OVFM CLUB MEETING – Tuesday August 8th 2017

 

We enter the second round of the Top 10 competition with just four entries submitted for the first round, the results of which you will find HERE. Now that the tennis has ended, Love Island is over with and there are no more general elections planned (at least as far as I know) then we hope that the sunny weather has inspired you to go out and about with your cameras and capture the world around you.

If you are one of the following, we request that you bring the fruits of your labours to this week’s meeting otherwise it will be a short night and very sparse Top Ten contest this year:

 

Freddy Beard
Hugh Darrington
Ann and John Epton
Kuldip Kaur
Walter McKenna
Jane Oliver
Pat Palmer
Lee Relph
Graham Sinden
Bob Vine
Barbara Walker
Andy and Marion Watson

 

Hugh has been informed by Freddy and Andy that they won’t be at the meeting thus no films from them this time around, putting us down by two spots already. Andy’s absence also means that we will need a substitute projectionist for the evening, so if there are any takers please let us know in advance.

If you have a film ready either let Hugh know via e-mail or reply to this post in the comments/reply section below, letting us know the film’s run time, format (DVD, Blu-ray, USB) and picture ratio (4:3 or 16:9). Similarly please reply below if you can’t make this round and we’ll accommodate your film in a future round.

We would also like to remind everyone that this meeting is the deadline for submitting their food/dessert preferences for the club’s upcoming garden party. Please see Annabelle, Jane or David with your choices.

Thank you for reading and good luck to everyone who enters a film!

OVFM CLUB MEETING TUESDAY JUNE 27th 2017

 

Yes folks the Top Ten 2017 competition is officially on!

Marking the first year under the aegis of our new Competitions Officer Hugh Darrington, the Top Ten is open to everyone in OVFM to submit a film, no longer than 20 minutes on any subject, style or genre, which will be judged and graded by their peers. The ten films that have accrued the highest scores by the end of the five individual rounds will be entered into the final in January 2018 and the winner will be announced at the Oscars in March.

Last year Barbara Darby made history by becoming a SIX time winner of the competition! Can she make it to seven wins or will someone else take the trophy this year?

Here are the club members who have been selected at random to participate in this opening round:

 

John Alford
Charlie and Nellie Caseley
Barbara Darby
Ron Darby
Malcolm Goodwin
David Laker
Reg Lancaster
Ian Menage
Peter Mitchell
Peggy Parmenter
Mike Shaw
Alan Smith and Cherie Hamlet-Smith

 

Unfortunately Hugh is a bit miffed, as despite emailing everyone whose name has been drawn, so far only one person has replied to say they are putting in a four minute film.  Ouch. Could spend the whole evening staring at the floor then. Alan, Cherie and Reg have let Hugh know they can’t manage it and  David Laker is away. But come on guys,  don’t let him down on his first time on the job…

Maybe someone else has an early film ready drawn for later rounds.  If so let Hugh know via e-mail or reply to this post in the comments/reply section below, letting us know the film’s run time, format (DVD, Blu-ray) and picture ratio (4:3 or 16:9). Similarly please reply below if you can’t make this round and we’ll accommodate your film in a future round.

Also, just to remind you, the scoring sheet marking advice has been revised as follows to help you with your scoring:

 

Titles: Are the titles easy to read?  Do they reflect the content of the film? Do they show additional creativity?  Has the same attention been paid to them as the rest of the film?

Visuals: Look for focus, exposure, steadiness and lighting in photography.  Also note degree of difficulty and originality.

Editing: Does the film flow smoothly?  Should some of the shots be removed, shortened or rearranged?  Should there be more cutaways?  Are zooms and pans smooth and necessary? Look out for special effects.

Sound: Was the sound crisp and clear?  Was there any distortion?  Was the music appropriate? Was the narration well written and delivered? Was it mixed well with the music?  Were the background sounds appropriate and was the whole well balanced together?

Structure: Has the film got structure? Did the author seem to know what he or she wanted?  Has it got a beginning, middle and end? Has the author made the best use of material?

General Appeal: Regardless of technical merit, how much do you think the film will appeal to a wider audience apart from yourself?   Did it hold the audience throughout? Was it the right length? Would you like your name on the credits?

 

So there you have it. Will we see more than one film this Tuesday? You’ll have to be there to find out!

Thank you for reading and good luck to everyone who enters a film!

 

PS: Hugh informs me he has a secret surprise fill in for the evening. You won’t want to miss this.

