People who assume judges always favour "their own sort of films" might reflect
on the Guernsey Lily Festival results this year.
Among the five final judges were Peter and Richard Rouillard, who are keen
fiction film makers, and Mr. Fiction Movies himself, Ken Wilson. Yet they
chose Jean-Pierre Hue's "The Better the Harvest" as the overall winner and
my spies on the island tell me they gave a couple of awards to Willy Van
der Linden's "Together With Yoda" too.
Of course there are poor judges in our amateur world, but there are many
fine ones. The best are not limited to appreciating only the type of movies
they are expert at.
Having said that I ought to note that though I don't recall seeing a documentary
from the Rouillards, Ken Wilson has done many of those - even though he is
best known for his story films.
Dave
Documentary triumphs at Guernsey Lily
-
Peter Rouillard
Re: Documentary triumphs at Guernsey Lily
"Dave Watterson" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:
two ladies. Among them were a Channel Television cameraman and also the president
of our local Film Society. The two documentaries you mention are superb examples
of their type and fully deserve their placings. I am pleased however, that
Nick Kirk and Alison Dewar's fictional work 'Takeaway' also placed very highly,
satisfying the fiction film fans on the panel. I have only ever made one
documentary as an amateur (although several when I worked professionally),
this was back in 1972. I did not know that Ken has made MANY documentaries,
as all the ones I've seen have been fictional - mostly thrillers, science
fiction, and more latterly, comedies. However, I do know that Ken has made
some 70 films in the last 20 years ( phew !!) so I am not surprised. We will
be delighted to welcome Ken back as a final judge - the only problem is,
he can't enter his films when he judges ! so we don't get to see them till
the following year! The life of a judge is indeed hard, but you would know
that Dave.
Peter (one of the judges) Rouillard
Actually Dave, we had a panel of seven final judges this year, includingPeople who assume judges always favour "their own sort of films" might reflect
on the Guernsey Lily Festival results this year.
Among the five final judges were Peter and Richard Rouillard, who are keen
fiction film makers, and Mr. Fiction Movies himself, Ken Wilson. Yet they
chose Jean-Pierre Hue's "The Better the Harvest" as the overall winner and
my spies on the island tell me they gave a couple of awards to Willy Van
der Linden's "Together With Yoda" too.
Of course there are poor judges in our amateur world, but there are many
fine ones. The best are not limited to appreciating only the type of movies
they are expert at.
Having said that I ought to note that though I don't recall seeing a documentary
from the Rouillards, Ken Wilson has done many of those - even though he
is
best known for his story films.
Dave
two ladies. Among them were a Channel Television cameraman and also the president
of our local Film Society. The two documentaries you mention are superb examples
of their type and fully deserve their placings. I am pleased however, that
Nick Kirk and Alison Dewar's fictional work 'Takeaway' also placed very highly,
satisfying the fiction film fans on the panel. I have only ever made one
documentary as an amateur (although several when I worked professionally),
this was back in 1972. I did not know that Ken has made MANY documentaries,
as all the ones I've seen have been fictional - mostly thrillers, science
fiction, and more latterly, comedies. However, I do know that Ken has made
some 70 films in the last 20 years ( phew !!) so I am not surprised. We will
be delighted to welcome Ken back as a final judge - the only problem is,
he can't enter his films when he judges ! so we don't get to see them till
the following year! The life of a judge is indeed hard, but you would know
that Dave.
Peter (one of the judges) Rouillard
-
Willy Van der Linden
Re: Documentary triumphs at Guernsey Lily
"Dave Watterson" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:
a dramatized travelogue. So there's a story in it. Most travelogues are boring
I think. Travelogue makers should try not only to "picture" buildings, streets,
market squares and landscapes, but also to insert a story in their films.
In "Breizh", my film about Brittanny, three old Breton fishermen are sitting
on a cliff. They have seen a man with an English looking moustache and a
camera. They are speaking Breton. For "Together with Yoda" I have asked Colin
Howett, my commentary reader who lives in Antwerp, but who is from Evesham
in the Cotswolds, to do some acting. I think I can say that I have some experience
in making story films. Do you remember my Spanish story film "Mi Tio Paco"
? Most people were surprised that I had made such a film. In the mean time
I have also made the Dickens film, but together with Tony Jacobs who is a
story film maker. "Faithfully Yours" is in fact a dramatized documentary.
