This year's Spring Festival was a day of "hellos" and "goodbyes." A day when scenes of mountain climbing at night were terrifyingly realistic and scenes of thousands of peas jumping up and down in Trafalgar Square were unbelievable !!!
The "Hellos" started early in the day. There were quite a few members of the audience who were attending for the first time. They helped swell the numbers to the largest that we have seen for some time. It would be nice to know exactly what was proving so successful, perhaps holding the Festival on a Saturday was becoming more popular, (especially missing Mother's Day, which had been criticised previously) Perhaps it was the anticipation of two fascinating speakers. Anyway whatever the reasons we can only hope that we keep it up.
The "Hellos" started early in the day. There were quite a few members of the audience who were attending for the first time. They helped swell the numbers to the largest that we have seen for some time. It would be nice to know exactly what was proving so successful, perhaps holding the Festival on a Saturday was becoming more popular, (especially missing Mother's Day, which had been criticised previously) Perhaps it was the anticipation of two fascinating speakers. Anyway whatever the reasons we can only hope that we keep it up.
The Hall was full as Alan Atkinson took the stage. Alan's speciality is comedy and special effects and he has been particularly successful with the use of blue screen techniques. He hadn't brought his screen with him, and from his description of it's size we could understand why, but he described how it had been made with blue lycra stretched to avoid creases.
Another "Hello" came from John Gibbs, National Chairman of the IAC, who had joined us for this Festival. This is his last year of office and he will soon be passing his chain of office to our very own Linda Gough. He wished her well.
In one of his earlier comedies we were introduced to Walter Ruddles, a farmer with a penchant for dabbling in some DIY genetic engineering. In "Flights of Fancy" we saw his experiments to see if pigs could fly ….. and they did ! However the comic possibilities of blue screen work reached the peak with Walter's latest screen appearance. In "Extinction Event" Walter saves the world from being blown to smithereens by a passing comet. After roaring our heads off at this masterpiece Alan demonstrated how a little bit of computerised fiddling can turn a tray of peas into a mass of people working together to save the world. If you weren't there (Shame on you!) you will have to hire the video from the IAC Library. It has just won an International Award at BIAFF 2006, plus Awards for Best Comedy and Best British Entry. Everyone watching could understand why.
The central focus for this Festival is our Regional AGM and it was here that the "Goodbyes" started. There is always a turn over of members of the Regional Council but it was particular sad to see Jim Madden retire. He had been on the Committee for over 20 years and was Regional Chairman from 1990-93 as well as Editor of the Nor'Easter Magazine. The current Editor Ken Wilson was also leaving as were Marc Seccombe, Paul Jordan and Billy Ellwood. Thanks were expressed to them all for their work in the Region. This year was also the end of Jim Kenworthy's three year term of Office in the Chair. He handed over the Chairman's chain of office to the incoming Chairman, Derek Mathieson, from Darlington . In return Derek presented Jim with a gift of thanks and his wife Nancy with a bunch of flowers for all her supporting work.
The central focus for this Festival is our Regional AGM and it was here that the "Goodbyes" started. There is always a turn over of members of the Regional Council but it was particular sad to see Jim Madden retire. He had been on the Committee for over 20 years and was Regional Chairman from 1990-
Jim hands over to Derek Thanks to Jim and Nancy
Michael Gough was also retiring after seven years as Regional Secretary. He handed the post over to Ivor Rose.
After the usual buffet break we all gathered again for the evening speaker. David Newman comes from Derby however his films took us much further afield. He loves to travel but clearly prefers a small tent in the snow to the luxury of a hotel poolside. He enjoys adventure holidays, although some of his exploits seemed more adventurous than any brochure would describe. To get to the top of one mountain in Indonesia he was smuggled at night through forbidden territory after having bribed the soldiers with the only satellite telephone they had.
The climb and return would take twenty four grueling hours which is why they started at night so that the peak could be reached in daylight. Throughout all this David was determined to shoot his own video in a way which would bring the sensations to the screen as realistically as possible. Hopefully none of the audience suffered from vertigo. He built his own head camera with a helmet, a small lens, a battery fixed to the back and a personal microphone.
His successful assault on Mount McKinley in Alaska would have been impressive on its own. Fewer than half the mountaineers who have attempted this highest peak in America have reached the top. Six have died in their attempts. David added to his difficulties by carrying his own camera and strapping batteries to his body to keep them warm. To reach the top and produce an award winning video at the same time was miraculous. All his results were stunning and have justifiably won a number of BIAFF Gold Awards.
Fascinated Audience Busy projectionists Thanks to Alan
Thanks to David Happy faces The new Chairman
sends us happily
on our way.
sends us happily
on our way.
The week leading up to our Collingham Festival had been particularly cold, but never quite as cold as David climbing an ice waterfall. So perhaps that is why we all left for home with a slightly warmer glow. From the very positive comments heard we will all be back next year hopefully in ever increasing numbers.
