• 1 year ago
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    Facing a serious conundrum. I've found an extraordinarily rare VHS on ebay, for a movie from 1990 which doesn't exist on any film database. The only proof I can find of its existence is this one ebay listing, and a blog post about the original movie (this is a sequel) which at the end includes a short question as to whether this movie even exists.

    I really want to buy this VHS and digitize it, so I can release it for free on Internet Archive and de-rarify it. The problem is, it costs $500. Fuck.
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    • Husky Wing
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      Husky Wing
      Editing … Maybe I'd be able to flip it for more than I spent on it, and I could hang onto my digitized copy until I make the sale?
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    • Husky Wing
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      Husky Wing
      Editing … I did find the contact info for the lead actor, but only via an email for a website he last updated in 2021. Might not be able to reach him.
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    • Husky Wing
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      Husky Wing
      Editing … Further proof of the movie's existence! It's *mentioned* on an archived 1998 version of the actor's site! The archived page also has a phone number, and a search for that number brings up results for the actor--it might still be good! I'll try to ring him if he doesn't respond to my email within a week or two.
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    • Sir Larosenin
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      Sir Larosenin
      Editing … This is what I call a captivating story! Keep us posted on what happens next and reveal the title of that movie when you feel like you can disclose this information
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    • Husky Wing
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      Husky Wing
      Editing … There's probably no harm in sharing. I don't think anyone would snag it specifically to keep me from preserving the movie, or do anything to accidentally get the price raised. Here's the listing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/115939201533 - The Magnum Farce (1990), sequel to Filthy Harry, starring Joe Dimmick. Here's the oldest archive of his website https://web.archive.org/web/19981206040612/http://www.dimmicksdoubles.com/
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    • Husky Wing
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      Husky Wing
      Editing … Reached out to a VHS expert to hear about the best VHS to digital conversion pipeline. I've been wanting to investigate obscure tapes for a while, that's what led me to this particular tape.
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    • Husky Wing
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      Husky Wing
      Editing … Here's that blog post https://watchthisthing.blogspot.com/2015/07/filthy-harry-and-clint-eastwood.html - I've reached out to the magazine they cite at the end, since the archive link is offline.
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    • Nodley
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      Nodley
      Editing … Just bid on it
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    • Husky Wing
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      Husky Wing
      Editing … I don't wanna lose $500...
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    • Nodley
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      Nodley
      Editing … I bid $501
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    • Husky Wing
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      Husky Wing
      Editing … It's not an auction...
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    • Nodley
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      Nodley
      Editing … Dammit
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    • Nodley
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      Nodley
      Editing … Offer him $400
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    • Husky Wing
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      Husky Wing
      Editing … I'm not sure I can spare any hundred dollars. If I don't hear back from the lead actor, I might have to see if I can fundraise.
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    • Sir Larosenin
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      Sir Larosenin
      Editing … I mean, it's not the noblest thing to do, but you could also decide to f*ck off, this movie is probably not worth anyone's time anyway
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    • Husky Wing
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      Husky Wing
      Editing … No way!
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    • Husky Wing
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      Husky Wing
      Editing … He's offered me the tape for $400.
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    • Husky Wing
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      Husky Wing
      Editing … I'VE HEARD BACK FROM JOE'S WIFE :)
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    • Husky Wing
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      Husky Wing
      Editing … She's going to send me DVDs of Joe Dimmick's movies!
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    • Husky Wing
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      Husky Wing
      Editing … Joe Dimmick unfortunately passed away a little while ago. I was afraid this might have happened, since his online activity seems to have halted (2021 I think?). I'd even searched for obituaries, but I didn't think any of the results were for him.
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    • Husky Wing
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      Husky Wing
      Editing … By the way, my next rare media project is the complete film catalog by a cult I've been eyeing ;)
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    • Sir Larosenin
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      Sir Larosenin
      Editing … Is it a safe cult to do research on, or are they nut jobs like others that I won't even take the risk to mention?
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    • Husky Wing
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      Husky Wing
      Editing … This cult: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unarius_Academy_of_Science?useskin=vector - you can find a lot of their material on Vimeo, and their movie Arrival is on the Internet Archive.
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    • Nodley
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      Nodley
      Editing … A UFO religion eh
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    • Husky Wing
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      Husky Wing
      Editing … Yeah, and their beliefs surrounding reincarnation have some parallels with Scientology, or with the cult from The Master.
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    • Husky Wing
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      Husky Wing
      Editing … By the way, I do have the Joe Dimmick movies, but I was asked not to distribute them
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    • Sir Larosenin
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      Sir Larosenin
      Editing … So you dropped a few hundreds on a film that you alone will be able to watch? Not that I would watch them, but feels a bit like a waste
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    • Husky Wing
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      Husky Wing
      Editing … No, I got Joe's three movies from his widow. She sent them for free. The Ebay listing was just how I discovered them.
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    • Husky Wing
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      Husky Wing
      Editing … Dropping another late update. I really enjoyed the three movies. The third one is a re-cut of the first two, with a tighter pace and revised sound design. I liked the first movie the most. Maybe someday I'll be able to share them, but since I was asked not to make copies, they still gotta stay offline (though I was encouraged to see them with friends, in-person, and I did). By the way, the DVDs also came with a Dimmick's Doubles "phony dollar," which also says "The Good the Bad and the Illegal Tender."
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    (≡ˆ⊝ω⊝ˆ≡ )
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    Editing … (≡ˆ⊝ω⊝ˆ≡ )
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