHS set became. I was young & moving around after my education the collection became a huge Albatross around my neck. Moving house was a massive chore & the collection was split up between my temporary flats & my parents attic. Around this time I was just developing my career and eventually starting a family. VHS was a dying format, Laserdiscs we’re taking over & DVD was on the horizon. As a collector my hobby had stagnated, I had collected everything I wanted, I had collected every Video Nasty x 3 times over & owned most of the Palace Pictures titles I wanted & half my 4000 odd movies were rubbish films just padding out the numbers. This was the dark days of my hobby. Eventually, I got bored, I lent many movies out to friends and never worried about getting them back. Eventually, the VHS collection almost became totally worthless/obsolete with time & neglect water damage, rodent infestation, & careless storage I now have around only 200-300 films left on VHS. When a collection like that, amassed over 15 years of intense collection is decimated so easily you get an interesting perspective on things. Family and career come first, as it should, and watching the demise of my pride & joy wasn’t actually that upsetting. My DVD collecting was much more modest and considered. I knew the newer Blu-ray technology was on the way and that these formats had a built in obsolescence so it was foolish to get too invested. The rise of Arrow Video Blu-rays were my gateway back into more involved collecting and the other early Boutiques offered a fun and exciting way back into my old hobby. Luckily, I had learned many lessons from my past and didn’t really give into my desire for completionism. For example the Arrow Window Box collection has around 27 titles, I collected 26 of them, I refused to get the final one (Forbidden Zone) because I can’t stand the movie. The same goes for 88 Films Slasher Collection, I’m not the biggest fan of all things Slasher so I consciously own around 32-36 of them (I’ve lent a few out & will probably never see them again) but because there are plenty of titles I don’t like I never felt the need too complete he whole 50. However, with recent FOMO going round the community I sometimes get these irrational pangs of regret that I didn’t pick the missing titles when I had the chance. Why should I collect movies that I know I don’t even like it ever want to see again?!?!?! That’s borderline lunacy! The influences on the proliferation of my renewed zealous collecting comes from reasons that didn’t exist when I was a younger man collecting Videos. I’m older now, I have more disposable income, my children have grown up and have flown the nest, my career for almost 30 years has been in the film industry, I can enjoy the nostalgia of recapturing my old love of collecting. However, the main reason for collecting now is experiencing the good side of the collecting community. The quality & quantity of collecting movies has never been so good, it’s not going to last forever, it could be the ‘Last Hoorah’ for physical media but I get to experience the collective joy with new friends within the community. My biggest pressure is getting the movie and finding the time to watch them so I can feel like an informed part of the collective, that I can be involved in the water cooler chats with you and the other likeminded guys. The main problems is that we are collectively being influenced to keep buying the next new product, we are being manipulated into becoming consumers rather than movie fans, to worry about the peripheral nonsense like rare bits of cardboard. We are invisibly enabling each other to keep on buying. As long as I have the resources there’s really no harm but I really don’t want to be partly complicit in enabling or gently coercing others who cannot afford it. Also, with the financial turmoil in the world I cannot be sure that I’m going to always be financially secure enough to maintain the expansion of the pace of collecting. Although I’ve no real monthly budget, I’m not Mr. Moneybags, but I’m generally prudent enough to know my cutoff point. However, this month’s preorder roster of announcements seems excessive. I’ve not ordered from either Eureka or Indicator for a few months. I love their stuff but I’m not fussed on owning their LEs, I’m happy enough to grab Standard Editions down the line. Fair play to Second Sight for their policy to release multiple editions at the same time. Maybe this imaginary stigma of ‘Standard Edition’ = ‘Poor-mans Edition’ will eventually fade. I’m just going to ride this crazy train until the bubble bursts, the community nastiness overruns everything and the trolls take over or I drop dead with Jess Franco poisoning ………

[@manvfilm]

I think the Jess franco poisoning is the most likeliest

[@Gothic55]

You make fair points. Movies at home raises a good point about companies releasing Blu-ray and then a couple of months later a 4K - this often means double dipping. Regarding number of films I but each month - between 6 - 10 but often these are box sets - such as Shaw Brothers collection 2 and Columbia classics.. I normally preorder films and as a result can occasionally double buy. I love special editions though. Second Sight are a great company,

[@NeilHynes]

I think we could be entering a fatigue period where we are surrounded by non stop release . The thing is though, a lot of the releases are stellar and it's hard to miss out. We are victims !