I also attended part of making "Prinsje" by Urbain Appeltans because I
had given the story to him. I kept my eyes on everything. Now I'm also a
scenario writer for story films. Every year I'm asked to be a judge for
local competitions, not for regional or national ones because I always try
to make at least one film just like Ken Wilson. Last year I saw three films
about Myanmar made by three different film makers who are members of three
different clubs. I had almost the impression that the first film was a copy
of the second one and that the second film was a copy of the third one. The
films lacked originality. It was clear that the three cineasts had made a
similar trip organized by the same travel agency. A regional competition
with such films is very boring. At this moment I'm making two dramatized
documentaries. So, again, I'm trying to use my experience as story film maker.
With or without any success. I repeat : the most important thing is that
the audience enjoy your films. That's what I'm aiming at. Every year we have
our own Film Gala in Willebroek, the place where I live. The last few years
we had 300-400 spectators. It's not a competition. But it's important that
we can offer those who are present an enthralling programme. Maybe in the
future I will only make story films. That could be a new challenge for me
in the future. I already make three or four 'one minute' films every year.
The members of my club seem to be enthused by it. Some seem to have talents
as actors. Other members have also started making 'one minute' films. Hopefully
they will later make 'two, three, four ... minute' films and then it could
be the start for them to become excellent story film makers.
I'm very happy with it, but "Together with Yoda" is not a documentary. It'sPeople who assume judges always favour "their own sort of films" might reflect
on the Guernsey Lily Festival results this year.
Among the five final judges were Peter and Richard Rouillard, who are keen
fiction film makers, and Mr. Fiction Movies himself, Ken Wilson. Yet they
chose Jean-Pierre Hue's "The Better the Harvest" as the overall winner and
my spies on the island tell me they gave a couple of awards to Willy Van
der Linden's "Together With Yoda" too.
Of course there are poor judges in our amateur world, but there are many
fine ones. The best are not limited to appreciating only the type of movies
they are expert at.
Having said that I ought to note that though I don't recall seeing a documentary
from the Rouillards, Ken Wilson has done many of those - even though he
is
best known for his story films.
Dave
Yes, you're right, Dave. I won the award for the "Best Photography" and
a dramatized travelogue. So there's a story in it. Most travelogues are boring
I think. Travelogue makers should try not only to "picture" buildings, streets,
market squares and landscapes, but also to insert a story in their films.
In "Breizh", my film about Brittanny, three old Breton fishermen are sitting
on a cliff. They have seen a man with an English looking moustache and a
camera. They are speaking Breton. For "Together with Yoda" I have asked Colin
Howett, my commentary reader who lives in Antwerp, but who is from Evesham
in the Cotswolds, to do some acting. I think I can say that I have some experience
in making story films. Do you remember my Spanish story film "Mi Tio Paco"
? Most people were surprised that I had made such a film. In the mean time
I have also made the Dickens film, but together with Tony Jacobs who is a
story film maker. "Faithfully Yours" is in fact a dramatized documentary.
I also attended part of making "Prinsje" by Urbain Appeltans because I
had given the story to him. I kept my eyes on everything. Now I'm also a
scenario writer for story films. Every year I'm asked to be a judge for
local competitions, not for regional or national ones because I always try
to make at least one film just like Ken Wilson. Last year I saw three films
about Myanmar made by three different film makers who are members of three
different clubs. I had almost the impression that the first film was a copy
of the second one and that the second film was a copy of the third one. The
films lacked originality. It was clear that the three cineasts had made a
similar trip organized by the same travel agency. A regional competition
with such films is very boring. At this moment I'm making two dramatized
documentaries. So, again, I'm trying to use my experience as story film maker.
With or without any success. I repeat : the most important thing is that
the audience enjoy your films. That's what I'm aiming at. Every year we have
our own Film Gala in Willebroek, the place where I live. The last few years
we had 300-400 spectators. It's not a competition. But it's important that
we can offer those who are present an enthralling programme. Maybe in the
future I will only make story films. That could be a new challenge for me
in the future. I already make three or four 'one minute' films every year.
