OVFM TOP TEN COMPETITION 2012

ROUND 1

It’s that time again folks! The annual OVFM Top Ten competition 2012 is about to kick off!

Last year’s competition saw 24 entries overall with the winner being Mike Shaw with his clever special effects outing “Picture Picture”. For the full results of the 2011 competition click HERE.

The following members are listed for this year’s first round:

Bob Wyeth

Lee Relph

Mike Turner

Frank Hyde

Jane Oliver

Gwen Whippy

Bob Vine

Mike Graham

Ian Menage

Ed Jarnot

Sam Brown

Cherie Hamlet-Smith

Please reply to this post if you will be providing a film at this week’s session.

If you don’t then have a film ready please let Brenda Wheatley know so that she can try to find someone else to fill the gap in the evening. If your film is ready early please bring it along on a top ten night and if there is time we will show it.

If you miss your given round you can bring your film along to a later one, but it will only be shown after those drawn for that round, if there is time.

Good luck to everyone who enters a film this year!

Yes thanks to the tireless efforts of our club press officer Lady Annabelle of Lancaster, OVFM had pride of place on the front page of the Bromley and Orpington Times (click thumbnail for larger image):

Thanks to David Laker for the image!

**EDIT** – In the 17th of May edition of the Bromley Times this article appeared:

If anyone knows the identity of the mystery man in the banana suit please let the police know as he could be very dangerous!!

Mike & Jo Coad’s “An Asian Adventure”

I’m not going to tell about this week’s club meeting….because I’m leaving it up to Mike Coad to do the honours since he and his other half Jo are hosting the evening. So, take it away Mike:

“The committee first approached us about 5 years ago to give a talk on our trip around Asia but at that time we had so much else going on, we had no time to prepare. We were approached again last year to give a talk this May and have put together a Powerpoint presentation called ‘An Asian Adventure’.

Whilst writing up the presentation, it soon became clear that we couldn’t possibly cover the whole trip in one evening so we will cover as much as time will allow and if members want us to, we can always continue the saga at some future date.

Obviously, we are a film club and this evening is not ‘film related’ so we realise it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. However, we will be delighted to see as many members as can make it to the meeting. If nothing else, it’ll help you decide whether you should opt for Islamabad or Lahore for your next holiday.”

Thanks Mike.

From seeing some of Mike and Jo’s previous films about Asia – including the excellent and powerful piece about year Zero in Cambodia – we should be in for a visual treat.

See you then!

Roll Up Roll Up to the greatest show in Bromley

Snapping at the heels of Lee’s timely and comprehensive review of the Blitz and Bananas’ Premiere I am now ready to reveal in glorious colour my take on exactly what went on.

The Wonderful Dancers

Keep reading and I promise that later in this post you will see a Jitterbug, a Jive, several Jalopys and a certain Jasmine scented OVFM lady in uniform!

The Girls do a bit of Celeb spotting

Why, I hear you ask, did Lee manage to get his review up within hours of the show and yet it’s taken me well over a month to do the same?

A Jeep is Forever, not just Christmas

Well I can exclusively reveal here and now that there are a number of factors that you must take into consideration. Firstly age, some of us have more of it than others! Talent…ditto! And then of course there’s the small matter of the dog eating my homework!

Are you believing this? No. Okay I come clean, I have no excuse, I’m just slow I admit it, I’m sorry.

The Crowd Enjoy the Entertainment

Anyway now that I’ve got that off my chest and like they say confession is good for the soul, I think I should get on with showing you a few of the highlights of that momentous day in April.

Tin Hat at the Ready

To some of us it’ll be remembered as the ‘I don’t believe it!’ day. Obviously staging anything on April Fool’s Day is likely to cause confusion and incredulity in those of a cynical leaning.

Book the Churchill Theatre…I don’t believe it!

Sell it out…I don’t believe it!

Stage a second show and sell that out too…I don’t believe it!

But believe it or not it’s true, and not only that it was a resounding success too with our own Anna Littler and her loyal band of Bananites putting on an event that was entertaining and very enjoyable.

