OVFM Club Meeting Tuesday August 30th 2011

 

OVFM GOES GREEN!!

This week’s meeting will take the form of a practical night where our esteemed chairman and other club members (or Google if things get too tough) will share with us their immense knowledge and experience on a particular film making method.

The subject of this seminar was requested by Robert “Bob” Wyeth who wrote:

 

“Dear OVFM,

Please could you arrange for me to be trapped in a lift with Kelly Brook for four hours or however long it takes before my heart gives in? If this is not possible, do you know anything about green screen filming instead?

Yours

Robert “Bob” Wyeth

Aged “Over 21”

 

Well, as it happens we can help you with your green screen filming request and we’ll be on hand with our gear including editing software to take us through this procedure on Tuesday night at the next OVFM club meeting! As for the other request Kelly Brook said she can do a week on Thursday, so I’d get plenty of rest if I were you!

See you Tuesday folks!!

Best Ramble Ever?

OVFM Ramble 2011

Best Ramble Ever?

 

What A Team

With the threat of rain and a number of loyal ramblers not able to attend Deborah and I were expecting a low turnout for Sunday”s OVFM Ramble…how wrong we were!

More than a dozen enthusiastic walkers joined us at Andrew”s Wood for the gentle stroll to Shoreham. When Deborah informed me she”d baked cakes to help the merry band on their way I laughed at her naivety. “These people are athletes, they treat their bodies like temples, you won’t find them scoffing buns!” How wrong I was, even Mike T, normally a paragon of virtue, was tempted by Deborah”s buns, and if you think that”s an excuse for some double entendre you”re very much mistaken!

Off We Jolly Well Go

When Anna and Chris arrived looking bright eyed and bushy tailed our party was compete. Esteemed director and producer Anna and director of photography Chris had only called “wrap” on the filming of epic movie “Blitz and Bananas” the day before so it was a particular pleasure to have their company. After many months of long days and late nights spent bringing the ambitious project to completion all that remains to finish the film is the little matter of editing!

Over The Hills…

Champing at the bit we set off for Shoreham with a song in our heart and a spring in our step through woodland and meadow, up hill and down dale, through gate and over stile. We spotted numerous butterflies basking in the warm sunshine and as we ambled along Deborah introduced us to the joys of using a magnifying glass to explore the finer details of nature.

Jo and Ann Take a Closer Look

The view from the chalk cross on the hill above Shoreham was breathtaking and it was a tranquil place to rest and contemplate awhile. In fact Mike T could only be enticed to continue by the promise of ample refreshment in the village. This viewpoint was an ideal place to survey the horizon with the help of Jane”s powerful binoculars while Jo busily snapped away with her camera recording the unfolding tableau.

One Beautiful Lady and Two Bookends

Eventually we had to drag ourselves away from this lovely spot and wind our way down the hill towards the village. The challenge of two stiles was met and overcome by the superb teamwork of the group, teamwork not unlike the well polished efficiency witnessed at the Royal Tournament I thought, when a gun and carriage is transported from one end of an assault coarse to the other at great speed!

Barbara, Jane and Ann Spot Lunch

After looping around the old mill, over the bridge, past the vineyard and through the churchyard the OVFM ramblers were ready for their lunches. Some sort refreshment at the excellent pubs, others at the Station Tearoom and the rest of us in our trusty packed lunches.

Freddy Joins the Front of the Queue

As previous ramblers to Shoreham know one of the highlights of this village is the fabulous cream teas served up at the church every Sunday 2-5pm in August and the first Sunday of September. The homemade scones and cakes are delicious, the ladies are lovely and friendly and it”s definitely THE place to be on a sunny summer”s afternoon.

Chris and Mike Find the Get Out Clause in their OVFM Contracts

With lashings of tea and cake duly polished off it was time to wend our way home, delaying just long enough to investigate the sale at the allotments and provision ourselves with fresh garden produce that was just too good to miss. Thanks must go to Chris for helping carry my particular load of runner beans, onions, courgettes and cabbage!