[@manvfilm]

That is a fantastic point, I had never considered that fatigue could be the reason I feel a little burned out.

[@popey129]

I hear you. I just fell in love with Levithan 1989. Amazon here I come.lol. Great video. I buy three Blu-rays a month.

[@ryanbmd7988]

Very well put, we could all do a bit better to respect our money and be picky!

[@DeanS946]

I only got into collecting the past year, triggered by the first Shawscope set from Arrow. Now I feel disheartened that so much from Vinegar Syndrome and Eureka is OOP of titles I know I would want and enjoy. So when there are new announcements, I do feel pressure about when I can get the ones I want. Before this past few months, it was never an issue, as I was happy with my (self-employed) funds covering costs. But now my finances have hit a precarious wall, and I calculated how much I had spent over the past year and it knocked me back. It had near wiped out a lot of of my "cushion" funds I had, that meant I never was wary about my month to month costs or the sudden need/urge to buy things like a normal person. Now, I'm checking on VS releases that have less than 1000 copies every few weeks, hoping that my finances will be in good shape again when its looking like I need to pull the trigger. It does annoy me somewhat that these boutique labels never re-release titles. Like I see you have Eureka's Ninja trilogy in your background, which is OOP and not available on Amazon. There's some films which don't even have alternative basic blu-rays that are in stock, and haven't been for years. The special release by a boutique label was the only chance, and unless you buy from upsellers on eBay, the chance is gone. I know I'll be able to start putting in pre-orders left and right next year once my job situation settles again, but this period between now and then has heightened my FOMO considerably. Thanks for making this video though, as its nice to know I'm not just being weird. As none of my inner circle that isn't online understands the joys of collecting, or even why owning a special edition is worth it. I love the packaging, the posters, the booklets etc, so I do feel cheated when I have to settle for just a standard blu-ray with some cool new artwork.

[@manvfilm]

Oh you sound as though you’re deep in the collecting well. I really wish you all the best as it’s a horrible place to be. Make sure you watch the films you buy, but Ben if you’ve seen them before. It will help control the collection. Don’t worry about the titles that have gone oop, someone will buy the rights and rerelease it.

[@filmmad0076]

oh yes, all very very true. Im struggling with all of this as well. The numbered editions - i had a real problem with indicator with this and had until this year the whole set. But indicator did me a favour and released that rubbish soft core set which i just won't order, and since then its now getting easier for me to not order everything. As for the LE's as others have said the industry is moving/moved already to just us collectors but as you say we need to all be realistic and start accepting we cant get anywhere near everything we want. I'm feeling it and i dont have the same budget issues am sure many do. I dont budget as much as i should and mostly manage to get whatever i fancy, but that has to change. I increased my space last year and have filled it all again already. I have an unwatched section of nearly 1000 titles. As of last few weeks have parred it right back and i might start limiting myself to 5-6 new titles a month going forward

[@manvfilm]

I’m still about 20 shy of the complete indicator collection. As for the adventures series, 1 was fine, the other 2 were poor.

[@EverettDudgeon138]

