The Way Ahead

[Dave Watterson]

That is theme for 2007, the IAC's 75th year. Rather than look back we want
to look forward.

So ... what do you suggest?

Dave

[ned c]

Some thoughts:

1. Set up free distribution of winning films to members & clubs.
2. The IAC website is excellent, promote it as widely as possible and as
the cost of print & circulation grow move the magazine to the website.
3. Promote n-c film making across the board, spend some money on promotion.
It's the people who buy edit software/systems who are the film makers so
do a deal with Pinnacle/Casablanca/Apple to have an IAC flier and sample
DVD sent our with every item, promote the BIAFF with a free entry for the
first film.
4. Run courses, I don't know how the Wansfell courses fared eventually but
I went on two of the early ones on NLE and they were good.
5. Review the benefits of membership, what do the members get for their money!!!

Ned C


"Dave Watterson" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

That is theme for 2007, the IAC's 75th year. Rather than look back we want
to look forward.

So ... what do you suggest?

Dave

[ned c]

Another thought for all amateur film making groups. Sponsorship, I received
e-mails for 5 "Independent" local US Film Feativals today, every one had
a list of sponsors. It would not be unreasonable to ask the town hosting
a Festival to make some form of contribution, no contribution on offer then
try a different town! Where are Sony/Panasonic/JVC in relationship to the
amateur world, they certainly support the "ptofessional" world yet I suspect
that their profits from consumer camcorders exceed their pro profits. The
pro and consumer divisions are completely separate so how about the IAC showing
how to get sponsorship to celebrate their 75th anniversary?

Ned C





"ned c" <ned@ampsvideo.com> wrote:

Some thoughts:

1. Set up free distribution of winning films to members & clubs.
2. The IAC website is excellent, promote it as widely as possible and as
the cost of print & circulation grow move the magazine to the website.
3. Promote n-c film making across the board, spend some money on promotion.
It's the people who buy edit software/systems who are the film makers so
do a deal with Pinnacle/Casablanca/Apple to have an IAC flier and sample
DVD sent our with every item, promote the BIAFF with a free entry for the
first film.
4. Run courses, I don't know how the Wansfell courses fared eventually but
I went on two of the early ones on NLE and they were good.
5. Review the benefits of membership, what do the members get for their
money!!!

Ned C


"Dave Watterson" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

That is theme for 2007, the IAC's 75th year. Rather than look back we want
to look forward.

So ... what do you suggest?

Dave

[Ace]

The Way Ahead? Make `ned c` the President, Chairman and overall C-in-C of
the IAC, preferably as soon as possible. He is streets ahead of the existing
lot. All good ideas. Gets my vote.
Shame he`s on the wrong side of the pond.

Ace

"ned c" <ned@ampvid.com> wrote:

Another thought for all amateur film making groups. Sponsorship, I received
e-mails for 5 "Independent" local US Film Feativals today, every one had
a list of sponsors. It would not be unreasonable to ask the town hosting
a Festival to make some form of contribution, no contribution on offer then
try a different town! Where are Sony/Panasonic/JVC in relationship to the
amateur world, they certainly support the "ptofessional" world yet I suspect
that their profits from consumer camcorders exceed their pro profits. The
pro and consumer divisions are completely separate so how about the IAC
showing
how to get sponsorship to celebrate their 75th anniversary?

Ned C





"ned c" <ned@ampsvideo.com> wrote:

Some thoughts:

1. Set up free distribution of winning films to members & clubs.
2. The IAC website is excellent, promote it as widely as possible and as
the cost of print & circulation grow move the magazine to the website.
3. Promote n-c film making across the board, spend some money on promotion.
It's the people who buy edit software/systems who are the film makers so
do a deal with Pinnacle/Casablanca/Apple to have an IAC flier and sample
DVD sent our with every item, promote the BIAFF with a free entry for the
first film.
4. Run courses, I don't know how the Wansfell courses fared eventually
but
I went on two of the early ones on NLE and they were good.
5. Review the benefits of membership, what do the members get for their
money!!!

Ned C


"Dave Watterson" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

That is theme for 2007, the IAC's 75th year. Rather than look back we
want
to look forward.

So ... what do you suggest?

