The Surrey Film and Video Festival
was the first outside competition that I entered, and to my amazement
my entry, LIFEBOAT! gained a Certificate of Merit. That was back in
October 1998 and I was certainly going to enter again.
However, due to organisation problems the event was cancelled until
May of this year. So having entered 2 of my films this year, SAIL,
WIND & WATER and CORNISH ENGiNES, Dad and I set off to Cranleigh
Arts Centre on Sunday 7th May. This was a superb venue being converted
from a church. It contained a brand new auditorium complete with a
projection room and comfortable tiered seating. No problems with big
heads!. The screen was also quite large, being around 10ft by 12ft.
Altogether this year there were 34 entries from Surrey and the neighbouring
counties of Berkshire and Hampshire. Two were Super 8 cine films,
the rest videos. The programme was set into three 1.5 hour screenings
from 2.30pm to 8.00pm with tea and supper intervals.
The programme was varied and entertaining and included a number of
fictional works, with quite a few involving ghosts or some kind of
out of the ordinary 6th sense. This included the overall winner BROKEN
DREAMS, in which 2 chaps take part in a clinical experiment where
they have to try and meet up in their separate dreams. Weird stuff,
eh,?. To be fair though the acting wasn't bad.
On a lighter note, a short pencil drawn animated cine film LEO which
although humorous, actually was largely a true story of how the M.G.M.
lion was brought from Africa to the studios in Hollywood via boats,
trains and aeroplanes, all of which either sank or crashed. And if
that were not enough, shortly after his arrival the studios burnt
down. However, you will be glad to hear Leo survived it all.
SPORT OF THE GODS introduced us to the world of hot air ballooning
at a large festival near Bristol. The storyline to this film was rather
weak I felt, but it made up for this with some very stunning visual
images, including aerial shots with hundreds of balloons all shapes,
sizes and colours filling the skies. Other subjects for documentaries
included bee keeping, Las Vegas,( made me think "how many power
stations are there in Las Vegas?!") the Isles of Scilly, Siege
of Vicksburg during the American Civil War, the Surrey Scout Jamboree,
'Scoutabout' (a good film showing the many activities involved giving
a great sense of enjoyment and achievement). The winner for the documentary
award was won by a youth entry. THE STAFF ROOM AT TIFFIN SCHOOL made
by a 16 year old lad. Five teachers were interviewed with the same
questions (written on a blackboard as cutaways) and their replies
were cleverly edited into short sections so that the viewer was swapped
around from one to another and back again without losing the thread
of the individual stories, thus keeping the interest going.
It is always nice to end on a humorous note and the festival came
up with BARMYDAYS a 1 minute film (do other clubs have a 1 minute
competition?) taking us to Gosport British Legion Club, where 2 old
comrades are having a beer, one recounting his wartime experiences,
the other reading his newspaper.
"Do you remember all that bully beef, powdered eggs and condensed
milk?" the first chap asks.
His mate answers from behind his paper, "Yes," and continues
"What was that stuff they put in our tea?"
"Bromide," came the answer. "the opposite of Viagra"
With a quick over the shoulder cutaway of a gorgeous scantily clad
young lady in his paper, the old boy sighs
"I think it's finally wearing off! ----"
How did I get on then. Well I'm glad to say that one of my films,
CORNISH ENGINES won a cup, the Roy Pullen Trophy for the best film/video
entered from outside Surrey. Quite a surprise, I can tell you!. It
is the second time in consecutive competitions that a club member
has won this trophy, Don Currie having won it with his A DREAM OF
STEAM at the last festival. Who will win it next year?, I'm certainly
going to enter again. How about having a try yourself. You never know
your luck, it could be you!
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