I suffer badly from depression and I'm constantly worried about life in general falling apart so I try not to dwell on the future or unknown variables. Do I not buy that drum machine because the world is falling apart or do I buy it because the world is falling apart and I get some joy in my life? It's always the question. In terms of collecting. Over the pandemic I spent over $4000 on Blu Rays. That's something I would spend on a guitar or a synthesizer or even could have done a short film with that money....but.....it kept me sane during lockdown and maybe that's what the investment was: Happiness. Have I slowed down? Considerably. The last huge haul was $700 for Imprint alone but now I'm just getting things here and there. If I miss out on a title, I'll just grab it later if I truly want it. Will it be more expensive? Yes. I suppose that's the crux of it. I missed out on ClassicFlix's Blu Ray of Abbott And Costello in Africa Screams...it's now going for $200 on ebay. A single disc blu ray for $200? Absolute insanity. Now do I risk their new blu ray of Abbott And Costello's Jack And The Beanstalk going out of print and suffering the same fate? I'm not sure. A lot of it comes down to buying because it's a film/director/series you absolutely love....likely one you've seen a dozen times or grew up on OR Buying for discovery or out of curiosity. The later is extremely dangerous because you start to fall down into rabbit holes that you otherwise would have had no interest in and at the end of the day you really aren't that emotionally interested in. This likely all stems from the death of the video rental stores. You can't test anything unless it's on a streaming service. Most of the time you have to buy it and then try and sell it afterwards....but then....what if no one buys it? What if it's sold out already and you can only test it by spending $120 on an out of print VSA title or $400 on an Out Of Print Arrow Boxset. Now you have to sell it to try and break even if you don't like it. What if you can't? What if it's not worth it? Right now, I'm mostly sticking with what I know. Universal Monsters, 50's Sci Fi, Hammer Horror, Kaiju, 80s Slashers, Film Noir etc and generally only venturing outside of that if I see a really good deal. I suppose that's "Boring" or "Living on a hamster wheel" but I think the Second Sight's Dawn Of The Dead Boxset really changed my viewpoint. I'm not a huge Romero fan and I dislike his zombie films save for Night Of The Living Dead. However, when this boxset came out I felt this urge to get it....just....because....and I sat there at the checkout, looking at the price and thinking "You don't even like this film.....everyone else loves it....you don't....so because everyone else loves it, you feel you need to have this just for status? Look at this thing. It's going to just sit there on a shelf for nothing.". I closed the browser and put on a Gamera film instead. :)

[@manvfilm]

Well done on resisting the Dawn set. That was a great choice, you, hopefully, let a fan get it instead.

[@EverettDudgeon138]

@@manvfilm Same thing is happening with all the Argento UHDs....I hate Argento...and yet I'm mulling over getting his films....just because. Right now I'm in the process of collecting all The Video Nasty titles...yet I'm not a fan of Tenebre or Evil Dead....so....what is the point of getting them? To complete the collection that no one else cares about? OCD is real. lol

[@gurdipvirdee7176]

Hi, I buy movies from CEX which are recycled and cheap. I never buy brand new as they are too expensive to buy when they are new. I always look for the sales in HMV which currently have a sale on the Premium collection. So enjoy and do not think too much as it is only a hobby. Thank you

[@jeremyslate4052]

It does never end and there are so many wonderful looking titles coming out. I don’t have a specific amount of titles per month. During certain sales, it’s way more - I bought like 25 during the Vin Syn Halfway To Black Friday sale. This month I’ve bought about 3 titles. I want a number of things, but I have to weigh bills and titles I want. I’ve also been tightening up a bit too - lots of big family stuff lately - bdays, anniversary, wife is pregnant - and I realized how little space I have left to expand the movies in our apartment. The continuing struggles of the movie collector.

[@manvfilm]

Is this your first kid? If so enjoy the sleep and time to watch movies while you can.

[@jeremyslate4052]

@@manvfilm 2nd child. I haven’t been well rested in years. :)

[@manvfilm]

I’ve got 3! All girls and all demanding.

[@NessNayii]

I very much resonate with your views/dilemma here. The current thorn in my side is the new spec ed of The VVitch - one of my favourite films....which I already own on 4K, with the upgrade probably only being an upgrade in marginal terms. I do love the big box, the art, the extras etc though, so what to do? Is it worth the forty odd quid tag for a few fancy bits of cardboard and an infinitesimal increase in quality? My other half very much thinks not, haha...especially in the current financial climate.

[@manvfilm]

Swayed by all the fancy bells and whistles. I’ve definitely been there.

[@popcornandhorror]

Hey Graham, for me personally I'm at the point now where my collection is hitting its peak when it comes to space, so I'm using it as a plus, and really squeezing out all those titles that I probably won't watch again, trading them in or selling them to then fund buying less but more 'worthy' titles, to take up that space. They may not be 'great movies' but they will be the ones I can watch over and over again. I guess I'm curating now over collecting. 🙂👍🏻

[@waltbbadd]

I hear ya man, same here! Sometimes it's tough but I'm like, "Am I ever gonna watch this again? What's the point?" To Ebay it goes

[@manvfilm]

I’ve gotten a lot better, but I could be more ruthless in the future.

