OVFM CLUB MEETING TUESDAY OCTOBER 2nd

Posted on September 28, 2018March 13, 2022 by Lee Relph

For this week’s meeting we are taking a break from our own activities to let someone else share with us the fruits of their labours and the secrets behind how they achieved them., as we invite another guest speaker to the hallowed halls of the Barnyard Rooms!

We are expecting to have Andrew Bishop from Darkside Animations gracing us with his presence, a face and name that might be familiar to our older and longer serving club members from his previous visit to our club back in 2011! In case the name of his company wasn’t enough of a clue, Andrew is an SFX wizard with many TV show, films and promotional clips credited to Darkside Animations, a sample of which can be found in THESE SHOWREEL VIDEOS on their Vimeo page.

Visual effects are becoming the norm in film making these days even for what seems to be the most normal of circumstances – from unique colour correction techniques and the use of LUTs to speed ramping and masking to subtly enhance the images whilst keeping them look natural.

As we know from our own experiences green screen is also more common in what look like normal, everyday situations and no doubt Andrew will be able to share with us some handy tricks of the trade to helps us improve our understanding and film editing techniques, as well as dazzle us with the mastery of his own work.

If this is something that interest you, and it should, be sure to join us and Andrew this coming Tuesday for what should be a fascinating and educational evening.

OVFM CLUB MEETING TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 18TH

Posted on September 13, 2018August 25, 2020 by Lee Relph

DIAMOND

It’s been a few months since first announced this Film To A Theme topic giving you all plenty of time to get your thinking caps and produce something to fit the theme of “Diamond”, partially created to tie in with the club’s 60th anniversary,but not limited to this as a subject for your films.

This week’s meeting is when you finally get to share you hard work and creativity with the rest of the club. Remember, this is not a competition evening so these films won’t be judged but if you want feedback or constructive criticism, we will happily oblige, time permitting of course.

As usual we ask a little cooperation from everyone bringing a film to the meeting to PLEASE REPLY TO THIS POST in the comments/reply section below, letting us know the film’s run time, media format (DVD, Blu-ray, USB/Memory stick), file format if using the latter (MP4, MKV, AVI, etc.) and picture ratio (4:3 or 16:9). This is a great help for us when planning the evening out and helping things run smoothly so if you could do us this courtesy it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for heading and we look forward to seeing your latest gems on Tuesday!

OVFM Diamond Anniversary Show

Posted on September 11, 2018January 4, 2022 by Lee Relph

OVFM DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY SHOW

2018 marks the 60th anniversary since the formation of OVFM, making us one of the oldest amateur film clubs in the UK.

Founded in 1958 by Ian Dunbar, a keen filmmaker who wanted to meet like minded people in the area, the Orpington Cine Society was born, undergoing a couple of name changes and a vast number of enthusiastic, talented and productive members over the years, but one thing that has remained consistent is the quality of the films the club has produced.

To celebrate this milestone for the club in place of our annual Autumn show, we are presenting this special anniversary event where will look back over the past 60 years of films from the OVFM archive made by members old and new, covering all eras and methods of filming, from cine cameras to Super 8 to HD camcorders to DSL cameras and even iphones!

As this is a special one time event, we are taking a break from the norm and going big! We are pleased to announce that the venue for this show is the Odeon Cinema in the Walnuts Centre, Orpington High Street and Councillor Kim Botting, Mayor of Orpington, will be in attendance.

It takes place on SUNDAY 28th of OCTOBER, starting at 5:00pm for complimentary refreshments and greetings in the foyer, as well as your chance to buy tickets for our traditional raffle, then moving into Screen 2 at 6:00pm for the two-hour plus programme of classic and award winning OVFM films and excerpts from the entries in our ongoing History Of Orpington project.

Tickets cost £6, which includes refreshments, and can only be purchased ahead of time by contacting Trevor Rogers on 01689 811971 or by email at info@ovfm.org.uk . As we are limited to just 180 seats it is best to book early to avoid disappointment – no ticket, no entry! Screen 2 has wheelchair access if required, so do please be sure to mention this when making your ticket request if this applies to you.

N.B – ONLY A FEW TICKETS REMAIN SO HURRY IF YOU WANT YOUR TICKET!

Nearest parking is the Walnuts multi-storey car park accessed off the High Street via Homefield Rise and left at the roundabout into Lytchgate Road and then into Dryden Way. There is a lift in the car park which brings you out to the Walnuts, but if you take the lift from one of the “B” floors you will come out closer to the cinema entrance. All day parking on a Sunday costs £1 and is open until 1.00am.

We do hope you can join us for the special celebration of our club’s history on SUNDAY 28th of OCTOBER and we thank you for your continued support of OVFM!

OVFM CLUB MEETING TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 4TH

Posted on August 30, 2018January 4, 2022 by Lee Relph

It’s that time again when we gather together the most esteemed of our filmmaking experts and put them in the spotlight to answer your questions about our noble pursuit.

Filmmaking isn’t an exact science since the advancements in technology and ways we can capture and share or footage and the methods in which they are edited and presented are changing constantly, so it is natural that these changes will be a mystery to those of us out of the loop. Conversely, there are those tried and tested traditional practices that will never go away so learning about them from the past masters is always a boon too.

