NEXT OVFM CLUB MEETING – Tuesday May 21st

 

FAMILY

 

We realise it hasn’t been that long since we first announced this Film To A Theme project but the topic is one that not only has universal possibilities but given most people’s first foray into filmmaking is home videos of their families. therefore we are confident there is a wealth of footage in the archives of club members featuring special events, holidays or just general family memories they are happy to share with the rest of us.

Tonight is the night that we get to see what you have for us, whether it is new or old. As usual we ask a little cooperation from everyone bringing a film to the meeting to PLEASE REPLY TO THIS POST in the comments/reply section below, letting us know the film’s run time, media format (DVD, Blu-ray, USB/Memory stick), file format if using the latter (MP4, MKV, AVI, etc.) and picture ratio (4:3 or 16:9). This is a great help for us when planning the evening out and helping things run smoothly so if you could do us this courtesy it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading and we look forward to seeing your films on Tuesday!

Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2019

 

 

 

Celebrating innovation and excellence in filmmaking, the BAFTA-Qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF) is looking for emerging and established practitioners who are pushing the boundaries of filmmaking forward to showcase their talent and innovative work to wider audiences at the 2019 event.

Filmmakers can submit their Short Films, Feature Films or VR & 360 works for consideration. ASFF also accepts works across multiple genres including: Advertising, Animation, Artists’ Film, Comedy, Dance, Documentary, Drama, Experimental, Fashion, Music Video and Thriller. Entries close 31 May.

 

Prizes Include:

·         £1,000 awarded to the Festival Winner

·         Northern Film School Award for Best Screenplay (£1,000)

·         Screenings at a BAFTA-Qualifying festival

·         Editorial coverage in Aesthetica Magazine (readership of 400,000)

 

If you think you would like to enter then visit www.asff.co.uk/submit

NEXT OVFM CLUB MEETING – Tuesday April 23rd

 

MAKE SENSE OF THIS

 

Hopefully you’ve all had a chance to download the footage supplied by Sam Brown for this editing project we first announced last month and have been working away in taking these random clips and making a coherent film out of them. Admittedly, they seem like they don’t have any potential at first (Sorry Sam) but once you go through them all, I am sure you will some inspiration from at least one of the clips as a starting, just as I did.

Tonight is the night that we get to see what you have achieved for this project, and if we’ve learned anything about our club members it is that we always give any challenge a go no matter how vague the subject or source material is. We at OVFM pride ourselves in our creativity and we hope to see an example of this on Tuesday night at the screening of the films for this project.

As usual we ask a little cooperation from everyone bringing a film to the meeting to PLEASE REPLY TO THIS POST in the comments/reply section below, letting us know the film’s run time, media format (DVD, Blu-ray, USB/Memory stick), file format if using the latter (MP4, MKV, AVI, etc.) and picture ratio (4:3 or 16:9). This is a great help for us when planning the evening out and helping things run smoothly so if you could do us this courtesy it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading and we look forward to seeing your films on Tuesday!

Colour Grading

by

Lee Relph

 

You may recall last year John Epton held a talk on colour correction and colour grading (the video is HERE in the Members’ Only section) as an important step in the editing process. Editing suites have come a long way over the past decade or so and their colour correction facilities in particular have become much more sophisticated in what they can do for our footage yet are relatively easy to use.

Thanks to these developments it is now possible for amateur filmmakers like ourselves to create better looking clips and films and depending on the software – with an industry standard colour graded aesthetic. It can also help spruce up any old footage recorded on archaic formats like mini DV or video tape, give them a new lease of life, and not look so dated in comparison to modern digital output.

Recently I compiled and assembled a new SHOWREEL for the club for which I delved into the available archive of OVFM for snippets to use to showcase the array of films we have made over the past 60 years and the different genres. However, because much of the content was so old, the quality of the footage not only showed its age through faded colours or overexposure but also stood out against the pristine veneer of current clips shot with digital cameras.

