MARCH 5TH 2008
BOURNE AGAIN
I seem to remember we've been here before. Just one point and it was all over for another year.
The crowds gathered on a mild Hemel evening for the first round of the IAC North Thames Triangle Competition between Luton, Bourne End and ourselves as the hosts. There was a little bit of trouble locating the three judges and I won't blame the Magic Roundabout or was it a Xerox problem!
Anyway we kicked off with some exciting rounds starting with Documentaries. The three judges then sprang to their feet with some comments....
SAPPI from Hemel, the story of the closure of a local paper factory. 'Too short', nice shot movement matching music, good archive material, sentimental.
FARMING FRIENDS from Bourne End, a ploughing competition. 'Show me, don't tell me', commentary did match the speed of the ploughing, the dog waited for things to start and so did we.
RURAL AUSTRALIA from Luton, TRIPOD!, SOUND! Lovely scenery, stills were sharp. It was suggested that the ideal length for a short was 7 minutes and one judge also felt we should try to introduce people to allow a human connection to be made in our films.
Next came the Open round....
CRICKET from Bourne End certainly captured the audience with a comic explanation of the game. A good story, well shot, brilliant, funny, enjoyable.
DEATH AT THE CASABLANCA from Luton, or what happens when the audience turns. Well acted, a difficult thing to do, funny/oddball, liked the brevity.
THEREMIN WEEKEND from Hemel, a celebration of a little known musical instrument. 'I don't know what to say', interesting, difficult subject, too many characters, maybe choose one person to follow, 'theraminists' must be very happy.
(Theremin Weekend - was filmed over 2 plus days with up to 6 cameras, which produced
17 hours of footage.
The film gives a very condensed report on the largest gathering of
Thereminists to date, along with a short history of the instrument
and The World's Leading Thereminist. Peter Austin)
Finally the Fictional Story section....
A GIRLS PRAYER from Luton an insight into a Swiss/Germans view of London. A good start, nice action shots, good story.
JUST ANOTHER DAY from Hemel. A demented Sat Nav driving everyone mad. Lovely graphics, abrupt end, effects excellant, loved the sat nav's mouth, sound difficult to follow.
GRANDADS SECRET WAR from Bourne End. A great way to explore and explain the 'Bevan Boys' from WWII. High production values, very good actors, an important message.
And there was another successful night nearly complete except for the results:
BOURNE END 20
HEMEL 19
LUTON 15
Well done to everyone and for all the hard work put into the productions, all the best to Bourne End in the next round...so close...so close...see you next year.......
Ian Furlong