[@spfilmviewers5629]

I've had to note down all the releases that are of interest to me over the next few months, and work out financially what is viable to purchase. There's so many limited editions coming out recently, and it's not possible to buy them all, in terms of costs and also shelf space. But there's always the pressure to determine what's going to sell out, or wheter you can hold off on a purchase until a later date (or get scalped on eBay when you do get around to it!)

[@manvfilm]

I do much the same, I have a standby list incase I find some extra cash.

[@jamespotter3660]

I fully agree with you about Second Sight. I feel they're ahead of the game too, helped by the fact that they have quite a slender back catalogue. I live in Poland and inflation here is around 16% though most retailers bumped up their prices on blu ray at the beginning of the year almost as a preemptive strike. I have made a concerted decision to greatly reduce the number of purchases, focussing on titles in my want list - I have a want list that I update from time to time so that I don't really blind buy any more. I do a bit of research and if a film seems to be something I'd like then I add it to the list. I've been fortunate (or unfortunate depending on your mindset) that there haven't been a great deal of releases in the last six months that have really caught my interest. As always Graham, great upload, we share the pressure, we feel the pain.

[@manvfilm]

The problem I have is that I want to see everything. I wish I was more selective.

[@filmmad0076]

@@manvfilm i have exactly the same problem, well almost everything ;)

[@EverettDudgeon138]

Another aspect to consider is Amazon now owns MGM's catalog....so any MGM title that gets a release...it may be the absolute last time ever. I think there's like 3-4 corporations now that own almost all of American film history. It's scary. Sometimes, the fear of missing out is simply due to known issues with rights holders. It took almost 2 decades for the Wade Williams Library to get a Blu Ray deal. Loads of Warner Archive titles are stuck on DVD. The Casa Negra catalog is stuck on DVD. The rights are all over the place for the Hammer catalog. Even Criterion's Godzilla set could only have a few English dubs included (Something I feel is part of the charm of watching a Godzilla film)....because different companies own the rights to dubs and it's a mess.

[@manvfilm]

That was something I was generally terrified of once amazon bought MGM.

[@redwillow79schippers94]

For me, I just buy what I want and I try to avoid 4k because it cost more and I really don't need it. It's a good thing that I'm mostly just into horror films and some Charles Bronson movies. I will admit that I have been buying a lot more than usual lately because I don't want to miss out. I know my good fortune could come to an end and I want to grab these titles while I can. There was a time when I denied myself things because I didn't think I deserved them so I'm making up for that now. I don't really feel pressure to buy special editions unless it's something really cool. For example, I pre-ordered The Changeling 4k because it came with a cd of the music from the movie and I really wanted that. Even though I own it on bluray already. This is pretty rare for me. Something has to be really special to me for me to double dip

[@manvfilm]

But there is a reason your updating The Changeling. I guess your gonna sell the older edition?

[@redwillow79schippers94]

@@manvfilm Either that or gift it to a friend.

[@jordanmoran1983]

So many childhood favourites just came out and a lot on the way on 4k. Better get that ski mask and sawn off out the back of cupboard because daddy needs these titles. The cost of living is ridiculous ATM I buy titles where I can but it's pretty much all in sales. That new The Thing 4k HMV exclusive is just too good though!

[@manvfilm]

I hate myself already. But I’m buying it

[@jordanmoran1983]

@@manvfilm don't it's most excellent

[@johnyoung7763]

I did feel under pressure, I don't any more. I used to spend about 3 to 4 hundred quid a month up until about three months ago. Last month I spent around £30, this month it will be about £40. Going to pick up dog soldiers, zone troopers and the wraith and that's about it.

[@manvfilm]

Wow that’s some spending power.

[@filmwolf4078]

Hi Graham. Personally for me, I’ve never chased slipcovers, spine numbers or labels themselves. Sure I’m thankful that I have the slipcase for VS - Candy Snatchers but if I didn’t like/love the film what’s the point of having any of it. Tiger Cage, Seventh Curse, Years of Lead etc again I’m glad of the packaging but it’s the films that draw me in and I try to balance it with value for money. I legitimately enjoy special features they sell me on a lot of stuff whereas so many people never explore them or read the booklets. I’ve never understood people getting multiple editions of films. 😳 regardless of the quality of the film I already had Severin edition of Demonia so was never going to double dip on the Arrow fancier Edition. Yes, collect Fulci.. but ones enough 😂

[@manvfilm]

The only thing I seem to continuously buy multiple editions of is The thing. I can’t rationalise why. But there we go.

