Forum chat in FVM

[Dave Watterson]

Congratulations on being willing to share "a C grade video".

One problem with the competition culture in our amateur film world, is that it leaves little room for the newbie, the struggler, the willing-but-not-yet-competent. That was a plus for many clubs - they would screen films by members who might never get an award. Sometimes those films taught lessons to other film makers, or even inspired them.

[Michael Slowe]

Absolutely Dave, but the same must apply for almost every artistic endeavour. How much help did Rembrandt get? Mind you, he was fairly talented in the first place!
The problem is, as I wrote, there are so few outlets for films these days, not only for amateurs, the commercial cinema is really suffering since many cinema goers (me included) are content to view films on line, albeit through TVs. It is a real problem, projection is becoming a part of history.

There are You Tube and Vimeo of course, for the budding film maker, but that's not the same as showing a film to fellow club members and receiving advice.

[ned c]

I agree that being a member of a film audience gives a shared experience and a different perspective compared with lone watching on computer or TV. A reasonable alternative are the Zoom group meetings where we are members of an audience and can provide comments and have a discussion.
Local group viewing is also possible; we do not need a club with a membership and organization. to get together with friends and fellow film makers to share viewing. It does need one or two people to have the will to make it work.

Unfortunately I was unable to be a part of the IAC film evening; how was it for you?
ned c

[Michael Slowe]

It was fine but I noticed that most of the attendees did not join in any chat, I thought that this is the idea of these evenings. There were written comments in the 'chat' box but not many. All the familiar faces were very quiet!

[Dave Watterson]

Time is tight for these evenings ... and people are wary of even suggesting any criticism, in order not to offend.

[Michael Slowe]

Why do people get offended by criticism? Art is always a subjective matter and opinions differ widely on most works of art. It is always good to get comments or opinions on our films because you know that at least someone viewed the film!

[TimStannard]

Why do people get offended by criticism? Art is always a subjective matter and opinions differ widely on most works of art. It is always good to get comments or opinions on our films because you know that at least someone viewed the film!

Many people don't get offended by criticism. You and I are examples. But others do. They take it personally when something they've poured heart, soul and time into making might, in some people's opinions, have been done better. Explaining it as you have, Michael, doesn't help. They may even understand the logic, but it's not a logical response, it's an emotional one.

[TimStannard]

IMHO if a summary of Forum content was to be put in FVM, I would like any of my input to be run by me first so that I'm not misrepresented or misunderstood as has so often happened in the past.

If I'm not allowed to misrepresent you, John, I withdraw my offer!
But seriously, you're posting here on a public forum, your "quotes" are up for grabs. It would be totally impractical to run any such articles past forum contributors before publication as even if there were time. There would be endless, "Could you just change this to that".
Unlike being quoted in a newpaper in the old days, you can, at least, reply here.

Anyway, as there appears to be little taste for posting summaries, even here among the people who would surely benefit from new forum contributors, I shall follow the apathy and not bother.

[Michael Slowe]

Tim, don't desert this Forum, we need every contribution, we all have a common interest in the art of film making and it's good to talk (and listen).

[Martin Evans]

A busy and active forum could well be summarised into an interesting page within FVM. It would be all the more viable if more people became involved on here. I've pushed it in the past within the mag to little avail. And years ago there used to be a summary of the forums (fora?). But at the time I felt it was just a page filler with little attempt to make it interesting. That all said, this thread is starting to get there now.

[John Simpson]

Tim, don't desert this Forum, we need every contribution, we all have a common interest in the art of film making and it's good to talk (and listen).

This is another example of how a person can easily be misrepresented - the way I read Tim's comment was that he is withdrawing his offer to write a summary of the forum for FVM. Not that he was going to stop posting on the Forum.

[Michael Slowe]

Sorry, I didn't mean to 'misrepresent' anyone.

[tom hardwick]

I was sad to read Martin Evans' thoughts on FVM submissions where he says, 'I agree re all the reminiscence stuff. I yawn whenever I open another article email about super-bloody-8 mm. But I can only work with what I get'.
Of course I'm as guilty as any, because I've often compared then and now, Super-8 to smartphones. But Martin is so young; I'm much more aligned with his assumption/assertion that the average age of the FVM reader is 75.

Armed with this knowledge, aren't Super-bloody-8 articles right up FVM readers' street? I bet a lot of them started their love of filmmaking and IAC membership back in the 60s and 70s. Old folk think of the 'good old days', and any article on sprocket holes and cement splices probably fits into this category.

[Martin Evans]

You're right Tom, it's entirely because I came after 8mm, Super 8mm, 9mm etc. But I do have to remember the age group of *most* of our readership. That all said, all of the active film-makers are using digital filmmaking techniques and some even AI. So, do I produce a mag for a declining demographic or, in the interests of keeping the IAC active, pander to more modern techniques? Not sure I have the answer to that. But I have heard the groan about 8mm etc. from other members too.

It was not ny intention to offend anyone. But this is a forum for open discussion and if I didn't say what was on my mind I would not be true to myself. But I did like the bit where you said I was so young

[Martin Evans]

One more thing. My original grouchy post was written at the end of a bad day at the end of a difficult week.