Time to go?

[Ned Cordery]

Recently I posed a question on the IAC General regarding the definition of
what is a professional now and how this affects entries into IAC and other
Festivals that exclude films made by professionals. The silence has been
deafening! Then this morning I read that judges of amatuer films in the UK
feel that amateurs should not adopt a "position" in documentaries and should
be even handed. Perhaps it is time for me to go,

Ned Cordery

[AN]

"Ned Cordery" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

Recently I posed a question on the IAC General regarding the definition
of
what is a professional now and how this affects entries into IAC and other
Festivals that exclude films made by professionals. The silence has been
deafening! Then this morning I read that judges of amatuer films in the
UK
feel that amateurs should not adopt a "position" in documentaries and should
be even handed. Perhaps it is time for me to go,

Don't do that Ned. If you have any doubts why not enter IAC and
other festivals and include akinda CV. Just a brief outline of
both your amatuer and pro status. Then the first line judges can
decide whether you are eligable or not. Let them decide not you.

As another example, there is a Black Sea Love Film festival
coming soon in Rumania.
Probably loads of big romances well acted etc. Great tales of love
and passion no doubt. It's not an animation festival at all.

Cheeky me entered an animated film where pins are involved in a
'threesome'! Not only is it to be shown but goes forward to
the final! Maybe my pins will out act Greta Garbo and Co!!

So Ned, it pays to push the limits at times and let others decide
if you have pushed too far. So it isn't time for you to go.
Far from it.
Albert....pushy.

[Dave Watterson]

"Ned Cordery" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

Recently I posed a question on the IAC General regarding the definition
of
what is a professional now and how this affects entries into IAC and other
Festivals that exclude films made by professionals. The silence has been
deafening!

I think the problem is that everyone is as unsure as you are !! A working

definition is that movie making should not be your main income. But even
that
fails to allow for cases where someone who works in the industry makes a
film
on their own or with friends for which they are not paid and don't expect
to be.
Such films have won prizes in the past. In general I know the IAC competition
officers have tended to accept a movie where (say) a pro cameraman has been
the
director on the amateur project, but to resist cases where a pro director
makes
an amateur film as director.

By the way it is usually the Competition Officer who decides such issues
rather
than the judges.

Then this morning I read that judges of amatuer films in the UK

feel that amateurs should not adopt a "position" in documentaries and should
be even handed.

Popycock. Balderdash. Pants.
And I write as a judge of long-standing at club, regional, national and international
level. So there!

Why on Earth should a documentary NOT have a strong point of view? (Hurrah
for 'Bowling
for Columbine'!) You could make a case for saying that a state broadcasting

organisation should aim for balance ... but even then neutrality is not demanded.
On the BBC, you can have, for example, a rabidly pro-Tory play provided not
too long after there is a rabidly pro-Labour one.

Perhaps it is time for me to go,

NO. NAY. NEVER.

No. NAY. NEVER NO MORE.
You must play the wild Rover
For ever or more.

Dave (McDetermined) Watterson

[Ned C]

Thanks for the comments Dave and AN. My main income now is my pensions so
I suppose I can claim that I have had amateur status imposed on me. We will
shoot "Red Rock Blues" (AN has seen the script) when I get back from the
UK and will enter in next year's IAC and see what happens - it will not be
completed in time for this year. Thanks again,

Ned C

[michael.slowe]

"Ned C" <golw@tv.net> wrote:

Thanks for the comments Dave and AN. My main income now is my pensions so
I suppose I can claim that I have had amateur status imposed on me. We
will
shoot "Red Rock Blues" (AN has seen the script) when I get back from the
UK and will enter in next year's IAC and see what happens - it will not
be
completed in time for this year. Thanks again,

Ned C

Ned, I have been seeing this thread with amazement. All this nonesense about
amateur status is something cooked up by old fogeys (spelling?) dating back
to pre-war days.

I remember when amateur and professional cricketers had to use seperate
gates to go onto the field at Lord's, when rugby players were banned for
life for playing with a professional league player. Now thank goodness there
are just sportsmen just the same as there should be just film makers.

I appreciate that people are worried that a film maker may have an advantage
in competition if he makes films for a living. Well his only advantage as
far as I can see would be that he is a better film maker!! What is wrong
with that?

We should not be afraid of allowing any film maker from entering our competitions,
it should result in a higher standard which would be a good thing surely.
The only bar in my opinion that could be justified (if you have to erect
barriers) would be against specific films made for financial gain. Ned,
you are a film maker who was once lucky enough to be paid for doing what
we all love to do.

Michael Slowe, who has long had this bee in his bonnet.