OVFM Club Meeting Tuesday July 9th 2013

garden_party

The sun has got his hat on, which makes you wonder what the hat is made out of to withstand such scorching heat, and that can mean only one thing: rain is on its way!

But before that, we have the small matter of the OVFM annual garden party (nee barbecue) to get through. This year’s fiasco will be hosted by our treasurer David “Offshore Account” Laker and his good lady wife Carole. Their address can be found on the Members Details page or in the latest issue of the Viewfinder and attendees are asked to arrive at 7:00pm for 7:15pm. Anyone who arrives late will be tarred and feathered.

Dress code is casual but not trashy, while the men are left to their own discretion as to whether they want to a dress or not.

David has made a specific request that no-one park their cars on the grass verge outside his house; helicopters and battleships are permitted but not cars. This is because it will upset the dog owning neighbours as their pets will have nowhere to soil. That’s the official reason – the real reason is David doesn’t want his neighbours knowing that he associates with such riff raff as us!

By now you all should have placed your food order with Freddy and while teas and coffees will be served during the night, you are requested to bring your own drinks if you fancy something a bit fizzier/stronger/drinkable. This also applies to any food for those of you not accommodated by the proposed menu or have a special diet to adhere to. Oh that reminds me – no alcohol either. Right Cherie?

Hands up anyone capable of levitation? Just as I thought, in that case it is worth your while bringing your own chairs to sit on and your own tables for resting your plates, glasses, cutlery, condiments and other relevant items you will also need to bring with you. I never though I’d say this, but this could be the one time of the year where it might be of great benefit to own a caravan – if anything you’ll avoid the long queue for the slop bucket!

The final request our decadent hosts have is for anyone in possession of table tennis paddles to bring them along to the event. Now, we all know David as a man of culture and high brow tastes so it stands to reason he has something refined planned that will make the evening a more enjoyable experience for all. Or maybe this is the night he reveals his kinky side to us all. The only way to find out is to bring your paddle!!

I think that is just about it.

Roll on Tuesday!

Kent Film Festival 2013

KENT FILM FESTIVAL 2013

 

The 39th annual Kent Film Festival takes place on Saturday 28th September 2013 at Christ Church University, in Canterbury, Kent.

OVFM played a major part in the festival as our very own Mike Turner was chairman of the event for many years before his sad passing last year. In 2012 we also made our mark on the results front by bagging four top award (including Best Film for Bob Vine’s “Eco”) and three commendations. can we do the same this year?

Entry forms can be downloaded HERE but please note that the last day of submission is Saturday July 27th

For further information on this event please visit the Kent Film Festival website HERE.

Thanks for reading and good luck to all those who enter.

2013 OVFM OSCARS – THE RESULTS!!

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THE RESULTS!!

Oh what a night…Early March in 2013

Erm…doesn’t quite work does it? Anyway last night was the Oscars and a good time was had by most – specifically Colin “Fox Whisperer” Jones and Barbara “Cakes” Darby who took home five and three awards respectively. I didn’t win anything but I have the judges names, all I need now is their addresses….

Speaking of the judges the three men from Epsom Film Makers, to whom we are grateful for taking the time to watch, comment and grade our films, are Norman Bull, John Gannaway and Ron Everitt, who were also in attendance last night and presented the top two awards of the evening. So a big thank you to them.

Up first were the three awards voted for internally (i.e within the club).

 

Kath Jones Cup (Joke film under five minutes)–Winner: Legal Tangle by Colin Jones

 

Vic Treen Cup (Film set to music) – Winner: Finger Licking Good by Colin Jones

 

Mike Turner Plate (Film under sixty seconds) – Winner: Traditions by Harold Trill

 

The 2012 Top Ten Competition – Runner Up: More Than Steam by Sam Brown

Winner: Master Craftsman by Barbara Darby

 

We then moved onto the Annual Competition Awards as judged by Epsom Film Makers.

