In favour of live festivals

[Dave Watterson]

I agree the web is a great place to get some films out to the world. Under
25s in particular get a lot of their culture in music and movies that way.

But no matter how good such a collection is ... it's not a festival.

For me a festival is about seeing good films but also about meeting people.

Most film makers are lovely, generous, interesting folk. I like talking
to them. And networking this way makes it easier to roust out entries for
some little-known overseas festival ... I can just email or phone a moviemaker
I've met and ask if they would like to enter their film "xxx". It also
makes it easier to get people together for other festivals and events because
there is less chance of people worrying "that I won't know anyone there".

You can also get the stories behind the films which can be utterly fascinating
and often very, very funny. I have learned so much from talking to film makers
about the art of making good movies that I rate that better than most technical
books I have studied.

To my mind the best festivals for mixing movies and meetings are the week-long
overseas ones like the Festival of Nations in Austria and the UNICA festival
which moves to different countries. They have enough time for both activities.

In the UK the least social festival is the Cotswolds where the only chance
to chat is a few minutes before and after the two shows plus 20 minutes in
the crowded bar at the interval. Surely someone in Stroud could give Lee
Prescott the support and help he needs to make the competition into a proper
festival with supporting events? He does so much to get the comp organised
that he has no time or energy to do more.

BIAFF is only a little better. We pack in so many movies that the breaks
tend to be a rush for toilets / bars / food and all too little time to talk.
The formal dinner has a lot going against it - but at least it lets you
chat to the people on your table.

Guernsey is by far the best of the UK events for sociability. You get good
movies and also lots of time to meet fellow enthusiasts.

But maybe I'm alone in this - and everyone else just wants movies 24/7 ?


Dave

[Michael Slowe]

To my mind the best festivals for mixing movies and meetings are the week-long
overseas ones like the Festival of Nations in Austria and the UNICA festival
which moves to different countries. They have enough time for both activities.

In the UK the least social festival is the Cotswolds where the only chance
to chat is a few minutes before and after the two shows plus 20 minutes
in
the crowded bar at the interval. Surely someone in Stroud could give Lee
Prescott the support and help he needs to make the competition into a proper
festival with supporting events? He does so much to get the comp organised
that he has no time or energy to do more.

BIAFF is only a little better. We pack in so many movies that the breaks
tend to be a rush for toilets / bars / food and all too little time to talk.
The formal dinner has a lot going against it - but at least it lets you
chat to the people on your table.

Guernsey is by far the best of the UK events for sociability. You get good
movies and also lots of time to meet fellow enthusiasts.

But maybe I'm alone in this - and everyone else just wants movies 24/7 ?


Dave

Yes Dave, I agree that sometimes one is so keen to see as many films as possible
consequently the meeeting and exchange of news and ideas becomes difficult.
These festivals are vital though for film makers, it is so important to
see what is being produced by others, particularly the overseas producers
who so often nowadays are the innovators. Web sites for films may be alright
for the two minute jobs but you can't transmit atmosphere and mood on to
a tiny computer screen. The attraction of film as a media is making an impact
with dramatic images cut to effective audio up on a big screen where an audience
hopefully can concentrate in a darkened environment. The increasing use
of large plasma TV screens is providing opportunities to present films other
than projecting onto a cinema screen and it is a joy to film makers to see
how good their films look on these screens, but a live audience at a festival
takes some beating. Organisers of these festivals deserve all the help and
encouragement that we can give them and although I have had disagreements
with Lee Prescott from time to time, he battles bravely to promote and run
the Cotswold. For me the BIAFF weekend is the tops though and come on Dave,
there is plenty of time to talk - you seem to manage that night and day non
stop!!

Michael.

[Willy van der Linden]

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

I agree the web is a great place to get some films out to the world.
But no matter how good such a collection is ... it's not a festival.

It's good to know that you agree with me, Dave. Obviously you do not like
the title of the subject "Hurray ... a website festival !" That was what

I was hoping for. I fear that more and more competitions like that one will
be organized in the future. We must "boycot" them. It's ridiculous to call
them festivals.