OVFM TOP TEN COMPETITION 2017

 

Yes the annual Top Ten competition is back and under new management!

After Brenda Wheatley stepped down from the role of Competitions Officer after 12 years, Hugh Darrington picked up the mantle to take over the running of the club’s competitions, for the next year at least. His first duty was to arrange the drawing for the individual Top Ten rounds, which you will notice has been reduced from five to just three, to encourage a greater response from club members, after a paltry 13 films were submitted in 2016.

Remember that each film has a 20 minute time limit but can be on any subject and in any style. If you have a film from the past which has undergone a significant revamp (perhaps a new soundtrack, remixed sound, improved titling, tighter editing, extended or redacted cut etc. you are also welcome to re-submit these as your official entry.

And you can team up with your fellow club members if you need help on the technical or casting front, it will be the author of the script/concept who gets the entry credit.

Below are the names of the dates and participants of the three qualifying rounds:

 

ROUND ONE (to take place June  27th)

John Alford
Charlie and Nellie Caseley
Barbara Darby
Ron Darby
Malcolm Goodwin
David Laker
Reg Lancaster
Ian Menage
Peter Mitchell
Peggy Parmenter
Mike Shaw
Alan Smith and Cherie

 

ROUND TWO (to take place August 8th)

Freddy Beard
Hugh Darrington
Ann and John Epton
Kuldip Kaur
Walter McKenna
Jane Oliver
Pat Palmer
Lee Relph
Graham Sinden
Bob Vine
Barbara Walker
Andy and Marian Watson

 

ROUND THREE (to take place September 5th)

Sam Brown
John Bunce
Basil Doody
Simon Earwicker
Mike Graham
John and Sylvia Greengrass
Colin Jones
Annabelle Lancaster
Brian Pfeiffer
Jim Morton-Robertson
Trevor Rogers
Brenda and Roger Wheatley

 

Remember, if you have a film ready before your designated round you are welcome to submit it early but please let us know, preferably on this website, ahead of the particular session you will be entering it. This also applies if you are unable to provide a film in time.

The final will take place on January 9th 2107 and the results will be revealed at the Oscars on March 6th 2018.

To see the results of last year’s competition click HERE

 

Good luck to all who enter.

2017 OVFM OSCARS – THE RESULTS

THE RESULTS

The annual OVFM Oscars were held on Tuesday March 21st 2017, honouring and recognising the hard work and output of  club members over the past 12 months.

In case you  missed it or need a reminder here is the list of winners:

 

ANNUAL COMPETITION

Ian Dunbar Cup (Best film) – Reaching For The Sky by Jane Oliver

Orpington Trophy (Best Film Runner Up) – Meet Dexter by Lee Relph

Arthur Woolhead Trophy (Animation or Visual Effects) – Heaven Or Hell by Hugh Darrington

Priory Trophy (Editing) – Meet Dexter by Lee Relph

Vincent Pons Shield (Fiction) – Meet Dexter by Lee Relph

Rene Morris Penguin Plate (Photography) – Dawlish Air Show by Jane Oliver

Heyfield Trophy (Sound) – The Quest by Colin Jones

Reg Lancaster Trophy (Funniest Film) – Meet Dexter by Lee Relph

Alice Howe Trophy (Documentary) – Reaching For The Sky by Jane Oliver

Raasay Trophy (No special category) – Moholo Animal Rehabilitation Centre by Brian Pfeiffer

Jubilee Shield (Film under five minutes) – 1940 Sherringham by Barbara Darby

 

OVFM COMPETITIONS

The 2016 Top Ten Competition –

WINNER: Reconstruction Of H4 by Barbara Darby

RUNNER-UP: Meet Dexter by Lee Relph

Kath Jones Cup (Best joke Film) – Back Porch Revamp by John Bunce

Vic Treen Trophy (Best Film Cut To Music) – Ski Funday by Andy & Marian Watson

Mike Turner Plate (Best Film Under 1 Minute) – Tunnel Cleaner by Jane Oliver

 

Highly Commended Certificates

Tree Down by Jim Morton-Robertson

On A Roll by Ann & John Epton

Moholo Animal Rehabilitation Centre by Brian Pfeiffer

Commended Certificates

Hampden P1344 by Jim Morton-Robertson

An Historic Route by Pat Palmer

 

Congratulations to all the winners and big thank you to Brenda Wheatley, who has been our Competitions Officer for the past 12 years but has decided to step down from the role. If you think you can follow in Brenda’s footsteps then please contact Brenda for details and get your nomination form HERE, ahead of the AGM next month.

