Top Ten Competition 2017 – Results

THE RESULTS

 

The Top Ten competition for 2017 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.

 

ROUND ONE (Held June 27th)

1. Hampden P1344 – Jim Morten-Robertson    54.62
2. The Juggler – Reg Lancaster    52.42
3. 1940’s Showreel – Barbara Darby   48.32
4. Flatford Mill – Charlie Caseley   40.57

 

ROUND TWO (Held August 8th)

1. Orpington In The 1840s  – David Laker   54.38
2. It’s A Pug’s Life – Lee Relph  53.23
3. New Year 2017 In London  – Wally McKenna   47.23
= Glorious Devon  – Jane Oliver   47.23
5. Last Stand  – Ann & John Epton   45.16
6. Bridge Over The Thames – Graham Sinden   41.73

 

ROUND THREE (Held on September 5th)

1. Please – John Greengrass    52.84
2. No Thanks Not Me – Colin Jones    52.76
3. But Is It Art? – Hugh Darrington   49.15
4. Come Fly With Me – Trevor Rogers    47.38
5. St Giles The Abbott – John Bunce    45.48

 

That means the ten (11?) films that go onto the final in January are as follows:

1. Hampden P1344 – Jim Morten-Robertson    54.62
2. Orpington In The 1840s  – David Laker   54.38
3. It’s A Pug’s Life – Lee Relph  53.23
4. Please – John Greengrass    52.84
5. No Thanks Not Me – Colin Jones    52.76
6. The Juggler – Reg Lancaster    52.42
7. But Is It Art? – Hugh Darrington   49.15
8. 1940’s Showreel – Barbara Darby   48.32
9. Come Fly With Me – Trevor Rogers    47.38
10. Glorious Devon  – Jane Oliver   47.23
=   New Year 2017 In London – Wally McKenna   47.23

 

Congrats to all the finalists and thanks to everyone who entered a film. Be sure you are in attendance on January 9th 2018 to vote in the final!

OVFM CLUB MEETING TUESDAY JUNE 27th 2017

 

Yes folks the Top Ten 2017 competition is officially on!

Marking the first year under the aegis of our new Competitions Officer Hugh Darrington, 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 2018 and the winner will be announced at the Oscars in March.

Last year Barbara Darby made history by becoming a SIX time winner of the competition! Can she make it to seven wins or will someone else take the trophy this year?

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

 

John Alford
Charlie and Nellie Caseley
Barbara Darby
Ron Darby
Malcolm Goodwin
David Laker
Reg Lancaster
Ian Menage
Peter Mitchell
Peggy Parmenter
Mike Shaw
Alan Smith and Cherie Hamlet-Smith

 

Unfortunately Hugh is a bit miffed, as despite emailing everyone whose name has been drawn, so far only one person has replied to say they are putting in a four minute film.  Ouch. Could spend the whole evening staring at the floor then. Alan, Cherie and Reg have let Hugh know they can’t manage it and  David Laker is away. But come on guys,  don’t let him down on his first time on the job…

Maybe someone else has an early film ready drawn for later rounds.  If so let Hugh know via e-mail or reply to this post in the comments/reply section below, letting us know the film’s run time, format (DVD, Blu-ray) and 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.

Also, just to remind you, the scoring sheet marking advice has been revised as follows to help you with your scoring:

 

Titles: Are the titles easy to read?  Do they reflect the content of the film? Do they show additional creativity?  Has the same attention been paid to them as the rest of the film?

Visuals: Look for focus, exposure, steadiness and lighting in photography.  Also note degree of difficulty and originality.

Editing: Does the film flow smoothly?  Should some of the shots be removed, shortened or rearranged?  Should there be more cutaways?  Are zooms and pans smooth and necessary? Look out for special effects.

Sound: Was the sound crisp and clear?  Was there any distortion?  Was the music appropriate? Was the narration well written and delivered? Was it mixed well with the music?  Were the background sounds appropriate and was the whole well balanced together?

Structure: Has the film got structure? Did the author seem to know what he or she wanted?  Has it got a beginning, middle and end? Has the author made the best use of material?

General Appeal: Regardless of technical merit, how much do you think the film will appeal to a wider audience apart from yourself?   Did it hold the audience throughout? Was it the right length? Would you like your name on the credits?

 

So there you have it. Will we see more than one film this Tuesday? You’ll have to be there to find out!

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

 

PS: Hugh informs me he has a secret surprise fill in for the evening. You won’t want to miss this.

OVFM TOP TEN COMPETITION 2017

 

Yes the annual Top Ten competition is back and under new management!

After Brenda Wheatley stepped down from the role of Competitions Officer after 12 years, Hugh Darrington picked up the mantle to take over the running of the club’s competitions, for the next year at least. His first duty was to arrange the drawing for the individual Top Ten rounds, which you will notice has been reduced from five to just three, to encourage a greater response from club members, after a paltry 13 films were submitted in 2016.

