BIAFF 2015 entries

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
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Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Post by Michael Slowe »

Howard-Smith, you have repeatedly been very kind to me in print recently, I feel I owe you a drink at Sittingbourne! Actually, since you mention 'Painter' and 'Oui Chef', both of which received four stars, have a look at 'Hounds & The Huntsman' and 'The Last of The Wolfgang', both of which did far better, and, to be fair to the judges, are better. Odd that you should pick out the inferior graded films.

My Vimeo link is: http://vimeo.com/user17404759/videos

Very well done to young Robert Lorrimer, he knows exactly how to entertain audiences all over the world, brilliantly utilising the language of film, economically and with great technical expertise.
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Howard-Smith
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Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Post by Howard-Smith »

Many thanks Michael, I'll take you up on that offer of a drink! I did see your two five-star films at BIAFF and must watch them again now that I've learned how to download films from Vimeo onto discs. On Saturday evening I showed an old friend of mine OUI CHEF and he was more enthusiastic about it than he has been about any of my films, saying it was better than most documentaries he's seen on television. It would have gone down well had it been shown on the Sunday last year.
Less than 4 weeks to go 'til Sittingbourne!
tom hardwick
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Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Post by tom hardwick »

Oh I well remember those American film school productions. They were a class unto their own and many stick with me. "Belinda in the Water' was one. I felt as I judged them and wrote them up: I am unworthy.
Michael Slowe
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Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Post by Michael Slowe »

Tom, I agree, but go back further than you, back to the old Ten Best (NFT and all that, 60's & 70's), and the wonderful 'Cotton Eyed Joe'. I think that most of them were from the film school of the University of Southern California. But, to be optimistic, so many young people are now making films that there are bound to be some gems on the way.
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Dave Watterson
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Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Post by Dave Watterson »

If it whets your appetite for BIAFF we are starting to put some of the Making Of ... articles about winning films onto the main website.

You might enjoy http://www.theiac.org.uk/film/makingof/ ... union.html by an Italian living in the Netherlands ... and a visitor who plans to come to Sittingbourne for the festival, Marco Brunu. You will not get a flavour of the film from the article, but you will get a sense of the man!

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fraught
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Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Post by fraught »

Mike Shaw wrote:John Roberts says
Maybe some kind of 'check list' where judges indicate the number of films produced in various genres in the last 5 years might be useful? That might go some way to ensure any one judging panel doesn't end up with three judges whose combined output only covers one genre. Just a thought - it might happen already!
Some Judges don't make any films. Some concentrate on one specific type of movie (which may not even get shown at BIAFF). They would argue that you don't have to lay an egg to tell a good one. Cynics would remind you of the maxim - those that can, do, those that can't, teach/preach.
I always tend towards making fictional film, i have had a stab at a Documentary and a Travelogue, both receiving poor marks at BIAFF. I'm pretty useless at them to be honest. Because i don't seem to be able to turn my hand at these areas of film making, does that mean i can't critique them fairly? I have to say, i did see my fair share of these types of films at the BIAFF judging weekend. I like to think that i know what makes a good film, regardless of content/genre.

I agree that balance is required during the judging, which is why there are 3 judges at each screening. The chances of getting 3 judges who primarily specialise in Documentary or Music Video, etc... are pretty slim i would say.
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John Roberts
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Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Post by John Roberts »

I would like to think I would be able to judge in the same manner Geoff, although I don't have the same experience as yourself or my other esteemed colleagues :)

I have churned out a few music promos this year, but will no longer enter them into inter-club competitions because of the seemingly total dismissal of almost all aspects of the promo (cinematography, editing, special effects, camera tricks etc) by some judge who focuses only on a single element - a conventional storyline. Therefore the judge doesn't understand the fact that a music promo might not have a storyline, might be restricted by the lyrical content, or might convey a part (beginning, middle or end) of a much longer storyline, in much the same way as we all have a favourite scene from a favourite film.

This doesn't happen all the time, but enough for me to have become aware of it, and it has also been brought to my attention by my own club members, members of competing clubs and other competition entrants. I have studied in depth the critiques from BIAFF and there are open admissions from judges that music videos 'mean nothing' to them, and out of the six judges in the first round, it appears three of them fall into this category. My original post on this thread was meant to highlight this issue, which in one case was thankfully countered by open-minded judging and an appreciation of all elements in the construction of a music promo.

I think the whole subject of music promos might eventually spill out into its own thread if it is thought the number of entries to competition might increase, at least to ensure they get 'fair play' in the judging system, or at least at future BIAFFs. How this will happen I have little idea but I suspect there will be an impromptu get-together at BIAFF on the Sunday :D

All the best (and to close on this particular subject, for now) - John
Michael Slowe
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Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Post by Michael Slowe »

John, surely it all depends on whether people (and judges), enjoy the film, regardless of genre. Years ago I specialised in 'cut to music' impressionistic films. They were hugely popular and successful. I still get them quoted at me at gatherings like BIAFF and they are the most requested when I give talks (shows). Take a look on Youtube where some of them reside, 'Zoo', 'Ski Break', 'Ski Lift', no storyline, no talking, just pictures and music. Your music ones should be treated by judges on their entertainment value, pure and simple.
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John Roberts
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Re: BIAFF 2015 entries

Post by John Roberts »

Michael Slowe wrote:Your music ones should be treated by judges on their entertainment value, pure and simple.
This is true, Michael. They are simply 'entertainment.' Music promos can be likened to the 'modern art' of filmmaking, where some of the rules need not apply, if the filmmaker desires them not to. But not everyone likes nor understands modern art, and not everyone likes nor understands music promos. It's just the way it is and I accept that (but not from what should be 'impartial and open-minded' judging.)

I am heartened (and sometimes a little surprised) however to find that the majority of people do like what I have made, maybe because they push the boundaries a little? I don't know - but one of the videos is being shown at BIAFF on the Sunday so no doubt I will know more afterwards! :lol:

John
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