This presented me with a challenge in trying to rectify this with a view of creating some kind of consistency across the whole presentation. If I’m being honest, this was possibly more time consuming than animating the text in the clip which in itself was a lot of trial and error! Luckily, I am currently using Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2018 as my editor which has an excellent and intuitive colour correction tool that was very much up to such a task.

Premiere Pro’s basic correction tools would have been sufficient in restoring some of the major picture elements (like contrast, exposure, highlights, saturation, etc) to something resembling their original state but a fairly recent and very handy tool to add extra depth to the colour is the LUT – Look Up Table. I don’t know if these have crossed over to other editors but a LUT is basically a preset to be added to a clip that has been set to create any kind of tone, atmosphere and colour boost to get the image you want.

Using LUTs is how we can achieve the professional looking colour grading I referred to early, by altering some of the picture’s dynamics to replicate certain looks, as well as the setting of specific cameras. These are not fixed so one can fiddle with them to suit their needs otherwise you can simply apply them to your clip and transform it immediately.

The most popular LUT among editors today is teal and orange which, as the name suggests, manipulates the blues and oranges to create a bright and vivid look and bring out some interesting hues in the process. You’ll have seen this effect used in many recent film, TV shows, and adverts which show off its flexibility. I also used it here too, as you will see in this selection of examples from the showreel of my own attempts at colour correction and grading.

 

Please note the image on the left is the original untouched footage whilst the image on the right is the “corrected” version. Click the image for a large version.

 

As you can see in this first example the original clip is lacking in depth and definition, and the colours are rather washed out as a result of being shot in natural light on tape then later digitised, losing a lot of its lustre. By altering the basic settings then adding the teal and orange LUT with a few minor adjustments, the new version looks and feels warmer and the colours and details stand out more:

 

 

The next example isn’t perfect giving the age of the original clip but I feel it has more definition and the geisha stands out more as again, the natural light seems make everything seem flat. The teal and orange LUT also give the background a bit of a lift too:

 

Also note that I used an additional mask to clean up the geisha’s yellow teeth:

 

One of my own clips now to show that even digital photography doesn’t automatically guarantee perfection. This was shot with my nephew in the living room and me in the adjacent dining room, with the main overhead light in the living room coming through orange tinted bulbs and the light from outside in the background. There is a slight compromise with the glare and exposure of the background light in the second image otherwise an overall improvement nonetheless:

 

 

This shot of the hot air balloons was another tricky one to get right because of the varied colours involved. I believe it was also shot very early in the morning so the light wouldn’t have been at its strongest and presumably on tape. The colours might look paler in the second shot but I would venture they are closer to how they were at the time, whilst the added depth to the landscape is more natural looking too:

 

Here’s another recently filmed shot on a digital camera that looks okay as it is but with the orange and teal LUT the blue skies are given a nice summery boost. Even the smallest touch can yield some great results:

 

 

The next two examples are from the same film, and I’d wager were shot on video tape! The first was a nighttime scene set during the war which was very hard to work with, as the light was intermittent thus there was no stability in the brightness or colour. Again, it was more about making the colours look more natural:

 

Clip number two from this film was shot indoors and whilst it looks alright, it is in fact lacking in contrast and everything is washed together by the light, perhaps a casualty of being passed through various different formats over the years. Being darker and less saturated brings out the “true” colours of the yellow jumper and the grey carpet:

 

Another very challenging older clip that was shot outdoors where the light reflecting off the snowy landscapes turned everything white! The orange and teal LUT gives the sky a refreshing blue tint as opposed to the pale mauve in the original to compliment the renewed sense of definition of the foreground objects:

 

Finally, the hardest clip of them all. Like the snow in the previous example, the location of the workshop dictates the lighting of the clip along with the age of the footage and the medium it was filmed on. As you can see, everything is bathed in green robbing the individual elements of their own colours and the picture of its depth. A lot of fiddling was involved in getting the exposure and definition right whilst our favourite LUT also needed some twiddling to restore the original colours to their former glory:

 

 

Now, I’m not going to say that these are by far the most perfect examples of what colour grading can do but I learned a heck of a lot in doing this and given my lack of experience and the quality and age of the clips, I am content with the results, and I hope this has been informative for you too.