OVFM CLUB MEETING TUESDAY MARCH 21st 2017

Ladles and Jellyspoons

It is that time of year again when we ask you to drag your best clobber from out of the mothballs, then put them on and bring yourselves down to the club meeting for the 2017 OVFM Oscars!

Every year we celebrate and reward the efforts of our club members with a small trinket or two, with club awards voted for by their peers and the Annual competition categories judged by an external panel.

This year we are indebted to members of Sutton Coalfield Movie Makers for giving up their time on our behalf to review and rate our films.

Hopefully our show will go without a hitch unlike the ersatz version the Americans put on recently. What a shambles. Fancy getting the Best Film award wrong. I waited all night for them to announce Meet Dexter and they not only gave it to La La Land but then realised they had stuffed that up and gave it to Moonlight instead. Tch!

As mentioned earlier this is a black tie affair so the more glam you look the better, but if you are feeling adventurous you can come in fancy dress to add a little levity to the proceedings. Scruffy people will be shown the door although I am sure they already know what it looks like anyway. And your partners are very welcome to join us too if you have one. If you haven’t, then don’t bring them.

We have many awards being contested. In the Annual Competition they are:

 

Ian Dunbar Cup (Best film)

Orpington Trophy (Best Film Runner Up)

Arthur Woolhead Trophy (Animation or Visual Effects)

Priory Trophy (Editing)

Vincent Pons Shield (Fiction)

Rene Morris Penguin Plate (Photography)

Heyfield Trophy (Sound)

Reg Lancaster Trophy (Funniest Film)

Alice Howe Trophy (Documentary)

Raasay Trophy (No special category)

Jubilee Shield (Film under five minutes)

 

The club awards are:

 

The 2016 Top Ten Competition

Kath Jones Cup

Vic Treen Cup

Mike Turner Plate

David Laker Latrine

 

Last year’s big winner was Barbara Walker whose film “Commute” earned her three awards, closely followed by John Bunce and Hugh Darrington with two wins each. Who will be the triumphant winner(s) this year?

Hope you will join us this Tuesday March 21st at the Barnard Room, St Augustine’s Church for the 2017 OVFM Oscars!!

OVFM CLUB MEETING TUESDAY January 10th 2017

 

Happy New Year to you all!

With the festive season now over with and the huge haemorrhoid  that was 2016 now consigned to the dustbin of time, we welcome 2017 with open arms. However here at OVFM there is still some unfinished with last year, namely the annual Top Ten competition.

The qualifying rounds concluded in late November and now it is time for the final, in which the ten films that tallied the highest votes from their individual rounds are brought together one last time to face the scrutiny and judgement of the club members.

With only THIRTEEN entries submitted across the whole year, the lowest I’ve known in my 6  1/2 year membership with the club, the final ten films are as follows:

 

1.  “Meet Dexter” by Lee Relph

2. “H4 by Barbara Darby

3. “Dawlish Air Show” by Jane Oliver

4. “On a Roll” by John Epton

5.  “Victor Lilia Goes To War “ by David Laker

6. “Obsession” by Jim Morton Robertson

7.  “Heaven or Hell” by Hugh Darrington

8.  “Free of charge” by Reg and Annabelle Lancaster

9.  “Mon Dail Mobility” by Andy Watson

10. “Back Porch Revamp” by John Bunce

 

It is this round in which the scoring is the most important as your marks will contribute to deciding the eventual winner of the 2106 competition, to be announced at the Oscars in March.

I’ve done the maths and the total running time of all ten films is 58 minutes 39 seconds so we have a long night ahead of us.

Everyone on the list above is required to being their films on Tuesday, having been given the chance to make any amendments or adjustments following the comments in the qualifying rounds. Failure to do so will incur a forfeit of your spot in the final.

Also, at this meeting if you plan on entering the Annual Competition, this is the deadline for getting your films, entry forms and entry fee to Brenda Wheatley.

Staying with competitions the SERIAC and BIAFF competitions are now accepting entries with their deadlines both on JANUARY 31st! Please see Freddy Beard for more details.

Good luck to all Top Ten finalists and hope to see you all on Tuesday!

 

OVFM CLUB MEETING TUESDAY DECEMBER 6th 2016

comp_16

 

As the year hurtles ever close towards it conclusion we still have some film business to take care of here at OVFM, in the form of three annual club competitions, created in tribute to past club members.