To my mind the best festivals for mixing movies and meetings are the week-long
overseas ones like the Festival of Nations in Austria and the UNICA festival
which moves to different countries.

Obviously you are a great fan of the Festival of Nations, Dave. In Guernsey
you were wearing a T-shirt with "Festival of Nations" on it. Some time ago
I critized the Ebensee festival. Do you remember ? Sorry for that. Some years
ago my film was not even screened in Austria because I was not there and
Christiane Surdiacourt could not represent the Belgians that year. I still
wonder why I sent my entry to that festival. Of course the organizers also
want to promote the Ebensee area and they are right. Also the Guernsey Lily
organizers always hope to have as many people from abroad as possible. I
am sure about that. But if they would sell T-shirts with a Guernsey Lily
on it I would buy one. Next year I will be there again, winning or not winning,
unless I have unforeseen problems of course. I have already written it in
my diary. Luckily the Guernsey festival and the ARSfestival (the Czech Republic)
are not in the same weekend next year. However, to attend all these festivals
you need time and money, unless you are a wealthy and healthy man !

In the UK the least social festival is the Cotswolds where the only chance
to chat is a few minutes before and after the two shows plus 20 minutes
in
the crowded bar at the interval.

I know Lee Prescott very well, but you are quite right, Dave. He is a fantastic
man.
Socializing is very important. When I was in Stroud together with some Flemish
friends I arrived at the Festival Hall at about 7.30 pm and the show started
at 8 pm, but the door of the Subscription Rooms was still closed. I did not
even have the opportunity to have a chat with UK-friends before the show.
I think it's important to tell this because the organizers can do something
on it in the future. After the show we had to go back to our hotel. At the
bar I met a film maker of the St. Alban's Film Club and we had a nice chat
but in fact that was not the right place for it. I also appreciate that Lee
has his own opinion about judging. The Cotswolds festival is good to see
how your film is evaluated in a different way, but to be honest I prefer
the BIAFF and Guernsey way of judging. The Cotswold system is a bit similar
to the Oslo festival system. Getting a report is so important, but I don't
want to re-open that discussion. Anyway, Lee Prescott deserves a gold medaillion
for courage and enthusiasm. Every year the Cotswolds festival has more than
one hundred entries. It proves that it is a good one.

BIAFF is only a little better. We pack in so many movies that the breaks
tend to be a rush for toilets / bars / food ...

I also enjoy BIAFF very much. I have attented it already 8 times. In the
course of all these years the atmosphere has changed a little bit. That's
a pity ! The pure British atmosphere has disappeared. I remember Buxton about
9 years ago. The Gala Dinner was something fabulous. It was led by a real
"Master of Ceremonies" ! The VIP's were wearing heavy chains with IAC-emblems.
They looked like Lord Mayors. Fantastic ! Afifa was wearing her colourful
Indian dress and we were wearing black suits and bow ties. At home I usually
wear blue jeans, but BIAFF always gives me the opportunity to attend a real
Gala dinner. I am not a conservative, but I like conservatism from time to
time. Some years ago the participants also received a certificate with a
seal on it. That was also something special. It's a pity that these seal
awards do not exist anymore. One of the festivals I remember very well was
one in Harrogate. After the Gala Dinner there was a show : "The Good Old
Days". A lady was wearing a long white dress and she asked me to come onto
the stage and to dance. I hate dancing, but I enjoyed it.

BIAFF is great and I do not understand why I always meet the same people.
Quite a lot of UK-participants stay at home. Also the foreigners do not always
come, but I understand. We also have to pay for the long journey. Did you
know that in England fuel costs almost twice as much as on the continent
? Once upon a time, we continental people, crossed the channel to buy wallpaper
or a new suit ! Now, I'm critizing a bit, but this is a discussion forum
and England is the land of the free. In Belgium I would be executed saying
all these things. Long live the IAC and BIAFF !


Willy

[Ken Wilson]

"Willy van der Linden" <vanderlindenhig@telenet.be> wrote:

I also enjoy BIAFF very much. I have attented it already 8 times. In the
course of all these years the atmosphere has changed a little bit. That's
a pity ! The pure British atmosphere has disappeared. I remember Buxton
about
9 years ago. The Gala Dinner was something fabulous. It was led by a real
"Master of Ceremonies" ! The VIP's were wearing heavy chains with IAC-emblems.
They looked like Lord Mayors. Fantastic !

