Ideas don’t just come down from outer Space. What I mean is, coming up with a real winner of a movie has nothing to do with whether you are an amateur enthusiast with a small video camcorder, or a frustrated pro., it still amounts to the same thing. The club member is probably trying to think up an idea that will win him or her an award or aspire to become the top amateur movie maker of the year, with perhaps ambition to become a professional one day. Big film companies have to make a few “Blockbusters,” to keep the producer happy or go under.

Who are the essential bods and how many people do we need to make up a crew? Well, some will say, the actors. No, it’s the camera man another will say. “That’s not so important,” someone shouted, “it’s the script that matters!” Obviously, the answer is, like sailing a boat, you need a crew and they all have equal importance, but there is of course, an order or sequel to the lengthy process, from beginning to the first public showing.

A writer, artist or musician can work alone. But the successful movie involves most of the arts, unless you are the lone worker just satisfied to record your holiday or a party and then forget about it. But we are thinking of making a club film, and has anybody got a good idea? So, the order of importance is as follows;

1. A good story. (Can be based on an old story).
2. A script to work from, based on the story.
3. Second of importance to the actual script, the shooting script has to be carefully read by the art director to work out if it is practical, that is, location, props, vehicles etc. When the Writer! director Fixes you with a beady eye and asks, “would you be the art director?”, pause before you blush and stammer, “Oh yes of course, only too willing to assist” You are thinking; how good it will look on the credits! Is it practical?
4. You are brought down to earth when the Writer/director says; we will need a Rolls Royce, a paddle steamer, all TV aerials and advertising signs must be removed, also no jet aircraft to be seen as it is a period epic. You will need help.
5. The actors. (As in past productions, dramatic societies are usually only to happy to help and join the team.)
6. The camera operators and
7. Lighting expert both of equal importance.
8. All hands will be needed. Holding lights, moving them and many other jobs.
9. The edit; so much depends on this. The editing can win or lose that trophy.

This has all been said before, and it is just meant as a reminder. Is there a story out there? Must look in those piles of papers. Wonder if I’ve got anything there that can be used?