What a Great Success!
A report on the Frome Five Minute Festival
by Alan Barker ex FACI
As the bus, train, a second train and then car took me towards the town and The Frome Five Minute Festival, I wondered what my heading should be: See Frome and Die, All Roads lead to Frome, When in Frome Do As…. As the car, train and bus returned me to Caerleon in South Wales there were only a few words left in my vocabulary to describe it… What a Great Success! I was made to feel extremely welcome.
At 6pm on the dot, Chairman Trevor Biggs welcomed the largest ever audience which
included members of the Cheltenham, Bournemouth, Chippenham, Tiverton, Bristol, Orpington,
and there’s more…Weymouth, Devizes and Mid-
What an array of talent and expertise and those were my thoughts as my eyes focused on the banquet. Neville Everett had certainly made sure we had plenty to eat and it was obvious the ladies, Denise, Anne, Beryl, Linda and another Ann, and other members had worked very hard on the buffet/feast. Reputation is reputation and the club has much to be proud of. Outside Rex Handsford supervised parking, whilst inside Edwin Brooks sold raffle tickets and Bob Riches sold programmes. I was told he sold out of them. The hall was abuzz. I was also introduced to Jo and Mike Coad serial festival attendees’.
I did wonder if we were going to sink before the films begun. I heard running water, was one of the entries a five minute version of Titanic? No, AKM Music was providing high quality sounds and music to the inspired settings around the lake at Stourhead.
Without further ado projectionist Alan Campbell and Ernie McKenna on sound started the varied show put together by Phil Marshman FACI.
It was a show in which experienced film makers and novices were allowed to show what they could do in five minutes or less. As Phil Marshman said,” It was nice to see so many film makers there where they could see their film with an audience. So much can be learned from audience reaction and the discussion with them afterwards.”
Personally, when I heard I was going to sit through 36 films I thought I might miss
my train on the following Sunday afternoon. Was this going to be some all night view-
The time shot by. The films were varied and where did the time go? There was a good selection of wildlife films intermingled with comedy and drama. I have been to Guernsey and Herm so old memories were rekindled. I have never liked spiders and the thought of being captured and eaten by one was viewed with one eye closed.
Brighton proved to be to be an excellent source of the unusual, and whilst natural beauty and wildlife were to be found at Warwick, the River Tay, Mevagissey, Padley Gorge and Salisbury. Human contact with pets and other creatures proved just how creative and flexible film makers have to be.
Not to be content with the British Isles we were whisked away to Riggi-
I learned much about Lord Baden Powell, the Severn Valley Railway and a grain mill which had not worked for 16 years. Would it all collapse? A possible disaster movie?
I had never thought of water in terms of A to Z let alone the winning entry “Up” Perhaps next year they might try Down, Under, Above or Below. Well done Chippenham!
My experience with kites has always been a disaster, but I was inspired to try again after viewing one entry and I hope the experimental film gave everyone much to think about. It did me and it was good to see that it was placed just before the interval for maximum comment. Very brave, Phil.
WARNING!!!
I don’t think I would ever like to play cards with certain people from Chippenham,
leave my car with another certain film maker or choose some-
I had never experienced High Definition before and there was an added bonus of that experience at the end of the evening. There was a difference in definition so much so that I felt I could have walked into the screen. I was no longer seeing, but I was feeling as well. It is odd to describe until you experience it.
There were comments about the number of draw prizes and the time to win them. I have been to venues where there have been only four items. Somehow that reflects on the support of the club. Frome's support was monumental with a large array of interesting items, another plus.
So it all came to an end. I was impressed, tired and thankful that Frome Film and Video Makers had taken so much time, hard work and effort to present a slick, professional, entertaining event. I think my heading is a little understated. I should have written “What a Grade A Success”. Can I come back next year?
Winning film was
Up by Mike Harding
Just how many meanings, uses and interpretations can be found for the simple two letter word 'UP'?
Runner Up
Arne Wildlife by Chris Hull
16:9 HDV Various wildlife at Arne in Dorset including Sika Deer and various birds etc.
3rd Overall
The Magic of Mevagissey by Bryan Adcock
A short break to catch the Autumn sunshine
RIDGEWAY CUP 2008
A bit behind but in the end we got back together with the Weymouth Club at Weymouth for our annual competition for the best programme.
The judges were Alan Creamer, Darren Cummings and Andy Trevett and the result was so close that they gave it to Wimbourn, but as it was pointed out they weren’t involved ended up giving it to Frome. The Ridgeway Cup is still missing and the award presented to Ernie McKenna by Anne Vincent was just a token.