IAC DISCUSSION FORUMS

You may have read Reg's letter on IAC(private)
about 'Amateur Cine Enthusiast's magazine possible ending.
This is because of hard disc crashes etc etc. and also
the editor's (John Shearsmith FACI) wife ill health.
If so, this is a sad day, as this was one of the last links
with the old 'Amateur Cine World' Ten Best.
Although giving up film I still subscribed to this magazine
up to the present time, and enjoyed reading about film
and the Ten Best still held each year on film stock only.

Some of you here I believe still hold those wonderful solid
silver trophies awarded by the older ACW magazine in earlier days.
Tony Rose, who died a few years ago was the editor in its heyday
and the Ten Best films were shown at the National
Film Theatre in London, copies made on 16mm, and then hired
out to the film clubs around the country.
Very sad to hear of yet another link to the old Ten Best
times broken.
Albert...another link in the chain.

If this is indeed the end of the line for ACW and the Ten Best it is very
sad.

John Shearsmith has been doing his best to keep it alive for several years.

It is some time since "The Ten Best" was a must-see major event. Indeed
in the
days of the roadshow when it toured the country you would find all sorts
of
people turning up who would seldom otherwise see amateur movies. It often
played
at film appreciation societies, for example.

That said ... cine is the medium of the past.

For all its virtues and despite the appeal it seems to have for young people
according to Tony Shapps ... cine seldom presents as well as video these
days.
Cameras and projectors have not aged well. Perhaps older cine enthusiasts
have
not aged well either? Or is that totally unfair?

I would love to get the roadshow back ... but on video, preferably DVD. That
way
lots of Arts Centres, Film Societies etc could easily show it.

Dave McIconoclast Watterson

"AN" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

You may have read Reg's letter on IAC(private)
about 'Amateur Cine Enthusiast's magazine possible ending.
This is because of hard disc crashes etc etc. and also
the editor's (John Shearsmith FACI) wife ill health.
If so, this is a sad day, as this was one of the last links
with the old 'Amateur Cine World' Ten Best.
Although giving up film I still subscribed to this magazine
up to the present time, and enjoyed reading about film
and the Ten Best still held each year on film stock only.

Some of you here I believe still hold those wonderful solid
silver trophies awarded by the older ACW magazine in earlier days.
Tony Rose, who died a few years ago was the editor in its heyday
and the Ten Best films were shown at the National
Film Theatre in London, copies made on 16mm, and then hired
out to the film clubs around the country.
Very sad to hear of yet another link to the old Ten Best
times broken.
Albert...another link in the chain.

Apologies for two posts in one day but I can't let the passing of the Ten
Best go by without speaking.
Tony Rose actually edited Movie Maker, not ACW Albert, and I think I am right
that there was a row when ACW was bought by Fountain Press the owners of
Movie Maker and Tony was installed then. Please correct me if I am wrong
someone. Anyhow he was instrumental in really expanding the competition,
getting well known film people to judge the final round and most of all managing
to get the premiere on at the National Film Theatre withmajor figures presenting
the trophies - Joan Collins, Michael Winner, James Stewart, We had national
newspapers reviewing the films and showings and interviews on Granada TV's
Clapper Board programme. Tony was the single most important influence on
me as a film maker and I worshipped him. I was lucky enough to get in the
final Ten many times and the thrill of seeing one's film come up on that
huge screen with a large audience was an experience I never quite got over.

Mind you the first time, in 1970, was a mite disappointing since my film
had been made on Standard 8mm and had been blown up to 16mm. for the release
set of prints. Our old friend Chris Taylor, then and now of Westcliff Cine
Club, was employed to handle the sound transfer and re syncing.
How about some more nostalgia from other old winners amongst us, notably
Albert, Michael Gough etc, not to mention Ken Russell and Kevin Brownlow,
early winners.

Michael Slowe.

