This forum...

IAC General Discussions
ned c
Posts: 910
Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2007 3:39 pm
Location: Dammeron Valley USA

Post by ned c »

This is a very specialised Forum, it is an offshoot of the IAC aimed at the n-c (amateur) film maker, a small and threatened species. Most film makers these days don't differentiate between professional and amateur, they are just film makers and they show their wares on YouTube and similar sites. Why should they pay good money to send them off to Festivals that have little or no reognition or prestige and a small and transitory audience?

VISIBILITY is the problem for the IAC and similar organisations and this is reflected in this Forum and its low membership. How many outside links are there to the IAC site and this Forum? What does this Forum offer that I can't get at the COW, Pinnacle, Apple, shootingpeople, HDV sites?

I know this tends to be my hobby horse but the n-c world needs a central source that supports and promotes n-c films and film makers. The IAC has a great start with the music licencing program but how many people outside the membership are aware of this?

Here's my offering to the Council:

1. Close down the magazine and reallocate the funds to making free copies of all the winning BIAFF films available to members with IAC all over the disc its contents and the cover. Hope people copy it and send to their friends.
2. Send out an e-mail newsletter every month.
3. Welcome film students and others in education into the fold with special awards and recognition.
4. Get involved with other film making organisations - how about trying to help breath life into the F&V group at the RPS?

What finishes off organisations like the IAC in the end are a failure of ideas because it is so difficult to get anyone to be a member of the management and inject new thinking.

Enough said, I will stay on my hobby horse and ride off into the night

ned c
Mike Shaw

Post by Mike Shaw »

I'd agree with all of that to some extent - except item 1. Why on earth would you want to shut down the last remaining video making magazine left in the UK? Not everyone, even these days, has access to the internet for online magazines - and even if they had, I for one like to read the magazine where and when I like - on a train, maybe - and not have to sit at my machine to read it. The winning films are put on DVDs now, as far as I am aware - and the cost of getting hold of one is nominal.

Perhaps it would be better to revisit the content of the magazine, rather than simply drop it altogether? (Haven't we been down that road?)
User avatar
billyfromConsett
Posts: 489
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 3:27 pm
Location: Consett

Post by billyfromConsett »

I'd go along with all Ned's suggestions, apart from dropping our magazine. I know too many people who aren't comfortable with computers, don't like the concept of forum/message boards and computer interaction etc, and would really miss the mag.

People who use youtube often get little in the way of crits from movie enthusiasts. This may be useful to them if they send their movies to competitions like Biaff.

It does seem ironic that there are masses out there making films, there must be more media courses than ever, yet organisations like ours struggle to make inroad into those masses.
Brian Saberton
Posts: 355
Joined: Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:00 pm
Location: Scotland

Post by Brian Saberton »

My view of the IAC obviously differs from some contributors to this forum and I just don't recognise the organisation characterised by some of the rather negative opinions that have been expressed. I'm not on Council (believe me I have been approached on more than one occasion) so don't have an axe to grind. Maybe it's because I've worked on a few BIAFF judging panels, have attended as many Festivals and AGM's as possible over a long period of time and have made friends with a lot of people that I've been able to see at first hand the massive (and I do mean massive) amount of hard work that has been going on behind the scenes not just to run the IAC but also to move the organisation forward, and all done voluntarily in peoples spare time out of a love of movies and a desire to help. I don't know if you've noticed, information is being circulated as I speak, but the IAC has had to move to new office accommodation this week because the current landlords went into liquidation last Wednesday. Can you imagine what that involved for the people concerned? Perhaps a bit more visible support and appreciation for the work done by members of Council and regional committees would not go amiss.

For me there are four things that represent what I personally get out of the IAC.

Good fellowship (I've made some great friends)
Supporting non-commercial film making and audio visual
The fantastic copyright license scheme (a good USP to attract members)
The invaluable magazine (another USP)

But then, as the old saying goes, you get out what you put in.

I was once giving a talk to one of the regional film festivals and I remarked at the end that if we didn't have an IAC we'd have to invent it. I sometimes wonder if we truly realise just what we have here and how lucky we are.

As far as this forum is concerned I suppose it can go a bit "quiet" from time to time and be a bit repetitious but if new contributors don't initially find a topic to interest them why don't they be a bit more positive and start one? Communication isn't a one way street. Personally I have a look at the forum every day and if I go a few days without contributing it's only because I'm working on other projects. We all lead busy lives so maybe it isn't too surprising that contributions tend to come from a relatively small number of people. I don't mind if people just come on here to read the threads; after all it's a bit like film making - we all need an audience!
Brian Saberton
Mike Shaw

Post by Mike Shaw »

Hear hear!!
User avatar
Willy
Posts: 711
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 10:42 pm
Location: Antwerp Belgium

Post by Willy »

My view of the IAC obviously differs from some contributors to this forum and I just don't recognise the organisation characterised by some of the rather negative opinions that have been expressed.
I've been absent on this forum for some weeks. I moved into a new flat. My wife and I were not able to watch TV. We were not able to phone someone. We could only use our mobile phones outside ! We were not able to use internet and to read this forum. Today was Liberation Day ! A technician installed everything.

By the way ... my new address is Hoogstraat 105/bus 5, 2580 Beerzel (Putte), Belgium. I was happy when I received "Film and Video Maker". Dear Friends, we are spoilt ! The IAC is great. The mag is great ! This forum is great ! I missed all these things.

What Brian said is also my feeling. Thanks to the IAC I found many new friends. As I am a busy bee I do not always have the time to communicate with them bilaterally or to write personal messages to them, but this forum helps.

I wonder how the economical situation will change in Britain and on the continent the next few months or years. Some of our national media like newspapers have made some of their staff/workers redundant. Life will be more and more difficult. Let's hope that Film and Video Maker can survive.

Now I take the opportunity to wish all my British and American friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !
Willy Van der Linden
Mike Shaw

Post by Mike Shaw »

Welcome back Willy ... hope the new flat lives up to expectations!
Post Reply