[@teemusalonen7419]

Oh' I feel very much under pressure! Cost of living is getting more and more expensive every day. I'm already scared of my electricity bills next winter and I'm kind a sad that I can't continue my collection habits the way I'm used to! Normally I buy maybe 5 movies and sometimes more if I get discount craze!

[@manvfilm]

The fuel prices is absolutely crazy I am genuinely worried about it.

[@robmontoya8181]

I've got to love the film to spend on a 4K Ultra HD Second Sight and ARROW are my favorite labels. Criterion is o.k. they don't released many titles that I'm interested in purchasing. I try not to spend more than 120.00 USD currency a month.

[@manvfilm]

That sis is me like a reasonable budget

[@mred2071]

I'm already in the danger zone! Buying too many titles and not watching enough to justify it. I'm really trying not to buy any more Imprint but it is hard, I mean who would of thought an Australian company would be killing it with such great titles and features!? I really don't know what to do Graham, I have a constant list of titles I want and then there's the new releases. I'm thinking maybe it was better in the olden days when we weren't so spoilt!

[@manvfilm]

Too many movies, not enough time/money.

[@darrenblizzard3851]

Space, money & time are all factors in recent years and now we have mass inflation, supply chain and other nefarious (IMHO) things going on to make one have to be very careful about how they spend their money. I still get stuff maybe 5 to 10 films a month. Sometimes more. And sometimes less. Depends on the editions and how expensive they are. But there are loads of titles I'd get if I could buy simply can't afford everything so they have to wait and I hope they don't end up bloated on eBay before I can pick them up. If I miss out though in the end I'm in a headspace where I can simply just ignore it and shrug and live with it. I think the world economically is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. There seems to be a load of boutique options these days at a time when I think people's spending is going to be more limited so not sure how sustainable all of these companies are. Great if you are cashed up and not struggling for time and space but for most of us it's an exercise of being very very selective!

[@manvfilm]

My space issues are starting to become a reality again!

[@darrenblizzard3851]

@@manvfilm there's so much content coming out on a regular cycle that it means you have to constantly agressively cull or you get into strife again. I need to get rich so I can have a whole library wing to store my collection for decades to come! It's just the unfortunate downside to physical media vs digital... Whilst everything about physical is awesome, the storage (and cost) is a real challenge.

[@StephenGrala]

Yup, I'm under pressure every time I open Twitter seeing a new announcement. I budget around 60 a month and in reality, I spend about double. Been buying cheap comedies to cheer myself up before the fit hits the shan this year and next. I have pre-ordered up until December, next year it's the unknown.

[@manvfilm]

I can only see it ramping up next year. I keep looking at the release schedule and there is so much I want.

[@ErnMac89]

That's why I told myself I can't collect everything, so I limited my collection to Arrow, Vinegar Syndrome and Severin.

[@manvfilm]

I want everything. I need to be more selective.

[@elusivegluejeff4980]

Hey Graham, whilst watching this video I had an image pop into my mind. This might sound mad but the image was of a tiger hunting it's chosen prey. Now image the boutique labels as the tiger's who are either working together or competing for the same prey (us movie fanatics). To catch any prey you're going to need to know the habits, whereabouts and use stealthy camouflage. Boutique labels know exactly what to do to entice and catch us. We are like moths to the flame with only financial constraints stopping us from purchasing everything. Please tell me if the latter doesn't make sense. As I've mentioned before my finances are tight but I am ensnared occasionally into situations where I've spent more than I should have. I agree that at some point in the future we will be unable to get what we most desire due to our higher outgoings for our basic needs. Needs that everyone should be entitled to, food, warmth and shelter. All of these basics are skyrocketing in price. If we changed our habits of spending on movies then boutiques would change strategies. A hunter needs to know their prey and if the prey changes direction then the hunter needs to respond accordingly. Maybe an apocalypse is coming of sorts.