I have to say that personally, this is the bit about the IAC International
festivals and to a lesser extent, the regional ones, which I disliked. We
voted this year on the NERIAC (North East region of the IAC) committee, to
make our festival (later this month,) less formal. It may be very British
to have formal wear and toasts etc but it also adds weight to the argument
that the IAC is very stuffy and old fashioned. I always hated the word "Institute"
anyway as it sounds like something out of the Dickens era. But the BIAFF
events are great and we have not missed one since joining the IAC about 10
years ago. I have not actually spoken to Willy, so must do this next time.

Our own little festival is only 2 and a bit weeks away now. We had 23 films
entered into the FICTION FILM COMPETITION which I think is a good result,
as this was all unknown territory when I thought about doing it some months
ago. We had entries from as far north as Scotland and as far south as Guernsey,
so thank you to all who sent their films in. We spent about 7 hours last
Saturday, watching them all, giving a score to each one and adding comments.
These I will have to type up in due course but first I have to sort out a
programme which we can fit in and around our own new films.
It is an interesting experiment and we will have to see how well it is attended
before I know if we can do it again.
Anyone within striking distance of Yorkshire can contact me for details on
the usual:

kw@phase4.free-online.co.uk

Ken. (p.s. I will not be wearing any chains!)

[Willy Van der Linden]

"Ken Wilson" <kw@granadamedia.com> wrote:

"
I have to say that personally, this is the bit about the IAC International
festivals and to a lesser extent, the regional ones, which I disliked. We
voted this year on the NERIAC (North East region of the IAC) committee,
to
make our festival (later this month,) less formal.

Yes, of course, Ken. It is not necessary to make the regional festivals formal.
It would not be good, but BIAFF is something special. And be sure, Ken,
I am not for the "upper class". On the contrary even ! But it feels good
to look like a VIP once a year. I don't think it's wrong. I don't smoke cigarettes
nor cigars, but not long ago I was offered a very big Cuban Churchill cigar
and I didn't refuse it. I felt great for some moments. When the smoke was
in my lungs, however, I started coughing and I stopped. No, I'm not in favour
of wearing chains at festivals at all, but perhaps you don't realize that
this British tradition gives foreigners like me a special feeling. I like
Britishness. BIAFF is always a special event.

Our own little festival is only 2 and a bit weeks away now. We had 23 films
entered into the FICTION FILM COMPETITION which I think is a good result,
as this was all unknown territory when I thought about doing it some months
ago.
Ken. (p.s. I will not be wearing any chains!)

Congratulations, Ken. You are the right person to organize such a festival
together with some friends.
As far as I know the International Dragon Festival in Belgium, a fiction
film competition, does not exist anymore... If your competiton would be
international then I would stimulate some film makers of my club to take
part in it. We have a new one. He's only 21. His fiction films are wonderful.
I will pay for his BIAFF- entries myself, just to encourage the young man.
Maybe your festival will become international in some years.

I also think that we must seperate documentaries from fiction films, one
minute films from travelogues etc in festivals... Seperate competitions are
good, I think, but there is no reason to change BIAFF, the festival organized
by the largest group of amateur filmakers in the world : the IAC !

[Peter]

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

BIAFF is only a little better. We pack in so many movies that the breaks
tend to be a rush for toilets / bars / food and all too little time to talk.
The formal dinner has a lot going against it - but at least it lets you
chat to the people on your table.

Guernsey is by far the best of the UK events for sociability. You get good
movies and also lots of time to meet fellow enthusiasts.

But maybe I'm alone in this - and everyone else just wants movies 24/7 ?


Dave

Poor Dave, you are now getting slated for talking too much!!

I do agree that club evenings, shows, competitions and festivals need a certain
allocation of time to talk - after all, we are all windbags!!

