Judging The IAC Competition

A forum for sharing views on the art of film, video and AV sequence making as well as on competitions, judging and festivals.
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Michael Slowe

Judging The IAC Competition

Post by Michael Slowe »

Willy, it was good to read some explanation concerning your Dickens film which
I watched with great interest at Chesterfield. I too found the atmosphere
rather stilted and could not quite put my finger on the cause of the problem
and you have helped identify it. Acting is a tremendous problem with amateur
film making and is the reason I stick to documentaries! Having said that
there were two films (one French, the other Czech) displaying quite wonderful
acting and I am trying to find out whether the actors in the Czech one (All
Photographs Returned) were professionals or drama students. Your production
values were of the highest, particularly the lighting and sound, and clearly
expert care went into the research, costumes and settings. Historical reconstructions
are often unconvincing I am afraid, notably on television where the absence
of unfamiliar archive footage is forcing producers to go the 'drama documentary'
route - it rarely works in my judgement.
Your thoughts on judges comments are interesting. I do find that whilst
they fulfil a useful function for younger producers those of us more experienced
ones know well enough if we have made a good or bad film and also where the
weaknesses lie - whether we can do anything about them is entirely another
matter! Artists (and film makers) generally find it difficult to change
(except Picasso!) and tend to go on very much as before.
Willy, are planning to go to the Guernsey Lily?

Michael Slowe.
Willy Van der Linden

Guernsey Lily Festival

Post by Willy Van der Linden »

"Michael Slowe" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:
Willy, are planning to go to the Guernsey Lily?
Michael Slowe.

Yes, I am, Michael, but I have not booked accommodation yet. It's a little
bit too early. I would like to go to Guernsey together with my wife Vera.
Her parents are both 85. They're in good health now, but my father-in-law
had serious problems some months ago. As you know last year I attented the
festival together with Urbain Appeltans and Etienne Maes. We enjoyed the
trip very much. We went by "seacat". After 1st October it's difficult to
get there. In autumn and winter there are no flights from Antwerp and Brussels.
It's always strange arriving on Guernsey in the evening. On the ocean the
horizon disappears in the darkness and you can see the lights of the island
in the distance. Last year Peter Port was very lively at that moment. There
were many people and cars in the High Street. Some pubs were overcrowded.
The following day we made a trip round the island. We loved the wind, the
rolling waves, the palm trees and flowers. It was fascinating to see that
so many people (60.000 ?) live on such a small but cosy island. It does not
have the atmosphere of "far from the madding crowd", but it gives a pleasant
feeling staying there. People say that Jersey is even better ! (Now I'm teasing
my Guernsey friends because I've read that there's some rivalry between both
islands.) No, we loved everything, and of course also the festival. It was
nice having a chat with everybody about making movies. The organizers did
their utmost to please their guests. I would like to recommend the Lily Festival
to all amateur film makers. By the way, congratulations with your new "best
documentary", Michael. You already won the trophy in 1982 with "Three Bags
Full" ! Fantastic !
Willy Van der Linden
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