AMPS Newsletter

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ned c
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AMPS Newsletter

Post by ned c »

As the costs of printing and mailing have risen yet again we have decided to deliver the AMPS Newsletter (Movie Makers) as a .pdf file. So, for a mere GB6 (USD8) you get six issues of the Newsletter, reduced entry fees for the Festival, some awards specifically for members and a look at the winners DVDs for free. (there is a set of DVDs circulating in Europe - does anyone know where they are?) We are still printing and mailing a few copies for those members who prefer to have the hard copy but we do hope to phase this out.

Aologies for the commercial!!!

ned c
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Dave Watterson
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Post by Dave Watterson »

The Canadians are doing the same thing with their impressive magazine.

So far as I know there is no question of IAC moving that way yet - though it may come in time. Around half of the IAC's income each year pays for the magazine.

I am surprised that more clubs do not make their magazines available online or by email. (I still prefer online because my email intray gets too many large files as it is.)

One tip: view the pdfs with foxit from www.foxitsoftware.com/downloads download the free version which is a small file. The program opens and displays pdfs very quickly. I much prefer it to Adobe's bloated reader program which is a massive file and is slow to open.

Dave
ned c
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Post by ned c »

We did debate putting the Newsletter on the website but that means anyone can read it without joining/paying or we have to create a "members only" access which we do not want to do.

ned c
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Willy
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Post by Willy »

ned c wrote:We did debate putting the Newsletter on the website but that means anyone can read it without joining/paying or we have to create a "members only" access which we do not want to do.

ned c
I understand
Yes, that's what I also thought when receiving the AMPS Newsletter on my email address. Be sure, Ned, that I am not going to send your magazine to anyone else, not even to my best friends. It's a matter of loyalty to your organisation. I understand the decision that has been taken.

Long live "Film and Video Magazine", but ...!
Everything is getting more and more expensive. I have the impression that our world economy in the West is not so sound anymore because of oil prizes etc... I must admit that I prefer receiving a magazine in the original way. I fear that "Film and Video Magazine" will be one of the following ones. I would regret this, Dave, but I would also understand. If it's bugetarily not possible, then it's not possible and then other ways of communication must be found.

Long live our IAC Website !
Good that we have our IAC-website. Congratulations again for those who actualize the website permanently. We must pat on Jan's back and also on those of the other friends like her Scottish husband who keep the IAC-website more than alive.

Forum
I have the impression that even our forum is read by many many friends. As long as the articles are serious and interesting and the language is "decent" and not aggressive. I am for freedom of speech but in a kind way. Up to now our forum has been very friendly.

Useful
From time to time I receive individual messages from friends who prefer to communicate in this way. They refer to things that I have written and that they have read on the forum. It's a positive sign because it means that our IAC-website is considered to be as something very useful.
Willy Van der Linden
Michael Slowe
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AMPS Newsletter

Post by Michael Slowe »

The news that AMPS now distribute electronically their newsletter was forecast and I understand the necessity for this but PLEASE don't send the IAC magazine down the same track, it would be a disaster in my opinion. AMPS is, after all, what it says it is - a newsletter. Film & Video Maker is a magazine, rather in the manner of the long lamented Amateur Cine World (aren't I very old?) and its successor, Movie Maker. Those two magazines were responsible for launching the film making careers of so many film makers, myself included. Many, Ken Russell among them, went on to make worldwide names for themselves. Our magazine could yet develop along those lines. Surely cost cannot be a consideration when the matter is that important.

I know things are different today and people sem to think that computer screens can fulfill every function imaginable but I don't. I hate reading from a screen and don't believe that films can properly be appreciated on a computer screen either although I'm certain I am fighting a losing battle. A magazine that can be picked up and laid down without having to go into a special room and turn switches and wait for a machine to 'boot up' must be worth preserving.
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Willy
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Re: AMPS Newsletter

Post by Willy »

Michael Slowe wrote:The news that AMPS now distribute electronically their newsletter was forecast and I understand the necessity for this but PLEASE don't send the IAC magazine down the same track, I know things are different today and people sem to think that computer screens can fulfill every function imaginable but I don't. .
I agree with you for 100 %, Michael. Some days ago I received "Film and Video Maker" issue no 4. Imagine that you must read all this on a screen. To be honest it was already difficult to read the AMPS Newsletter on a screen. Of course you can also print it. Anyway I understand our American friends because I think that the AMPS-letter is only distributed electronically to overseas members. Some weeks ago I sent an issue of our Belgian national magazine to Dave Watterson. Looks very professional, doesn't it, Dave ? Though I prefer the FM Magazine. In Belgium we must share the pages with photographers.  They form the majority. The Belgian magazine is also edited by an organisation called CvB which is in fact a department of the Ministry of Culture. It is the result of a politicizing process. Hopefully this will not happen in Britain. Now we have a prestigious national magazine, but more
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Willy
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Re: AMPS Newsletter

