No Entry For BIAFF!

[Michael Slowe]

Dave certainly started an active thread (always his intention?) and there
are interesting replies.

I have to report the first blank year since I re commenced film making in
1999. I have shot two films but can't start editing until the end of this
month when I get the final piece of my up graded editing suite. Having recently
adopted the new HDV format I want to edit in full HD to retain the quality
and had to wait for a new magic box which converts HDV into a form which
will not degrade when edited. Peter, I should however have something for
you in Guernsy next summer! Confidentially I don't want to enter whilst
Dave is taking a year off from judging (joke).

I fully expect to be in Bedford and catch up with old friends and new (Ian,
I am an 'old codger' who may well buttonhole you) and I want to see all Ken's
new films. By the way Ian, I am a great believer in running copies of trial
cuts past as many film savvy people to get an indication of how it is going.
It is surprising what the lone editor misses which gets picked up by oyhers.
Don't forget the professionals have a producer looking over their shoulder,
terrible thought I know, but a safeguard against bad judgement.

As to judges comments I have never read a comment that surprised or upset
me (hardly ever!) because by the time a film is finished and mastered I know
whether it is any good or not. Getting comments may be useful to some but
the grading and placing of films by judges is their main, much appreciated,
function and which then determines the content of award programmes for festivals.
It saves the poor old festival organiser from brick-bats from entrants, except
for one well known festival, where prizewinners are sometimes relegated to
a secondary show the night before the main one!

Happy New Year everyone.

Michael.

[Peter Rouillard]

"Michael Slowe" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

Dave certainly started an active thread (always his intention?) and there
are interesting replies.

I have to report the first blank year since I re commenced film making in
1999. I have shot two films but can't start editing until the end of this
month when I get the final piece of my up graded editing suite. Having
recently
adopted the new HDV format I want to edit in full HD to retain the quality
and had to wait for a new magic box which converts HDV into a form which
will not degrade when edited. Peter, I should however have something for
you in Guernsy next summer! Confidentially I don't want to enter whilst
Dave is taking a year off from judging (joke).

I fully expect to be in Bedford and catch up with old friends and new (Ian,
I am an 'old codger' who may well buttonhole you) and I want to see all
Ken's
new films. By the way Ian, I am a great believer in running copies of trial
cuts past as many film savvy people to get an indication of how it is going.
It is surprising what the lone editor misses which gets picked up by oyhers.
Don't forget the professionals have a producer looking over their shoulder,
terrible thought I know, but a safeguard against bad judgement.

As to judges comments I have never read a comment that surprised or upset
me (hardly ever!) because by the time a film is finished and mastered I
know
whether it is any good or not. Getting comments may be useful to some but
the grading and placing of films by judges is their main, much appreciated,
function and which then determines the content of award programmes for festivals.
It saves the poor old festival organiser from brick-bats from entrants,
except
for one well known festival, where prizewinners are sometimes relegated
to
a secondary show the night before the main one!

Happy New Year everyone.

Michael.

Michael, it's such a pity that you won't have a film in this years BIAFF.
I wish you luck with your HDV editing. But pleased to hear you will still
be at Bedford - we can all buttonhole each other! including Ian if he can
make it. Also delighted to hear you will have something ready for Guernsey
this year, we have got quite used to a 'Michael Slowe film' in recent years.
What was that about Dave Watterson !!?? - I can't believe he can really be
taking a whole year off from judging !! - the man seems to pop up everywhere!
You are quite right about letting other 'savvy' people look at your work
(especially someone like Dave Watterson!) as one does get too close and personal
with it, all comments are welcome on my films too.
Having been a judge, I won't comment on other festivals at present but I
am rather curious as to the 'one well known festival' that you refer to....

Peter

[Ned C]

We have an entry this year but not too optimistic as it is a bit "odd". I
saw the quality of Michael's HDV material during a recent visit to England
- WOW! is all I can say. The detail holds up so well that medium/long shots
are astounding in this format. I am talking with the Secretary of the Treasury
to see if I can make it to Bedford, we shall see, but after the shock of
having to pay an additional GBP10 per day for my rental car on my last visit
because I have passed a certain age was a downer. The AMPS Festival this
year will be in Las Vegas, so come over and see the movies, lose your shirt,
get married, see Tom Jones (argghhh), have fun. The current Las Vegas slogan
is "what you do here stays here" so they have given up the "family" image
and reverted to sin city.

