ok so for a project, i'm trying to construct a replica of a thing in the film industry called a timecode slate (clapboard)
something like this: **broken link removed**
it doesn't have to function the same, it just needs to look like it --
basically, i'm trying to find an 8 digit LCD readout like the one displayed on that timecode slate, that preferably would count up (like a stop watch, maybe even with a reset function) in a similar size
How about an Atmel AVR Butterfly board. About $20 from Digi-Key. Use AVRStudio, WinAVR (GCC) for development. Take a look at www.smileymicros.com for book on microcomputer C programming book that's written around the Butterfly.