You Can Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

A great strength of Southport MovieMakers in that it mixes together the energy of youth with a foundation of many years of experience of film-making. For example, our newly-appointed Programme Secretary, Alex Montague is a very recent Film graduate from Edge Hill University and another newly-appointed member of the Management Committee, our Publicity & Recruitment Officer, Sarah Pollitt, has just finished the second year of her undergraduate degree at Liverpool University. At the other extreme, our older members are well into their retirement years. Older and younger film-makers have much to offer each other.

In recognition of many years of contributing to the life of the Club in so many ways, Ashby Ball, Geoff Williams and Jim Morris earlier this year were awarded Honorary Life Memberships of the Club.

In addition, last month, Paul Bagshaw, another of our older, highly-experienced members became the first recipient of the NEW Nigel Barton Trophy, in recognition of his skill as a film-maker. This award was created in the wake of the recent death of our valued member Nigel Barton.

Paul Bagshaw

In this age when older people are sometimes overlooked, it is important to recognise and celebrate the skills and knowledge that older people bring from a lifetime of experience. In this context, it is interesting to note that Channel 4 is currently acknowledging the value of older people in their series Mary's Silver Service.

Ashby Ball and Geoff Williams - Founder Members of Southport MovieMakers

Read about the founding of the Club, now in its 65th year.

Whether you're in your 20s or your 80s, 

you can always learn new things.

Blowing the Dust Off

This week, we are blowing the dust off are archives. Ashby Ball selects examples of the Society's work from the 64 years of our existence, including dramas and documentaries:

The evening's selection starts with the second film that Southport MovieMakers made, way back in 1950.  Titled “In the Bag”, it features a forger and his assistant, who are producing fake banknotes.  When the forger’s girlfriend accidentally leaves her handbag in the forger’s flat, there are unexpected consequences.

We were offered the script for “A Walk in the Park”, and initially thought it was not our cup of tea. A year on two later we had second thoughts and put it into production.  Vercoe the clown, with one of his unicycles, appears in this film, set in Southport’s Botanic Gardens, with many children taking part.

“One MoreTrophy” is the story of the late Wilf Blundell, proprietor of a large coach holiday firm, whose hobby was stock car racing.  He competed in events all over the country, with his team of followers.

“Beginner’s Luck” was said to be recommended viewing for all members of film-making clubs.  A beginner hopes to get advice on how to use his camera, but a sequence of disappointing events follows.

“Taking the Plunge” deals with that point in any romance when the boyfriend has to meet the girl’s parents.  Here things do not go smoothly.

“Southport” is a promotional film for the town, made by our Society, with a voice-over by BBC newsreader Alvar Liddell,  released in 1958.

British International Amateur Film Festival 2012 – Southport MovieMakers Recognised

Ashby Ball, the founder of Southport MovieMakers, was recently in Weymouth on the Dorset coast for the IAC British International Amateur Film Festival (BIAFF), 13 – 15 April 2012.

On the Saturday, to give delegates an overview, selections from the films entered were shown in four mini-cinemas in the Hotel Rembrandt, the festival venue.

Southport MovieMakers had entered “MidVillage Bloomers”, which won a 4-star award, and I went forward for the certificate on behalf of the Club after the film was shown. Paul Bagshaw of our Club also gained a 4-star award for his film “When No-one Hears You Scream”, and I received the certificate on his behalf. Paul also earned a 3-star award for “The Wall”.

On the Sunday, a selection of the top award-winning films was shown. The Daily Mail Trophy for the overall winner in the competition was won by “Angels on the Rail”, a 54 minute film by Moving Pictures, of the Czech Republic.

There was time for an outing to the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, where we were the last party to visit before a security clampdown for the yachting classes in the Olympic Games. We also visited Athelhampton House, a stately home, where after a wine reception we viewed a feature film, “From Time to Time”, shot there by Ealing Studios.

           

Poster - BIAFF 2012 - Weymouth
Full Programme of Events

Cinema at Athelhampton House

Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy

Each year in Spring, the IAC organises the British International Amateur Film Festival. 

BIAFF 2013 will be held in Chesterfield, April 2013. 

More information about BIAFF