Best wishes to everyone

Ned C

"Michael Slowe" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

Dave certainly started an active thread (always his intention?) and there
are interesting replies.

I have to report the first blank year since I re commenced film making in
1999. I have shot two films but can't start editing until the end of this
month when I get the final piece of my up graded editing suite. Having
recently
adopted the new HDV format I want to edit in full HD to retain the quality
and had to wait for a new magic box which converts HDV into a form which
will not degrade when edited. Peter, I should however have something for
you in Guernsy next summer! Confidentially I don't want to enter whilst
Dave is taking a year off from judging (joke).

I fully expect to be in Bedford and catch up with old friends and new (Ian,
I am an 'old codger' who may well buttonhole you) and I want to see all
Ken's
new films. By the way Ian, I am a great believer in running copies of trial
cuts past as many film savvy people to get an indication of how it is going.
It is surprising what the lone editor misses which gets picked up by oyhers.
Don't forget the professionals have a producer looking over their shoulder,
terrible thought I know, but a safeguard against bad judgement.

[Ian Gardner]

"Ned C" <ned@ampsvideo.com> wrote:
The AMPS Festival this

year will be in Las Vegas, so come over and see the movies, lose your shirt,
get married, see Tom Jones (argghhh), have fun. The current Las Vegas slogan
is "what you do here stays here" so they have given up the "family" image
and reverted to sin city.

Dear Guys,
It does sound that all us guys that arn`t bringing the Wife`s are in for
a treat. What with Tom Jones and all (ahhhhhhhhhh)! When a dogie film comes
on (proberly mine!) we will all be able to remeniss about how our `state
of the art` Betamax Video Recorder was and how the picture quality was better
then those VHS `rubbish one`s` were! I can see a few beers being drunk by
us all!

Bitter and Lager Suck big time. Mines a pint of Cider, or a Perno and Black
or a Malibo and Pineapple!

Hope to see you all there.

Ian (who still cannot make up his mind) Gardner

[Dave Watterson]

Michael pretends he is not entering because I'm not judging this year! I can't
win.

[Relax: I do know it's a joke!]

Over the last couple of years some people were upset because I was judging
so much that they already knew what I thought of their movie and were reluctant
to send it in to later festivals. So I am doing very little judging in the
UK this year and still getting the blame ...

Seriously you lot have all been very tolerant of my comments over the last
few years and you know me well enough to know that I take each movie as it
comes and on its own terms when I see it.

As for young Peter Rouillard I will have to have words with him when we meet
later this month ... I am not taking a complete rest this year ... I am on
the FIFA wildlife film festival (Albert, France) jury for a few days in March
and on the Festival of Nations (Ebensee, Austria)jury for a week in June
this year. Mind you that's nothing to the task he and Richard take on every
year viewing all the entries in the Guernsey Lily and writing notes on every
one. That really is a mammoth task.

You are all too late to enter the wildlife festival but you have until 1st
March for the Festival of Nations. It costs nothing to enter that one and
getting a screening there is an honour. From 740+ entries each year only
90 or so are shown in competition. The festival does have a policy of showing
any entry if the maker attends - they see that as being polite to someone
who has taken the trouble to get there. Some sneaky film makers see it as
a way of ensuring their movie is shown.

By the way - I'm glad that BIAFF is no longer based in central London. Jan
and I went up to Harrow Cine & Video Club on Monday to give a show on the
UNICA festival - and it was hell. Not the talk, not the club who were very
warm and welcoming ... the drive. An accident on M4 held us up for 90 minutes
on the way in, which meant we were battling unfamiliar streets in the dark
and the rush-hour. Aaargh!

But if you want to know about UNICA and are based in some nice low-traffic-density
area ...

