Returning to a subject which always niggles me ... how can we get the best
amateur movies seen more widely?
We have talked about the limitations of festivals - usually a modest audience
and sometimes split over different creening rooms - with each movie shown
once.
What about libraries?
The only ones I know about are:
a) UNICA - excellent collection but available only to national federations
(in UK that means the IAC) and "Friends of UNICA" a fund-raising support
group.
b) IAC Film & Video Library - mainly stocks collections of movies, such as
IAC Award Winners, Guernsey Award Winners, a showreel from a club or local
festival and so on. If you want to be selective an screen individual movies
you have to hire a lot of other stuff as well.
c) a handful of clubs operate a library of their members' work.
How else can we get films seen?
Dave
Getting amateur films SEEN
-
Michael Slowe
Re: Getting amateur films SEEN
"Dave Watterson" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:
Maker's Ten Best competition which, in its heyday in the 1960's and 70's,
had two shows in the National Film Theatre on the South Bank together with
a whole show of Granada's TV programme Clapperboard, on which I was lucky
enough to be interviewed at least twice. We also got reviewed in the national
newspapers and I treasure one cutting from the Sunday Observer.
It is not true by the way Dave that films in the IAC library are only available
in set programmes. Many of my own together with some of the best American
film school films of the 70's are available singly.
You do highlight a current problem though and I feel that we should perhaps
liaise with today's film schools and universities where perhaps a wider forum
for amateur (non commercial?) films could be created. Also some of the TV
companies could be cultivated since they might welcome something different
to show. I would not be too optimistic though since their idea of amateur
films is people doing silly things like falling of cream cakes into swimming
pools!
Michael S.
The best showcase for amateur films was of course the long lamented MovieReturning to a subject which always niggles me ... how can we get the best
amateur movies seen more widely?
We have talked about the limitations of festivals - usually a modest audience
and sometimes split over different creening rooms - with each movie shown
once.
What about libraries?
The only ones I know about are:
a) UNICA - excellent collection but available only to national federations
(in UK that means the IAC) and "Friends of UNICA" a fund-raising support
group.
b) IAC Film & Video Library - mainly stocks collections of movies, such
as
IAC Award Winners, Guernsey Award Winners, a showreel from a club or local
festival and so on. If you want to be selective an screen individual movies
you have to hire a lot of other stuff as well.
c) a handful of clubs operate a library of their members' work.
How else can we get films seen?
Maker's Ten Best competition which, in its heyday in the 1960's and 70's,
had two shows in the National Film Theatre on the South Bank together with
a whole show of Granada's TV programme Clapperboard, on which I was lucky
enough to be interviewed at least twice. We also got reviewed in the national
newspapers and I treasure one cutting from the Sunday Observer.
It is not true by the way Dave that films in the IAC library are only available
in set programmes. Many of my own together with some of the best American
film school films of the 70's are available singly.
You do highlight a current problem though and I feel that we should perhaps
liaise with today's film schools and universities where perhaps a wider forum
for amateur (non commercial?) films could be created. Also some of the TV
companies could be cultivated since they might welcome something different
to show. I would not be too optimistic though since their idea of amateur
films is people doing silly things like falling of cream cakes into swimming
pools!
Michael S.
-
AN
Re: Getting amateur films SEEN
"Dave Watterson" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:
show
our films. Simple eh? Especially at times when 3 or more channels all have
sport on at the same time.
Albert...a bit of a sport.
Returning to a subject which always niggles me ... how can we get the best
amateur movies seen more widely?
Have a revolution. Take over the TV companies and in place of sport rubbishHow else can we get films seen?
show
our films. Simple eh? Especially at times when 3 or more channels all have
sport on at the same time.
Albert...a bit of a sport.
-
Dave Watterson
Re: Getting amateur films SEEN
The Ten Best Road Show used to play in all sorts of places including a number
of film societies (film appreciation groups). Was that simply because of
the national publicity Moviemaker magazine could give it?
Why don't we do something similar now with the collections of the Festival
Winners each year? In fact we could add value with some video material of
award presentations or brief intros from the moviemakers. It could be a popular
open evening for many cine and video clubs since the best amateur work appeals
to a wider public than just the committed amateur moviemakers.
Dave
of film societies (film appreciation groups). Was that simply because of
the national publicity Moviemaker magazine could give it?
Why don't we do something similar now with the collections of the Festival
Winners each year? In fact we could add value with some video material of
award presentations or brief intros from the moviemakers. It could be a popular
open evening for many cine and video clubs since the best amateur work appeals
to a wider public than just the committed amateur moviemakers.
