3 January 2017 HAPPY NEW YEAR
LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT’S AHEAD
LOOKING AHEAD…
PLEASE READ THE WHOLE PROGRAMME THROUGH. Particular items to make a note of are:
- The two competition evenings – you need to start planning your filming to meet the deadlines.
- The Mini Epic (see 7 March) – this year we are making a concentrated effort to produce
LOTS OF FILMS. We’ll start with a remake of this 40 year old film so please, watch it now.
Due to professional commitments, visiting speakers may need to change dates. Please check before travelling long distances
Meetings start at 7.30pm and finish around 10.00pm
As well as the formal business there will be time for a discussion about what the Society should be doing.
Plus planning the ‘Experimental Day’ (Saturday 11th March) and the ‘Film and Barbecue’ (see 3rd June below).
Also planning a new documentary.
There will be a report on the progress of the Downs film and the showing of the rough cut
21 February ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING and PRODUCTION PLANNING
We will hold a special day to experiment for example ‘bullet-time or flow-mo
shots’ (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullet_time), plus experimenting with other special effects e.g. bullet hits on objects and people, firing an arrow at somebody, explosions with and without actors in shot, actor falling off high building etc.
Saturday 11 March 8.00am - 8.00pm
Experimental Film Day in the crypt of St Paul’s Church Southville.
21 March Competition Night
The evening where the members judge members films.
Details on the Competitions web-page
Saturday 18 March The Gloucester Inter-club Film Competition
Hosted by: Tewkesbury YMCA Movie Makers at The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury.
Last year we won this competition with ‘Requiem for Caffeine’.
This year we have entered Diana Taylor's 'Dockside Dreaming' and 'Kabul Sunset' with music added to it.
CLICK HERE for a map of
Tewkesbury Town Centre
- Brief review of the films completed in 2016
- Promoting planned projects for 2017
- Promoting productions for later in 2017
- The 'Experimental Day'
- Planning for the 'Green Screen' evening
(the next meeting)
A must for anybody interested in being involved in club productions in 2017.
Please note an earlier start time of 6.45pm LOTS TO DO!
We will film and do the post-production for an ultra short film “The Oldest Member”
We will shoot some footage for a new poetry film (This is part of a major project not just a training exercise).
This will be a challenging evening where everyone will have to get stuck in and help. Everyone will have a job.
An excellent evening for new members to get hands-on experience of group filmmaking.
17 January Green Screen – Practical Session
The Society is planning an experimental day on 11th March to try out some very exciting processes and techniques.
With a view to making the utmost of the evening, we are holding a planning meeting tonight for all members interested, at;
Bristol Photographic Society
13, Montpelier Central, Station Rd
Bristol
the venue of the experimental day itself at 6:45 pm.
24 January, 6.45pm Planning an Extraordinary Experimental Day
BPS studio's offer an excellent opportunity for us, to exploit their superb facilities. With this in mind, the meeting will be one with which, to explore and discuss the possibilities.
Further discussion will continue in the nearby Prince of Wales pub at 8 pm (for those who cannot make the early start at BPS).
Part 1 - Making a Good Documentary - Is it in the editing?
We will watch The Battle of Quebec and the director will explain how it was assembled at the editing stage from limited live action footage and still images.
It is hoped that this will generate considerable discussion.
Part 2 - Planning our club promo. This will be a click option on the Home Page of our web site
7 February Two Part Evening
Documentary Editing / Making a Promo Film
7 March Planning a Mini Epic
Tonight we will plan how we will shoot our versions of the Mini Epic.
The challenge is to make a new version of this 40 year old film.
A good challenge as there is limited dialogue but scope for artistic photography possibly in little known or even grotty areas of the City.
A great evening for both new and existing members.
This year we will be inviting other groups to take part and make their own versions.
18 April Lighting the Difficult
How do you light a whole room? What if the room is in darkness? What if an actor walks through the room with a candle or torch. We will be advised by professional
cinematographer Richard Harris.
2 May Using a Presenter in Documentaries
Note venue is same as normal but in a different room. If unsure which room ask for "The Party Room"
- Should they be actors or experts?
- How should they be selected?
- What skills does a presenter require?
- How do you direct them?
- Should they do it in ‘character’?
- What should they wear?
- Should they do interviews?
A panel led evening with illustrated clips
This event might be suitable for actors as well as filmmakers. Any actors interested please come along.
Television uses presenters all the time and they are becoming more common in non-professional films.
Are they a good idea?
16 May Sound Mixing – How do you do it?
We welcome as our special guest this evening award-winning sound editor, Ania Przygoda.
Ania will show us how to get the balance between background sounds and dialogue correct, then mix in the music as well.
- Who should do it – the editor or a separate sound mixer?
- What is sound design?
6 June Films by Other Bristol Filmmakers
20 June Shooting the Mini Epic
Tonight a crew will be filming on location. If you would like to join the shoot - a good chance for hands-on filming then please e-mail info@bristolvideo.org.uk
The club room will be open for those not on location and we will be running a fun filming event.
More details of the fun filming event HERE
19 September Using 'Hit Film' Special effects software.
17 October Filming Virtual Reality with a Robot
7 November
Bristol, from A to Z Bristol’s Aerospace Heritage Capture
The first club showing of the film Bristol, from A to Z. With presentation by the filmmakers on the scripting, shooting and post production of the film.
JUDGED IN ADVANCE by a professional filmmaker this competition is the BIG one.
Eagerly fought for every year since 1965.
21 November
Rules and Entry Form HERE
The RAY BUCKLAND CUP for Best Composition and The DON SMITH TROPHY for Best Narration and/or Spoken Word can also be awarded.
52nd Annual Trophy Competition
Any subject
No limit in duration
This can be a group or individual effort
ANNUAL TROPHY and certificate for the winner
THE BURRIS CUP for the entry placed second.
Extra Events
In addition to the main programme it is hoped to organise some pure social events – skittles, quiz etc.
During the year we are also hoping to arrange a visit to a relevant professional facility.
TOP
We welcome as our special guest this evening Lighting Cameraman and Director of Photography,
Stewart Mackay
5 December Mince Pies on the Beach – The Lost Art of the Holiday Film
How many filmmakers, even famous ones, shot their first ever footage on holiday? But how to do it well?
Bob Bennett, a filmmaker experienced in documentary and fiction films will tell us about his other life as a maker of holiday films.
. . . an alphabetical amble through the city – 26 short, informative vignettes, spanning history and historians, rivers, places, poets, painters, and inventors; the great, the good, and the grandiose – an exuberant celebration!
Also a brief announcement about an exciting new club project
Bristol’s Aerospace Heritage came about after members of the club were invited in May 2017 to enter a film into the West of England Aerospace Forum (WEAF) Film Awards. The organisers were looking for "original Aerospace films to inspire a generation”!
Gordon had just directed Bristol Revisited, which included a substantial section on the aerospace industry, so it occurred to us that it would be relatively easy to carve a short section from it into a new film specifically for this competition.
Bristol’s Aerospace Heritage was one of the finalists in the competition.
We’ll have another look at
Tim Braithwaite’s surreal film Capture.
Tim was runner-up with this film in last years Annual Trophy Competition.
Feeling caught in a hum-drum existence, over which he has little control, a man seeks solace in Scotch Whiskey and the maintenance of a huge butterfly collection. He finds himself re-evaluateing its worth however, after finding an old camera.
Richard Harbutt of Owl VR - VR camera setup, mounts and robotics, will make a VR recording in the clubroom. He will then show us how it is stitched together on a computer.
Richard is also an actor who has appeared on TV and in feature films.
He is quite an engaging speaker.
Looks like it could be a fun evening.
Brain the size of a planet and they get me making the tea?
Often textbooks tell us about static lighting – three-point etc. but we make movies where things on view move and the camera often moves. How do you keep a moving actor lit and with no difficult shadows? It gets worse when the prime source of light is being carried by the actor; for example a torch. What if it is a candle? Does the candle itself provide the light? If not what do you do?
4 April Report on the Experimental Film Day
We will watch the footage shot on the day, review what we have learnt and see what we can incorporate into future films.
Reports on Filming Bullet Time shots, Filming a Fight, Filming Weightlessness, Filming Bullet Hits and Stop Motion Animation.
Junior Dragons Day Event
Last December five volunteer members of BFVS
filmed a Junior Dragons Den event at the Bristol Hotel.
The event was run by Envision as part of the Community Apprentice Programme.
Tonight, Tony Orr and Julian Baldwin will explain
what it was all about and show us the results of their labours.
The evening will also include reports on filming sessions that members have recently participated in.
SPECIAL EVENT – 25 April A visit to somewhere grotty
To help with inspiration an outing to an ‘interesting’ area
of the City to inspire creative photography and filming, of particular use for this years Mini Epic.
Arranged to meet at the back of ‘A’ and ‘B’ Bonds
(Approx post code BS1 6XN - (MAP) at 7.30pm and end up
in the Cottage pub, Baltic Wharf, Cumberland Rd,
Bristol BS1 6XG for 9.00pm
The Mini Epic plan is to remake this 40 year old film.
MERCS at BFVS
We welcome writer and director Michael Morris as our special guest this evening.
Michael will show us a selection of his short films to support the main event which is the screening of MERCS. Afterwards he will show us ‘the making of’ and invite questions and answers.
MERCS features some actors and locations very familiar to BFVS members and some members were part of the crew.
More about the film HERE.
Watch the official trailer HERE.
1 August How do you make a Music Video?
Shooting and editing a music video including recording
the sound.
This evening may lead to a later hands-on practical session(s).
4 July Professor Martin Rieser: Interactive Film
This is an illustrated talk on the forms and conventions for interactive film in various media settings, ranging from video installations to virtual reality and mobile device delivery.
The works shown will include the speaker’s own work and that of other pioneering practitioners who have used and understood this form of cinematic delivery.
Read Martin Rieser CV HERE
5 September Sound Recording
Professional sound recordist Tim Hunt will join us this evening.
Read Tim Hunt’s CV HERE
18 July Experimenting with Green Screen
A follow on session from the January meeting working on more advanced techniques.
A hands-on session.
15 August Hands-on Filmmaking
We will be shooting a three-minute drama written by one of our members.
We will be shooting the whole film in only a couple of hours so we will be working with a big crew. This will need everybody there to participate, so it really will be hands-on filmmaking. It is likely that everybody who comes will have a task. Lots of film crew jobs to be filled, particularly helping with lighting and sound + clapper board,
make-up and including assistant director etc.
- Motion tracking with examples
- Particle simulator engine and it's use
- Colour Grading for that cinematic look
NEAL TUCKER WILL SHOW US THIS AMAZING FREE SOFTWARE.
Neal writes:
This list is probably not in order but some of the most useful parts of the program members may be interested in.
- General overview and why it is different from other video software
- Compositing a clip
- 3D compositing with examples
Note: The first ten minutes of this meeting will be devoted to an
Extraordinary General Meeting to deal with some of the Society's administration matter.
3 October Filming a Part of Aviation History
Jim Godman's career in aerospace has inspired him to make his first film. It's an ambitious promo-trailer to launch the idea of a full-scale commercial film for general release. This inspirational 'pump-primer' film recounts the life of Samuel Franklin Cody, a Wild West showman and early pioneer of manned flight.
Historical scenes have been shot and editing is underway.
Come and learn about a fascinating character before the film hits the big screen!
Also we will be showing the results of the green screen evening held on 18th July.
The closing date for entries in the 52nd Annual Trophy Competition is October 30th.
Entries please to Competition Secretary, Susan Cockwell using a YouTube compatible format.
Why?
We have to send them to Stewart Mackay who will judge them. Stewart lives in Tasmania and will join us in a live Skype link-up on competition night (21 November).
Download Competition Entry Form HERE
Stewart will appear in a live Skype link-up from his home in Tasmania.
He will have seen all the entries and will comment on each.
We plan to award trophies on his behalf after the coffee break
19 December We will be running a fun filming event on the Mini Epic theme of 'Pursuit'
WE PLAN TO RE-SHOOT “THE ITALIAN JOB”
FULL DETAILS HERE
And yet more mince pies
After the break there will be some brief announcements about the next meeting (The Italian Job) plus some plans for next year.
Then a showing of 'Encounters With John Wesley'
Probably the Society's financially most successful film but not seen by a large proportion of the current membership due to copyright.
Special Christmas treat –
mince pies.