Dave

[Peter Rouillard]

"Ned C" <ned@ampsvideo.com> wrote:

The AMPS Festival this
year will be in Las Vegas, so come over and see the movies, lose your shirt,
get married, see Tom Jones (argghhh), have fun. The current Las Vegas slogan
is "what you do here stays here" so they have given up the "family" image
and reverted to sin city.

Best wishes to everyone

Ned C

Wow! now there's a location for the AMPS Festival! Having been twice to Las
Vegas I really can recommend it as a place everyone should go to at least
once in their lifetime - just to see it and believe it!! My last time there
was in Oct 2003 and I came back with hours of footage, including a helicopter
trip over the 'Strip' and into the Grand Canyon where we had a champagne
lunch by the Colorado river. I will be making a short film of this eventually,
but what I do like about Vegas - and all the western States area is that
lovely dry climate with little or no humidity, so I do hope a few Brits are
able to attend the AMPS Festival and enjoy the atmosphere. (isn't Dave Watterson
judging on this one Ned?)
My excuse for our last visit was my daughter choosing to get married in Vegas
- with an Elvis double officiating - so obviously we had to take a holiday
advantage of the situation. But no Ned, I would not want to see Tom Jones
either!

Mmmhh, sin city eh? ........

Peter

[Peter Rouillard]

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

Michael pretends he is not entering because I'm not judging this year! I
can't
win.

[Relax: I do know it's a joke!]

Over the last couple of years some people were upset because I was judging
so much that they already knew what I thought of their movie and were reluctant
to send it in to later festivals. So I am doing very little judging in the
UK this year and still getting the blame ...

Seriously you lot have all been very tolerant of my comments over the last
few years and you know me well enough to know that I take each movie as
it
comes and on its own terms when I see it.

As for young Peter Rouillard I will have to have words with him when we
meet
later this month ... I am not taking a complete rest this year ... I am
on
the FIFA wildlife film festival (Albert, France) jury for a few days in
March
and on the Festival of Nations (Ebensee, Austria)jury for a week in June
this year. Mind you that's nothing to the task he and Richard take on every
year viewing all the entries in the Guernsey Lily and writing notes on every
one. That really is a mammoth task.

You are all too late to enter the wildlife festival but you have until 1st
March for the Festival of Nations. It costs nothing to enter that one and
getting a screening there is an honour. From 740+ entries each year only
90 or so are shown in competition. The festival does have a policy of showing
any entry if the maker attends - they see that as being polite to someone
who has taken the trouble to get there. Some sneaky film makers see it
as
a way of ensuring their movie is shown.

Actually Dave, I was joking too - I knew they couldn't keep you down for
long! I wish you luck for your France and Austria judging trips, I'm sure
you will handle it with your usual trained eye for the cinematic. Thanks
for calling me young by the way - even though I'm older than you! Younger
brother Richard will be mortified reading this - he always calls me an old
fart!
I am hoping to complete my latest film in time for the Ebensee Festival -
just a little more sound work left to do, so who knows? Dave Watterson may
be the first uk judge to see it in a foreign land - if it makes the short
list, that is!

Judging the 'LILY' may be quite a task but I have always found it enjoyable,
we never know when that little masterpiece is going to turn up - that's what
keeps it forever interesting, and also noticing the progress of new film
makers each year as well as seeing the work of the 'veterans' like Michael,
Ken, Finchley group, etc,etc. You must find it equally fascinating Dave,
otherwise you could always say no!

Peter (young) Rouillard

[Michael Slowe]

By the way - I'm glad that BIAFF is no longer based in central London. Jan
and I went up to Harrow Cine & Video Club on Monday to give a show on the
...

Dave

David, Harrow is hardly Central London!!

Michael.

[Michael Slowe]

Wow! now there's a location for the AMPS Festival! Having been twice to
Las
Vegas I really can recommend it as a place everyone should go to at least
once in their lifetime - just to see it and believe it!! My last time there
was in Oct 2003 and I came back with hours of footage, including a helicopter


Mmmhh, sin city eh? ........