Cherie proves there's something about a uniform!

From the parade of vintage cars to the period costumed dancers, from the glorious sunshine to the generous raffle prizes the Blitz and Bananas Experience was a great way to get in the swing for the main feature.

Where's ...Reggie?

On which Lee (curse his literatical ability) has already expounded with more eloquence and insight than is decent in one so young, but suffice to say Blitz and Bananas, the Film, was V, V, V filmfabulous!

Some of the folks who helped it happen

After the screening some of the many people who’d contributed to the success of the Premiere were conjolled onto the stage to take their applause like men, and there was a funny ‘behind the scenes’ short film and the grand drawing of the raffle…phew!

Never leave home without your gas mask

It was a great day.

Anna…I do believe it now!

ps. Jasmine scented? On reflection it may have been J’adore by Dior!!

Simon Earwicker

Rob Knox Film Festival 2012

The 2nd annual Rob Knox Film Festival is soon upon us and will take place in and around the Borough of Bexley from May 29th to June 6th.

The event, which was set up in memory of the young actor from the Harry Potter films who was murdered in Sidcup four years ago, will see a number of films being screened as part of the competition in which the wining film will be screened at Cineworld in Bexleyheath, as well as masterclasses from industry professionals.

For details and line ups of the individual events please select one of the following PDF files:

May 29th at the New Generation Church

May 30th at Townley Grammar School

May 31st at Townley Grammar School

June 1st at Sidcup Pop-Up Cinema

June 2nd Masterclasses at Christchurch, Bexleyheath

June 6th Awards Evening at Cineworld, Bexleyheath

Films Under Five Minute Finalists

Hope you can all support this worthy cause and have a good time to boot.

More details of the festival can be found HERE or from the Official Facebook page HERE

Thanks to Charlie Caseley for providing the information for this post.

Ever since I started putting together videos for myself and not just for corporates, I’ve come across exactly the same problem. It’s a problem that people at every club that I’ve ever visited has also raised – whether it’s actual real-life video recording, or for use in full CG environments. That problem is one that most of you will know yourselves.

Actors.

By that I don’t mean that Actors give me a problem, but that I find it very difficult to find actors willing to participate at all. Over the last few years I’ve approached a number of sources, the most obvious being amateur dramatic societies – an obvious choice you’d imagine, seeing as both amateur film makers and amateur dramatic societies are both doing this for the love of the skill, not to make masses of money (God forbid…).

Unfortunately, the results of my attempts have tended to be far from fruitful.

When I do get replies (and this is by far the exception, I’m afraid – with most contacts actually going unanswered), I find that such societies don’t actually have a good idea of the differences between the two genres and far from looking at the approach as an opportunity to get experience in another acting discipline, there simply arises every excuse that can be imagined why not to do it. I should say that there are exceptions – one other club with which I am affiliated has connections with two drama societies, but even here the contact is tenuous with ‘rehersals’ for a play which is produced maybe twice a year often intruding against a couple of hours of shooting.

At least one amateur dramatics society of which I am aware and nearby (to me, that is, here in Medway) is very interested in film production – only not with film makers (?). They seem to think that they can pick up a camera and do it all themselves, without any training or experience. The problem is therefore not that the two sides of the coin don’t need each other, but that the communications channels between the two need to be greatly improved.

To that end, I have started ‘The Video Players’ – a tongue in cheek code-name for a virtual troup of volunteer players which I am gradually building. The aim is to build a pool of actors who are willing to participate in independant / amateur film making – whether it is as a hobby, to gain more experience in other areas of acting, or something separate from the society to which they belong, it’s all irrelevant. What it is important, is that as individiuals they are willing to be members of a core team of actors, operaing in a virtual society, and who can be approached by film makers to participate in their productions.

I’ve had a number of approaches from people on Linked In, I have had far more interest from schools and colleges where acting is taught (logical, as they want more experience for their students), but I’d like to build this further.

If you know of actors, perhaps whom you have used before, or even yourselves in an acting role, who want to be part of the troupe, then please pass on the word. We don’t need physical premesis, so our ‘theatre’ is going to be a suitably formatted website where actors and film makers can get together to arrange casting calls and participate in productions – this is under development now.

