8mm Forum: Looking Back Amateur Film Clubs

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Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on January 12, 2013, 01:12 PM:

Been buying old Movie Maker, Film Making and other film magazines. In some of them it mentions an amateur made standard 8mm feature film called 'Baskeyfield VC' This was filmed in widescreen & stereo sound. I think it was early 70's

I wonder if anyone ever went to see this film? Looking at the behind the scenes photos it looks a excellent film.

The set-up for the sound and presentation looked very complicated.

Both mags had the Club Call sections, anyone on here ever a member of any of them? They always seemed to be making films, what happened to the print?

I hope these films are still in someone's collection. They are part of our history.

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on January 12, 2013, 02:03 PM:

That film was available on video some years back David, I saw
it advertised in one of the video catalogues that were selling off
all their video stock and going 100% DVD.I kick myself for not
getting it.One of the Ten Best Winners I would have loved to have seen, was the film "To Sunset & Beyond", telling the tale of a young farmboy losing his life in the search for a lost cow.
i made enquiries of the IAC a few years ago and was told that all
the films were archived but not available to view.

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on January 12, 2013, 02:15 PM:

David

Good point. I also wonder what happened to all those amateur films, after all those films could go as far back as the 1920s. The thing I am sure that many would have been shot on good colour/black and white stock that still look as good projected today.

As time has gone by those films that were made, from many countries around the world, would be more interesting than ever to watch now than before.

There must be heaps of them out there somewhere....one would hope.

Graham.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on January 12, 2013, 03:22 PM:

The Ten Best were distributed each year on behalf of Amateur Cine World by the I.A.C. which made up a two-hour programme on 16mm. This meant that not all films were included and the longer ones were often edited for length.

These were shown all around the country by Cine Societies and advertised where and when by the A.C.W.

I always used to attend the Bristol presentation by Bristol Cine Society at Bristol's Grand Hotel.

I still have my own 16mm sound copy of a 1954 winner, "Coming Shortly", a spoof on cinema trailers made by Tony Rose's High Wycombe Film Society.

I can't recall where it came from, but obviously some enterprising firm did put out copies of some prize winners.

No doubt, the I.A.C. still have copies of the programmes deep in their vaults.

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on January 13, 2013, 09:14 AM:

David. Nothing like a bit of reminiscing about the old days to make us want to project a film or two. I used to belong to a few Cine Clubs but my favourite from the 70’s would be Medway Movie Makers which I used to attend with my Dad for good many years. Thankfully myself and another are custodian of films some of which as a kid I did direct which today seems unbelievable but such fond memories of those days making 8mm sound story films with the club.

From a fading childhood memory I can also recall Harold Bailey and his MKS Eumig Xenon projector which blew a hole in the NFT screen near enough it was so bright, and then attending some of the London Amateur Film Festivals and events including Medway photo show where all the main manufacturers demoed the latest kit including the new Norisound Projectors and launch of the Eumig 824 Sonomatic. Such wonderful priceless times with my Dad leading the way.

Posted by Ken Finch (Member # 2768) on January 13, 2013, 11:52 AM:

Quite a large number of the old Cine clubs still exist but of course now use video. Some have changed the names a little and the I.A.C. still run area movie competitions and indeed hold an archive of the old Ten Best winners as well as I.A.C. competition winners. Some of the clubs have retained an archive of the movies made but sadly as they close down through lack of new members their past efforts could be anywhere. All entries to competitions have now to be submitted on DVD, which have caused compatibility problems for the pre judging. The I.A.C. are currently engaged in putting all the Archive in DVD programmes which can be borrowed by clubs who are affiliated to them. I am currently Treasurer of the Canterbury Camcorder Club which used to be Canterbury Cine Club and has quite a chequered history. Originally formed in the 1930s folded in 1939 but re started again a couple of times after the war but has continued from around 1960 to date although we are now down to 12 aging members!!! We seem unable to recruit new members, sign of the times, although there is competition from 2 large Universities each with media studies groups. Ken Finch.

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on January 13, 2013, 12:34 PM:

Think we have mentioned this before Ken but the demonstration night held at Canterbury when Harry Garlick fetched along his range of Craven products was such a memorable night in the 70’s. Think we also came along to a 3D night as well where someone did a demo of the Elmo polarised 3 Dimensional system and it worked very well. EE what times. [Big Grin]

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on January 13, 2013, 01:15 PM:

Harry Garlick of Craven Instruments, I have two of his loudspeakers very good they are too. He had advertisements in both magazines every month.

If a dvd of 'Baskeyfield VC' gets released I would be tempted to buy one.

As long as they are in an archive its not too bad, At least they are saved. Just think in 100 years they will offer an insight into the past of how people used to enjoy themselves.

Posted by Ron Ashton (Member # 2804) on July 02, 2014, 04:47 AM:

I remember Bill Townley coming to show his Film "Baskeyfield VC " at Sutton Coldfield Cine Society back in late 1960's or early 1970;s with full Stero Sound on Tape.....FANTASTIC.........an experience never to be forgotten.
I was reminded of this last week when I was sent a link to a film just made by a correspondent in Canada who is filming in UltraPan 8 .
I now learn that Baskeyfield VC has been Remastered and put on DVD but have not yet found a copy.............anyone out there with any ideas please let me know, but it HAS been saved for posterity.

Regards

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on July 02, 2014, 04:56 AM:

David. If you look through the mid 70's Film Making mags you will find mention of a boy called Lee who managed to synchronise a small cassette recorder to a Eumig and later started re dubbing tracks nearly 40 years ago. [Eek!]

Blimey! Cine Club life was the best time for me without doubt and very happy days.

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on July 02, 2014, 03:05 PM:

Fund this Baskeyfield VC Failed spelling Found

[ July 02, 2014, 04:12 PM: Message edited by: David Ollerearnshaw ]

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on July 02, 2014, 05:50 PM:

There are several cinematheques in France that collect amateur films (home movies mainly). I would be surprised it doesn't exist in the UK. The sites are of course in French : http://cinemathequeducinemaamateur.unblog.fr/ http://cinememoire.net/index.php/cinematheque http://www.inedits-europe.org/

Posted by Clay Smith (Member # 4122) on July 02, 2014, 07:08 PM:

Thanks for posting the cinematheques link Dominique. I looked at the 1922 Kodachrome Film Test which I had never seen before. That was truly amazing to behold.

Posted by Paul Mason (Member # 4015) on July 03, 2014, 05:21 AM:

I'm delighted that a dvd of "Baskeyfield VC" is out there. It surely would have been a Ten Best winner had it been entered but Bill Townley preferred to put on special shows all over the country with his trusty Eumig P8, anamorphic lens and synchronised tape sound track.

Incidentally the IAC archive of Ten Best Winners was donated to the East Anglian Film Archive in Norwich a few years ago. They are slowly putting their films on line for viewing and a few Ten Best films have been included. The link is http://www.eafa.org.uk/browse.aspx

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