"Michael Slowe" <michael.slowe@btinternet.com> wrote:

"AN" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

You may have read Reg's letter on IAC(private)
about 'Amateur Cine Enthusiast's magazine possible ending.
This is because of hard disc crashes etc etc. and also
the editor's (John Shearsmith FACI) wife ill health.
If so, this is a sad day, as this was one of the last links
with the old 'Amateur Cine World' Ten Best.
Although giving up film I still subscribed to this magazine
up to the present time, and enjoyed reading about film
and the Ten Best still held each year on film stock only.

Some of you here I believe still hold those wonderful solid
silver trophies awarded by the older ACW magazine in earlier days.
Tony Rose, who died a few years ago was the editor in its heyday
and the Ten Best films were shown at the National
Film Theatre in London, copies made on 16mm, and then hired
out to the film clubs around the country.
Very sad to hear of yet another link to the old Ten Best
times broken.
Albert...another link in the chain.


Apologies for two posts in one day but I can't let the passing of the Ten
Best go by without speaking.
Tony Rose actually edited Movie Maker, not ACW Albert, and I think I am
right
that there was a row when ACW was bought by Fountain Press the owners of
Movie Maker and Tony was installed then. Please correct me if I am wrong
someone.

You are wrong. Thought you were old enough to remember when
TR was editor of ACW, long before MM.
Albert....righting a wrong.

I wonder if I judged any of your movies, Michael, when I was honoured to be
on that
final judging panel for the Ten Best many years ago. Unfortuntely I recall
almost
nothing of the work we assessed.

My memory is mainly of the sheer joy of spending a day in the company of
Tony Rose,
Ivan Watson and John Wright. We viewed in the BFI basement cinema at 21 Dean
Street
and lunched, if memory serves, at Quaglinos. I later enjoyed Tony and John's
company
at other judging events but it was my only meeting with Ivan.

They invited me to take part because at that time I was General Secretary
of the
British Federation of Film Societies - the film appreciation groups. I think
they
were surprised to discover that I was an IAC member and a long-time devotee
of their
magazine.

Between them those three men did wonders for amateur movie making. They combined
a
canny appreciation of practical and aesthetic issues. I recall a lunch in
Crieff
during a Scottish Moviemakers weekend when Tony and I discussed the timing
of edits
very seriously ... and in fits of laughter. John's flair for publicity did
a lot
to bring amateur moviemaking to a wider public. But it was Ivan's wise columns
which
guided a generation of film makers. He was a journalist rather than a film
maker
himself, but he had fine taste, judgement and writing style. It was a powerful
team
indeed.

Dave

"AN" <AnimatioN@btopenworld.com> wrote:

"Michael Slowe" <michael.slowe@btinternet.com> wrote:

"AN" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

You may have read Reg's letter on IAC(private)
about 'Amateur Cine Enthusiast's magazine possible ending.
This is because of hard disc crashes etc etc. and also
the editor's (John Shearsmith FACI) wife ill health.
If so, this is a sad day, as this was one of the last links
with the old 'Amateur Cine World' Ten Best.
Although giving up film I still subscribed to this magazine
up to the present time, and enjoyed reading about film
and the Ten Best still held each year on film stock only.

Some of you here I believe still hold those wonderful solid
silver trophies awarded by the older ACW magazine in earlier days.
Tony Rose, who died a few years ago was the editor in its heyday
and the Ten Best films were shown at the National
Film Theatre in London, copies made on 16mm, and then hired
out to the film clubs around the country.
Very sad to hear of yet another link to the old Ten Best
times broken.
Albert...another link in the chain.


Apologies for two posts in one day but I can't let the passing of the Ten
Best go by without speaking.
Tony Rose actually edited Movie Maker, not ACW Albert, and I think I am
right
that there was a row when ACW was bought by Fountain Press the owners of
Movie Maker and Tony was installed then. Please correct me if I am wrong
someone.

You are wrong. Thought you were old enough to remember when
TR was editor of ACW, long before MM.
Albert....righting a wrong.

Sorry Albert, I knew you would pick up any error! I can't be all that old
because I never read ACW regularly and thought that TR only came in with
Fountain Press.

Michael Slowe.