IAC DISCUSSION FORUMS

See how we brought our latest film to the public. "Rough Cut" is a compilation
short feature of surfing footage gather over the 21 years that Picture House
Films has been shooting Caithness. An INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE of surfers media
and CFT members made up to around 40 people seeing the rare footage. They
have gone away with a unique experience. www.thursopicturehouse.funtigo.com
Click on "Rough Cut Premiere"

"Cinema For Thurso Group" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

See how we brought our latest film to the public. "Rough Cut" is a compilation
short feature of surfing footage gather over the 21 years that Picture House
Films has been shooting Caithness. An INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE of surfers
media
and CFT members made up to around 40 people seeing the rare footage. They
have gone away with a unique experience. www.thursopicturehouse.funtigo.com
Click on "Rough Cut Premiere"

I did have a look - a great idea to show the material in such a large space.
I like the way you talk about it being an occasion for the press etc ...
I know that probably just means one of the juniors from the local rag came
along - but it is something we don't do often enough.

I wish every club would be as good as you at presenting their shows, promoting
them widely, making them unusual and attention-grabbing.

We've talked before about how the amateur film movement uses festivals as
a means of exhibition more than just gong-collecting. Clubs could do more
that way. Yes there can be problems - not least with copyright issues -
but with some work these can be overcome.

I do wish your pictures had included one with a few more audience visible
... it is always a problem. If you almost pack the National Film Theatre
and take a photo ... all anyone notices are the two odd empty seats.

I wonder if any of the surfers you shot 21 years ago have now got little
surfers of their own?

Dave

Tahnks Dave. There was actually no local rag (and how apt a word it is for
them)at the event. The media guys were from France and America and pictures
were taken by them of the audience. It is likely that you could see some
photos in surf mags British and worldwide so start checking them out now.
Showing the film in the barn came as a good idea in a number of ways.
A) The film features the world famous Thurso East reef which was just right
outside the barn.
B) The barn offered the space to allow such a big picture.
C) The notion of watching a film in not only a barn but a barn where cows
were having their young was such a combination that we are sure those who
were their will go home with a bazaar story of how they got to see old film
of Caithness surf.
The above has enabled us to achieve a little idea about "successful" movies.
Rather than reaching the largest possible audience where the event is a big
flash we looked to create the situation of 'little seen but much spoken of'
and our choice of location means that in surfing circles it will be something
like legendry where those who weren't there will not quite believe what they
here but will be intrigued.

Festivals are a good way to get movies seen but they generally attract mostly
movie people rather than 'real' audience.
Yes some surfers do have little surfers, they call them 'grommets'.
Enjoy the show.