 

Jubilee Shield (Film under five minutes) – Winner: Village Secrets by Sue Ward

 

Raasay Trophy (No special category) – Winner: Autumn In Greenwich by Colin Jones

 

Alice Howe Trophy (Documentary) – Winner: Master Craftsman by Barbara Darby

 

Reg Lancaster Trophy (Funniest Film) – Winner: Legal Tangle by Colin Jones

 

Heyfield Trophy (Sound) – Winner: Fun With The Ancestors by Annabelle Lancaster

 

Rene Morris Penguin Plate (Photography) – Winner: Autumn In Greenwich by Colin Jones

 

Vincent Pons Shield (Fiction) – Winner: Why I Stopped Playing Golf by Hugh Darrington

 

Priory Trophy (Editing) – Winner: Fun With The Ancestors by Annabelle Lancaster

 

Arthur Woolhead Trophy (Animation or Visual Effects) – Winner: Wildfowl Waltz by Mike & Jo Coad

 

Orpington Trophy (Best Film Runner Up): More Than Steam by Sam Brown

 

Ian Dunbar Cup (Best film) – Winner: Master Craftsman by Barbara Darby

 

Commendations: Eastbourne by Mike & Jo Coad

The Second Day by Chris Coulson

 

So there you have it. Congratulations to all the winners and commiserations but a hearty pat on the back to everyone who was nominated or entered a film.

Thanks again to the guys from Epsom Film Makers and perhaps next year we can chose judges who aren’t members of Colin’s family! Just joking Colin! 😉 and of course to Brenda Wheatley for another excellent job as competitions organiser!

Until next year……keeeeeeeep filming!!!

OVFM Club Meeting Tuesday March 5th 2013 – OVFM OSCARS!!

ovfmoscars13

 

It’s time to put on make up

It’s time to dress up right

It’s time to raise the curtain on OVFM Oscars night

 

Once again the biggest event in the OVFM calendar is upon us as we hold our very own Oscars! Over the past twelve months we’ve all (well some of us have) been hard at work making films and improving our skills and this is the night where that hard work is recognised and rewarded.

The many trophies and awards contested include the Ian Dunbar Cup, the Orpington trophy, the Jubilee Shield and the Mike Turner Plate and judging by the quality of the films entered these will all be tightly contested categories. We shall also be announcing the winner of the top 10 for 2012, one of the few awards based on club member votes.

Last year Simon “Snapper” Earwicker swept the board with four prizes. Can he do it again this year or will we crown a new King or Queen of OVFM?

As always the Oscar night is meant to be a fun time for the club as much as it is an evening of celebration so members are encouraged to either put on their gladrags or be a bit creative and indulge in a bit of fancy dress. Who can forget last year when our beloved vice chairman Mike Turner dressed up as a banana to help promote Anna Littler’s Blitz & Bananas?

So, let’s hope no-one trips up when going up to receive their award or we don’t have to endure any embarrassing skits or songs about seeing certain parts of the female body as those pretenders in Hollywood did last week. This is the OVFM Oscars – about a classy as you can get (for Orpington anyway…)!!

Hope to see you all then!

OVFM Annual Dinner 2013 (rescheduled)

Dinner

 

OVFM Annual Dinner

Friday 8th March 2013 – 7pm for 7.30pm

 

Rescheduled from January. Please get in touch with Freddy, Annabelle or Peggy if this new date is a problem for you.

 

Due to rising costs we’re moving the dinner this year to the Change of Horses, 87 HighStreet, FarnboroughVillage, BR6 7BB.

The price will be £20 for three courses including service.

We realise that some of us go there periodically for the pub lunch, or after the North v South competition, but we’d like to make it clear that this will be a totally different function menu, and the room properly set out for a dinner.

Partners are very welcome, and the NEW menu and booking slip can be downloaded for printing off HERE.

We ask that you fill them in and send the full amount to Peggy Parmenter as soon as possible.

There’s a maximum of 50 places so don’t miss out!

