Meet The Collectors #014 – Darren Cooper
Welcome to Meet The Collectors number 14, which sees Darren Cooper talk us through his collecting from VHS, through LaserDisc (ah…. LaserDisc. Happy days…) through to steelbooks.
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How did you first get into steelbook collecting, and what was your first purchase?
I had always been an avid film collector from vhs through to importing laserdiscs (great art with each release) and region 1 DVDs. Then I started buying blurays when the PS3 came out and ordered Wanted on Bluray and received the Steelbook. My first proper Steelbook purchase was Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy just for the great art. The constant re-release steels are over saturating the market and prices seem to be going up and up.
Do you have a favourite steelbook in your collection?
The Mondo steelbooks are very cool at the moment with a lot of effort going into each release. Also the ultimate Guardians of the Galaxy release from blufans is a favourite just for the book of lyrics to awesome mix tape vol 1.
Would you ever buy a steelbook just for the art, if you didn’t like the movie?
My partner likes Begin Again and I bought her the nova media release just for the lenti art. I was never a fan of Walkman Guardians of the Galaxy art, I know it has its fans.
Conversely, would you buy a steelbook of a movie you love even if you hate the art?
I’m definitely not a fan of the new Star Wars Steelbooks art, I only bought Empire Strikes Back from the collection.
What movie that doesn’t currently have a steelbook really deserves one?
Fright Night needs a Steelbook, Twilight Time released a great 30th anniversary edition on amaray with loads of extras.
Do you store your collection neatly away, or is it all proudly on display?
My full slip jumbo steels are stored neatly away with the rest of my collection stacked in ikea bookshelves on show.
Do you collect anything else?
I’ve started to collect Pop! vinyls and strayed from the steelbooks to these briefly. Conan’s monster and unmasked Jason are my favourites. My Scream Factory and Arow collection is always growing, the Hellraiser release last month is amazing. I also have been collecting Empire magazine Jan 1996.
What do you family and friends think of your collection?
Dad stills says ‘it’s only a film’ about steelbooks and thinks the prices I pay can be crazy.
