That marvelous Caithness light

[Cinema For Thurso Group]

Well we're now well into summer up here even though the north wind is bringing
the Siberian chill and the side shows brought heavy rain as usual.
That aside, from the start of May we enjoy one thing that kinda takes the
tourist aback. When a tourist asks me, "excuse me, what time does it get
dark here?", they are shocked when I reply, "August or September, weather
permitting!"
The reason is our proximety to the North Pole. We are as far up that at this
time it doesn't get fully dark. By 3.am it's time to get the camera out and
start shooting the new day (without extra lighting) and continuing up to
10.30pm. Continuous all night is the presence of light to the north and it
is such that even when the filming light has gone there is plenty for the
naked eye and a walk in the countryside under the "summer dim" as it is known,
is a wonderful experience. I recommend a walk over Claredon Hill along to
Murkle Bay if you ever come visiting.

[Dave Watterson]

"Cinema For Thurso Group" wrote:

a walk in the countryside under the "summer dim" as it is known,
is a wonderful experience. I recommend a walk over Claredon Hill along to
Murkle Bay if you ever come visiting.

I was born and bred in the Lothians (central Scotland. My mother's side of
the family are mainly from Hawick and Galashiels (Southern Borders.) I cannot
write as movingly about the landscape there as CfT does about his part of
the country - but the areas I know are also beautiful in their own way.

Visit Scotland ... no movie maker will regret doing so !!!

Bertrand Tavernier, the celebrated French film director fell in love with
the light of Glasgow.
Willy van der Linden tells us he fell in love with Scotland.
See Brian Hazelden's articles on the website and see the magical light of
Galloway.

So there CfT and I wholly agree.

We differ on festivals.

I respect (and admire) the decision to get your films out to the real audience
and on as big a screen as you can. That does not preclude entering festivals.
There are two plusses:

1. you get some notes from objective judges which might help you make even
better work. (Sometimes you have to pick and choose which comments to pay
heed to and which to ignore.)
2. you share your vision, energy and ideas with other film makers and may
encourage them too to expand their horizons.


Dave W

[Cinema For Thurso Group]

Visit Scotland ... no movie maker will regret doing so !!!

What could I possibly add to that?

1. you get some notes from objective judges which might help you make even
better work. (Sometimes you have to pick and choose which comments to pay
heed to and which to ignore.)

I regard film making (like all else in life) as a learning curve and I'm
always keen to hear new ideas or find good advice on making films. A film
judge can certainly apply good advice but the final judge remains the audience.
I'm not about to rush out and try a 'Blair Witch' or 'Open Water' which seem
to go against common sense film-wise but it does show that the audience will
take on things even when they don't conform. My film technique is like mixing
analogue with digital (which is what's comming next- hope you're all ready
for it). I'll use old or new ideas, good techniques or dodgy ones, whatever
is apropriate to the project. I'm always open to feedback even if I seem
prickly.

2. you share your vision, energy and ideas with other film makers and may
encourage them too to expand their horizons.

I'm already doing this and that is why CFT's membership just jumped up.

Cinema For Thurso- will these two pulses keep my Elmo in sync?