The members of my club seem to be enthused by it. Some seem to have talents
as actors. Other members have also started making 'one minute' films. Hopefully
they will later make 'two, three, four ... minute' films and then it could
be the start for them to become excellent story film makers.
-
Willy Van der Linden
Re: Documentary triumphs at Guernsey Lily
"Dave Watterson" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:
much less flash. Maybe they'll think it is "typical British humour".
Oh, yes Dave, I thought it's typical British humour. (sorry, I'm joking)
No, Dave, I don't agree with you. I agree with Albert ! He said : "A person
can be far more distinguished than most others by character. Modesty, humour,
intelligence, judgement ... and I would also like to add the word 'honesty'
to this list. I'm not impressed by university and other qualifications.
Autodidacts or self-taught men are often better than those who have had an
academic Oxford or Cambridge education. You have written in your c.v. : "I
am a film watcher, not a film maker ... I discovered the Edinburgh Film Festival
and became addicted... I enjoy computer editing ... I have done just enough
film making to appreciate how difficult it is to do well"... Yes, I was
surprised. Before having read this I thought you were a real professor of
cinematography ! In our club we even discuss about the following question
: Should judges be (former) film makers ? I don't think so. The best football
players are not always the best coaches afterwards. A good judge should be
able to distinguish a powerful story from a weak one, no matter what kind
of film it is, a story film, a documentary etc. ... and he should be able
to see the technical qualities and defects in a film (length and necessity
of shots, etc...). Maybe he has learnt it by watching many, many films
like you, Dave. A good judge enjoys watching films and he enjoys analyzing
them. He should also have some cultural background in my opinion. He can
acquire this by reading books and newspapers, by watching the news on TV,
etc... (It doesn't mean that he always needs his cultural background to understand
a film.) He doesn't have to go to university for it. Above all he should
be able to write reports giving good hints to film makers and trying to
enthuse them to go on in the same way or to improve their films. A bit of
common sense and a diploma of the primary school may be sufficient. To avoid
any misunderstanding : I am not against the Belgian judge you know ! On the
contrary even ! Julien is one of the best former presidents of the Belgian
Federation of Filmmakers we ever had! He always looks very serious and academic,
but he is a very warm-hearted person. I'm very happy that he's been chosen
to be our Flemish judge. Once Kenneth Seeger wrote in "Video Maker" that
I am a serious film maker... Perhaps sometimes, yes ...
Hopefully Unica will be not too academic. Our national competitions are
a bit like that. I can already see it in my imagination. The VIP's and judges
enter the festivity hall of the casino to the strains of music : an inaugural
serenade after being announced... I haven't said it will be like that, but
in Belgium 4 or 5 VIP's often enter the room seperately. They are given a
hearty welcome and the audience start applauding. It always makes my flesh
creep... I sometimes feel the atmosphere of an important political meeting.
I prefer festivals with VIP's in casual wear (read article about Guernsey
Festival on website) and yes, why not, ... with ladies in evening gowns and
gentlemen with bow ties at Gala Dinners. To be honest : I love wearing a
bow tie. I do it only once a year : at the BIAFF Gala Dinner. I remember
the very first time in Buxton. It was about eight years ago. IAC-VIP's were
wearing heavy chains with impressive IAC-lockets. They looked like English
mayors. When entering the room the master of ceremonies called the name of
my wife Vera and also mine. We had to pray for and to give a toast to the
queen and the IAC. Perhaps you don't realize it, but if we, in Belgium, would
ask people to pray for and toast to our King Albert II - who is really a
very beloved person - then nobody would do it. No, really, I always enjoy
having a chat and a drink (but not too many) at the bar of a festival, but
I also love a bit of English pomp and circumstance. Hopefully the BIAFF-atmosphere
will not change in the future. For this I'm conservative. Some years ago
I saw a regional VIP wearing a black suit, but also a pair of plimsolls at
the Gala dinner... It was strange. I didn't like that. Of course, after all,
these things are less important than the films we can enjoy at festivals.
