Movies from other countries

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

Re: Movies from other countries

Post by Michael Slowe »

"Ned Cordery" <goslands@infowest.com> wrote:
"Dave Watterson" <webmaster@theiac.org.uk> wrote:



Ned wrote: The problem is that the IAC and the UK amateur scene are not
representative
of what is happening in the larger world of independent film making.

I believe there are two worlds of "amateur" film makers and the two only
meet occasonally. There is the IAC world with the cine/video clubs that
are
its constituency and the Independent film makers who don't see themselves
as amateurs although they may mortgage their house to make films for the
sheer passion of doing so. The IAC world is dominated by middle aged people
and is as much about technology as it is about creativity - this is the
only
IAC location where discussion of this sort takes place and there is a strong
whiff of the outcasts about us. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this
except that the IAC and clubs don't see themselves that way and so all the
effort put in to attracting young members who are not going to want to spend
much time with people of their parents generation. (or in AN's case and
mine,
their grandparents generation). The IAC/clubs should concentrate on attracting
middle aged people, there is no shortage of them out there and many have
the time and money to spend on an interesting hobby.

The Independent film makers are only interested in making films, they usually
rent or borrow the equipment they need and want to talk film not technology.

Must end there as I am about to receive a client

Ned Cordery


Professionals are interested in talking technology. I was at the Production
Show earlier in the year and they were all doing it! The new High Definition
format (Sony based) is getting much attention and the discussion forums
for editing systems are humming. The Creative Cow site and the Media 100
Users Forum are discussing technical problems and queries all the time. That's
how we solve a lot of problems. But your point about the lack of creative
urge amongst amateurs is well taken. The best films at the various festivals
and competitions should be discussed and analysed more closely than they
are. We are all agreed - we must aim higher. Not necessarily about issues
but be more imaginative and not be satisfied with mediocrity.
AN

Re: Movies from other countries

Post by AN »

"Dave Watterson" <webmaster@theiac.org.uk> wrote:
First some news from another festival ... Scot, Pat Menmuir, won the Grand
Prix in the Arts section of the International ARSFilm Festival in Czechia
lastweek. (Yes, you can read about her film on the website.)
Congrats on such a delicately made film, which I saw at Chesterfield. Do
women film makers show a greater degree of
'what ever it takes' to make a moving film????

Uncle Albert
was in the animation section but did not clip a prize this time.
But hope to be shown...I have just received a copyright clearance
request for any music used for the entry at Oslo. So again, altho not winning
a major award my film is to be shown. As have
said before an audience to me, is what it is all about.

Have just cleaned the silver cup I had last year from IAC but
I how I would gladly give it to Mal if I could get even more audiences in
exchange! How about it Mal? Say my cup for an audience of 500?

I was very chuffed to give them copyright clearance on my own musical composition....not
very often that happens! Maybe soon, there will be awards for music composition
in amateur festivals as there are in pro ones....I live in hope.
How about it IAC?

Second: Why do psychics have to ask you for your name?
That isn't true. A *good* medium will INSIST that you never give names or
any details about yourself at all. My wife joan is a
spiritualist and has never done so.....how about that guys,
an atheist and a spiritualist married for over 40 years !!

Albert...being spiritual.
AN

Re: Movies from other countries

Post by AN »

"Ned Cordery" <goslands@infowest.com> wrote:
Must end there as I am about to receive a client
Wow, that sounds decidedly naughty, naughty!
What are you getting up to out in Utah, Ned? :-)

Albert....getting up to mischief.
Ned Cordery

Re: Movies from other countries

Post by Ned Cordery »

"AN" <AnimatioN@btopenworld.com> wrote:
"Ned Cordery" <goslands@infowest.com> wrote:

Must end there as I am about to receive a client

Wow, that sounds decidedly naughty, naughty!
What are you getting up to out in Utah, Ned? :-)

Albert....getting up to mischief.
Ah what must it be like in the mind of Albert? A roaring mixture of double
entendres and puns with musical compositions and stop motion nightmares!
Congrats on being shown in Oslo.

I agree with Michael that technology provides the underpinings of what we
do but actually the technology has made life much easier. The important thing
is to resist buying in to every new development. For fun editing I use CineStream
now obsolete but with an excellent DV CoDec and a limited suite of effects,
but then I don't use exploding transitions or page turns. I knew an editor
who said that you are allowed one page turn per lifetime and only then after
two days contemplation. What do real time effects deliver fot the editor
working on narrative or documentary productions? I can see the point for
news editors but not really for anyone else. Modern hardware renders so fast
without additional boards that Matrox and Pinnacle must wonder where there
future lies - better software I suppose, but how better?

My point is that the techology is a means to an end, not an end in itelf
and I would much rather discuss the latest film I have seen than the newest
NLE or camera and herein is a problem I have with the IAC/clubs, there are
no postings nowadays in the IAC General forum which says to me that film
aesthetics rank pretty low on the scale of amateur production.

My rant for today! We were out on a shoot and it RAINED, very welcome as
we have had just 3/4 inch in the past 3 months.

Ned Cordery
AN

Box camera technology

Post by AN »

"Ned Cordery" <goslands@infowest.com> wrote:
Ah what must it be like in the mind of Albert?
Wasn't it Alexander Pope who said we are all but islands, floating in a sea
of eternal loneliness?
I agree with Michael that technology provides the underpinings >of what
we
do but actually the technology has made life much easier.
There have been photographic competitions were only a Box Brownie camera
is allowed to be used...when you think about it, the results can be as good
as any modern tech wonder except for resolution/ fixed focus and the short
comings of a f11 miniscus lens. But some fine images can still be produced.
Maybe the tech wizzkids would learn a thing or two if their wives bought
them a second hand Kodak Box Brownie and a roll 120 film this Xmas instead
of the latest miniDV marvel!