[@manvfilm]

I like the analogy, to push it a little further I think the prey is running thin.

[@elusivegluejeff4980]

@@manvfilm I'm glad it made sense. When will Maniac be available to pre order Graham, do you know?

[@manvfilm]

If it’s from 88 films a couple of weeks before release date. Amazon should be anytime now.

[@resolution67]

I tend to look at movies not by month but by season. Roughly 4 times a year I put in any pre orders for the coming season. If a movie is worth buying but I don't have the cash, I forget it and move on. If it's worth buying and I have the cash to spare, why not right? A movie isn't going to feed the family so priorities are important.

[@manvfilm]

Your last sentence is the truth!

[@karlleibfacher5367]

I know the feeling. I have been assessing how to approach the coming year. I think I'm going to focus on the Vinegar Syndrome membership and a very selective set of picks from a couple other labels. My main concern is time. Ive gotten to the point where there's just no way I can watch all the films I'm interested in. So my new credo for collecting is, boundaries man boundaries! Ive got a stack of books to read as high as my house, that I've been ignoring. Ive got places to go and people to see. So I need to start limiting how much of my free time is spent watching films. It was easy to get carried away during the pandemic. But now Ive got to wrench myself away from the TV. The wife and I are headed to Greece and a couple weeks of no TV. It will be good for us. Cheers!

[@manvfilm]

Well enjoy the holiday. I usually find that when I return from holidays I watch loads of films.

[@karlleibfacher5367]

@@manvfilm yeah me too. It will be time to start break out the Halloween favorites.

[@manvfilm]

Always a good time of year. I’ve been planning my day arches for that time and I’m wishing I’d picked up Halloween 2 on 4K! I’m really looking forward to the lost boys 4K though.

[@karlleibfacher5367]

@@manvfilm lost boys 4k...... I cannot wait. That's one of my all time favorites!

[@manvfilm]

Snap! I watched that so many times as a youngster I burnt out the VHS and had to replace it.

[@kevinclark8356]

This is why you should always collect responsible. I know it's hard, but setting a sending limit and wait for sales. Another thing, people can aways do with the hobbies is to turn it into aside gig. Like your KZbin channel reviewing movies. I'm planning on doing it, by making my own comic book.

[@manvfilm]

Oh that’s awesome! I really want to know more about this comic book when your ready to make it a reality.

[@kevinclark8356]

Thanks for the interest, the comic is going to several short comics and two to three big ones in it. I'm planning on self publishing it. So, hopefully it all give well.

[@manvfilm]

Well when the time comes let me know.

[@Asian_Movie_Enthusiast]

I restrict myself mostly to the Asian and Italian stuff, so it's a bit easier for me. I buy erratically. I went a few months this year where I bought nothing at all, but other months I purchased over a dozen movies at a time.

[@manvfilm]

What do you do when there are multiple editions like 88 films and Vinegar Syndrome when they release Righting wrongs or the iceman cometh. What version do you choose.

[@Asian_Movie_Enthusiast]

@@manvfilm - It's a tough call. VinSyn has the Region A releases, but I usually order from 88 Films out of habit. Plus, I think they deserve the slight edge for committing to those kinds of films for years already.

[@manvfilm]

I find it rather tough as well. I like to support 88 films, but being a subscriber I just get all the Vs releases.

[@phatsocallum]

Ive only been collecting since Oct 2021 and so far have picked up nearly 300 releases, I dont tend to buy any releases new unless they are pre orders, big sales and such, mostly all just from ebay or facebook groups which cuts the cost down by quite a bit.

[@manvfilm]

Have you been getting good deals?

[@phatsocallum]

@@manvfilm oh you bet haha, always looking for the best deals. Probably why I end up buying so many because I see something at a great price and am like “oh I have to buy it because the chance I see at this price again is slim to nothing” hahaha

[@manvfilm]

Probably best I’m not part of these groups 😂

[@DEFIANT_FILMS]

Hey fella, I probably buy 4 movie a month, I tend to keep well away from the lovely special editions (unless it's kung fu related) I'll also only buy movies that I will genuinely rewatch otherwise i feel it's a massive waste of funds, I definitely keep my collection to a minimum these days thank goodness. Good luck on breaking the habit.

