IAC DISCUSSION FORUMS

Oh, I was so furious. Our mayor asked me again if I could make a new documentary
about our town by the end of September next year. The local elections are
in October ... I already made two documentaries about Willebroek in the past.
Last time I tried to make something original. A young man called Chris meets
Charles De Decker, a famous local historian and a former librarian. He has
already written many books about Willebroek. They're sitting on a bench in
our park. They start talking about the history of Willebroek and about many
other things in our town. From time to time you can see them walking from
one interesting place to an other. I filmed part of a football match, a basketbal
match, a rowing competition, a cycling race, a gym show, but I didn't film
the petanque and angling competition,a tennis match, etc... I filmed the
brass band which is "world famous" in Europe, the accordion band and "The
Fondy Riverside Bullet Band", but I "forgot" some fanfares and other groups
of musicians. They praised me for the good quality of this film with a length
of 33 minutes, but they asked me why I didn't film the Fire Brigade and our
Police Office, etc... etc... For that film they didn't pay me at all, but
"Focus", my film club doesn't have to pay for our clubhouse and the central
heating. Our clubhouse is part of the Cultural Centre of our Community. So
what do I have to do ? I prefer making a film about Guernsey, or about any
other place in Britain. I would only like to make films for fun. The "tragedy"
is that most outsiders think that after the camerawork the film is finished.
You just add the shots to the storyboard in your computer, ... and that's
it ! I must admit my casablanca is a magic machine, but ... Oh, God, help
me ! In my town there is an other film maker who has already been "national
champion" four times ! He's much better than I am. He has already taken
part in Unica and he's even won a bronze Unica-medal twice, but he has already
been a member of five or six different film clubs in other towns or villages
up to now. He must be a member of a club somewhere in Brussels at this moment.
They never ask him to make films about our town... That's not fair !

"Willy Van der Linden" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

Oh, I was so furious. Our mayor asked me again if I could make a new documentary
about our town ...
In my town there is an other film maker who has already been "national
champion" four times ! He's much better than I am.
They never ask him to make films about our town... That's not fair !

No, it's not fair.
It is an enormous compliment.

I don't know the other person you refer to, but I do know some of your work.
I know that there is no one who makes better documentaries about places.
Of course you deal with the people in those places, but you make the country,
region or town you focus on come to life. The mayor shows good judgement
if not tact !

Of course the mayor should ask different people, in order not to show favouritism,
quite apart from ringing the artistic changes. But people running any organisation
come to bless folk on whom they can depend. They know you will do a superb
job, it will be done on time and it will make them proud.

I realise this makes you feel as if you are being taken for granted. It's
not so. Politicians know better than most of us that people change, circumstances
change and there will come a time when the dependable person cannot do as
they ask. Until then they rejoice in your skills and helpfulness. That's
a pretty good reputation to have.

As to criticism - isn't that a Belgian Olympic sport?!

In truth if a movie was terrible I come away from it talking about whatever
good points it may have had. If a movie is brilliant I comment on whatever
minor failings it may have had. I'd take that moaning as a back-handed compliment.

Are you looking for new ideas for a fresh approach? How would other forum
readers tackle the subject of filming a town ... for the umpteenth time?

Dave

Winning prizes doesn't make this guy better than you Willy, he just enters
more competitions. The whole IAC still awaits to see what we produce- it
may superior to the work of Robert Wise or it may be more Ed Wood (the latter
me thinks). A prize for a film depends on an opinion and a judges is opinion
does not nessecarily match the general audience. Critics can slate a movie
yet it will go on to become one of the greatest of it's genre. Do the work
you do wheather you have won prizes or not. Only an Oscar (and perhaps not
even that) makes you great at making movies.

"Willy Van der Linden" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

Oh, I was so furious. Our mayor asked me again if I could make a new documentary
about our town by the end of September next year. l
They never ask him to make films about our town... That's not fair !

