Independent 8

Barry Attwood had worked for CEC and brought it out when Gary Watson decided to leave the 8mm market.  Along with Michael Attwood, they formed a small company ‘Independent 8’  and this additional stock enabled them to begin trading in earnest. They operated from home, in a purpose built shed, which was fitted out and filled with the stock. They specialised in trailers  and ‘Value for money’ reels with at least three trailers on one reel. These would include “McClintock” & “The War Wagon”, 2 John Wayne trailers in Scope, “Mission Impossible” – “Eraser” & “Total Recall”, “Mars Attacks”,  “The Night Before Christmas (2 vers.) & “The Nutty Professor”.  One of their best sellers was the Scope “Star Wars” special edition re-release  trailers.  Also received well were two reels called “Ads and Things” which had adverts plus daysets etc. There was a couple of reels of ‘coming next items’, and a claymation animated American reel.  But sales of new product were waning and unable to compete with the many fine full length titles coming onto the market, it was decided to concentrate on selling used films and equipment, which they do to this day. They have recently moved home (and premises) to Weeley, which is just outside Clacton-on-Sea in Essex and have built a large wooden Film unit which is being fitted out at the moment, then they can spread out. Barry says “This is my 25th year of trading, which can’t be bad these days”.