N vs S – The Final!!

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North v South Competition 2012

THE FINAL

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The Grand Final of the North v South Competition took place on Sunday 27th January in the South at its usual venue of the Village Hall in Farnborough, Kent.

Apart from the 10 Final films, we also showed the remainder of the Northern entries that didn’t quite make the Final.

Around 50 people attended the event and we were particularly delighted to welcome Gordon Hunt and Ian Reed of Sutton Coldfield Movie Makers who made the journey down from the West Midlands.

Our judges were Screen Archive South East, whose Director is Dr. Frank Gray, a man well known to amateur film-makers in the South East.

Following the showing of the films, the audience were asked to fill in their voting slips. ‘Nicely Handeled’ by Tynemouth Video Group won the audience vote by a mile although it didn’t feature in the judges top 3. No surprise there then!

Audience Vote

1st                  Nicely Handeled                                         Tynemouth Video Group

2nd                 Foolproof!                                                    Coast Video Club

3rd                 Operation Black Hat                                  Sutton Coldfield Movie Makers

Official Result

1st                  Operation Black Hat                                  Sutton Coldfield Movie Makers

2nd                 Foolproof!                                                    Coast Video Club

3rd                 Man With Van                                             Rochdale Movie Makers

Needless to say, nobody in the audience matched the judge’s decision but Graham Sinden of Shooters Hill Camcorder Club was closest and took the ‘Audience Vote’ prize.

NvS Winners

Our ‘Guess the Theme’ competition was won by Brenda Wheatley of Orpington Video & Film Makers who correctly guessed that this years theme is………

‘REVOLUTION’

 

Thanks to everyone who attended for their support.

 

Mike Coad

OVFM Spring Show 2013

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OVFM Spring Show 2013

It’s that time of year when OVFM celebrates the days getting brighter, the weather is getting warmer and the trees and plants are in bloom once again. So what better way is there for a film club to mark this occasion by sharing with everyone the best of the many films made over the past twelve months along with a few gems from the archive. We shall also be taking a look back over the past twelve months in the Orpington/Bromley region through the annual Newsreel.

The 2013 Spring Show will take place on  FRIDAY 22nd March at 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 others the tickets are £5 – which includes refreshments – and are available from our secretary Freddy Beard on 01689 813616 .

For an entertaining and sociable evening get your tickets a.s.a.p. and bring along your friends and family!

See you then!

Rob Knox Film Festival 2012 Report

 

 

Rob Knox Film Festival 2012 Report

by

Charlie Caseley

 

This years Rob Knox Film Festival was for me as good as it gets. The entries were first class, and that included those entries that did not make the final show at the Cineworld, because a number of films are shown around the Borough of Bexley at venues such as schools and church halls.

This situation is different from most festivals we attend, Kent and the SERIAC for instance the films are shown in one location, in fact the only festivals that would have their movies shown on a number of screens would possibly be BIAFF and UNICA, but even then it would be in one building. Nellie and I went to one of the preliminary screenings and saw Eco, a Borderline film we had seen at BIAFF and SERIC, and a movie made by a fifteen year old lad that we had seen at BIAFF in a group of films made by young people that was introduced by our very own Sam Brown.

On the final night at the Cineworld Reg and Annabelle, Freddie and some members from Shooters Hill came along with Nellie and I and enjoyed a feast of not just good films but outstanding films. The winning movie was a Russian entry called Ambitious. I have changed my opinion of Russians being completely with out humour this film did not need subtitles to make you laugh, a joy to watch.

In addition to the shows there was the masterclasses hosted by people from the film industry and I am pleased a number of local film makers took advantage of them.

Oscar Night. The Picture Parade

Little Oscar himself!
Little Oscar himself!

You’ve pestered, you’ve begged, you’ve fretted, you’ve sweated. but in spite of all that I’m not going to be stopped!