Willy, you get upset about the oddest things! If you want to make the film
then make it, if you don't then don't! I make it a firm rule only to make
the film I want to make and which really inspres me, that way I only disappoint
myself. We are not professionals with no one paying us and thank goodness
for that (that answers your initial cry). As Dave points out, criticism
of a film is very subjective and we both know when we have succeeded or not
without having to be told. Mind you both of us could be a bit more adventurous
in our approach but we know that too - elderly film makers find it difficult
to alter their approach!

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

I don't know the other person you refer to, ...
His name is Florent Vanopstal. He lives about 2 miles from my house. I think

he's a member of Willy Van Blaere's Brussels film club. Do you know them
? Florent, our local "Unica champion" makes fantastic films about nature.
He's an expert in making films about blue tits in their nests, about spiders,
red ants, grasshoppers and butterflies. They sometimes look like prehistoric
monsters. Not the blue tits of course. On the contrary even ... The theme
of his films is always very soft. Of course he always uses macro lenses.
His images are spectacular. His photography is superb ! I love his films.
His films are always very enchanting and that's why outsiders are even excited
when the structure of his films could be improved. They prefer the path
of life of a blue tit to the life story of a literary man or a famous painter
for instance. They prefer a blue tit to Victor Hugo for instance. I think
it must be always difficult for judges not to be over-charmed by the theme
of a film. Don't you think so ? Florent is someone who never feels embarrassed
when he has refused something. That's a good characteristic. He can always
film anything he wants. This year he was 6th in Belgium. He didn't seem to
be very happy. He had spent about six weeks in an Australian nature reserve
he told us at the national competition. Last year he was in South America
for a long time. A friend of my film club ever filmed a tortoise laying eggs
in his garden. Florent filmed a tortoise laying eggs somewhere on the Galapagos
islands. That's different, isn't it ? But I must admit ... Florent's film
was much better.

As to criticism - isn't that a Belgian Olympic sport?!
I know what you mean, Dave... Yes, you're right ! That's one of the reasons

why I prefer the British mentality. Sorry that I'm criticizing the Belgian
mentality now.

Are you looking for new ideas for a fresh approach? How would other forum
readers tackle the subject of filming a town ... for the umpteenth time?

Yes, indeed. Being creative is very important, even when making documentaries
and travelogues. I do need a fresh approach. I need some comical moments
in my film about Willebroek. In my previous film young Chris had drunk too
much "Vaartlander", our local beer at the end. He was tipsy and he could
walk any further. That's also the end of my film "Wildebroc" (In fact Willebroek
means "wild brook". Wildebroc is the old name). But what do I have to film
this time ?

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

Willy, you get upset about the oddest things! If you want to make the film
then make it, if you don't then don't!

The oddest things... perhaps, yes, but it's not as simple as that, Michael.
I prefer making other films, but I can't refuse the "order". I'm president
of the local filmclub. That makes the difference. We don't have to pay for
our clubhouse and we have our own bar. So we can earn some money. It's not
like that in Britain, I think. Every year we receive an allowance of about
£300. When we are granted the title of "cultural ambassador" then we receive
£1200. To be honest ... we are spoilt by the local authorities. A strong
filmclub is a club with money. And you need money nowadays to buy new machines
for instance. Sony, Panasonic, JVC and other firms make machines with a life
service of about 5 years. Then it's over. Our Panasonic mini-DV-recorder
is out of order now. Repairing it is very expensive. It's better to buy a
new one. Price : 2,700 euro or £1,700. Refusing the "order" means losing
the clubhouse and not being financially strong enough to buy new machines.
That's why I get upset from time to time. On top of this forum you can read
: "Are you enraged ... ?" Of course, I'm not enraged at all - being furious
is a bit softer, I think - but this forum is a good "exhaust-valve" (= Dutch
expression) for my feelings from time to time. Sorry for that.

By the way, Michael, we screened your "Melissa" some weeks ago. The members
of my club were very excited. They found your documentary very interesting.
Most friends don't speak English at all, but they seemed to have understood
most things. They also appreciated the music, the technique and many other
things in your film. You already know that they enjoyed your films "Glass
Art" and "Still Life". I already told you. The technicians were beside themselves
with joy about "Glass Art". Also "Still Life" shows that you are a creative
film maker. Congratulations !