Dave
-
Paul Miley
Re: Getting amateur films SEEN
Albert is right. We need a revolution. How about
a subscription channel dedicated to amateur films
and professional 'shorts.' We could all contribute!
I'd certainly pay a few quid per month.
I use to like watching 'Freescreen' on TV (Meridian
region), lots of variety there.
So, Albert for Exec Producer???
Cheers
Paul
a subscription channel dedicated to amateur films
and professional 'shorts.' We could all contribute!
I'd certainly pay a few quid per month.
I use to like watching 'Freescreen' on TV (Meridian
region), lots of variety there.
So, Albert for Exec Producer???
Cheers
Paul
-
AN
Re: Getting amateur films SEEN
"Paul Miley" <paul.miley@ntlworld.com> wrote:
But TV cares nought about amateur film UNLESS it suits them
to ask for it as some fill in for an historic program they
wish to make.
Whenever TV producers ask for such material on IAC general etc
I always write to 'em and give 'em a piece of my mind about
their attitude.
Albert.....now mindless.
No. If we're going to have a revolution I'll be the rev counter!Albert is right. We need a revolution. How about
a subscription channel dedicated to amateur films
and professional 'shorts.' We could all contribute!
I'd certainly pay a few quid per month.
I use to like watching 'Freescreen' on TV (Meridian
region), lots of variety there.
So, Albert for Exec Producer???
But TV cares nought about amateur film UNLESS it suits them
to ask for it as some fill in for an historic program they
wish to make.
Whenever TV producers ask for such material on IAC general etc
I always write to 'em and give 'em a piece of my mind about
their attitude.
Albert.....now mindless.
-
Michael Slowe
Re: Getting amateur films SEEN
"AN" <AnimatioN@btopenworld.com> wrote:
80's when there where "friends at court", particularly at Granada.
Michael Slowe.
But Albert, as you would remember, it was not always thus in the 70's and"Paul Miley" <paul.miley@ntlworld.com> wrote:
Albert is right. We need a revolution. How about
a subscription channel dedicated to amateur films
and professional 'shorts.' We could all contribute!
I'd certainly pay a few quid per month.
I use to like watching 'Freescreen' on TV (Meridian
region), lots of variety there.
So, Albert for Exec Producer???
No. If we're going to have a revolution I'll be the rev counter!
But TV cares nought about amateur film UNLESS it suits them
to ask for it as some fill in for an historic program they
wish to make.
Whenever TV producers ask for such material on IAC general etc
I always write to 'em and give 'em a piece of my mind about
their attitude.
Albert.....now mindless.
80's when there where "friends at court", particularly at Granada.
Michael Slowe.
-
Michael Carter
Re: Getting amateur films SEEN
There is nothing wider than the broadband web. My movies go up onto my web
site and I have dozens there. Why not put your movies up on your web site,
too? A film club could have a web site devoted to hosting films on line.
The quality is there already to play them full screen full motion. Go for
it.
Michael Carter
site and I have dozens there. Why not put your movies up on your web site,
too? A film club could have a web site devoted to hosting films on line.
The quality is there already to play them full screen full motion. Go for
it.
Michael Carter
-
Cinema For Thurso Group
Re: Getting amateur films SEEN
Why not just apply for a grant to tour the films we make in our local region.
There is money available for such things without giving up the "amateur"
status.
There is money available for such things without giving up the "amateur"
status.
-
Dave Watterson
Re: Getting amateur films SEEN
"Cinema For Thurso Group" <canuimagine@btopenworld.com> wrote:
Some groups are already under an obligation to show work - it is often part
of the agreement when they get lottery grants for equipment. If modest funds
were available to pay for transport and a bacon buttie en route ... and maybe
some advertising to ensure bums on seats ... and guarantees against loss
for hall hire ...
Any ideas where we should look for funds? The old Scottish Film Council
used to be quite open to ideas like that but some English Arts Boards took
the line that they only supported professional artists. Even film (appreciation)
societies had problems getting grants to show professional movies.
I am not a devotee of the grant-grabbing culture, but people put their hands
in their own pockets a great deal in the amateur movie making game and a
little help would be welcome.
Those of you in Yorkshire might note that most film societies there are having
an evening of local archive movies around March 2004 - I'll bet some of those
programmes contain amateur movies.
Dave (ex-treasurer) Watterson
Now that IS an idea.Why not just apply for a grant to tour the films we make in our local region.
There is money available for such things without giving up the "amateur"
status.