I will keep my fingers crossed for the British film makers at Unica !
well-qualified, famous, serious ... and then there's me. My biog note is
Of course there are poor judges in our amateur world, but there are many
fine ones. The best are not limited to appreciating only the type of movies
they are expert at.
In a previous message he wrote : The Unica jurors are all terrifying distinguished,
much less flash. Maybe they'll think it is "typical British humour".
Oh, yes Dave, I thought it's typical British humour. (sorry, I'm joking)
No, Dave, I don't agree with you. I agree with Albert ! He said : "A person
can be far more distinguished than most others by character. Modesty, humour,
intelligence, judgement ... and I would also like to add the word 'honesty'
to this list. I'm not impressed by university and other qualifications.
Autodidacts or self-taught men are often better than those who have had an
academic Oxford or Cambridge education. You have written in your c.v. : "I
am a film watcher, not a film maker ... I discovered the Edinburgh Film Festival
and became addicted... I enjoy computer editing ... I have done just enough
film making to appreciate how difficult it is to do well"... Yes, I was
surprised. Before having read this I thought you were a real professor of
cinematography ! In our club we even discuss about the following question
: Should judges be (former) film makers ? I don't think so. The best football
players are not always the best coaches afterwards. A good judge should be
able to distinguish a powerful story from a weak one, no matter what kind
of film it is, a story film, a documentary etc. ... and he should be able
to see the technical qualities and defects in a film (length and necessity
of shots, etc...). Maybe he has learnt it by watching many, many films
like you, Dave. A good judge enjoys watching films and he enjoys analyzing
them. He should also have some cultural background in my opinion. He can
acquire this by reading books and newspapers, by watching the news on TV,
etc... (It doesn't mean that he always needs his cultural background to understand
a film.) He doesn't have to go to university for it. Above all he should
be able to write reports giving good hints to film makers and trying to
enthuse them to go on in the same way or to improve their films. A bit of
common sense and a diploma of the primary school may be sufficient. To avoid
any misunderstanding : I am not against the Belgian judge you know ! On the
contrary even ! Julien is one of the best former presidents of the Belgian
Federation of Filmmakers we ever had! He always looks very serious and academic,
but he is a very warm-hearted person. I'm very happy that he's been chosen
to be our Flemish judge. Once Kenneth Seeger wrote in "Video Maker" that
I am a serious film maker... Perhaps sometimes, yes ...
Hopefully Unica will be not too academic. Our national competitions are
a bit like that. I can already see it in my imagination. The VIP's and judges
enter the festivity hall of the casino to the strains of music : an inaugural
serenade after being announced... I haven't said it will be like that, but
in Belgium 4 or 5 VIP's often enter the room seperately. They are given a
hearty welcome and the audience start applauding. It always makes my flesh
creep... I sometimes feel the atmosphere of an important political meeting.
I prefer festivals with VIP's in casual wear (read article about Guernsey
Festival on website) and yes, why not, ... with ladies in evening gowns and
gentlemen with bow ties at Gala Dinners. To be honest : I love wearing a
bow tie. I do it only once a year : at the BIAFF Gala Dinner. I remember
the very first time in Buxton. It was about eight years ago. IAC-VIP's were
wearing heavy chains with impressive IAC-lockets. They looked like English
mayors. When entering the room the master of ceremonies called the name of
my wife Vera and also mine. We had to pray for and to give a toast to the
queen and the IAC. Perhaps you don't realize it, but if we, in Belgium, would
ask people to pray for and toast to our King Albert II - who is really a
very beloved person - then nobody would do it. No, really, I always enjoy
having a chat and a drink (but not too many) at the bar of a festival, but
I also love a bit of English pomp and circumstance. Hopefully the BIAFF-atmosphere
will not change in the future. For this I'm conservative. Some years ago
I saw a regional VIP wearing a black suit, but also a pair of plimsolls at
the Gala dinner... It was strange. I didn't like that. Of course, after all,
these things are less important than the films we can enjoy at festivals.
I will keep my fingers crossed for the British film makers at Unica !