I don’t want to charge fees for membership – the point is that the whole thing should be seen as a mutual service, with payment being made in kind etc.

So please, spread the word!

Until the website is ready, please use my college email address (the place where a lot of interest is being seen from the media departments): craig.robinson@midkent.ac.uk

]]> http://www.ovfm.org/2012/04/the-video-players/feed/ 8 http://www.ovfm.org/2012/04/ovfm-club-meeting-tuesday-april-24th-2012/ http://www.ovfm.org/2012/04/ovfm-club-meeting-tuesday-april-24th-2012/#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:32:25 +0000 Lee Relph http://www.ovfm.org/?p=2837

What is “aperture”?

What does altering the shutter speed do?

How do I deal with the problem of over exposed light?

Should I use my camera’s mic or an external one?

Why did my wife leave me?

All of these questions are common in the world of amateur film making and for some they remain unanswered. but not here at OVFM as we have our annual Master Class!!

At our next club meeting our team of keen knowledgeable know-it-alls will be taking your questions on the subject of film making from all stages of the process from the preparation stages to the final edit. With many years of experience behind them and numerous film credits to their names, our panel – Chris “Cats” Coulson”, Reg “Bomber” Lancaster and Mike “I Was Clement Freud’s Double” Shaw (along with anyone else brave enough to put their reputations on the line) – will share with us well filled cups of advice and answers from that huge barrel of knowledge and experience.

Well, that’s the plan anyway.

So if you have a question that has been bugging you or there’s something that you can never get right in your filmmaking projects and you don’t know where to turn then bring that bugging question with you on Tuesday to the meeting and put it to our panel and they’ll do their best to answer it otherwise they’ll be forced to go home with their heads hung low.

And don’t forget the OVFM guarantee – your questioned answered or your money back!*

See you on Tuesday

*Not a real guarantee.

COMPETITION RESULTS 2011/2012

TOP TEN 2011

Final scores from 24 entries (Top 10 final scores in parenthesis):

“Picture Picture” by Mike Shaw  58.26 (57.64)

“Connoisseur” by Barbara Walker  54.19  (55.46)

“Why Are Icebergs Blue?” by David Laker 54.66  (55.14)

“Mystery Of The Garden Shed” by John Bunce  50.67  (54.14)

“The Miracle” by Lee Relph  51.45  (50.73)

“Engine Turning” by Barbara Darby  53.89  (50.35)

“To Italy By Gondola” by Andy Watson  50.36  (50.06)

“Chatsworth” by Sue Ward  51.78  (49.51)

“Survivors Leave” by Simon Earwicker  50.30  (49.14)

“Bells Down by Harold trill  49.02  (47.60)

“Out Of The Darkness” by Jane Oliver  48.34

“Conversation With Diana Springall” by Jim Morton Robertson  48.21

“Percy Pilcher Remembered” by Hugh Darrington  48.20

“Year Zero” by Mike Coad  47.92

“Finding Granny’s Granny” by Anna Littler  47.72

“Switzerland” by Bob Wyeth  47.39

“Teego’s Travels” by Chris Coulson  47.05

“Iguazu Falls” by Brian Pfeiffer  46.68

“Three Boys In The Blitz” by Derek Allen  44.54

“Lago di Gardo” by Alan Smith

“1759” by Mike Turner  42.78

“My Other Hobby” by Roger Wheatley  40.13

“Pearl In The Med” by John Ransley  37.82

“Floriade” by Richard Pugh  36.68

The scores for the following awards are calculated by 5 points awarded for a 1st place vote, 3 points for a second place vote and 1 point for a third place vote.

