Surrey Border Film and Video Makers press report for October 2008

Film judges Mike and Dick confer

The October meeting of Surrey Border Film & Video Makers was the 2008 annual fixture in which the club hosts a filmmaking competition between four other filmmaking clubs. Those invited this year were from Staines, South Downs, Gosport, and Guildford

The hall was buzzing with eager anticipation as the lights dimmed for the first film from the nearby club from Staines. Called “Keeping the Flame Alive” its film was about the bonfire night celebrations put on annually in Lewes. Officially a pageant to commemorate 17 Marion martyrs who were burnt at the stake in the sixteenth century, it had plenty of excitement and spectacular scenes.

A more light hearted film followed made by the South Down’s club. Its delightful story centred on an old couple’s magical Buddha trinket. The Buddha was sympathetically listening to the dire financial problems the couple were facing. Then, after they had retired for the night the Buddha was heard sending an ethereal email to some higher power requesting assistance. In the morning the couple discovered that their dishwasher had been given the magical ability to convert everything it washed to gold. Great humour was woven into the plot that followed but essentially everyone lived happily ever after.

Tim Stannard of Staines Filmmakers receives the prize

Visitors from Gosport showed a film bursting with fascinating country folk attending Wickham Fair. Called “One Day in May”, it gave a great insight into this annual gipsy horse fair with characterful close-ups of weathered faces enjoying betting and drinking as well as the odd horse race.

A group called Circle 8, based nearby in Guildford, specialise in films about the area as well as some remarkable ones based on folk lore. Its entry was the tale of “The Rabbit Woman of Godalming” which was a far fetched period comedy with superb costumes about a woman who claimed to give birth to rabbits!

The interval brought a feast of tasty refreshments with lively socialising while the two Surrey Film and Video Makers judges worked hard to compare notes and come to their conclusions. The winner this year was declared to be the Staines club.

Surrey Border Film & Video Makers meet on the first Friday of each month at 7.30 for 7.45pm. Our new venue is The St. Joan’s Centre, 19 Tilford Road, Farnham GU9 8DJ. For a map and directions, check our web site: www.surreyborder.org.uk and click on ‘contact us/venue’. Do come along. There is ample on-site parking.