The club is required to produce at least one club film a year as our club entry in our Tri-Battle against the Chippenham and Devizes clubs. Our Tri-Battle entry this year was Putting on the Show a film in an evening. The production wasn’t scripted, just shot to a rough outline. Much to our surprise it won the the Club section in the Tri-Battle despite some problems showing it on the Devizes Clubs DVD player.
Frome is known for its sense of humour and a previous recent comedy production, The Tip won the Best Club Award in the SoCo Regional Film and Video competition, and was selected as one of that years Ten Best in the Melbourne International Festive.
There is nothing the members enjoy more than a filming evening. We usually produce at least one film in an evening each season. Last year we produced a film called The Garden Gate and was a tour of a Norton motorcycle which were known as garden gates. The raw footage was edited by two different editors as a club exorcise and this produced two different films although they followed the same script. An evening was spent discussing the results which produced a final version. So far this year we have been treated to the spectacle of member Ernie McKenna skinning a chicken. This was a multi-camera shoot, but we could only afford one chicken, and various members will attempt to edit this.
The club has a long tradition of making films of local interest. The Cheese Show, local artists, Chameleons, Fun Run and other local events and sights are just some of the subjects covered. The Somerset Standard recently published a photograph of the original club members which has spurred is into making a documentary on the history of the club.
Frome in Bloom was almost an annual commitment for the Frome & District Ciné Club. Not competition material perhaps, one judge described one effort as moving wallpaper, but our local interest films and videos have won awards.
Ghost From the Past recorded the history and ceremony of the Valentine Lamp on Catherine Hill. It won the Teign Shield and was the first competition success the club had on video.
In fact Catherine Hill has been the location of several filming events. These have been made into presentations for the groups involved, but might end up as a film about the Hill its self for public showing one day.
Our latest Film in an Evening was made for the annual Tri-Battle with Chippenham and Devizes. It’s called Putting on the Show showing members Trevor Biggs and Neville Everett. Much to our surprise it won the club section of the competition.
Our latest club project has been to assist Ernie McKenna in the making of a story film. We have used some proper actors this time including Humphrey Barnes of Frome Operatic.
L to r: Rex Hansford, Ed Brooks, Frank Lake, Phil Marshman, Ernie McKenna, Humphrey Barnes and Trevor Biggs.