Same with video effects, as Ned said. When one comes down to the nitty gritty
one really only requires the two effects which the very first film makers
used. Namely, the fade and dissolve. All the rest is just glitz.
My rant for today! We were out on a shoot and it RAINED,
Stay indoors and do some animation then! :-)

Albert...dissolving to next scene.
malcolm whiteley

Re: Movies from other countries

Post by malcolm whiteley »

"AN" <AnimatioN@btopenworld.com> wrote:
"Dave Watterson" <webmaster@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

First some news from another festival ... Scot, Pat Menmuir, won the Grand
Prix in the Arts section of the International ARSFilm Festival in Czechia
lastweek. (Yes, you can read about her film on the website.)

Congrats on such a delicately made film, which I saw at Chesterfield.
Do
women film makers show a greater degree of
'what ever it takes' to make a moving film????

Uncle Albert
was in the animation section but did not clip a prize this time.

But hope to be shown...I have just received a copyright clearance
request for any music used for the entry at Oslo. So again, altho not winning
a major award my film is to be shown. As have
said before an audience to me, is what it is all about.

Have just cleaned the silver cup I had last year from IAC but
I how I would gladly give it to Mal if I could get even more audiences in
exchange! How about it Mal? Say my cup for an audience of 500?

I was very chuffed to give them copyright clearance on my own musical composition....not
very often that happens! Maybe soon, there will be awards for music composition
in amateur festivals as there are in pro ones....I live in hope.
How about it IAC?


Second: Why do psychics have to ask you for your name?

That isn't true. A *good* medium will INSIST that you never give names or
any details about yourself at all. My wife joan is a
spiritualist and has never done so.....how about that guys,
an atheist and a spiritualist married for over 40 years !!

Albert...being spiritual.
AN

Re: Movies from other countries

Post by AN »

"malcolm whiteley" <malcolmwhiteley@hotmail.com> wrote:

...He didn't write anything!

Wot's up Mal, not eating enuf jam butties?
Using invisible ink?

You just echoed what we said and didn't add anything :-(
.."Little Sir Echo how do you do?....." (ol song)

Albert.
Dave Watterson

Missing Mal ...

Post by Dave Watterson »

My guess is that Mal highlighted text in order to delete what
was not necessary ... always a good idea to reduce the repetition
- but then accidentally hit send instead of del

Either that or Albert's right about the lack of sugar ...

Hurry back, Mal!
Michael Slowe

Re: Missing Mal ...

Post by Michael Slowe »

"Dave Watterson" <webmaster@theiac.org.uk> wrote:
was not necessary ... always a good idea to reduce the repetition
- but then accidentally hit send instead of del

Either that or Albert's right about the lack of sugar ...

Hurry back, Mal!
Could Detective McWatterson get more IAC members looking at and contributing
to this Forum? It would be nice to have more input.
Dave Watterson

Re: Missing Mal ...

Post by Dave Watterson »

Could Detective McWatterson get more IAC members looking at and contributing
to this Forum? It would be nice to have more input.
I agree it would be good to have more contributors of this quality but how
to encourage them? When the forum started I emailed everyone in the amateur
movie making world I knew. Like most people I suffer enough junk mail, so
I don't want to become such a pest by emailing them all frequently.

Recently I invited some of our overseas friends to take part too but though
they may be reading, so far none has written. (Hint!)

How about those of us who do take part adding a postscript to all the emails
we send to fellow enthusiasts, urging them to take a look?

I'll keep plugging it on the main pages of the website too.

Do you think it worth asking clubs with websites to mention the forum on
their websites?

Dave (the billposter) McWatterson
malcolm whiteley

Re: Movies from other countries

Post by malcolm whiteley »

Hey hey, hope im not starting to lose it, what I wanted to say was.
"Have just cleaned the silver cup I had last year from IAC but how I would
gladly give it to Mal."
I hope it realy shines Albert as I want to be able to see my face in it this
year.
Mal: (looking in the mirror)
AN

Re: Movies from other countries

Post by AN »

"malcolm whiteley" <malcolmwhiteley@hotmail.com> wrote:
Hey hey, hope im not starting to lose it, what I wanted to say was.

I hope it realy shines Albert as I want to be able to see my face in it
this
year.
Well, are you doing animation now then, as it's the animation
cup? You could always animate jam butties around a plate to the sound
of the Ovaltinees. Titled, "In a jam!"
Mal: (looking in the mirror)
Albert (looking in another tabloid)
Ken Wilson

Re: Missing Mal ...

Post by Ken Wilson »

"Dave Watterson" <webmaster@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

I agree it would be good to have more contributors of this quality but how
to encourage them? When the forum started I emailed everyone in the amateur
movie making world I knew. >
How about those of us who do take part adding a postscript to all the emails
we send to fellow enthusiasts, urging them to take a look?

I'll keep plugging it on the main pages of the website too.

Do you think it worth asking clubs with websites to mention the forum on
their websites?
I have given a mention to this site in my next piece for the
reviews pages in FVM magazine (NOV/DEC) which incidentaly
will be out of date by the time we get it. Anyway, I`ve done
my bit to publicise this lively forum. Ken.
Dave Watterson

Re: Missing Mal ...

Post by Dave Watterson »

Thanks for the plug, Ken.

For those who don't know, Ken Wilson writes a column reviewing commercial
videos and dvds in "Film & Video Maker" magazine for the IAC in Britain.
How he finds the time, given that he and his team at Phase 4 produce more
movies a year than the average small European nations, I don't know. Oh,
and he has a full-time job too.

Any other bright ideas on promoting this dicussion forum, folks?

McDave (Like McG but without Charlie's Angels to direct.)
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