Remember that each film has a 20 minute time limit but can be on any subject and in any style. If you have a film from the past which has undergone a significant revamp (perhaps a new soundtrack, remixed sound, improved titling, tighter editing, extended or redacted cut etc. you are also welcome to re-submit these as your official entry.

And you can team up with your fellow club members if you need help on the technical or casting front, it will be the author of the script/concept who gets the entry credit.

Below are the names of the dates and participants of the three qualifying rounds:

 

ROUND ONE (to take place June  27th)

John Alford
Charlie and Nellie Caseley
Barbara Darby
Ron Darby
Malcolm Goodwin
David Laker
Reg Lancaster
Ian Menage
Peter Mitchell
Peggy Parmenter
Mike Shaw
Alan Smith and Cherie

 

ROUND TWO (to take place August 8th)

Freddy Beard
Hugh Darrington
Ann and John Epton
Kuldip Kaur
Walter McKenna
Jane Oliver
Pat Palmer
Lee Relph
Graham Sinden
Bob Vine
Barbara Walker
Andy and Marian Watson

 

ROUND THREE (to take place September 5th)

Sam Brown
John Bunce
Basil Doody
Simon Earwicker
Mike Graham
John and Sylvia Greengrass
Colin Jones
Annabelle Lancaster
Brian Pfeiffer
Jim Morton-Robertson
Trevor Rogers
Brenda and Roger Wheatley

 

Remember, if you have a film ready before your designated round you are welcome to submit it early but please let us know, preferably on this website, ahead of the particular session you will be entering it. This also applies if you are unable to provide a film in time.

The final will take place on January 9th 2107 and the results will be revealed at the Oscars on March 6th 2018.

To see the results of last year’s competition click HERE

 

Good luck to all who enter.

OVFM CLUB MEETING TUESDAY MAY 2nd 2017

 

As you may already be aware by now, the future of the annual North vs. South competition is in doubt after OVFM relinquished the job of running the event and, at the time of posting, there has no been response from other clubs to pick up the mantle. However it has been decide that instead of letting the opportunity pass us by, should there be an 11th hour saviour, OVFM will make a club film to fulfil the chosen topic for the NvS competition, as well a give us a project the whole club can work together on.

The theme is “Moving” and somewhat ironically we shall be “moving” away from the usual brainstorming format which is part of the programme for the next club meeting this coming Tuesday. Dividing the evening into two parts, the first will be the brainstorming session.

Ensuring that everyone is given a chance to be involved and not just left to the same few faces, we will break into small groups to share our ideas for the theme “Moving”.  Each group will then decide on the idea that would be best suited to the theme that they could make into a short film for showing on the club meeting at a future date (do check back on the club calendar for updates).

Don’t be discouraged if your idea isn’t taken up by your group, there’s nothing to stop you making a film of your own if you so desire – in fact, the more the merrier!  This exercise should ultimately provide us with a variety of films that could also be entered into various other external and IAC related film competitions beyond the N v S, should it be resurrected by another club.

In the second part of the evening we will watch some films from the OVFM archives that fit the theme “Moving” as possible entries to the competition along with of newer efforts to get the numbers up.

So get your thinking caps on and bring your ideas for the them of “Moving” to the club meeting on Tuesday!

So come along and enjoy.

SERIAC 2017 Results

SERIAC 2017 Results

 

The annual SERIAC film festival took place this past weekend on Saturday April 8th, at the Oast Theatre in Tonbridge.

Filmmakers and club representatives from across the South East were present to watch 42 films compete for the many prizes up for grabs, with the top prize of Best Film going to The Bench by the Sea by South Downs Movie Makers.

OVFM’s entry MEET DEXTER was one of four films to receive a Commendation Certificate.

For the full list of winners please visit the official SERIAC site HERE

If you couldn’t make it to the show and wish to view any of the films you can find some of them on the NTRIAC website HERE

(N.B – the winning film is password protected which I won’t share on  a public forum like this. If you want the password please send me an e-mail)

2017 OVFM OSCARS – THE RESULTS

THE RESULTS

The annual OVFM Oscars were held on Tuesday March 21st 2017, honouring and recognising the hard work and output of  club members over the past 12 months.