Peter

Since this forum has tended recently towards the nostalgic I will recall
that the last (and first) time I was in Las Vegas was August 1960!! I had
hitched there from the middle of the Mojave Desert, where the old banger
I had bought had terminally broken down and which I sold on the spot for
$50. I was en route to my ship for the trip home with no money save for
my return ticket. I walked the length of 'the strip', drinking free water
from the gas stations on the way and then won some cash on a slot machine.
In those days the gambling subsidised the shows so I saw the great Sarah
Vaughan (spelling?) free and eat and slept cheaply. It was an amazing place
even then but two days was quite enough, as I suspect, it is today. I forget
how I finished my journey but I seem to remember Greyhound Buses playing
a part, via the Grand Canyon, where I took some wonderful pictures (slides)
which still look good today.
Oh well, happy, carefree youthful days!

Michael.

[Willy Van der Linden]

"Ned C" <ned@ampsvideo.com> wrote:

The AMPS Festival this year will be in Las Vegas, so come over and see the

movies, lose your shirt,

get married, see Tom Jones (argghhh), have fun.

I prefer the "Green, green grass of home", Ned. Isn't Tom Jones a Welshman
? I'm just saying this because I'm afraid of flying. I've already read a
book about being afraid of flying, but I still feel helpless. Some years
ago I flew to Edinburgh. Result : I had a gastric ulcer. Anyway, I will send
my entry to Las Vegas by air. The AMPS Festival is also on my list. I still
prefer the ferry to go to Britain, though I remember that I crossed the Channel
a few times with the "Herald of Free Enterprise", the ferry that sank not
far from our Belgian coast about 12 years ago.

[Dave Watterson]

Am I the only one who can see several potential film scripts in all this stuff
about going to festivals? It could be one of those "race" style movies where
various people have to battle physical and mental obstacles to reach the
goal (in this case Bedford.)

In fact I am always surprised not to find some movies set in or around festivals.
I suppose if a film concentrated on one particular event it might alienate
the organisers of others ... or the organisers of the chosen one if the movie
implied criticism. But here are all these competitive people forced to be
sociable in the breaks and tensing up when their movie comes on screen.

All human life is there ... well quite a lot of human life anyway.

I had hopes that John Astin was doing one when I spotted him shooting during
the Chesterfield event last year, but it seems that was just for the promo
film for this year.

Dave the Disappointed.

[Willy Van der Linden]

"Peter Rouillard" <rouillard@cwgsy.net> wrote:

Thanks for calling me young by the way - even though I'm older than you!
Younger brother Richard will be mortified reading this - he always calls
me an old fart!

Peter, I didn't know that you are older than "the old Scottish tart" Dave.
If I were Dave, I would shave my beard.
Willy

[Peter Rouillard]

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

"Peter Rouillard" <rouillard@cwgsy.net> wrote:

Thanks for calling me young by the way - even though I'm older than you!
Younger brother Richard will be mortified reading this - he always calls
me an old fart!

Peter, I didn't know that you are older than "the old Scottish tart" Dave.
If I were Dave, I would shave my beard.
Willy

Willy, if Dave shaved off his beard, nobody would recognise him !! - and
he might never be a judge again! - too pain to contemplate!

Peter

[Ian Gardner]

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

Am I the only one who can see several potential film scripts in all this
stuff
about going to festivals? It could be one of those "race" style movies
where
various people have to battle physical and mental obstacles to reach the
goal (in this case Bedford.)

It could make for an interesting film. It could be quite a comedy.

In fact I am always surprised not to find some movies set in or around festivals.

Wasn`t one of the Emanuelle films made at one of the film festivals. I believe
it was at the Cannes. I don`t think see bedded the judges through! Only the
actors!!!! Not that I have seen it you understand.

Ian (actor) Gardner

[Richard Rouillard]

"Peter Rouillard" <rouillard@cwgsy.net> wrote:

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

"Peter Rouillard" <rouillard@cwgsy.net> wrote:

Thanks for calling me young by the way - even though I'm older than you!
Younger brother Richard will be mortified reading this - he always calls
me an old fart!

Peter, I didn't know that you are older than "the old Scottish tart" Dave.
If I were Dave, I would shave my beard.
Willy


Willy, if Dave shaved off his beard, nobody would recognise him !! - and
he might never be a judge again! - too pain to contemplate!

Peter

I call him an old fart because he is!

Richard