Press release March 2002

Thoughts of winter receded during the March meeting of Surrey Border Film & Video Makers when members were treated to an evening of a selection of films made over a twenty year period by Val Ellis. Val, who is currently the President of the IAC (The Film & Video Institute) explained about her interest in family history and admitted to having had a great grandfather born in Farnham.

The evening was split in to two parts, BC and AD, BC being the films she had edited ‘Before Computers’ and before non linear editing became accessible to amateurs. As it was, her editing skills were so good that most of the audience could not tell the difference.

Val’s natural wit and humour shone through all her films. Whether it was ‘Hair’ a lively short film showing different hair styles from childish curls to dramatic punk and everything in between, enhanced by a catchy musical soundtrack, or a subject which could be considered old, dry and boring, that is fossils. This was brought to life with music from The Carnival of the Animals, accompanied by words from Noel Coward and cleverly ‘moving’ dinosaur bones and animal models.

Having an eye for the unusual and the imagination to capture it on camera and then edit the material into a cohesive and entertaining film is a gift that Val does extremely well. Small snippets of her travel experiences have become interesting films. Greenland 1992 which showed how Greenland is not green at all, concentrated on icebergs. Shot in Hi8 this visually stunning film was enhanced with haunting music. “Here She Comes” a railway film shot in the States, but with a platform ‘borrowed’ from an English station jogged along with a strong country music backing. Whilst Val was in Chicago a Cow Festival was being organised. Model cows, of many different shades, patterns and colours, began appearing on pavements, roundabouts and shopping malls. This was too good an opportunity to miss!

“We Shall Make The Desert Bloom” told the tale of the Mormons and their belief in just that – that with hard work, belief in their religion and dedication, they would make the desert bloom. As well as scenes from present day Salt Lake City, including Temple Square, Val used old pictures taken from a book on the history of the Mormons to tell their tale.

Even the Monarchy is not exempt from Val’s wicked sense of humour. “Pay Homage” is a lively short animated film with cut outs featuring the Queen on one of her sterling pound notes mouthing words to the beat of the music.

All too soon the evening came to an end, and after Val was thanked, members agreed this had been a most wonderful and entertaining programme.