Post by Willy »

[quote="Willy"][quote="Michael Slowe"]
(Sorry I go on. I pressed the wrong button)

but more and more n-c filmmakers and photogrpahers are ignored. The photographs in our national magazine are impressive ? I was surprised that an article appeared about BIAFF 2008.
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen »

In my humble opinion FVM is missing out......

there is a huge market for a quality Film & Video Makers Magazine just like our very own IAC edition...

a little tweaking here and there to appeal to non IAC members, and a place found on the shelves of WH Smith and the like, should see our magazine well into the future.... previous attempts at Video mags did not come anywhere near the width and breadth of experience the IAC membership has... we don't just do reviews on products to please advertisers, the FVM prints real down to earth practical advice!

surely it should be in there getting a slice of the market?

Although I try and digitise most paperwork ... I also think that digitising the FVM would be a disastrous move...

but there a couple of interesting e-books here for those interested...

http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page

I'll send another link when you have read them...


:wink:
Stephen

Film making is not a matter of Life and Death
It's much more important than that.
Michael Slowe
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AMPS Newsletter

Post by Michael Slowe »

I was going to suggest that the magazine be upgraded in the hope (expectation?) that it might get a distribution agreement with one of the national wholesalers and end up in the newsagents. I fell short of this to avoid people bemoaning a step towards commercialism. We might even make the top shelf if the pictures are right (joke).

The majority of video magazines seem to be fixated with new equipment and ignore the skills and artistic endeavour of actually making films and there is space for this. We would have to be a touch less inward looking and be more connected with the wider world but it could be done.
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Dave Watterson
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Post by Dave Watterson »

Without getting into all the detailed problems of distribution, advertising etc there is a fundamental problem about any notion of making Film & Video Maker available to the public.

IAC is a charity. As such it is not allowed to sell a magazine to the public, accept payment for advertising in it etc.

In the past the magazine was published by a separate company called "Film Maker Publications" which was wholly owned by IAC. The logic (?) of that legally is that a separate trading company can operate buying/selling etc as normal and donate its profits to the charity behind it. In our case of course it never made profits but required subvention from the IAC funds.

IAC was allowed to do that under a loophole which says charities can publish magazines/newsletters etc to keep their members informed, especially about general meetings.

Film Maker Publications has been wound up now.

But on a practical note ... if several otherwise successful publishing companies cannot make a go of a movie making magazine why do we think we could do so?

Dave
Brian Saberton
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Post by Brian Saberton »

Bear with me on this story guys, but for the last fortnight I've been painting the exterior woodwork on my house. On Thursday morning I was having a wasps nest dealt with so painting work had to be temporarily suspended and just at that moment along came the postman with the latest edition of FVM. Suddenly what could have been a dull, wasted morning was bright again and I settled down with a coffee and the magazine for a thoroughly good read. I totally agree 100% with Michael that we shouldn't even contemplate thinking about having this wonderful magazine reduced to an electronic version. I keep my copies as they are a valuable reference on all sorts of things and a printed magazine is far more user friendly and versatile than an electronic version. Another important point to remember is that, in modern parlance, it represents considerable added value for members.
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stingman
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Post by stingman »

I can go along with that Brian. Please keep it in the paper form. I don`t receive the mag but I sometimes have access to it. It is a good mag. When I have my weekly soak in the bath, what else should I read in it? It may get the odd soaking! Please don`t take that away from me!

Be good....

Stingman
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fraught
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Post by fraught »

Just off topic slightly... but it does involve AMPS.

I had an email revealing the results of the Festival this year... am i allowed to discuss it? Because the Festival isnt until next week, i just want to know how things stand?
Only Boring People Get Bored
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ned c
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Post by ned c »

Please discuss the AMPS results, they have been sent to the winners and the IAC webmaster and should appear on the website soon so feel free to discuss.

ned c
ned c
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Post by ned c »

Back to the IAC magazine. We did have two "camcorder" magazines here in the USA, we now have just one "Videomaker" and just to let you know they have trademarked the word videomaker and we received a cease and desist letter from them when we used the word in a context not refering to their magazine. The magazine is glossy, with high quality graphics and layout and like most American magazines completely in thrall to their advertisers. I await their lawyers letter, this is America.

ned c
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