Home Movies (1943)

HOME MOVIES FOR AUCUST • Every film entered in the contest should receive careful and impartial consideration. Where number of entries is large, films should be screened a few at a time. Looking at too many films at one sitting is bound to dull any judge's enthusiasm. 0 'NE of the primary objects of any amateur cine club worthy of the name is to aid members in improving their movie making. The culmination of this objective is the annual, if not more frequent, club contest in which club members submit their films in competition. The manner of conducting club movie contests is as varied as the number of clubs; and clubs only recently organized, especially their newly elected directors, frequently are at loss to know how to proceed in conducting a club competition. Perhaps we can offer here some ideas and suggestions gleaned from the experience of some of the older and well established cine clubs of the country. Briefly, there are two general systems followed in judging a contest: one is to screen all films submitted before club members at one of the regular meetings with judges in attendance, and the other is to analyze all pictures in one or more pre-screenings, selecting the lvost promising and showing these at the club meeting for final judgment. The latter plan is usually followed where the number of contest films submitted is so great as to make it impossible to screen all of them within the time alloted for a single club meeting. The subject matter of club film contests should receive early consideration, once the contest has been decided upon. In most instances, there are no restrictions as to subject matter laid down by the contest committee. However some clubs regularly conduct what are known as "uncut film contests" in which participants produce a 50 or 100 foot picture, camera-edited so that the finished picture is complete with opening title, continuity, etc., without benefit of cutting or editing. Other clubs select a story and write a script and invite members to film it, offering awards for the best pictures. Last year the Union County Cinema Club of Elizabeth, New Jersey conducted two such contests — one each for its 8mm. and 16mm. members — for which they provided the screenplays. Contestants were expected to follow HOW TO CONDUCT A CLUB MOVIE CONTEST w the script in shooting both scenes and titles although some leeway was granted those who felt they could improve the story with additional scenes. This was permitted providing it did not change the theme of the original story. Many clubs prefer to place no restrictions on subject matter. Contestants may produce and submit photoplays, travel films, documentaries, etc., or reedit and submit pictures previously filmed. This inspires widening the scope of the filmer's activities, giving his imagination wider play by encouraging him to write his own script as well as produce it. This brings us to the subject of family films and their acceptance as contest material. In every movie club there are members whose movie making has been confined to shots of the baby and members of the family. Invariably such films hold little interest for anyone but the filmer's immediate family. Yet they represent the amateur's filming efforts. This situation suggests creating a special classification for family films and the offer of adequate awards. More than once these freshman hobbyists have advanced steadily to win a top award in later contests and they should be extended every encouragement if the real objective of the club is to be maintained. Another preliminary consideration is whether or not the competition is to be divided into classifications with separate awards offered for the best picture submitted in the following groups: photoplay, travelogue, family film, documentary, etc. Also whether or not to offer special awards for photography, editing, titling, sound, etc., as is done in the national contests conducted by Home' Movies. The answer to these questions depends entirely upon the size of the club. Where the club is small, obviously the most satisfactory procedure is to offer 1st, 2nd, and 3rd awards for the best films submitted. Where the club is large and includes in its membership many advanced filmers, then the more acceptable procedure is to offer awards for the best films in the classifications approved by the club, and possibly awards for achievement in editing, photography, titling, etc. As the closing date of the contest approaches it will become necessary to appoint a contest committee and the judge or judges, if these were not already elected at beginning of the contest. It becomes the committee's task to an• Continued on Page 262 249