Dave

[Cinema For Thurso Group]

"ned c" <ned@ampvid.com> wrote:

Another thought for all amateur film making groups. Sponsorship, I received
e-mails for 5 "Independent" local US Film Feativals today, every one had
a list of sponsors. It would not be unreasonable to ask the town hosting
a Festival to make some form of contribution, no contribution on offer then
try a different town! Where are Sony/Panasonic/JVC in relationship to the
amateur world, they certainly support the "ptofessional" world yet I suspect
that their profits from consumer camcorders exceed their pro profits. The
pro and consumer divisions are completely separate so how about the IAC
showing
how to get sponsorship to celebrate their 75th anniversary?

Ned C

Love this idea. You should see the looks we get just being in the street
with a camera- every paraniod face tells a story! Up here if you ask for
money they ask twenty million difficult (and missguidedly irrellevent) questions
about what and why we are filming whatever we have chosen to film. Not only
that, anyone that is willing to sponsor starts delivering rediculous demands.
This is the price of a people so out of touch with mainland UK (which they
haven't noticed we're attatched to). That said my fellow Caithnassians are
a lovely people (as long as they keep their mitts off my movie).

[Dave Watterson]

"Ace" <forums@theiac.org,uk> wrote:

The Way Ahead? Make `ned c` the President, Chairman and overall C-in-C of
the IAC, preferably as soon as possible.

I'd vote for that!

Actually Ned has just finished a spell heading up AMPS in the States and
is probably looking for some rest from organisational hassles.

I can, and often do, moan about IAC national and regional councils ... but
you should walk a mile in their shoes before criticising. I spent three
years on national council and that was quite enough for me. I just wish more
of them were computer-literate and would write here, provide info for their
regional web pages etc.

Dave

[Ace]

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

"Ace" <forums@theiac.org,uk> wrote:
The Way Ahead? Make `ned c` the President, Chairman and overall C-in-C
of
the IAC, preferably as soon as possible.

I'd vote for that!

Actually Ned has just finished a spell heading up AMPS in the States and
is probably looking for some rest from organisational hassles.

I can, and often do, moan about IAC national and regional councils ... but
you should walk a mile in their shoes before criticising. I spent three
years on national council and that was quite enough for me. I just wish
more
of them were computer-literate and would write here, provide info for their
regional web pages etc.

Dave

If being on IAC`s National and regional councils is such a trial then the
people in such have got two options;
1/ Make it less so, or;
2/ Do what you did and get out of it.

The IAC is stagnating. Why have you not commented on ned c`s suggestions,
all of which are good ones?

Ace

[Willy Van der Linden]

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

I can, and often do, moan about IAC national and regional councils ... but
you should walk a mile in their shoes before criticising. I spent three
years on national council and that was quite enough for me. I just wish
more
of them were computer-literate and would write here, provide info for their
regional web pages etc.

Yes, I understand Dave. I am a member of the Flemish region of Antwerp. "The

Board of Governors" normally consists of 9 members. Now there are only 6,
because they can't find any other candidates. It's easy to criticize. It's
difficult to organize things nowadays. The best coaches are always in the
sands. I think it may be useful to moan about national and regional councils
from time to time, but people who are always fretting about things can be
missed. Of course we should always do our utmost to keep the expenses as
low possible. Filmmaking is not for the "happy few". One member of my own
club is on the dole. It's difficult for her to make both ends meet. I'm not
exaggerating telling you the following thing. My wife Vera sometimes gives
her second hand clothes and other things... At this moment her very old camera
does not work anymore. It's out of date and she has no money to have it repaired...
However, she still feels very useful in my club because I sometimes ask
her to be one of my actresses.

Are entry fees and other fares too high ? I don't know. As Dave alreay told
us : in Belgium our regional and national councils are subsidized. That's
something very positive in Belgium. Also our National Health Service is better
than anywhere else, but that's something different. I think it's good that
organizations and societies build up a reserve in order not to be short
of money in the future. We should also compare our own hobby, which is filmmaking,
with other hobbies or recreational sports activities. In Belgium members
of golf clubs are usually very rich. If you are not rich you cannot afford
a membership card of a gold club. Some time ago it was difficult to join
a tennis club. Thanks to Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters, our world number
1 and 3 tennis-players the number of tennis-players in Belgium has increased
and the prices of membership cards are very low now. And what about hobbies
like philately, diving, riding on horseback, gliding, etc. How much do these
people spend on their hobbies every year ? The day after tomorrow I will
pay my IAC membership card with pleasure. Imagine that I offer a drink to
seven or eight friends in a pub. That's the equivalent to an IAC-membership
card for one year ! Long live the IAC !