[@slave_to_cinema]

The boutique labels must not be doing too bad to be able to dish out so many releases month by month. I only buy limited editions of movies that might be a favorite of mine. I try to budget myself every month because there is Life to think about. The movies are not going anywhere and there are certain ones i can wait on but there are some i may want more and those naturally go to the top of my list.

[@manvfilm]

I feel like the customer base has to shrinking. So I’ll be interested to see how many LE discs sell out and how long it takes for that to happen.

[@southendonseaarts]

I'm starting to get a bit inured to it now - they seem to throw anything out in 4K i still like Criterion/Second Sight but the rate of releases is getting too much and Im starting to be more selective.

[@manvfilm]

It’s a natural progression. Too many movies and a limited amount of consumers with dwindling finances.

[@paulconway384]

The gas and electric charges are an absolute joke. And food prices are going through the roof. The days of constantly upgrading are over for me. I will only upgrade a film now if the DVD or Blu-Ray is a complete disaster. And standard editions now instead of limited. You don't need bulky boxes and booklets.

[@manvfilm]

Those fuel prices are genuinely terrifying

[@kencarlson3545]

Again, just try to get the titles you know you will definitely watch again and again. There will be blind buy purchases of certain Limited Editions you'll want.. but force yourself to watch on KZbin or wherever like I did. You'll save yourself a ton of money and aggravation.

[@Horror_Collector4Life]

I konw how you feel about that Pressure it can be very hard for us Collectors to keep up with everything but hey i Collect only the Movies i really want and not more because i like my Collection to be small and nice 😁

[@manvfilm]

I’ve gotten to the point where I want to discover films. So I blind buy almost everything.

[@Horror_Collector4Life]

@@manvfilm That's Perfectly Fine if you ask me 😉

[@marymungleandmidge4080]

I think a lot of these special editions are over priced, especially when all you get most of the time is a box, poster and a few cards. 101 films have released a few limited editions in boxes and are priced at under £20 which is a good price point, Arrow and 88 Films charge £25 + for similar packaging etc, which I think is overpriced. Numbers don’t bother me as I only buy the movies I want, I don’t need a full collection of Eureka’s Masters of Cinema or 88Films slasher collection as some of their titles I’m not interested in. There are many great titles coming out but I would prefer them in normal packaging priced under £20.

[@manvfilm]

Completely agree. I think £20 is a fair price.

[@gavvo-7640]

I feel under pressure because there are quite a few releases coming out over the next few months but I am simply not going to have the money. I can literally afford to buy one a month if i'm lucky. Being a carer I am NOT on a huge wage. The LTD edition ones I want asre going to be the worst to go without because once they're gone, they're gone :(

[@manvfilm]

I always find October to be the worst won’t as there is always so much that I want. Sometimes things will have to be missed out on. Shawscope vol. 2 is still undecided.

[@shamrockballs1066]

I think I'll be just going back to buy titles I really want, or know and want. Blind buys will become fewer and fewer. So in that case as I'd previously stated they need to give their customers who are practically in their 30s and 40s etc more popular cultish type 1980s movies.

[@manvfilm]

That’s a great point. The age of the consumers must be 30’s-50’s. So target films from the 80’s like you said.

[@thegeneral5093]

I spent $12,500 in three years.. 😞.. I am about to put a lot up for sale and use some self discipline. I'm spending more than saving..

[@manvfilm]

It can get out of hand so quickly

[@blabla7752]

Prices have been creeping up a bit with criterion and arrow and I've been waiting for sales on titles I want. Think the only ones with the right approach are indicator and second sight. Think I've only bought 3 boutique films new this year with everything else on sale, or misprice on Amazon or cex. For example bought venom on 4k for 6 quid from cex. Can't really argue at that price, and with my set up, it's as good as a cinema. If anything I watched bullet train this week and my screen and sound set up was better than the cinema I was in. Just as well Cineworld are charging only 6 quid.

[@manvfilm]

My mate has a cinema set up and it is simply Devine. I’ve been going to his once a week to watch films and it’s been amazing. I need to talk the wife into getting it for me.

[@blabla7752]

@@manvfilm everyone gains from it. Pure bliss, mainly why I have been watching blockbusters this year. Been craming in junk food equivalent of films. Hackers on my set up was like going back in time to watch it in the cinema or a dance club.