Jane Keeps Morale up with Community Callisthenics

The climb back over the ridge seemed steeper than I remembered and with the sun beating down like something from Laurence of Arabia it was certainly hotter Thankfully the OVFM team spirit kicked in again with Anna distributing refreshing water, Freddy leading the way, Malcolm drawing on his vast experience to keep us going and Hugh and Ann entertaining us every step of the way. Special mention should also be made of Barbara and Len Walker who certainly lived up to their name! Barbara not only completed the ramble with ease but did the last mile in just her socks! Now that”s what I call style!

I Don’t Need No Walking Boots!

Thanks to Brenda, Freddy, Jo and Mike, Jane, Malcolm, Barbara and Len, Hugh and Ann, Chris and Anna and of course Mike.As far as I”m concerned together you made it the best ramble ever!

My Favourite Films – Peter Reilly

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PETER REILLY

 

Listed are my 10 most memorable films, all of these productions have left some unforgettable memories in my mind.

 

10. Silence Of The Lambs (Dir. Jonathan Demme 1991)

An American thriller that blends elements of crime and horror, a young FBI officer seeks the advice of an imprisoned serial killer to apprehend another serial killer. Very gripping stuff and a film I could watch over and over again.

 

9. American Beauty (Dir. Sam Mendes 1999)

Kevin Spacey stars as Lester Burnham, a middle-aged magazine writer who has a midlife crisis when he becomes infatuated with his teenage daughter’s best friend. A film well worth watching.

 

8. Slumdog Millionaire (Dir. Danny Boyle 2008)

A young boy from the slums in Mumbai wins the Indian version of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire”, he is arrested under suspicion of cheating and while being interrogated his life history unfolds which explains why he knew the answers. A British romantic drama nominated for 10 academy awards.

 

7. A Beautiful Mind (Dir. Ron Howard 2001)

The story of a brilliant mathematician who accepts secret work in cryptography only to have his private life turns into a nightmare.

 

6. One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (Dir. Milos Forman 1975)

The story of a man (Jack Nicholson) who turns a mental institution upside down to get at the bullying and oppressive Nurse Ratched. For me this was Nicholson at his best.

 

5. Schindler’s List (Dir. Steven Spielberg 1993)

An harrowing World War 2 film about a German business owner Oskar Schindler who saves many of his polish workforce from the Nazis during the holocaust. The film was a major box office success with 7 academy awards including best picture, best director and best original film score. It is considered among film critics as one of the best films ever made; mind you they haven’t seen “Blitz and Bananas” yet.

 

4. The Party (Dir. Blake Edwards 1968)

Peter Sellers for me has been the funniest man in my life time. He has made scores of brilliant funny-stupid films but for me “The Party” takes the cake. It’s the story of a bumbling film extra who due to a clerical error is invited to the exclusive Hollywood party rather that being sacked.

 

3. The King’s Speech (Dir. Tom Hooper 2010)

An amazing British film that has all the qualities of a modern day production. The story of King George VI of Britain who’s ascension to the throne is jeopardised by his inability with public speaking. A superb cast of British actors shine amongst very creative cinematography. When you watch this film your aware that its different in a lot of ways but you can’t put your finger on why, it’s the cinematography that differs from other historical dramas; hard light was used to give the story a greater resonance and wider than normal lenses were used to recreate the King’s feelings of constriction. A third technique Hooper employed was the off-centre framing of characters and even on the edge of a frame at times.

 

2. Happy Gilmore (Dir. Dennis Dugan 1996)

A classic comedy of a rejected American hockey player who uses his skills and adapts to playing golf, he does this in order to save his dear grandmothers house from being reposed. The story was written by Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler who also plays the leading role. A truly funny film that I can watch time and time again.

 

No 1. The Shawshank Redemption (Dir. Frank Darabont 1994)

A truly memorable film of two very different characters who are imprisoned and eventually find solace in each other. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman the lead characters are the perfect double-act that play out this American drama film written by Stephen King. It’s the story of a banker who spends time in a state prison and befriends a fellow prisoner, he receives protection from the guards in return for his services as a tax account, I know the story doesn’t sound like a blockbuster which is why it probably received a lukewarm response at the box office, however, it is has now received numerous awards and is a film to watch.