Whether you have a query about filming, sound recording, editing, or post production techniques out panel of brainiacs should have an answer for you and maybe open up a debate on the subject if there is a difference of opinion or procedure, which should be of benefit to all of us. We do ask however that your questions are contained to the subject of filmmaking and not about computers as seems to be the way these discussions head which ends up in heated arguments over what is a subjective topic.

These sessions are designed to help and not humiliate so remember there is so such thing as a silly question – we all had to start learning from the beginning. If you don’t ask, you don’t learn.

So get your thinking caps on, or make a list if you have to, and be at the meeting on Tuesday with your questions with you where our panel will do their best to answer them for you.

TOP TEN COMPETITION 2018 – RESULTS

Posted on August 29, 2018August 31, 2020 by Lee Relph

THE RESULTS

The Top Ten competition for 2018 is now underway. All the information you need about it can be found HERE but this page is for the results, so be sure to check back after each round to see the updated standings.

Here are the scores as awarded by club members in the Top 10 2018 qualifying rounds:

ROUND ONE (Held on July 10th)

1. Beyond the Sunset – Sam Brown 45.37

2. Our Lizzie – Barbara Darby 41.42

3. Napier – Jim Morton-Robertson 35.37

4. Swiss Holiday Alps – Kath Goodwin 33.26

ROUND TWO (Held on August 21st)

1. Aristotle – Hugh Darrington 42.67

2. Season’s Blessings – Jane Oliver 40.50

3. Dino Invasion Of London – Lee Relph 36.96

4. Church Room – Bob Wyeth 36.54

5. Neil’s Garden – Colin Jones 35.63

6. Occupied In London – Graham Sinden 33.83

ROUND THREE (Held on October 16th)

1. When Orpington Was Still A Village – David Laker 43.52

2. …104! – Ian Menage 42.04

3. Walkers – Barbara Walker 39.05

4. Dream Visitor – John Bunce 38.95

Therefore the ten films going through to the final on January 8th are:

1. Beyond the Sunset – Sam Brown

2. When Orpington Was Still A Village – David Laker

3. Aristotle – Hugh Darrington

4. …104! – Ian Menage

5. Our Lizzie – Barbara Darby

6. Season’s Blessings – Jane Oliver

7. Walkers – Barbara Walker

8. Dream Visitor – John Bunce

9. Dino Invasion Of London – Lee Relph

10. Church Room – Bob Wyeth

Who will win the 2018 Top Ten? There is only one way to find out and that is cast your vote in January then join us for the Oscars in March!

Thanks to everyone who entered a film this year and good luck to all the finalists!

OVFM CLUB MEETING TUESDAY AUGUST 21st

Posted on August 14, 2018January 13, 2022 by Lee Relph

The TOP TEN 2018 competition continues as we head into round two!

The Top Ten is open to everyone in OVFM to submit a film, no longer than 20 minutes on any subject, style or genre, which will be judged and graded by their peers. The ten films that have accrued the highest scores by the end of the five individual rounds will be entered into the final in January 2019 and the winner will be announced at the Oscars in March.

We had four entries submitted for round one last month so we are hoping that we can equal or perhaps top that number for this session. Also please note that the scoring system has changed and now ALL categories are scored out of 10 points.

Here are the club members who have been selected at random to participate in this second round:

Hugh Darrington

John Alford

Charlie & Nellie Caseley

Colin Jones

Anna Littler

Ian Menage

Jane Oliver

Peggy Parmenter

Lee Relph

Trevor Rogers

Graham Sinden

Roger & Brenda Wheatley

Remember if you have a film ready and it is not your round yet please let us know below and bring it with you to the meeting – it will help make up any shortfall in submissions.

As always we ask you to PLEASE reply to this post in the comments/reply section below, if you have a film ready and letting us know the following information:

Run time

Format (DVD, Blu-ray, USB)

Picture ratio (4:3 or 16:9).

Similarly please reply below if you can’t make this round and we’ll accommodate your film in a future round. It is very important and helpful to know these things ahead of time to ensure we have the right equipment for playing your films and for planning the time allotment of the evening. It’s a simple courtesy we are asking of you and it only takes a few seconds to comply.

And that is it. Join us on Tuesday for the second round of the 2018 Top Ten!

Thank you for reading and good luck to everyone who enters a film!

OVFM CLUB MEETING TUESDAY AUGUST 7th

Posted on August 2, 2018October 5, 2024 by Lee Relph

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

For this week’s meeting we delve once more into the extensive OVFM archive to explore some of the fondly remember or long forgotten gems made during the club’s 60 year existence.

On this occasion, we have a set criteria for the selection of films that can be requested for viewing during this session. The above subtitle for this evening was inspired by the recent losses to OVFM of some of more prolific filmmakers and active club members, and it was felt that we should pay tribute to our fallen friends in the most appropriate way a film club can – by remembering them through their films.

So, club members are encouraged to take a look through our FILM ARCHIVES LISTINGS (this is in the private section so make sure you are logged in to access them) and pick out a film one of our departed members you’d like to see again, and please email your suggestion to our archivist Andy Watson.

