Surrey Border Film & Video Makers filmmaking

Surrey Border Film & Video Makers is very active in filmmaking both as a club activity, in smaller groups and as individuals. In 2010, for instance, there were 39 films made by individuals, 3 made by groups with 1 club film.

There is almost always some project that is on-going, for instance ideas are currently circulating re the making of a film about Farnham, where we are based. Before any actual filming takes place we need to decide on the target audience and the message we are trying to put across. During this process a producer is likely to arise as the one most keen to pull it all together. An overall storyline will then be floated. All this would be presented to a club meeting where members would be asked if they would like to be involved. Given sufficient interest then those wishing to be involved would meet and organise themselves. At this stage the project might be driven by one or two people with strong motivation to put over a structure, or alternatively a brainstorming session could be held to reveal several good ideas. Either way there are normally many ideas of ways to proceed which circulate via email and discussion until eventually all are agreed on what is going to happen.

Each December we hold a competition where members bring along their films to see who is going to be awarded a cup for 'best sound', 'best photography', 'best acting', 'best...'. The competition is always judged by an experienced filmmaker from outside the club. The event is strongly supported.

The club regularly enters an interclub competition called 'The Albany Competition' where the film entered must be a new production and mustn't have been shown elsewhere. For this we hold a brainstorm session to sort out a plot idea which is in line with the theme for the next competition. Filming needs to be completed by mid January.

During the current year we produced a promotional film for an external organisation that one of our members belonged to. As normal for this type of project we had a discussion at a club meeting and a film crew was formed from volunteers.

We find that we get a slow but steady stream of requests for films of local events, school plays, gymnastics and charity events etc. Our members are keen to take up the challenge, given sufficient warning and for a film that many will wish to watch. Unfortunately there are many requests which come in with only a week or so of warning which is far too late to organise anything serious. More disturbingly many are unrealistic in terms of the time and effort their request would involve, compared with the number of people who are going to view the final film.

Promotional film for the charity 'Keep Mobile'

A promotional and money raising film was produced for a community project called 'Keep Mobile'. This is a charity that supplies transport for those with mobility problems. The film was accepted with enthusiasm by the charity and helped them to raise money to advance their cause.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Filming of a fashion show for the charity 'Hedgehogs'

The charity Hedgehogs held a fashion show and asked Surrey Border Film and Video Makers to make a video of it. We borrowed large professional pedestal cameras and set up a control room nearby. All four camera operators were in two-way communication with the director, and mixing was done live on the night. Around 15 members were involved, all of whom spent a number of days beforehand practising the various aspects. On the day of the event we arrived in the early hours of the morning and set to work running cables from the cameras to the control room. After the show we were packed up around midnight. Everyone found the day exhausting but very satisfying.

Film about King John and the Magna Carta

One of the recent club projects was a film based on a plot about King John and the politics surrounding his being forced to sign the Magna Carter. This project started with one member who was very keen to produce a film on this subject.

On his way to the signing King John visited Odiham Castle which is where most of the club filming took place. When seeking permission to film there it was learnt that the castle was about to be surrounded with scaffolding while being made safe. This meant that the filming had to be brought forward in quite a rush.

The film shows two children playing near the castle when they get sucked back in time to when King John was there ...

Filming at Frimley Park Hospital Children's Ward

The children's ward of the large NHS hospital at Frimley Park has a significant throughput of child patients. Entering hospital can be a very traumatic experience for a child and their parents and the hospital does all it can to put patients at ease. An aid to this is a booklet they hand to parents before a child arrives which outlines the general arrangements and what to expect. Recently Surrey Border Film & Video Makers were asked to make a short video to supplement the booklet. A team, formed from club volunteers spent two Sundays on an intensive filming exercise supported by the hospital staff. Filming covered everything from the children's ward to the journey to the anaesthetics room, then back from the recovery room and finally the discharge from hospital. For further information and pictures click Filming at Frimley Park Hospital.

Film to promote the Frensham Ponds Sailability Project

The Frensham Ponds Sailability Project helps disabled people enjoy the challenges of sailing. The project was recently awarded £ 230,000 for its work with disabled people. The charity has been able to refurbish its facilities but is still in need of further funds and would like to contact more disabled people interested in sailing. The Surrey Border Film and Video Makers are helping by producing a film showing the work the charity does and the great benefits to all its recipients. For more about the recent series of filming episodes at Frensham click Filmmaking at Frensham.