[@manvfilm]

We’ve been doing double bills at my friends. I was thinking this week should be Kimi & no sudden move or Office space & Hackers.

[@AntZombie121]

Even though I enjoy a lot of VS titles I don’t think I can justify getting the yearly subscription again at the end of this year it’s just too much money for blind buys, bills are too high to do it now

[@manvfilm]

I’m still undecided on the vs subscription package. It’s going to go dow to the wire where I see what the finances are like.

[@AntZombie121]

@@manvfilm I mean I paid for the birds 2 in advance last November without even realising haha

[@manvfilm]

Same here. The shame!

[@MuckMan_Movies]

I've taken a stand now. I refuse to pay over £30 for a steelbook or special edition unless it's something super special or a film that deserves the treatment. For instance Dog Soldiers, did it really deserve a super duper SE? so I bought the standard release without all the faff. Collectors are being stung right now. HMV charging £39.99 for Top Gun Maverick steelbook!!!! I mean come on! Sorry, not paying it.

[@manvfilm]

I was looking at the lost boys hmv super 4K edition. Then I thought why? All I want is the film.

[@DeanS946]

I think Second Sight is one that the super duper editions are very worth it. They have the best booklets by far, they have people from the film's crew supervising the restorations/colour re-grades, and the boxes are only second the Vinegar Syndrome in terms of pleasing aesthetics and handling.

[@MuckMan_Movies]

@@DeanS946 I agree Second Sight release nice editions but I just think some of the film's that get that treatment don't really deserve it so I'm not paying it. The Guest for example

[@DeanS946]

@@MuckMan_Movies I bought The Guest one. I would disagree it didn't deserve it. Its an ideal cult hit and its colour palette is prime for a loving re-grade. There was lots to dive into with the booklet.

[@MuckMan_Movies]

@@DeanS946 I thought it was an average film personally.

[@cfbilly70]

People like you are the reason Limited Editions sell like hot cakes. KZbinrs who can show off their stuff, give out this need to fit in with the community. They're getting it, I can't fall behind. It actually fuels the fomo even more. Luckily I've been over that shit for a while now. And like I said a couple days ago. Nobody but me appreciates my collection. The community isn't going to see it, judge it, laugh at it. If I have a ton of limited editions of movies I don't particularly love, I'm the idiot. I am only going limited edition now if I love the movie already or, and this is something I have only just started thinking about, if I feel it's going to sell out quick and I can make a profit. Not once did I ever think about selling what I bought. It was mine to keep, my precious. But energy and gas prices are skyrocketing here in the Netherlands. It went from 160 to 220 and in a month it is going to be 440. So, life has changed collecting, or the government has, or Putin. Sidenote; are you wearing a shirt with your own face on it?

[@manvfilm]

The increase in fuel prices is absolutely terrifying. Yeas I am wearing a t-shirt with my own face on it! 😂

[@cfbilly70]

@@manvfilm I am talking about gas to warm your house though. Like, something you kinda really need in winter time. I already live without a car, that's easy. I still don't understand why some call fuel gas. You literally pour a liquid substance in your car and you call it gas. Explain to me why that isn't weird. Props to the shirt. That's awesome.

[@manvfilm]

Gas for a car to me is petrol or diesel. Weirdly when I say girl I mean gas and electricity.

[@cfbilly70]

@@manvfilm when you say girl you mean gas and electricity... So, technically you're married to a gas and electric bill. I just realised gas is short for gasoline, which makes it kind of acceptable I guess.

[@johnyoung7763]

Said it before, mix all the movies together, after a few months you won't care about the numbers

[@manvfilm]

I know John, but I can’t bring myself to do that!

[@johnyoung7763]

@@manvfilm how about you keep them together and put them in alphabetical order rather in number order? Then you should hopefully stop thinking about the number's. OR you could go all High Fedility on it and order by auto biographical

[@manvfilm]

The numbers just seem right.

[@johnyoung7763]

@@manvfilm yup, they are staying in your collection alright lol

[@manvfilm]

The worst thing is that I know I’m deliberately fighting against removing them. While realising how stupid it is to collect numbers