So, next time you have a clip that looks a bit off or needs some tidying up, take a look at John’s tutorial on colour correction and, if your editor allows it, get some LUTs and make your old clips or your new footage look like a million dollars! There are plenty of further tutorials online about LUTs and colour grading so look them up and give it a go yourself!

 

Thanks for reading.

2019 OVFM OSCARS – THE RESULTS!

 

THE RESULTS

The 2019 OVFM Oscars took place last night (March 19th), organised this year by Ian Menage  with help from Andy Watson with the video presentation. Two of the judges from Spring Park, Graham Evans and Roy de Boise, were in attendance to help us celebrate and reward the past year of great filmmaking for OVFM.

So without further ado, here is the list of winners as voted for by OVFM member and judged by Spring Park.

 

ANNUAL COMPETITION AWARDS

Ian Dunbar Cup (Best film) – An Unwelcome Piece Of Orpington’s History by David Laker

Orpington Trophy (Best Film Runner Up) – Beyond The Sunset by Sam Brown

Arthur Woolhead Trophy (Animation or Visual Effects) –  Aristotle by Hugh Darrington

Priory Trophy (Editing) – …. 104! by Ian Menage

Rene Morris Penguin Plate (Photography) – Beyond The Sunset by Sam Brown

Reg Lancaster Trophy (Funniest Film) – Aristotle by Hugh Darrington

Alice Howe Trophy (Documentary) – An Unwelcome Piece Of Orpington’s History by David Laker

Raasay Trophy (No special category) – Seasons’ Blessings by Jane Oliver

Jubilee Shield (Film under five minutes) – Sandwich Break by Hugh Darrington

Commendation Awards –

Braveheart by Jane Oliver

A 1940’s Experience by Barbara Darby

A Time When Orpington Was Still A Village by David Laker

 

CLUB AWARDS

The 2018 Top Ten Competition

Winner – Beyond The Sunset by Sam Brown

Runner-Up – A Time When Orpington Was Still A Village by David Laker

 

Kath Jones Cup (Joke Fim) – Costly Words by David Laker

Vic Treen Cup (Fim Set to Music) – Otford Remembers by Barbara Darby

Mike Turner Plate (Film Under 60 Seconds) – Mr Sandman by John Bunce

 

N.B – two awards were not given as the judges didn’t find any films suited to them, these being Heyfield Trophy (Sound) and Vincent Pons Shield (Fiction).

The evening also saw a special presentation to John & Ann Epton for their efforts in organising our 60th Anniversary Show at the Odeon cinema.

Congratulations to all the winners and we look forward to doing it all again next year, provided we have a volunteer to assume the role of competition’s officer as Ian has decided to step down, so thanks to him for his efforts over the past year.

NEXT OVFM CLUB MEETING – Tuesday March 5th

WHY AM I HERE?

 

Admittedly it wasn’t that long ago when we first announced this Film To A Theme topic but we hope that some of you were inspired  by the nebulous possibilities the title of “Why Am I Here?” conjures up and have been hard at work putting those ideas onto film.

Remember, this is not a competition evening so these films won’t be judged but if you want feedback or constructive criticism, we will happily oblige, time permitting of course.

As usual we ask a little cooperation from everyone bringing a film to the meeting to PLEASE REPLY TO THIS POST in the comments/reply section below, letting us know the film’s run time, media format (DVD, Blu-ray, USB/Memory stick), file format if using the latter (MP4, MKV, AVI, etc.) and picture ratio (4:3 or 16:9). This is a great help for us when planning the evening out and helping things run smoothly so if you could do us this courtesy it would be greatly appreciated.

Just a heads up to warn you not to get too comfortable as we will be announcing our next Film To A Theme project very shortly with the screening date set for April!

Thanks for reading and we look forward to seeing your latest gems on Tuesday!

2019 ANNUAL TRIANGLE COMPETITION

 

Another annual inter-club competition is upon us, this time it is the Triangle Competition in which three of four clubs – OVFM, Spring Park, Shooters Hill and Epsom – enter a 30-minute program of their best films in a three-way contest to be judged by the fourth, with the judging role alternating each year.

