UNICA

A forum for sharing views on the art of film, video and AV sequence making as well as on competitions, judging and festivals.
Michael Slowe
Posts: 807
Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2007 4:24 pm

Re: UNICA

Post by Michael Slowe »

Well said Ned, film makers are a worldwide breed, no matter how much they spend or earn in the process. Another tooth grinding word is "hobbyist". To many of us, the making of films is a life consuming passion, the word hobby is generally taken to mean an activity undertaken by way of recreation.
A very different matter indeed!
User avatar
John Simpson
Posts: 145
Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2021 12:09 am

Re: UNICA

Post by John Simpson »

ned c wrote: Sat Feb 12, 2022 10:54 pm As Dave pointed out aspiring professionals do not want to be associated with an "amateur" festival or organization, no matter how you spin it the words "amateur" and "film" together are interpreted as "inferior; of poor quality, inept". ned c
Oh dear, no wonder we are having a hard time recruiting young people to our Film Clubs! Any young peolple are much happier spending their parents money on attending film school and making an expensive (bad in most cases) first film to go around the festivals which have high entry fees, then end up with a huge debt hanging over them, which they will never pay off. In the mean time they will work in bars to have enought to live off whilst waiting for their big break, which in most cases will never come!

That must be much better than the risk of being thought of as an inept amateur or a hobbyist
ned c
Posts: 910
Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2007 3:39 pm
Location: Dammeron Valley USA

Re: UNICA

Post by ned c »

The problem faced by clubs is not their amateur status but the aged membership; young film makers do not want to spend time with people the age of their grandparents who have a very different take on film anyway. Regarding your comments on film school grads; I have a granddaughter who has a degree in film production and worked for a number of years making shorts for a sports goods company; her partner who attended the same University is now a CGI specialist; the bars and hopes are also the fate of many graduates in history, archeology, philosophy etc.

This is a new world shaped by digital technology and now modified by the pandemic and we have to embrace it or be left behind.
ned c
User avatar
John Simpson
Posts: 145
Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2021 12:09 am

Re: UNICA

Post by John Simpson »

I don't know the figures but the amount of films, documentaries and other media product needed to serve all the TV channels internet channels and other media must be huge - a great opportunity for young people. When thinking of student films the director seems like the main person, but all the actors and crew are represented, and I'm sure that film companies are very good at cherry picking.
Great to hear your grandaughter and her partner are doing well in the film industry
User avatar
TimStannard
Posts: 1225
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 5:20 pm
Location: Surrey

Re: UNICA

Post by TimStannard »

I realise everyone here knows it but let's be clear BIAFF and UNICA are open to the makers of amateur films. "Amateur film" makers, not amateur "film makers". Industry professionals are entitled to enter and indeed many do.
Perhaps if we are somehow able to make this clearer, the up & comers and students might not feel so put of (if indeed they do).
Tim
Proud to be an amateur film maker - I do it for the love of it
Post Reply