 

So there you have it – agree or disagree as is your wont. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to check out the lists from other OVFM members!! Click HERE to return to the menu page!

New OVFM Project -Something I’ve Always Wanted To Do

At the club meeting on Tuesday night (August 16th) our beloved/beleaguered/bedevilled (delete where applicable) chairman Chris Coulson announced a new club project: “Something I’ve Always Wanted To Do!”.

The idea is that you capture on film something you”ve always wanted to do (see what he did there?) then bring it in and share it with the rest of the club. The film is to be no longer than ten minutes and obviously must be kept clean (Cherie, I”m looking at you!)

The closing date (i.e: the date the films will be screened) is Tuesday September 27th, which gives you about six weeks to pop your cherry on whatever activity it is that has kept you interested but afraid to try until now. And don”t forget, if you have trouble putting something together your fellow club members are only a phone call or e-mail away!

Look forward to seeing the results next month.

Now, where did I put that tutu?

OVFM Club Meeting Tuesday August 16th 2011

 

Greetings once again and this week’s meeting is round three of the annual Top Ten competition.

So far it is fair to say that the competition has got off to a bit of a slow start with just seven films submitted out of a potential twenty over the two previous rounds. Will this week see a reversal of fortune? Here are the club members whose names have been drawn for this round:

 

Len Lawrence

Colin Jones

Bob Wyeth

Mike Shaw

Tony Faller

Malcolm Goodwin

Frank Hyde

Peter & Maureen Lodge

Basil Doody

Marko Ristic-Smith

Val Pinkerton

Peggy Parmenter

John Ransley

Jeannie Jarnot

 

Remember please reply to this post to let us know whether you will or won’t be providing a film and even if you are not on the list and have a film ready then please bring it along anyway.

 

See you on Tuesday!

Kent Film Festival 2011 – 24th September

Kent Film Festival 2011

 

Wearing my Kent Film Festival Chairman’s hat, I would like to applaud members of OVFM for their support of the Kent Film Festival as this year your 20 entries represent a staggering 40% of the total number received. All of you deserve a trophy but I have no influence over the judges unfortunately. However OVFM do have an outstanding record of winners over the years and it will be a real pleasure to welcome you at the comfortable Powell Theatre within the Christ Church University Campus, Canterbury on Saturday 24th September. The Film Festival starts at 11-00am (doors open at 10-30am) with excellent restaurant facilities and tickets available now from Freddy Beard at the special price of £5. It is a fun day and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

More information is available on the Kent Film Festival website HERE

 

Mike Turner

My Favourite Films – Charlie Caseley

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CHARLIE CASELEY

 

To be confined to ten films does make you go over all the movies you have seen over the last seventy odd years, still here goes in order.

 

10.  On The Waterfront (Dir. Elia Kazan 1954)

When I was young I lived close to London’s docklands and watched the docks go up in flames at the beginning of the blitz. This film depicted life on the waterfront in New York, tough working conditions and corruption and it was this movie that convinced me what a great actor Marlon Brando was. He portrayed a fighter and moved like one, light on his feet moving with grace, mind you there were a number professional fighters staring in the film that could teach him a thing or two.

 

9. Land and Freedom (Dir. Ken Loach 1995)

Nobody catches the British working class way of life like Ken Loach and Land and Freedom is no exception even though the film is about the Spanish Civil War. It goes a long way in explaining what it was like to be involved in that conflict.

 

8. The Apartment (Dir. Billy Wilder 1960)

Nellie’s favourite film is one of Billy Wilder’s greatest movies moving from comedy to pathos seamlessly with marvellous performances from Jack Lemmon and Shirley Maclaine.

 

7. Sweet Smell Of Success (Dir. Alexander Mackendrick 1957)

This film was directed by a Brit but you would never know. Alexander Mackendrick, who directed a number of British comedy’s, he catches the dark side of New York helped in no small way by a terrific cast, Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis but also by a great sound track written by Elmer Bernstein and played by Chico Hamilton.