 

This year’s event take place on  Thursday March 28th  and the judging will be handled by Shooters Hill Camcorder Club thus will be held on their turf at Shrewsbury House, Bushmoor Crescent, SE18  3EG at 7:30 pm (doors usually open 7.00pm).

 

 

 

OVFM has done well in the past in this competition so let’s see if we can add another win to our scorecard. For more information or if you want to attend on the night to support and represent OVFM in person on the night please let a member of the committee know so we can tell Shooters Hill how many visitors from OVFM to expect.

OVFM SPRING SHOW 2019

 

 

 

One of the most important dates in the OVFM calendar is our annual Spring Show where we share the fruits of our labours from a year of busy filmmaking, along with some gems from our archive. What better way to celebrate the days getting lighter and warmer than with evening of films from the very best local amateur filmmaking talent.

 

Along with a collection of films covering all genres from drama to comedy, travelogue to documentary as well as classics from our extensive archive spanning 60 years, you will also see our legendary newsreel looking back at major local events in 2018.

 

This year’s event will take place on FRIDAY 22nd MARCH at 7:00 for 7.30 pm

VENUE –  Methodist Church, 19 Sevenoaks Road, Orpington BR6 9JH

DIRECTIONS – GOOGLE MAP

WEBSITE – http://www.orpingtonmethodist.org.uk/welcome.htm

 

Club members get in free but for guests and non-members the tickets are £5 – which includes refreshments – and are available by making a request via e-mail at info@ovfm.org.uk or by telephone on 0208 3254454 (daytime) or 01689 851116 (evenings). Don’t leave it too late as they tend to get snapped up very quickly!

 

And of course there is our famous raffle where a selection of wonderful prizes are up for grabs provided you have that all important winning ticket!

 

If any OVFM club members or our external friends wish to help publicise this event please download a printable version of the poster HERE (open the file, right click and save).

 

For an entertaining and sociable evening do join us on Friday March 22nd and bring along your friends and family!

FILM TO A THEME – NOTICE

 

WHY AM I HERE?

 

A question we have no doubt asked ourselves on numerous occasions, be it at school, work, a concert, a seminar, hospital appointment, or maybe even standing at the altar before a crowded congregation with the vicar an your future spouse waiting for an answer to a very important question!

Perhaps there is a philosophical side to this question pertaining to life and the universe to be explored? What if someone has been abducted and wakes up in a strange location? Or you simply want to extol the virtues of being a member of OVFM, this latest Film to A Theme project gives you the chance to capture your thoughts and ideas on film (well memory cards – or mini DV tape for those of you still stuck in the early 2000’s) and share them with the rest of us.

The deadline and screening date is the club meeting on Tuesday March 5th so get your thinking caps on and let your creative juices flow!

NEXT OVFM CLUB MEETING – Tuesday February 5th

IF ONLY I COULD REMEMBER

+

HOLIDAY FILMS

Time sure flies, doesn’t it? It was only two months ago we first announced this Film To A Theme topic and here we are already for the screening evening. It’s not the easiest subject to come up with something but this is OVFM and we usually find a way to make these projects work.

As well as getting to share you hard work and creativity with the rest of the club in response to this project, this is a double header meeting if you will, as we also invite members to submit their holiday films for screening as per the annual start of the year tradition. We also ask that these films are no longer than 5 minutes in length which should be ample to show off how good a time you had and to remind us of what sunshine looks like during this cold winter months!

Remember, this is not a competition evening so these films won’t be judged but if you want feedback or constructive criticism, we will happily oblige, time permitting of course.

As usual we ask a little cooperation from everyone bringing a film to the meeting to PLEASE REPLY TO THIS POST in the comments/reply section below, letting us know the film’s run time, media format (DVD, Blu-ray, USB/Memory stick), file format if using the latter (MP4, MKV, AVI, etc.) and picture ratio (4:3 or 16:9). This is a great help for us when planning the evening out and helping things run smoothly so if you could do us this courtesy it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for heading and we look forward to seeing your latest gems on Tuesday!