Southport MovieMaker’s Success

For the third time in five years Southport MovieMakers has won the Bolton Movie Challenge, a competition between member clubs of the IAC from around the North West. The winning film in 2012 is 'Behind the Wire', a dramatised documentary of the recall of memories from Auschwitz during World War II.  

The film was produced by Paul Bagshaw, and the local actors performing the roles of Auschwitz survivors are Eryl Lloyd Parry, Robin Hirsch, Ray Mann, Thelma Falls-Hand, David Charters, Betty Hayden and the late Benny Darrah.

The Film and Video Institute

Fresh Blood in Southport

There is fresh blood in this Diamond Jubilee year, courtesy of Southport MovieMakers.

Sixty years ago, Southport MovieMakers made a film about blood. In 1951, having impressed the then Regional Donor Organiser for the National Blood Service (Liverpool Region), Mr George Monro, Southport MovieMakers was invited to make a film for the NBS, the aim of which was to recruit people to donate their blood.

In the post-war period in which the film was shot, it was thought that a colour film, shot on Merseyside, would have more impact than black and white – which would have perhaps been rather draining! The shooting of scenes for the film at factories and workplaces added an extra dynamism.

The film was judged to be one of the Ten Best Amateur Films of 1951, in the competition run by Amateur Cine World Magazine.  A young 19-year-old man directed the film, Trevor Livesey. Such was the success of the film that soon afterwards the Blood Transfusion Service asked Southport MovieMakers to make another film.

The 30-minute film produced by Southport MovieMakers was entitled “Calling to You” and indeed the film is expected to be calling out to potential blood donors again – sixty years on.   The National Blood Service is actively promoting this film around the region with a view to arranging screenings to coincide with the Royal Diamond Jubilee. There has been a great deal of interest shown in the film:

• University of Liverpool – History of Medicine lecturer to use it in her lectures
• University of Manchester – Urban History lecturer to use it in her lectures
• Chorley Little Theatre – Planning to show it as part of an old film event
• Parbold Picture House – Planning to show it in October before another film
• Stockport Plaza – Planning to use it as an information short before another film

Dates for screenings have yet to be confirmed. Given the interest shown and the range of venues, the National Blood Service is hopeful that the new screenings of this old film will help them recruit new donors.

Inter-club Competition 2012

On an annual basis, six film/video clubs from around the North West compete in an Inter-club Competition, usually hosted by Southport MovieMakers. An experienced film-maker from each club acts as a judge and awards points for the other clubs’ Competition entries.

Congratulations go to Bolton MovieMakers on winning this year’s Inter-club Competition for their film Rocky and Me about an apprentice stable boy and his passion for horses.

Here is a list of all of the entries:

Swan Movie Makers Wirral

Saronie, Master Showman (Documentary)

Documentary about James Roberts Saronie who, having established himself as a well-respected Victorian photographer, later became a pioneer cinema owner in Birkenhead.

Southport MovieMakers

King Arthur’s Nutty Knights (Animation)

So you thought King Arthur’s chums where gang of galant geezers. We dig the real dirt on those not-so-noble knights!

Warrington Cine and Video Society

Nowt but Scenery (Documentary)

A trip on the Settle to Carlisle Railway and the places and landscape it passes through.

Preston MovieMakers

Lake Garda (Documentary)

A visit to Lake Garda and surrounding towns on the lakeside.

Bolton MovieMakers

Rocky and Me (Documentary)

An apprentice stable boy and his passion for horses.

Morecambe Bay Movie Makers

Steam, Steel, Motor Power and Big Bang.....All in a Shade of Blue (Documentary)

A look at the history of the Furness Railway and its importance to the area.

Congratulations, again, to Bolton MovieMakers on winning the 2012 Inter-club Competition for their film Rocky and Me.

Links to the Club Web Sites:

Swan Movie Makers Wirral

Warrington Cine and Video Society

Preston MovieMakers

Bolton MovieMakers

Morecambe Bay Movie Makers

More video clubs around the UK

Next year's competition takes place on 18 April 2013.