On another point, I'm doing a lot of sound editing now, and I'm using ProTools
LE(Digedesign) which is a very good multitrack editor, and DSP processor.
It's not cheap - the LE version is £320 - but very good. It also allows you
to edit sound with the video files - and will probably do a better job than
most programs, although I only edit sound so I don't have personal experience
with this aspect. (It's tied in with Avid). I'm hoping to edit later this
month a CD recorded in a studio which uses ProTools, so I will know more
later. I did have to buy some good speakers and headphones to use with the
program - so the set up for sound editing, recording and processing is not
cheap if you want to do it properly.

Sorry to be a windbag and rant on so much ...

Peter Thomlinson - ex video maker ...

[Willy Van der Linden]

"Peter" <sonata@pocoanimato.co.uk> wrote:

Poor Dave, you are now getting slated for talking too much!!
.... After all, we are all windbags!!

I didn't understand the word "windbag", Peter. I looked in my dictionary
English-Dutch an now I know that it means "chatter-box". So, it's better
to stop writing now. I didn't know that you get slated for talking too much
in England.

[Peter]

"Willy Van der Linden" <vanderlindenhig@telenet.be> wrote:

"Peter" <sonata@pocoanimato.co.uk> wrote:

Poor Dave, you are now getting slated for talking too much!!
... After all, we are all windbags!!

I didn't understand the word "windbag", Peter. I looked in my dictionary
English-Dutch an now I know that it means "chatter-box". So, it's better
to stop writing now. I didn't know that you get slated for talking too much
in England.

You only get slated in Britain for talking too much if (1)you are a politician

or (2) an orchestral conductor (Director). Apart from this we are mostly
windbags, or incessant chatterboxes!

[Dave Watterson]

Poor Dave, you are now getting slated for talking too much!!

Wait till you see what happens when the current issue of Film & Video Maker
arrives ... through a quirk of scheduling several pieces of mine written
at different times are all appearing in one issue!

As to Michael Slowe's original comment on my chatting power - he meant it
as a compliment. He's far too nice a chap to mean anything else.

As a matter of interest, among the film societies (film appreciation groups)
there is exactly the same dilemma about gatherings. People want to see as
much film as possible ... but when they go away what they regret is not having
had more chance to talk.

Dave - sore throated - McWatterson

[Dave Watterson]

"Peter" <sonata@pocoanimato.co.uk> wrote:

On another point, I'm doing a lot of sound editing now, and I'm using ProTools
LE(Digedesign) which is a very good multitrack editor, and DSP processor.
It's not cheap - the LE version is £320 - but very good.

This is interesting, Peter. I think more moviemakers are getting serious
about sound now because, ironically, our playback systems for DVDs offer
better quality amps and speakers than we normally used for cine. Of course
the cost of pretty good amps and speakers has reduced (relatively) and you
can even find some amazing bargains in places like Richer Sounds if you look
for last year's models.

For tweaking sound I have not got further than Goldwave and Adobe Audition.
The former is a very cheap shareware program. Indeed you can use it without
payment ... every few hundred uses it just reminds you that you have not
paid, asks you to save your work and re-start the program. By the time that
has happened more than once you realise you are really making good use of
it and go ahead and spend the modest price of registering it.

I wonder if the influence of the AV people is also coming into play. They
have insisted on high-fidelity soundtracks for years and Howard Gregory's
articles in FVM are helping people record better original material.

Dave (ears open) McWatterson

[Willy Van der Linden]

"Dave Watterson" <david.filmsocs@virgin.net> wrote:

Wait till you see what happens when the current issue of Film & Video Maker
arrives ... through a quirk of scheduling several pieces of mine written
at different times are all appearing in one issue!

You're spoilt, Dave ! In Belgium it is sometimes not even possible to write
one positive article in an issue of "Beeld Express", our national magazine.
Why not ? There are 300 clubs in Flanders, let's say 200 clubs for passionate
amateur photographers and 100 clubs for amateur film makers. Together they
have one national magazine : one issue every two months ... full of fantastic
photos ! The photographers are dominant ! The film makers have one lady in
the editiorial board and she does her utmost, but ... What a difference with
"Film and Video Maker" !. Seeing all these fantastic photos in "Beeld Express"
I sometimes have the desire to become a photographer ... but after all making
films gives a greater challenge.
>