New Generation forces breakthrough

[Willy]

Some years ago our Flemish Minister of Culture took the national umbrella organisation CvB (read IAC) under his wings. Now he is in charge of amateur filmmaking. All regions receive some money, but they must work for it. He also has his own staff. Young academically educated people do some pioneering work for him. I guess that the secretary-general, president, etc. are his friends. They are well paid. The old leaders, let's say the old "establishment", have been side-tracked. Every year we have our traditional national festival for non-commercial films. The Minister and his staff however, decided to organize a kind of an alternative national festival. It's called Cinepublic and it takes place in the city of Ghent. The winner receives 3,500 euros. There is 500 euros for the best script, 500 euros for the best soundtrack, etc...  The judges are famous Belgian filmmakers. The head judge is Nic Balthazar. He made the film "Ben X" and everybody thought his film  would have been nominated for an oscar in Hollywood. In the traditional festival it is difficult for young people to break through. The judges don't understand their films. They have their own style. Their films are sometimes very mysterious.  We have already talked about this phenomenon on this forum several times.  In Cinépublic I guess that most finalists are young filmmakers. Most of them don't belong to a filmclub. Anyway, I have never seen their names in lists with results of festivals. I know most clubs in Flanders.Now I wonder what the little circle of old top amateur filmmakers may think about the new initiative. "Maybe they will feel threatened in their status. They are used to walk under a triumphal arch. Maybe it's the end of an elite. Maybe it's the end of a generation." That's what I read in an article written by Ronny Claus who won a bronze medal at Unica some years ago. Ronny, who's a very modest man, is brave to say this.
I still think that the gap between old and young has become too wide. In the Czech Republic there is a seperate festival for people older than 58. Isn't that a good idea ? Let the young generation break through !  

[Brian Saberton]

I find the thought of a seperate festival for the over 58's, as in the Czech Republic, appalling. I've said this before but in my opinion film-making is something that anyone of any age can enjoy and anyone who is interested in making films should be encouraged. Age doesn't seem to be an issue in the Professional world so why should it be a problem for amateur film makers and why should we get so hung up about it? The Director of this years multi award and Oscar winner, Slumdog Millionaire is, I believe, in his early 50's, Steven Speilberg is around 60, Clint Eastwood 80 or thereabouts (and he has just Directed 2 new films within a 12 month) but no-one seems to make an issue of it. In any case surely it's the film that counts, not the age of the maker.

By the way, I can recommend Slumdog Millionaire - it's brilliant.

[Willy]

... Steven Spielberg is around 60, Clint Eastwood 80 or thereabouts (and he has just Directed 2 new films within a 12 month) but no-one seems to make an issue of it. In any case surely it's the film that counts, not the age of the maker.

By the way, I can recommend Slumdog Millionaire - it's brilliant.

In some way I agree with you, Brian, but I'm not so categorical. Also in sports (cycling, athletics, etc...) we have different age groups. In the eighties we had two film categories in Belgium : the juniors (beginners) and the seniors (advanced filmmakers). Of course we also had beginners of 70 years and older. If you could have a score of more than 70 percent in a national competition you were called a senior and from then onwards you were not allowed to compete in the junior category anymore.

It's true that Steven Spielberg and other ones are 50 or 60 or 70, but in non-commercial filmmaking it is different. Most of us do camerawork, editing, and other things. Spielberg is only a director I guess. Non-commercial filmmakers must be more energetic. Maybe it is a bit provocative to say all this. But I wonder if in some years I will be energetic enough to carry my tripod and camera, which I did this morning. I have already thought of buying an aquarium and watching my tropical fish instead of making films. Also facinating. One of my friends has taken that decision. He was very successful in BIAFF some years ago. I have already thought of "retiring" at the age of 65. Making films is funny, but sometimes also demanding. Physically I mean.

But what do you think about the intitiave taken by our Minister ? We already have BIAFF and our regional festivals like "The Mersey Ten", "South versus North", etc... Let's say that the British Minister of Culture organizes alternative festivals on his own. He has his own staff. They are not volunteers just like all our IAC-presidents, chairmen, festival secretaries, etc. The judges in the Minister's festival are professionals. Very famous filmmakers like Steven Spielberg. The awards are impressive cash prizes. The IAC can't afford such cash prizes. He does his utmost to attract ex-film school students and non-professional filmmakers who don't belong to clubs, but also club members can take part in his alternative festival.

I don't think that any finalist in Belgium is older than 50 in the alternative festival. Maybe it would be like that in Britian. That's surprising, isn't it ? To be clear : I'm not against the initiative of our Minister, but I am sure that many established filmmakers are against it. Perhaps many friends in Britain would also be against it.