 

6. The Memphis Belle: A Story Of A Flying Fortress  (Dir. William Wyler 1944)

Being a great admirer of the documentary I have selected Memphis Belle as my favourite movie of this type, I am not talking about the film that was produced by David Puttnam, I am referring to William Wyler’s film about the last flight of the B17 Memphis Belle. Wyler put a film crew on the Flying Fortress, all right it was made because of American concern about their losses over Germany but it is film that puts you in the heart of the cockpit with the crew. Shots from the film have been used in other films like ‘Twelve O’Clock High.’

 

5. Battle Potemkin (Dir. Sergei Eisenstein 1925)

Sergei Eisenstein directed the film depicting an uprising by the Russian navy in 1905, and though it could be said it was a propaganda movie it certainly was innovative in the way it was filmed, remember the pram scene in the New York Metro in the ‘The Untouchables’, it was done first in Battleship Potemkin.

 

4. Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday. (Dir. Jacques Tati 1953)

My brother in law told me to go and see this film and I am glad he did, it is a brilliant. Jacques Tati superb as director and actor.

 

3. Seven Days In May (Dir. John Frankenheimer 1964)

I enjoy political conspiracy thrillers and this movie was one of the best. Again I had read the book before I had seen the film. Directed by John Frankenheimer this was great film of its type.

 

2. The Godfather (Dir. Francis Ford Coppola 1972)

I had read Mario Puzo’s book before I saw the film. And to really understand the film you have to read the book. The book incorporates part 1 and part 2 of the saga of organised crime concerning the Mafia.

 

No 1. Citizen Kane (Dir. Orson Welles 1941)

This has always been my favourite film, the way that power is abused by the press and is particularly relevant at this moment in time over the scandal at News International. Most people thought the film was about William Randolph Hearst the Rupert Murdoch of the time.

 

So there you have it – agree or disagree as is your wont. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to check out the lists from other OVFM members!! Click HERE to return to the menu page!

OVFM Showreel

 

ANNABELLE LANCASTER REPORTING:

 

From time to time we’re asked to send a showreel to another club, like the one we saw from Newcastle recently.

With the sad loss of Tom, our Librarian, and the setting up of the archive, we haven’t had one available for the past few months so Freddy has been using our Golden Jubilee programme which has been well received.

The chairman of Staines Cine & Video Society has written:

“The films provided a fascinating evening’s entertainment and it was interesting to see both how much things have changed yet how techniques employed nearly 50 years ago stand the test of time. “One Minute to Go” was a perfect example of this. The commentary and interview gave the film structure which was superbly illustrated by well-chosen clips edited together to make little stories in their own right. There was an excellent variety of shots, both in terms of content and camera angles and none of these lasted more than a few seconds – something we associate with more modern film. Jeremy Holder, my predecessor as chairman, was lucky enough to be invited as a VIP guest to the paddock at the British grand Prix a week ago. Somehow I suspect he didn’t get quite the access Vic Blackman received!

All the short comedies went down well. Members commented that they benefitted from the actors not “over-playing” their roles – a common fault with many amateur comedies.

Other films which stood our for me were “Field Trip” and “Cheese Roll” and I never tire of seeing “Remote Control” which I was surprised to discover most of our members had never seen.

There was some (though not much) evidence of how equipment has improved the technical quality of films over the years, but what really came across is something we all know: It’s the content that really matters.

Many thanks for letting us enjoy your Golden Jubilee, and I wish Orpington FVM every success for the next 50 years.”

 

 

Happily, we’re now in the position of being able to produce fresh showreels in future so are all set to publicise our more recent work.

Annabelle Lancaster

My Favourite Films – Alan Smith

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ALAN SMITH

 

In no particular order:

 

1. Things To Come (Dir. William Cameron Menzies 1936)

As a youngster I almost believed it.

 

2. It’s A Wonderful Life (Dir. Frank Capra 1946)

A feel good film to end them all.