In case you  missed it or need a reminder here is the list of winners:

 

ANNUAL COMPETITION

Ian Dunbar Cup (Best film) – Reaching For The Sky by Jane Oliver

Orpington Trophy (Best Film Runner Up) – Meet Dexter by Lee Relph

Arthur Woolhead Trophy (Animation or Visual Effects) – Heaven Or Hell by Hugh Darrington

Priory Trophy (Editing) – Meet Dexter by Lee Relph

Vincent Pons Shield (Fiction) – Meet Dexter by Lee Relph

Rene Morris Penguin Plate (Photography) – Dawlish Air Show by Jane Oliver

Heyfield Trophy (Sound) – The Quest by Colin Jones

Reg Lancaster Trophy (Funniest Film) – Meet Dexter by Lee Relph

Alice Howe Trophy (Documentary) – Reaching For The Sky by Jane Oliver

Raasay Trophy (No special category) – Moholo Animal Rehabilitation Centre by Brian Pfeiffer

Jubilee Shield (Film under five minutes) – 1940 Sherringham by Barbara Darby

 

OVFM COMPETITIONS

The 2016 Top Ten Competition –

WINNER: Reconstruction Of H4 by Barbara Darby

RUNNER-UP: Meet Dexter by Lee Relph

Kath Jones Cup (Best joke Film) – Back Porch Revamp by John Bunce

Vic Treen Trophy (Best Film Cut To Music) – Ski Funday by Andy & Marian Watson

Mike Turner Plate (Best Film Under 1 Minute) – Tunnel Cleaner by Jane Oliver

 

Highly Commended Certificates

Tree Down by Jim Morton-Robertson

On A Roll by Ann & John Epton

Moholo Animal Rehabilitation Centre by Brian Pfeiffer

Commended Certificates

Hampden P1344 by Jim Morton-Robertson

An Historic Route by Pat Palmer

 

Congratulations to all the winners and big thank you to Brenda Wheatley, who has been our Competitions Officer for the past 12 years but has decided to step down from the role. If you think you can follow in Brenda’s footsteps then please contact Brenda for details and get your nomination form HERE, ahead of the AGM next month.

Triangle Competition 2017

 

Another annual inter-club competition is upon us, this time it is the Triangle Competition in which three of four clubs – OVFM, Spring Park, Shooters Hill and Epsom – enter films in a three-way contest to be judged by the fourth, with the judging role alternating each year.

This year’s event take place on  Friday February 24th  and the judging will be handled by Epsom Movie Makers thus will be held on their turf at St Mary’s Church Hall, London Road, Ewell, KT17 2AZ. at 8 pm (doors usually open 7.30 – 7.45).

OVFM has done well in the past in this competition so let’s see if we can add another win to our score card. For more information or if you want to attend on the night to support and represent OVFM in person on the night please let our esteemed secretary Freddy Beard know so she can tell Epsom how many visitors to expect.

OVFM CLUB MEETING TUESDAY January 10th 2017

 

Happy New Year to you all!

With the festive season now over with and the huge haemorrhoid  that was 2016 now consigned to the dustbin of time, we welcome 2017 with open arms. However here at OVFM there is still some unfinished with last year, namely the annual Top Ten competition.

The qualifying rounds concluded in late November and now it is time for the final, in which the ten films that tallied the highest votes from their individual rounds are brought together one last time to face the scrutiny and judgement of the club members.

With only THIRTEEN entries submitted across the whole year, the lowest I’ve known in my 6  1/2 year membership with the club, the final ten films are as follows:

 

1.  “Meet Dexter” by Lee Relph

2. “H4 by Barbara Darby

3. “Dawlish Air Show” by Jane Oliver

4. “On a Roll” by John Epton

5.  “Victor Lilia Goes To War “ by David Laker

6. “Obsession” by Jim Morton Robertson

7.  “Heaven or Hell” by Hugh Darrington

8.  “Free of charge” by Reg and Annabelle Lancaster

9.  “Mon Dail Mobility” by Andy Watson

10. “Back Porch Revamp” by John Bunce

 

It is this round in which the scoring is the most important as your marks will contribute to deciding the eventual winner of the 2106 competition, to be announced at the Oscars in March.

I’ve done the maths and the total running time of all ten films is 58 minutes 39 seconds so we have a long night ahead of us.

Everyone on the list above is required to being their films on Tuesday, having been given the chance to make any amendments or adjustments following the comments in the qualifying rounds. Failure to do so will incur a forfeit of your spot in the final.

Also, at this meeting if you plan on entering the Annual Competition, this is the deadline for getting your films, entry forms and entry fee to Brenda Wheatley.

Staying with competitions the SERIAC and BIAFF competitions are now accepting entries with their deadlines both on JANUARY 31st! Please see Freddy Beard for more details.

Good luck to all Top Ten finalists and hope to see you all on Tuesday!

 

OVFM CLUB MEETING TUESDAY DECEMBER 20th 2016

 

Ding dong please don’t cry

It’s time for the Christmas Social

Just in case you haven’t heard why

It’s always controversial

Woah-oh-oh, Woah-oh-oh, Woah-oh-oh, Woah-oh-oh, Woah-oh-oh

Oh no, here comes the local police force!