Vic Treen Cup (Best film cut to music)

“The Engine Shop” by John and Ann Epton  113

“Talk About Things” by Jane Oliver 100

“Teddy Bears’ Picnic” by David Laker  54

“Weymouth Lights Up The Night” by Simon Earwicker  35

“Wayside” by Basil Doody  17

“Wag Wag” by Bob Wyeth  8

“Humming Birds” by Brian Pfeiffer   7

Kath Jones Cup (Best joke film)

“Garden Tips” by Colin Jones  131

Senior Moments” by Derek Allen   111

“Kent Blues” by Basil Doody  98

Mike Turner Plate (Best film under 1 minute)

“Team Work” By Colin Jones  156

“Whatever The Weather” by Jane Oliver  61

“Pregnant Pause” by Charlie Caseley   60

“100 Years And One Minute” by Simon Earwicker   25

“Loking For Fairies” by Anna Littler   20

“Back To The 60′s” by Derek Allen   18

“Lest We Forget” by Derek Allen   10

OSCARS 2012

Ian Dunbar Cup for Best Film – “My Other Hobby” by Chris Coulson

Orpington Trophy for Best Film runner up – “Engine Turning” by Barbara Darby

Commended Certificates awarded to:

“Switzerland” by Bob Wyeth

“Street Party” by Barbara Darby

“Garden Tips” by Colin Jones

“1759” by Mike Turner

“Survivors Leave” by Simon Earwicker

“Mystery Of The Garden Shed” by John Bunce

“Connoisseur” by Barbara Walker

Heyfield Trophy for Best Sound – “Weymouth Lights Up The Night” by Simon Earwicker

Priory Trophy for Best Editing – “Rhythm Of Life” by Simon Earwicker

Jubilee Shield for Best Film Under Five Minutes – “Why Are Icebergs Blue?” by David Laker

Reg Lancaster Trophy for Funniest Film - “My Other Hobby” by Chris Coulson

Arthur Woolhead Trophy for Best Animation/Special Effects – “Picture Picture” by Mike Shaw

Renee Morris Penguin Plate for Best Photography – “Scenes From The Seaside” by Simon Earwicker

Alice Howe Trophy for Best Documentary – “Engine Turning” by Barbara Darby

Raasay Trophy for Best Film in No Special Category - “Moon Song” by Simon Earwicker

Kath Jones Cup for Best Joke Film Under Five Minutes – “Garden Tips” by Colin Jones

Vic Teen Trophy for Best film Set To Music – “Engine Shop” by John And Ann Epton

Mike Turner Plate for Best film Under One Minute - “Team Work” by Colin Jones

Top Ten 2011:  Winner - “Picture Picture” by Mike Shaw   Runner Up – “Connoisseur” by Barbara Walker

It’s AGM (Annual General Meeting) time once again here at OVFM and that means no films this week but plenty of opinions will no doubt be shared all the same.

If you’ve never attended an AGM before, basically the Legion Of Doom (aka the committee members) sit at one end of the room behind a table, sacrifice a frozen chicken in the name of the dark lord then talk down to us mere mortals about how great they are and why they deserve to remain in power. Then anyone with suggestions for ideas for film themes, club activities and other ways to help improve or benefit the club is invited to submit them for approval then shot on sight for daring to do the LOD’s job for them. Finally our memories are all wiped and we carry on as normal until next year.

At least I think that’s how it goes … I can’t seem to remember much about last years AGM….

So, if you have an idea, concern or opinion about OVFM then now is the time to make your voice heard.

*EDIT* – Also don’t forget to bring your order forms and payment for the “Blitz & Bananas” DVD!!

See you then!

As some of you may or may not know, OVFM chairman Chris “Cats” Coulson is heading off to the not-so sunny climes of Romania, taking with him Anna Littler and a group of kids to offer aid to an orphanage (or maybe swap the Romanian kids for the UK kids).

Chris has decided that the whole world should know about his altruistic deeds and will be filming as video blog on a daily basis for the week he is out there and will be posting them on his YouTube channel.

His channel ChrisBitz can be found HERE and if you subscribe to the channel you will get an e-mail notifying you when a new video has been added. Or you check back here for updates.

Good luck to Chris, Anna and the gang on the trip and we look forward to not only seeing the videos but seeing them return in one piece!

**EDIT**  April 3rd : The first video:

April 4th video:

April 5th video:

April 6th video:

April 7th video:

April 8th video:

April 9th video: