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BIAFF 2015 entries

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2015 12:19 pm
by TimStannard
Well, that's me done. Three entries all packaged and posted.
Having failed in my attempts at high-art and at gritty drama, I have returned to what I do best and have submitted the following:

"The Choughsbury Line" - an engaging film about this little known preserved steam railway, including exciting footage of the backs of people's heads as they strain to get a photo of the open firebox, shots along the moving train as it rounds a bend from a camera precariously held out of a window. Experience the thrills as you see a locomotive being coupled AND uncoupled! Delight in the shots of other railway enthusisasts as they move across our line of view just as the train comes into sight. Recall more virile times with shots of locomotives plunging into tunnels. Incudes real-time footage of the whole 9 mile journey from Frogsborough to Dunspotting - and back!

"Weekend in Bognor" - A short film made when Mavis and I went for our golden wedding anniversary to this delightful British seaside town. I took every opportunity to get my camera out and capture some of the lesser known facts and figures. There is one hilarious moment where I spot a nail had fallen out of the number on a door in Walmer Street and what should have said "66" now said "69". As I say in the film, "That must confuse the postman!". There are a number of interesting pieces of street furniture, including a 1927 fire hydrant and one of those things where you scrape mud off your boots. Unknown to many, the bus timetable in Bognor is quite interesting and I go to some length explaining why. The sound lets the film down a bit. I had hoped Mavis would fulfil the role of sound recordist and accompany on my numerous jaunts out, but for some reasons she preferred to stay in the guest house....

"A Plot Off the Internet" - not really my film, but a club film. Mike found a plot on the internet based on a gag that three club members hadn't heard before. We therefore assumed no-one else - and certainly BIAFF judges - would have heard them either. Whilst there is only one gag, we thought there was plenty of opportunity to extend the story before the punch-line and so (without wishing to give the game away) instead of having two people discussing what they would do if they won the lottery, we added in 12 other characters - so everyone in the club could appear. Of course the joke depends on the relationship between a young newly-wed couple and the bride's younger sister, so obviously, at only 64, Tom plays the young man. Unfortunately his wife Jess, refused to play his his wife but she was persuaded to play the younger sister. As that had used up all our women, Jim stepped in to play the wife.

I hope the judges don't have to suffer too much along the lines of the above!
Best of luck to all entrants.

Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2015 1:20 pm
by Dave Watterson
:lol: :lol:

Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2015 12:06 pm
by Brian Saberton
I bet you had lots of fun and merry japes filming those Tim, and the group editing sessions on the last one must have been a hoot!

Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2015 2:47 pm
by Mike Shaw
I'm ready to see the Bognor film - I was evacuated there during the war (until my parents caught us evacuees excitedly watching the aerial dogfights and collecting the spent cartridge cases). Years later I dragged my wife there to reminisce - only to discover that the beaches were no longer sandy as I remembered them. We were later told (at an antique fair in Detling) that they had shipped pebbles in to protect the beaches from erosion. Or something. But I was delighted to see the small Bijou 'flea-pit' cinema - dating from the 20s - was still there. Though it must have gone by now...

Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 3:48 pm
by Brian Saberton
Does anyone remember a movie from years back called "A Very Boring Film"? As I recall it featured one long continuous shot of a man listening to a ringing telephone and was considered quite innovative at the time. I think it won a Ten Best award and I've a feeling that I saw it at the winners show at the NFT.

[youtube2]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RRwtR5Vs78[/youtube2]

Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 4:56 pm
by TimStannard
I like it Brian! Before my time at SVM one member entered a travelogue which comprised commentary but no visuals other than a blue screen! His "concept" was that the audience was meant to "imagine" the images.

Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 3:51 pm
by Brian Saberton
At my old club we once had a member who in spite of heroic efforts to help by experienced members struggled with all the elements of film making and on one memorable competition night presented a holiday "film" whilst reading out the commentary live from the back of the room and playing bits of music from a cassette deck at the same time.

Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 6:23 pm
by TimStannard
I love it Brian. Live entertainment is so mcuh more "of the moment" than the recorder rubbish we strive to produce.

Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 8:49 pm
by Frank Maxwell
In the 60s when we had the 10 Best Competitions the amount of films entered and the amount of films classified as the best 10 for the year was at times eye opening event. Today only one film still sticks in my mind as a good film. About the man who got tangled up in a telephone box with a St.Bernard dog. Today I don't think we have advanced a lot. The amount of what I classify rubbish videos on YouTube is staggering. But it is a good platform to see what is being made with today's equipment. Today we can shoot more at a cheaper price.One thing I must remember, we all have our own taste of what we call a good film or good video or Art video.

Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 1:20 am
by Michael Slowe
Aw come on Frank, what about some of the American film school productions, and, particularly, 'Cotton Eyed Joe'. Mind you, I had six of those trophies in the 70's and, if memory serves, only one of those films won a top award at the IAC festival, known in those days as LIAFF (London Amateur Film Festival), obviously their judges didn't agree with the Ten Best ones!

Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 2:22 pm
by Brian Saberton
I remember the one in the telephone box as well as Cotton Eyed Joe. Also, Aoife's Day by Frank Morgan, Hour of the Eagle & 29 Seconds to Zero by Ian Rintoul and Movieman by Ron Miller spring to mind as well as Zoo by Michael Slowe filmed on 16mm and cut to music.

Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 3:20 pm
by Dave Watterson
I think the film you recall with the man, dog and phone box is One Man and His Dog by Donald Black, which you can see at: http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/3690

Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 2:00 pm
by Michael Slowe
Brian, sorry about this late post but I've only just seen yours about "A Very Boring Film". It was indeed shown at the NFT, it was made by a member of Edgware Cine Society, Dave Carnegie, and I'm still in touch with him by E Mail!

Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 8:51 pm
by Brian Saberton
Thanks Michael, that's where I must have seen it. I sometimes used to go to London to see the Ten Best, then in later years at the GFT in Glasgow. I still have some of the old programmes which I must dig out and have a look at one of these days.

Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 11:49 am
by GtBFilms
While I do like the sound of your "A Plot Off the Internet" Tim, I fear it sounds like you have missed a trick there. In addition to extending the story before the punchline in order to feature everyone in the club, didn't you consider also extending it after the punchline, perhaps with an explanation/clarification, additional minor punchlines, or just another character repeating the same punchline for addtional effect/for viewers who may have missed it? :lol:

Actually, your synopsis sounds a bit like one of our entries this year, so I'd better shut up before someone points that out! :oops: