In the 1950's, a small group of enthusiasts met above a Hairdressers in Lawn Lane, and agreed to form a Cine Club. One of the founder members was Frank Maidment, awho ran a photography business under the name "Studio One" The Club was initially called the Hemel Hempstead Cine Club, but was soon remamed the Hemel Hempstead Cine Society.

A number of meeting venues were used in the early days, including Boxmoor Hall and Gadebridge Hall. It was a very active group, with early movies being privately financed and therefore not owned by the Club. An example was an excellent film about the Fire Service.

The first Club financed film was "Take the 'L' out of it!" shot in black and white in 1962 on standard 8 film, without a sound track. The same year, a promotional film about the Club was made with striped sound.

Other films followed, sponsored or initiated by the Club. The oldest is a production titled "Gade Valley". As Super 8 stock gained acceptance, the Club used it more and more, and filmed the closing down of the Hemel Hempstead Borough. This was sponsored and sold outright to Dacorum Borough Council. Meetings were now held weekly.

In 1977 and 1978, the Club's most controversial and lengthiest production, "Jubilee in Dacorum", (the length of a feature film), almost ended the Club's existence. According to Alan French, a long time member, "going into detail about this would rival Tolstoy's 'War and Peace'." 

At the 1978 AGM, it was agreed to meet fortnightly, but following the Summer Break, membership was significantly reduced. Some thought the Club was finished, but when it was approached to make a film "The First Hertfordshire Games", members rallied and the film successfully restored the Club to its former glory.

In the next few years the Club produced some highly acclaimed films including "Dacorum Cruiseway", "A walk into the Past", and "The Last House", the latter about the closure of the Rex Cimema in Berkhamsted. Other developments included a series of sponsored productions under the banner "Dacorum Films", a very successful annual film festival help in Potten End for charities, and sponsored films about the BP Building and the Redbourn By-Pass.

We joined the IAC and moved to Leverstock Green Village Hall. The name was changed to "Hemel Hempstead Movie Makers". One member filmed his house when it caught fire, and this footage was used in an award winning comedy!

By the Millennium, digital video and computer editing dominated, and one of the last 16mm productions was made in the early 1990's. Video had been demonstrated to the Club as early as the 1960's.

Today, nearly all the members use video and computers - and learn from each other. Recent community productions include records of the Gadebridge Archaeological Dig, the 850th Anniversary of St.Marys Parish Church, and the 50th celebration of the Queen's vist to the new town. The Club enters into competitions, and has won numerous awards.

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