Some groups are already under an obligation to show work - it is often part
of the agreement when they get lottery grants for equipment. If modest funds
were available to pay for transport and a bacon buttie en route ... and maybe
some advertising to ensure bums on seats ... and guarantees against loss
for hall hire ...
Any ideas where we should look for funds? The old Scottish Film Council
used to be quite open to ideas like that but some English Arts Boards took
the line that they only supported professional artists. Even film (appreciation)
societies had problems getting grants to show professional movies.
I am not a devotee of the grant-grabbing culture, but people put their hands
in their own pockets a great deal in the amateur movie making game and a
little help would be welcome.
Those of you in Yorkshire might note that most film societies there are having
an evening of local archive movies around March 2004 - I'll bet some of those
programmes contain amateur movies.
Dave (ex-treasurer) Watterson
-
Cinema For Thurso Group
Re: Getting amateur films SEEN
Well I have no idea about south of the boarder, it's a whole different set-up
there.
As a director of a local arts company I have been speaking to our Area Cultural
Co-ordinater who has a strong interest in film, an area often neglected in
arts strategies. He has givin some hints that funds can be had for exhibition
purposes of amateur film.
It's all part of findings from the Scottish Executives "Cultural Strategy
For Scotland" document which was researched a few years back by a team who
toured Scotland to communicate directly with artists in all fields. The document
is very vague in itself but an underlying common-sense has come out of it
and each regional council is now expected to provide means to artists at
all levels and interests. Maybe the English Arts Council could take a leaf
out of this book.
It's interesting that you mention that amateur film is likely to be part
of the programme of archive film being shown in Yorkshire. A lot of archive
film that is so highly valued for it's often historical or life-noting contents
has been shot by amateurs. Their work commonly dismissed by professionals
is never taken seriously until the cameraman is long dead and our way of
life has changed beyond the films contents. Suddenly the footage takes on
great importance as a record of our times. It would be nice if it could be
seen as important enough to be viewed in our times and not left only for
the next generations enjoyment- let's have a look at it now.
Perhaps the aspect of not seeking grants comes from two things though only
one of which is really pertinant: Grant funded ventures are tied to commitments
that may be outwith the makers interests taking away some amount of control
over ones creation: There may simply be an element of pride in having paid
for the whole thing yourself and not wanting to be seen as needing help.
Loss of control of our prized screen epics is daunting and it is certainly
worth taking into account the demands that may be made in return for funding.
If they take away to much of your personal control then you are not being
served to your interests and needs e.g. if you're happy showing your work
for a two week run in your home town you don't need someone telling you it's
got to be shown in Nedsville 20 miles down the road just to get the funding.
A work of ones own is an achievement- something to be proud of but it's no
use being proud if you can't afford to premiere the peice, the money has
to come from somewhere, why should we be the only ones forking out for arts
sake?
there.
As a director of a local arts company I have been speaking to our Area Cultural
Co-ordinater who has a strong interest in film, an area often neglected in
arts strategies. He has givin some hints that funds can be had for exhibition
purposes of amateur film.
It's all part of findings from the Scottish Executives "Cultural Strategy
For Scotland" document which was researched a few years back by a team who
toured Scotland to communicate directly with artists in all fields. The document
is very vague in itself but an underlying common-sense has come out of it
and each regional council is now expected to provide means to artists at
all levels and interests. Maybe the English Arts Council could take a leaf
out of this book.
It's interesting that you mention that amateur film is likely to be part
of the programme of archive film being shown in Yorkshire. A lot of archive
film that is so highly valued for it's often historical or life-noting contents
has been shot by amateurs. Their work commonly dismissed by professionals
is never taken seriously until the cameraman is long dead and our way of
life has changed beyond the films contents. Suddenly the footage takes on
great importance as a record of our times. It would be nice if it could be
seen as important enough to be viewed in our times and not left only for
the next generations enjoyment- let's have a look at it now.
Perhaps the aspect of not seeking grants comes from two things though only
one of which is really pertinant: Grant funded ventures are tied to commitments
that may be outwith the makers interests taking away some amount of control
over ones creation: There may simply be an element of pride in having paid
for the whole thing yourself and not wanting to be seen as needing help.
Loss of control of our prized screen epics is daunting and it is certainly
worth taking into account the demands that may be made in return for funding.
If they take away to much of your personal control then you are not being
served to your interests and needs e.g. if you're happy showing your work
for a two week run in your home town you don't need someone telling you it's
got to be shown in Nedsville 20 miles down the road just to get the funding.
A work of ones own is an achievement- something to be proud of but it's no
use being proud if you can't afford to premiere the peice, the money has
to come from somewhere, why should we be the only ones forking out for arts
sake?