PUREvil's Blog

By: Ron Berry

Movie Memorabilia can be just about anything associated with a movie, actor, actress, famous theaters, even film studios. Usually the list includes posters, photographs, scripts, film cells even costumes and props. There's almost no limit, assuming you're willing to do the research and legwork. You may one day, through research and patience find someone who has that vintage lobby card with Charlie Chan in "The Shanghai Chest" who'll no doubt be waiting for just the right buyer. To be successful, you'll need to be knowledgeable of an items value and be able verify its authenticity.

What's The Appeal?

Collecting movie memorabilia is just a hobby for most people. They like the idea of "owning" a little piece of movie history. An item might remind them of their favorite movie or movie star. For others, it's an investment. Recently, a Sean Connery action figure, along with various 007 model clothes, was auctioned off at Christie's Auction House in London. The purchase price: $830. So, while it's purely enjoyment for most, it can be very lucrative for the savvy and knowledgeable investor.

Whether you're collecting movie memorabilia for fun or investment, you'll want to be aware of a few simple guidelines.

Quality vs Quantity

It almost goes without saying but usually, the better the condition, the more valuable it is. Don't let emotion carry you away. This is a time for selectivity not impulse buying. I don't care how much you love John Wayne, a cardboard cutout of the great actor is a great find but if it's missing an arm, it will of course be less valuable - unless you have verifiable proof that it was John Wayne who tore off the arm! In that case less really would be more.

What's It Worth?

What makes an item valuable. It boils down to how bad someone wants it and how much they're willing to pay for it. Generally, the older an item in the more valuable it is, assuming it's in good condition. How rare is it? If there's only a handful in existance, then it will surely fetch a much higher price than if there's a million of them. Its supply and demand. People want something more and are willing to pay more if it's rare.

Six Degrees

How closely is the memorabilia associated with the actor or film? Is it a table that appeared in a film or a handwritten letter personally signed by the star? Although the table might be valuable, the letter would be far more in demand and if it's original, would be considered rare, driving the value (and cost) up even more.

Popularity

How well known is the movie or actor associated with the memorabilia. A hat worn by an extra in a movie made 20 years ago would technically be memorabilia but would command very little on the market or at auction. The piece usually has to be associated with someone or something famous. It doesn't matter if he or she was the hero or the villain.

What's Your Pleasure?

Consider your own tastes. Do you like old movies or are the newer releases more your style? Star Wars, Spiderman, The Indiana Jones Series are all popular right now. But maybe your tastes lean to more vintage offerings. Casablanca, Gone With The Wind, Wizard of Oz... Katherine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, Jimmy Durante all had "Big Star" appeal and still have avid and caring fans who would no doubt pay handsome amounts for quality movie memorabilia connected to them. Ultimately for the hobbyist it's a matter of what pleases you.

By using a little common sense and following these simple guidelines, you'll have a fun and possibly profitable adventure hunting down your favorite movie memorabilia.

Article Source: http://www.postfreearticles.com

 

 

Ron Berry is a freelance journalist who owns MovieBilia.net moviebilia.net - a Movie Memorabilia site with local listings, articles and reviews.

By: Ron Berry

Late in June of 1997 in London a publishing company released what was to become a cultural phenomenon. The book's author, a teacher, would go on to become a household name. Her journey would take her from Gloucestershire, England, where she was born, through Exeter, a town in the south coast of England where she went to university, to a job as a research assistant for Amnesty International and on to teaching. Joanne Rowling's lifelong dream was to be a writer...she succeeded.

Since the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (the title was edited to Sorcerer's Stone in America because it was thought we wouldn't associate magic and wizardry with the word Philosopher), the book now a series, has garnered world-wide attention, countless fans, numerous awards and accolades, drawing attention from film producers, video game makers and merchandisers.

The list of awards Rowling's has received?
- 4 Whitaker Platinum Book Awards in 2001
- 3 Nestle Smarties Book Prizes in '97 and again in '99
- 2 Scottish Arts Council Book Awards
- the first ever Whitbread children's book of the year award in '99
- and in 2006, the WHSmith book of the year

Oh, and her little friend, Harry Potter, who borrows his name from Rowling's childhood neighbors, is a legend FROM her own mind.

Fans waited in long lines as the hours tick down to the official release date of each new book... many times at midnight! Special security measures had to be taken to ensure no books were sold before the actual date. Book store owners had to sign legal documents insuring they would not even open the boxes before then.

Numerous conventions, conferences and symposiums have sprung up all over the world. People couldn't and apparently still can't get enough of Harry and his clan. These gatherings feature speakers, book and film discussions, games and costumes. Just recently (May 2007)the was a conference in New Orleans - Phoenix Rising which ran from May 17th to the 21st.

From the site:

"The conference will examine the novels, the movies, and the extraordinary fan phenomenon during the day; then, attendees will revel with the beat of the Crescent City herself rising from ash and flame when evening advances."

For those of you who might have missed it, don't worry, there's another schedules for August 7-11, 2008, in Chicago.

The impact on the publishing world was immense. So great was the clamor for each new book in the series that the New York Times was persuaded to reformat its best-seller list. Harry was taking up too many slots on the list. In 2002 just before the release of Goblet Of Fire the Times created a separate list for Harry Potter and the children's book category.

The New York Times wasn't alone. FedEx used 9,000 trucks whose sole purpose was to deliver the Goblet Of Fire to eager fans. Book retailers like Barnes and Noble, Amazon and Borders pre-sold books in spectacular amounts - 700,000 copies of Goblets Of Fire. Sales records were shattered with each new release.

In all the books alone have sold over 325 million copies worldwide. With the subsequent films, video games and merchandising that followed, Joanne, aka J. K. Rowling by her fans, is a billionaire.

In spite of her success, or maybe because of it, she and Harry have their critics. Right wing conservatives claim the premise of the series is designed to entice the younger generation over to the dark side by glorifying witchcraft. Personally, I think Bewitched already did that. But if you're really that concerned that a work of pure fantasy will convince your child it's ok to turn his 6th grade math teacher into the next slimy little spokesman for Geico, then learn calculus and help your child with his homework! On a side note - I have nothing against the Geico gecko, I think using cute little animals to sell insurance is brilliant.

For those of you dealing with separation anxiety over the departure of Harry and his gang, fear not! Although Rowling has decided to retire the teenaged wizard, she does plan to write an encyclopedia, an epilogue, which would detail some background information derived from the narrative, what happens after Deathly Hallows and reveals who will step into the Hogwart Headmaster's position.

Article Source: http://www.postfreearticles.com

 

 

Ron Berry is a freelance journalist who writes for Essay Street and operates Moviebilia.net - Movie Memorabilia moviebilia.net a Movie Memorabilia site