These three very different contests give club members a chance to test their creativity under explicit criteria and are not as easy as one may think, making this one of the unique and interesting challenges thrown down every year. As always, the three prizes up for grabs are:

 

Kath Jones Cup

Mike Turner Plate

Vic Treen Trophy

 

The rules for each of these can be found HERE which we ask you to adhere to, otherwise the subject matter of your film is entirely in your hands, and you can enter a film for one, two or all three categories.

Last year’s instalment had a disappointingly meagre response from club members, with one category receiving just ONE entry, making it a sadly predictable outcome when the winner was announced at the Oscars. So, perhaps this year we can do something about that and make this a real hot competition to end the year on?

Of course, if you are bringing a film this week then PLEASE REPLY TO THIS POST in the comments/reply section below, letting us know the film’s run time, format (DVD, Blu-ray) 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.

Also, members are asked to submit their entries to the Annual Competition to Brenda at this meeting. the entry forms can be downloaded HERE (this is a Members’ Only page so be sure you are logged in).

Thanks for reading and good luck to all who enter a film/films.

OVFM CLUB MEETING TUESDAY NOVEMBER 22nd 2016

ten_16_r4

 

We’ve now reached the last of the four qualifying rounds of the annual Top 10 Competition meaning this is the final opportunity club members have to enter their film ahead of the final on January 10th 2017.

The remaining listed club invited to submit a film for this round are as follows:

 

Charlie & Nellie Caseley

David Laker

Malcolm Goodwin

Basil Doody

Freddy Beard

Harold & Maisie Trill

Colin Jones

Lee Relph

John & Sylvia Greengrass

Peggy Parmenter

 

If, for whatever reason, you haven’t submitted a film for this year’s contest and still wish to do so, then this is also you last chance to enter.

As ever if you can’t make your designated round be sure to let either Brenda know ahead of time or reply to this post below, or you have a film ready early, please bring it along as chances are it will be welcomed for screening time permitting.

And if you are bringing a film this week then PLEASE REPLY TO THIS POST in the comments/reply section below, letting us know the film’s run time, format (DVD, Blu-ray) 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.

The previous results in this year’s contest can be found HERE.

Thank you and good luck to everyone who enters a film!

OVFM CLUB MEETING TUESDAY OCTOBER 11th 2016

ten_16_r3

 

It’s round three of the Top Ten already and last time we had two entries so hopefully we don’t have a commensurate number of films for this session. Perhaps with the summer holidays now over club members will have something to share that documents what they got up to while the sun was out a few months back!

Maybe we’ll find out if anyone from the following list will oblige us:

 

 

Jim Morton Robertson

John Bunce

Kuldip Kaur

Barbara Darby

Brian Pfeiffer

Richard & Jess Pugh

Ann & John Epton

Peter Mitchell

Barbara Walker

Annabelle Lancaster

Roger & Brenda Wheatley

 

As ever if you can’t make your designated round be sure to let either Brenda know ahead of time or reply to this post below, or you have a film ready early, please bring it along as chances are it will be welcomed for screening time permitting.

And if you are bringing a film this week then PLEASE REPLY TO THIS POST in the comments/reply section below, letting us know the film’s run time, format (DVD, Blu-ray) 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.

The previous results in this year’s contest can be found HERE.

Thank you and good luck to everyone who enters a film!

OVFM CLUB MEETING – TUESDAY September 13th 2016

 

ten_16_R2

 

And as quickly as that we move into the second round of the 2016 OVFM Top Ten competition!

We had four entries for the first round (the results of which are HERE) and as ever we are looking to top that number in this round.

The club members who have been drawn for this round are:

 

Madeline & Annie Ffitch

Mike Shaw

Sam Brown

Simon Earwicker

Jane Oliver

Ian Menage

Bob Vine

Anna Littler

Tony Keable

Pat Palmer

Cherie Hamlet-Smith

 

As ever if you can’t make your designated round be sure to let either Brenda know ahead of time or reply to this post below, or you have a film ready early, please bring it along as chances are it will be welcomed for screening time permitting.

And if you are bringing a film this week then PLEASE reply to this post in the comments/reply section below, letting us know the film’s run time, format (DVD, Blu-ray) 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.

Also please don’t forget to bring any footage you have for the mini-Newsreel we hope to put together for the upcoming Autumn Film Show.

Thank you and good luck to everyone who enters a film!