Alan cuts a dash in the costume de rigueur dicky bow look
Alan cuts a dash in the costume de rigueur dicky bow look

So Film Fans, I give you…THE OVFM OSCAR NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHS!
Please! Thank you, settle down, mind what you’re doing with that monopod missus, where’s me wash board, I didn’t come here to get insulted…I could have stayed at home!

An Expectant Crowd (not to be confused with a crowd of those expecting!)
An Expectant Crowd (not to be confused with a crowd of those expecting!)

Anyway On With The Show. But first I must be serious for a moment. We now live in a highly litigious society where health and safety concerns dog our every move. For some the arrival of conker season doesn’t bring joy but a fearful rush for hard hat and goggles, and fetching something down from the top of the cupboard requires a safety net and padded suit!

Security Has Arrived.
Security Has Arrived.

But here at OVFM we’re not like that, we laugh in the face of danger…ha ha. Only last week I heard of an OVFM member who didn’t flinch when he dropped his ginger hob nob he just calmly reached down, picked it up and carried on as if nothing had happened. Brave? You bet yer!

Glamorous Pat shows us how it’s done
Glamorous Pat shows us how it’s done

And what about the OVFM member who recently took up rollerskating? Determined to fulfil a lifelong ambition and do something adventurous he didn’t hesitate to get out there and have a go. (The doctor says he’s doing fine and the cast can come off in about six weeks).

anna_chris

However after vetting my article the OVFM lawyers (Fleeceham, Grabbit & Runn) have insisted that I preface it with a warning to protect those of a sensitive disposition.

The Comedy Dream Team, Corrie, Colin and Basil
The Comedy Dream Team, Corrie, Colin and Basil

So here goes…
WARNING the following contains images of a grown man in a banana costume, if you are offended by such images (and those of unconstrained handshaking and back slapping too) please look away now. In fact why not look at Reg’s Favourite Films article which has had some really fascinating posts added to it recently.

Yes, I Have no Bananas. Mike demonstrates his unstinting support of ‘Blitz and Bananas’ the film
Yes, I Have no Bananas. Mike demonstrates his unstinting support of ‘Blitz and Bananas’ the film

 

Still here?
Then sit yourself down, take a deep breath and we’ll begin!

For the full selection of photos visit the gallery.

Sam presents Ann and John with the Vic Treen Trophy
Sam presents Ann and John with the Vic Treen Trophy
Respectful as ever Lee presents Barbara with her Top Ten Runner Up certificate
Respectful as ever Lee presents Barbara with her Top Ten Runner Up certificate
David is presented with the Jubilee Shield by Brenda
David is presented with the Jubilee Shield by Brenda
Colin again with his two leading ladies from 'Team Work', winner of the Mike Turner Plate
Colin again with his two leading ladies from ‘Team Work’, winner of the Mike Turner Plate
Simon and Annabelle the John Bonham -alike star of his ‘Rhythm of Life’ mockumentary
Simon and Annabelle the John Bonham -alike star of his ‘Rhythm of Life’ mockumentary
Multi award winning Mike with banana impersonating namesake Mike
Multi award winning Mike with banana impersonating namesake Mike
Freddy congratulates Barbara for winning the Alice Howe Trophy
Freddy congratulates Barbara for winning the Alice Howe Trophy
Bob is recognized for his great film ‘Switzerland’
Bob is recognized for his great film ‘Switzerland’
John is given a Commended Certificate for his film 'Mystery of the Garden Shed', as seen on the BBC
John is given a Commended Certificate for his film ‘Mystery of the Garden Shed’, as seen on the BBC
Are you allowed to do that Chris? And with hubby there too!
Are you allowed to do that Chris? And with hubby there too!
Brenda gets a pressie from Freddy and Chris for all her competition work
Brenda gets a pressie from Freddy and Chris for all her competition work
Are you allowed to do that Chris? And with hubby there too!
Are you allowed to do that Chris? And with hubby there too!
Is that Cherie I see there?
Is that Cherie I see there?