 

3. Great Expectations (Dir. David Lean 1946)

Dickens as he should be shown.

 

4. 3:10 To Yuma (Dir. Delma Daves 1957)

Great performances and it’s a western!

 

5. The Big Country (Dir. William Wyler 1958)

Fabulous opening sequence and yes it’s another western.

 

6. The Train (Dir. John Frankenheimer 1964)

Gripped me to the end.

 

7. Once Upon a Time in the West (Dir. Sergio Leone 1968)

Ennio Morricone created a score that still sounds fantastic.

 

8. Blood Simple (Dir. Joel & Ethan Coen 1984)

Coen Brothers classic.

 

9. Fargo (Dir. Joel & Ethan Coen 1996)

Coen Brothers again. Great stuff!

 

10. No Country For Old Men (Dir. Joel & Ethan Coen 2007)

More Coen Brothers with the scariest villain of all.

So there you have it – agree or disagree as is your wont. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to check out the lists from other OVFM members!! Click HERE to return to the menu page!

My Favourite Films – Colin Jones

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COLIN JONES

In no particular order:

 

1. The Summer of 42 (Dir. Robert Mulligan 1971)

With most films the effect it has upon you depends partly upon your state of mind at the time. I found it profoundly moving as well as amusing as it captured the struggle of boys in early adolescence to make some progress with girls. But it also evoked a long gone period during the war on an American holiday island interrupted by the real war going on far away.

 

2. Laurence of Arabia (Dir. David Lean 1962)

Not much to say about this film which I have watched many times.  Apart from the First World War background the battle is between Laurence and the upper class rigidity of the Officer class and especially the inward battle with himself.

 

3. Chicago (Dir. Rob Marshall 2002)

As a rule I hate modern music but this one blew me away and had my feet tapping.  I loved “The Singing Detective” with it’s several layers of reality and you never quite knew which one you were watching.  Well this was the same, but much faster and livelier.

 

4. The English Patient (Dir. Anthony Minghella 1996)

When I first saw this I was sure it was a good film, but was confused by the jump backwards and forwards with time, but once I had read the book I made a point of seeing the film again and I reckon it is a classic.

 

5. Waltz of the Toreadors (Dir. John Guillermin 1962)

A little known Peter Sellers film which in parts was hilarious but mostly sad and the humour wistful. The old man has mostly lost the skill of seducing servant girls and considers suicide but the appearance of a new maid servant persuades him to give up suicide in favour of seduction.  Very sad in places.

 

6. Fantasia (Dir. Various 1940)

Ah!  The greatest animation ever?  The Disney imagination was allowed free reign. I saw it as a 10 year old evacuee in the ruins of a flattened Plymouth in 1941 and it transported me away from my own misery for a precious couple of hours. I still watch it whenever I can.

 

7. The Lady Killers (Dir. Alexander Mackendrick 1955)

I suppose I had to choose an Ealing comedy as they give me such pleasure and evoke another bygone age which I remember so well. This was perhaps the best of the bunch and starred Alec Guinness and a very young Peter Sellers. But the star was little old Katie Johnson who still reminds me a dear old Rene Morris of OVFM.

 

8. The Great Dictator (Dir. Charles Chaplin 1940)

I just had to include a Charlie Chaplin movie.  If you want a laugh from beginning to end watch “The Circus”, but “The Great Dictator” was one of his later films which really had a message along with the humour. It made him very unpopular with the Americans at the time many of whom were Nazi sympathisers, it also put Charlie on Hitler’s death list!

 

9. My Fair Lady (Dir. George Cukor 1964)

I had a job to choose my favourite musical but this one got my vote despite Audrey Hepburn’s unfortunate attempt at a cockney accent.

 

10. The Big Country (Dir. William Wyler 1958)

I’m usually not a fan of Westerns as they seem to think the answer to all problems is violence, but this one is different.  It also stars my favourite – Gregory Peck

 

So there you have it – agree or disagree as is your wont. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to check out the lists from other OVFM members!! Click HERE to return to the menu page!