[Michael Slowe]

As others have said Ned has very good suggestions and I could add one or two
more such as trying to get prize winning films on TV (Tony Rose did it 30
years ago with the Ten Best year after year). Try and have the main BIAFF
films shown at a prestigious venue such as the National Film Theatre (the
Ten Best did this year after year) and have them reviewed in the national
press (as were the Ten Best). Todays BIAFF films are just as good with some
even better than the old Ten Best and there are more TV outlets today.
As Dave explains however, how many of us want to serve on the committees
that have to arrange all this? It is a thankless job and many years ago
when I was approached by 'the powers that be' I rather cowardly said that
I would prefer to concentrate on making films. I made some decent films
but felt rather guilty at not assisting in the necessary administration.
There you have the problem, Ned, come back to live in England please!!




ed c" <ned@ampsvideo.com> wrote:

Some thoughts:

1. Set up free distribution of winning films to members & clubs.
2. The IAC website is excellent, promote it as widely as possible and as
the cost of print & circulation grow move the magazine to the website.
3. Promote n-c film making across the board, spend some money on promotion.
It's the people who buy edit software/systems who are the film makers so
do a deal with Pinnacle/Casablanca/Apple to have an IAC flier and sample
DVD sent our with every item, promote the BIAFF with a free entry for the
first film.
4. Run courses, I don't know how the Wansfell courses fared eventually but
I went on two of the early ones on NLE and they were good.
5. Review the benefits of membership, what do the members get for their
money!!!

Ned C


"Dave Watterson" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

That is theme for 2007, the IAC's 75th year. Rather than look back we want
to look forward.

So ... what do you suggest?

Dave

[Ned C]

Thanks for the kind comments. However, this is a wonderful opportunity to
list what we want from the IAC. I like Michael's ídea of having a showing(s)
of the very best BIAFF films at a venue like the NFT and invite the leaders
of the film industry and suppliers and show them that n-c film making can
be of an amazingly high standard and then hold out the begging bowl so that
there are prizes that really attract a wide range of entries. Let's have
a scholarship or two to film schools for high school student winners. Sony/Pana/JVC
put their hands in their pockets and give out HDV camcorders, Avid, Apple,
Cassie hand out software, their reward will be lots of publicity.

Now, as an "innocent" bystander let me make a comment that may be controversial.
Get rid of the bureaucracy, I know that the Charities act requires certain
standards of information but beyond that what is there to discuss? The magazine,
the BIAFF, the finances and some Regional matters although they are best
left to the Regions. AMPS is run by two people, the President and the Secretary/Treasurer,
I had never actully met Roger Garretson, the sec/treas until the Las Vegas
Convention although by then I had been President for two years. We did everything
by phone and e-mail and we became friends by modern communication. The Board
of Directors acted as consultants and set to with the organization of the
Convention, but again I have never met two of them. The IAC website is a
model of what can be done and this dialog area and the IAC members only forum
meet virtually all the needs of communication. The magazine must be a huge
expense and should be transfered to the website with a members key to access
and the money saved from printing diverted to awards at the BIAFF. We are
planning to minimize the paper distribution of the AMPS Newsletter.

This is not about finger pointing or an ego trip but rather a serious look
at an organization that has an enormous potential in the most modern of activities
that encompasses cutting edge technology and the old as time skills of the
storyteller.

Ned C

ps I visit the UK regularly but will not be relocating



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

As others have said Ned has very good suggestions and I could add one or
two
more such as trying to get prize winning films on TV (Tony Rose did it 30
years ago with the Ten Best year after year). Try and have the main BIAFF
films shown at a prestigious venue such as the National Film Theatre (the
Ten Best did this year after year) and have them reviewed in the national
press (as were the Ten Best). Todays BIAFF films are just as good with
some
even better than the old Ten Best and there are more TV outlets today.
As Dave explains however, how many of us want to serve on the committees
that have to arrange all this? It is a thankless job and many years ago
when I was approached by 'the powers that be' I rather cowardly said that
I would prefer to concentrate on making films. I made some decent films
but felt rather guilty at not assisting in the necessary administration.
There you have the problem, Ned, come back to live in England please!!

