Re: BIAFF IAC Professionalism?
Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 4:49 pm
The word amateur defines a person not a thing; so an amateur film is one made by non-professionals; those not engaged in earning their living (or part of their living) from working in some aspect of movie making (film; tv). So I can understand the concern of hobbyists with limited means and no access to professionals. With this definition of amateur then wedding and other paid part time movie makers are professionals along with retired professionals. A festival/contest defines either the film or its makers; see my earlier post about the AMPS rules where the film is defined not its makers. The BIAFF by including the word amateur defines its makers; you can't have it both ways. In my view this underlines the need to get rid of the word "amateur" from non-commercial movie making. The professional film world uses the word amateur to describe poorly made stuff and amateurish is an insult. It's all very well being a proud amateur movie maker but to the world at large this prejudges your films as of poor quality. The current generation of young movie makers do not want to be classified as amateurs even though they are making films for fun and not for income.
The movie making world has moved on from the days when putting together an amateur film was a major effort; modern technology has pretty well leveled the playing field for all movie makers; it's about creativity now not overcoming the limits of inexpensive technology.
Where does this leave that traditional amateur hobbyist? Out in the cold I fear; 2 or 3 stars at BIAFF perhaps or raise the level of your game; actually the technology is relatively easy these days but apply creativity and enter a new and exciting world.
ned c
The movie making world has moved on from the days when putting together an amateur film was a major effort; modern technology has pretty well leveled the playing field for all movie makers; it's about creativity now not overcoming the limits of inexpensive technology.
Where does this leave that traditional amateur hobbyist? Out in the cold I fear; 2 or 3 stars at BIAFF perhaps or raise the level of your game; actually the technology is relatively easy these days but apply creativity and enter a new and exciting world.
ned c