[ned c]

Films are separated by genre and style and my view is that competitions should be based on genre; you cannot really compare a documentary with a music video with a horror film. There is also the inherent problem of the judge's likes and dislikes, if the judges hate wobblycam then films using this now standard technique will not have a chance; similarly controversial subjects; four letter words; loud rap music etc. I do realise these prejudices are more common with advanced years and particularly with amateurs who tend to be late middle age/middle class/white males. For example I wonder how many minorities/women/people under 30 were on the BIAFF panels? It would be interesting to submit the films from an amateur contest to a judging panel from the faculty of a film school and get their comments.

ned c

[Brian Saberton]

Sorry Willy but I think the worst thing you can do is to get politicians involved in the running of Film Festivals. Just on the subject of Clint Eastwood I'd like to quote a comment from a review of his latest film "Gran Torino" in todays Herald "..Eastwood is a straight shooter among film makers. That's not to say he can't weave a complex story or handle difficult ideas. You only need to watch his majestic Second World War Dramas, Flags of our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima, to see he can match any young filmmaker for depth and creative vision...." By the way, the paper gives his age as 78. As to bad language and "wobbly cameras" I don't think this is necessarily confined to young film makers either. I've judged and seen films by young people that contained no bad language at all and seen plenty of films by older folk that contain it. I have to admit that Cloverfield was a film I gave up on because of the very shaky camerawork and quick fire cutting. 30 minutes in and I was feeling very uncomfortable - and that was watching it on TV. (If you haven't seen it the film is supposed to be footage shot on a camcorder of a monster attacking New York).

[Willy]

  In Cinépublic I guess that most finalists are young filmmakers. Most of them don't belong to a filmclub. Anyway, I have never seen their names in lists with results of festivals. I know most clubs in Flanders.Now I wonder what the little circle of old top amateur filmmakers may think about the new initiative. " 

Today an article about one young finalist of "Cinepublic" appeared in our national magazine "Beeld Express". "Beeld Express" is like FVM, but it looks more professional because our Minister of Culture spends a lot of  money on it. 75 % of the articles is about photographers and their photographs. Werner Haegeman is the young finalist. He's one of the only finalists who belongs to a filmclub. The interview is very interesting and it illustrates the new spirit and mentality.
Werner's film is called : "Life is Thrilling". It's about a young woman who makes her life thrilling by stealing. She goes from one shop to an other and takes little things away. Not because she needs them. Just because she finds it thrilling. In the street she meets policemen. She looks at them. They look at her, but maybe for other reasons.  Werner follows his actress all the way with his camera.  Of course without his tripod. At the end of film she looks very happy. The viewer thinks it has not been moral to show all this. You must not steal ! That's immoral. That's wrong...  But suddenly at the very end of the film she is arrested.

An extract :The judges appreciated the way how you experimented with a moving subject and camera.
Werner : Yes, in this film both subject and camera are moving all the time. That is not easy, you know ! I often use that technique, but of course it must be functional. I wanted to create an atmospere of nervousness. It is important that there also still moments in the film otherwise the viewer is too exhausted after some time ...

How important is a club for you, Werner ?

Werner : A few years ago I joined a club. I hoped to find some kindred spirits, people who feel unconventional and are enthusiast just like me. In this way we could fecundate each other. Alas, I only met people who only want to work according to traditional methods. Making films is for them a craft. They didn't seem to enjoy it and they critized each other. I was disappointed. Also because my films were critized and it was not always  justified. The big advantage of my membership was that I got the opportunity to show my films and to take part in festivals . (In Belgium local, regional heats and finale). But now I am so happy with the initiative of Cinepublic. You are not obliged to be a member of a club. Also independant filmmakers can take part and your films are judged by real famous professionals.

I agree with you, Brian Saberton. Keep politicians out of our hobby,  but apparently this young man, Werner Haegeman, is happy with the initiative taken by the Minister of Culture and his followers. The Minister has the money to organize Cinépublic. In my opinion this is sad. For instance I realize that an organization like the IAC must do its utmost to make both ends meet. The IAC is not a able to give 3,000 pounds sterling to the winner of BIAFF. 5-6 years ago our own independant umbrella organization (it was called NAB" was not able to do such a thing either.   

[Willy]

For example I wonder how many minorities/women/people under 30 were on the BIAFF panels? It would be interesting to submit the films from an amateur contest to a judging panel from the faculty of a film school and get their comments.
ned c

Women ? Yes ! Under 30 ? No !

My friend Brian Higbee, who lives in Devon, has a son called William Higbee. He is a professor at Exeter Universtiy. His speciality ? Film ! He gives lectures about filmmaking. Perhaps stupid of me. I have never asked my friend to show my films to his son. Maybe he has already done it. Type William's name in "google" and then you will find information about him. Last time Brian told me that he would have deleted a part in one of my previous films. It's possible that his son has told him. I will ask Brian when he comes and visits us on 19th March.

Anyway, it must be interesting to submit our films to a judging panel from a faculty of a film school or to someone like Brian's son. You are right, Ned, also in Belgium there are no women in our judging panels, nor people under 30. I am sure there are women in BIAFF and other British panels, but they form a minority : Annabelle, Mary, Jan, Romy Van Krieken from Holland ... but people under 30 ? White or black people ? I love a multicultural society and it should also be reflected in everything, also in judging panels. How happy I was when I knew the results of the American elections for a new president ! But please, don't reply to this. I know it's a bit risky to talk about this on this forum.