 

The end of the year means we get to say goodbye to this humungous turd sandwich of a year that has been 2016 (making MEET DEXTER being my lone personal highlight) but first we need to allow ourselves a couple of hours off from worrying about Brexit, Trump’s America, train strikes, austerity and just who or what in the blue hell Honey G is supposed to be and instead revel in the merriment of the festivities of the season.

I’m talking of course about the OVFM Christmas Social a fun filled event (allegedly) held in the GARDEN ROOM in which OVFM club members are only in friendly competition against each other in the form of games and other playful activities. There will also be sustenance provided by Peggy (who hopefully won’t water down the orange squash too much this year) in the form of food while Lady Annabelle of Lancaster will make sure you are sorted for E’s and whizz behind the church building.

A quick note about entering the building this year. As always it will be through a door but, contrary to what was said at the last club meeting we shall enter the Garden Room directly and not through the Barnard Room. Hopefully you’ve all been to the Garden Room on enough club shoots and prior social events to know where this entrance is but for the amnesiacs among you, simply turn right when you get out of your car instead of walking straight ahead.

Last year many of us succumbed to the flu and were unable to attend this event so let’s hope that we all remain healthy enough for a god turn out this year – you never know, we may even get a rare sighting of the Lesser Spotted Snapper Earwicker!

Because I was among those who perished because the flu I could not bring my advertised film picture quiz to the social but fear not, barring a last minute outbreak of the apocalypse I shall be bringing it this year!

Music is another tradition of the Christmas social – we all remember John Bunce and his agit-prop punk trio The Colostomy Bags a few years back – and while I haven’t heard if we will have any singing this year, please bring your ear plugs just to be safe.

This meeting is also the last date for submitting your money and food choices to Peggy for the 2017 Annual Dinner and you are also requested to submit your films and entry forms to Brenda for the Annual Competition (make sure you are logged in to access this page).

If you are not going to attend this year for whatever reason then ignore everything that is written here and we’ll see you in the New Year instead.

2016 North vs South – The Results!!

NvS_16

 

Despite the weather plunging deeper into the coldness of winter this year;’s North vs South final at Farnborough Village Hall on Sunday December 4th welcomed a very healthy turn out (in fact two extra rows of chairs were needed) to find out which side of the river would prove victorious!

An impressive count of 27 entries (including five from OVFM) from 16 clubs nationwide made the final programme with two unfortunately being jettisoned at the last minute due to time constraints and the usual 45 minute tea break reduced to 30 minutes. The films – all conceived under the theme of Out Of The Blue – took in comedy, drama, documentary, animation, surrealism, and even someone showing off their new camera drone. A wide variety of ideas and concepts all conjured up from one simple phrase.

Before we get to the results, there were two people who correctly guessed the order of the decision of winner and runner-up from this year’s assigned judge John Sharp. Also the theme for next year’s competition was not correctly guessed by anyone either more on that in a moment.

So, who won?

Well, the runner up film was:

 

Don’t Give Up from AVS Movie Makers representing the North.

This was a docu-drama based on real events of a former sportsman turned company director who suffered a stroke aged 42 yet managed to come back from it and establish his own stroke support charity. This was awarded the Harry Adams Trophy.

 

And the winner is:

 

Ties That Bind from Sutton Coldfield Movie Makers representing the South.

Scooping the top prize of the John Wright Trophy was a drama about a retired married woman who reveals she had a child as teenager whom she gave up for adoption and the surprising reaction from her husband.

 

That means for the first time in a while the South was victorious so congratulations to Sutton Coldfield to making that happen!

 

EDIT: 

And here is the final Top 10 rankings according to judge John Sharp:

1st       Sutton Coldfield Movie Makers – Ties That Bind  (John Wright Trophy)
2nd      AVS Movie Makers – Don’t Give Up  (Harry Adams Trophy)
3rd      Spring Park Film Makers – Where Time Stood Still  (Highly Commended)
4th      OVFM – Meet Dexter (Highly Commended)
5th      Cheadle & Gateley Film Makers – The Prodigal (Commended)
6th      Pendle Movie Makers – Out of the Blue (Commended)
7th      Bristol Film & Video Society – Don’t Call Me Baby (Commended)
8th      OVFM  – Reaching for the Skies
9th      Cheadle & Gateley Film Makers – Out of the Blue
10th    Tynemouth Video Film Making Group – Lost in Translation

 

And the theme chosen for the 2017 competition is MOVING.

This is an ironic topic since this will be OVFM’s last time hosting this event and we hope to hand over the reins to another southern club to carry on the work and mantle of Mike Coad and OVFM. To that we should extend of heartfelt thanks to the OVFM members who stepped up and organised this year’s show, as well as those who made sure everything ran smoothly on the day, from setting out the hall seats to supplying of the refreshments, from selling the raffle tickets to the actual screening of the films, and of course to Sam Brown for acting as MC.

So, that is the North vs South for 2016. Well done to the winners and to everyone who entered a film and here’s to next year’s event!