[Dave Watterson]

"ned c" <ned@ampsvideo.com> wrote:
Lots of good ideas, here are my personal first responses:

1. Set up free distribution of winning films to members & clubs.
D: I'd support this, even if it meant the postage costs of sending each of

4 DVDs or sets of tapes to each club over the 9 months after the festival.
(I envisage the main interest being immediately after festival, but most
clubs shut down over the summer so stretch this on into Autumn.)

2. The IAC website is excellent, promote it as widely as possible and as

the cost of print & circulation grow move the magazine to the website.
D: I agree the website is good, but not everyone has internet access and

especially broadband so a printed magazine is still the only way to connect
to everyone. Costs may force such a change upon IAC but ... dammit I like
to read the magazine while in the loo and I am NOT moving my desktop, keyboard,
mouse and screen in there!

3. Promote n-c film making across the board, spend some money on promotion.
D: Er ... if we had the money ... We used to spend on regular ads in the

amateur moviemaking press but they did little discernible good. We could
only ever afford 1/8th page ads.

It's the people who buy edit software/systems who are the film makers so
do a deal with Pinnacle/Casablanca/Apple to have an IAC flier and sample
DVD sent our with every item, promote the BIAFF with a free entry for the
first film.
D: Another good idea that I support - though see the comment on sponsorship

below.

4. Run courses, I don't know how the Wansfell courses fared eventually but
I went on two of the early ones on NLE and they were good.
D: Me too. That's what got me started editing. The courses there tailed off

through lack of support. Whenever a technology is new people want courses,
maybe we could offer some on HD before long. Some IAC regions offer day courses
of various kinds. My dream would be a franchised video course operating through
the clubs where people who bought a camcorder could study and earn certificates.
Those familiar with the PADI training scheme for SCUBA diving will find the
notion familiar.

5. Review the benefits of membership, what do the members get for their
money!!!

D: Thats the £36.50 question and it has never been easy to answer. The usual
answer is the Ten Reasons to Join as set out on http://www.fvi.org.uk/central/reasonstojoin.htm
For me a lot of it is about belonging, about knowing you are not alone in
this weird hobby.

ask the town hosting a Festival to make some form of contribution, no
contribution on offer then try a different town!
Where are Sony/Panasonic/JVC ...

D: These both relate to sponsorship. BIAFF involves 250 - 300 people coming
to town for a weekend. For most towns that is a drop in the bucket. We might
rate a civic reception (an hour in the town hall with the mayor and a glass
of plonk) but not much more. The idea of them bidding for us is unrealistic.
In her latest promo for BIAFF 2007 Gwen Whippy even points out that the festival
timetable allows very little time to explore the town and its shops unless
you stay for extra days.

For the camcorder trade we represent 1500 to 3500 people, depending how you
regard club members, most of whom have already bought the basic kit they
need. Some of us will upgrade but what proportion? If we get anything from
those firms it is likely to be a token from their goodwill budget rather
than serious funding. It is noticeable that for the last few years the only
companies to sponsor awards at BIAFF are the Widescreen Centre and those
supplying royalty-free music disks who give in kind not cash.

I don't see the future in hand-outs ...


Dave
P.S. I'm living on Lemsip just now so maybe my ideas are unclear or more
depressed than usual!

[Peter]

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

Yes, I understand Dave. I am a member of the Flemish region of Antwerp. "The

Of course we should always do our utmost to keep the expenses as
low possible. Filmmaking is not for the "happy few". One member of my own club is on the dole. It's difficult for her to make both ends meet. I'm not exaggerating telling you the following thing. My wife Vera sometimes gives her second hand clothes and other things... At this moment her very old camera does not work anymore. It's out of date and she has no money to have it repaired...
However, she still feels very useful in my club because I sometimes ask
her to be one of my actresses.


... people spend on their hobbies every year ? The day after tomorrow I will pay my IAC membership card with pleasure. Imagine that I offer a drink to seven or eight friends in a pub. That's the equivalent to an IAC-membership card for one year ! Long live the IAC !

You are right, Willy. I was put off film making for years, as when I became interested again in the early 1980's - video cameras were so expensive, as was all the other equipment needed.

Even now, you need a couple of thousand Pounds Sterling to start, for a cheapish camera, tripod, and cheap NLE system. OK, you can join a club and help other people to use their equipment, and some well off people in clubs do use their expensive gear to make films with others, which is generous and good.

But it is not a cheap hobby. Collecting pens or watches can be a bit cheaper, if you are canny! But that is a more lonely hobby.