Just a reminder of the some of the names you can seek out and choose films from or featuring an appearance by:

DEREK ALLEN

MIKE COAD

BASIL DOODY

FRANK HYDE

JENNY MORTON-ROBERTSON

PAT PALMER

JOHN RANSLEY

MIKE TURNER

FREDY BEARD

Hopefully older club members will also be able to nominate films and filmmakers dating back to the old OCS days way before I joined that I never knew.

Please take advantage of this opportunity to remember and celebrate the works of the many club members now gone whose contributions have kept OVFM alive for 60 years.

Thanks for reading and see you on Tuesday.

2018 Summer Social Report

Posted on July 27, 2018January 4, 2022 by Lee Relph

Sun Shines on Summer Social

WORDS: Hugh Darrington

PICTURES: Hugh Darrington and Jane Oliver (click to enlarge)

CAPTIONS: Lee Relph

“Just keeping telling yourself, there’s no place like home!”

Well, the OVFM summer social (formerly our barbecue evening), held in Jim Morton-Robertson’s lovely garden on July 24, certainly ticked all the right boxes.

“And this is where our noisy neighbour with the drum kit ended up!”

Nineteen of us, including wives and partners, got together in a comfortable shaded patio area to eat fish and chips, delicious desserts and ice cream. The desserts, mouth-watering trifles, strawberry pavlova, apple tart and ice creams were provided by Fran Morton-Robertson, Corrie Jones, Barbara Darby, Brenda Wheatley and Peter Mitchell. And as evening drew in we didn’t get a bit chilly. Marvellous.

“I don’t know what you’re on about – I can’t taste the anthrax!”

Reg Lancaster’s team won the ‘ who is it’ picture quiz, and Colin Jones’ team (including me ahem) won the general knowledge quiz after a nail-biting tie breaker. Actually we were the only team which knew which animal’s wee is so thick it is like treacle, and its pats so dry they are used for fuel. Answers on a postcard please. Quizzes were put together by our leader Jane Oliver and presented by our now resident actor Chris Towers.

“I wish I brought my glasses, so I could read the small print in this contract!”

The parking was coordinated by Jim who squeezed nine or ten cars in his drive although some drivers had their reversing skills put to the test when the time came to leave.

Thanks to everybody who helped put this together, particularly Jim and Fran for getting it all ready in their garden and cleaning up afterwards.

“Jim, it’s nearly time for Love Island.”
“Right! Release the hounds!”

For the full collection of photos please visit the club gallery HERE !

OVFM at the Big O Festival 2018 – The Photos

Posted on July 12, 2018January 4, 2022 by Lee Relph

OVFM at the Big O Festival 2018

As you know by now OVFM had a stall at the 2018 Big O Vintage Festival held in Priory Gardens on a sweltering Saturday July 7th and despite the football distracting many people, there was a fair turn out across the whole day to enjoy the various stalls and displays and partake in the amusements on hand.

Our stall was set in the “community” section of the set-up, which was in the actual garden part of the Priory landscape away from main festivities but still open to many visitors and passers by, including the Mayor of Bromley (seen below with our chairman Jane Oliver)!

Thanks to the efforts of John and Ann Epton who organised this for the club and other members who turned out on the day to help out either with setting up or engaging with the public, OVFM made an impression attracting some interest from the many visitors to the event.

Here are some photos from the day. Click the image for a full size version)

“No wonder I can’t find our gear – this isn’t my car!”

“Does Trevor know Mecca is in the opposite direction?”

“Banner – check! Poster board – check! Dead body – check!”

“Don’t know why I’m electrifying these posters. It’s not like anyone is going to pinch them!”

“I’m not one for talking behind someone’s back but did you know who she was seen out with last week?”

“I know the ‘Mr. Spielberg’ joke is wearing thin John, but did you have to kick him in the nuts?”

For more pictures from OVFM’s day at the Big O Festival, visit the new GALLERY with photos courtesy of Hugh Darrington, Ron Williams and Lee Relph!

OVFM CLUB MEETING TUESDAY JULY 10TH 2018

Posted on July 3, 2018July 3, 2018 by Lee Relph

Yes folks the TOP TEN 2018 competition is officially ready to roll!

After just one year under the aegis of Hugh Darrington, the running of the competitions has changed hands again, this time to our new Competitions Officer Ian Menage.

The Top Ten is open to everyone in OVFM to submit a film, no longer than 20 minutes on any subject, style or genre, which will be judged and graded by their peers. The ten films that have accrued the highest scores by the end of the five individual rounds will be entered into the final in January 2019 and the winner will be announced at the Oscars in March.

Last year David Laker scored his first ever Top Ten win with Orpington In The 1840s making him our defending champion for this year’s competition. Can David do it again or will someone else take the trophy home after the Oscars next march?

Here are the club members who have been selected at random to participate in this opening round:

Gordon Beales

Sam Brown

Barbara Darby

Malcolm & Kath Goodwin

Kuldip Kaur

Annabelle Lancaster

Walter McKenna

Peter Mitchell

Brian Pfeiffer

Mike Shaw

Bob Vine

Ron Williams