​What a great night. A wide range of shortcut movies and a guest speaker who must have motivated most of the attendees.
Shortcuts
Five short movies were presented and they really demonstrated what can be done with a bit of thought. The topic was ‘unbelievable’.
We went back 4000 years with a time travel app. The ending was what many of us have experienced but you will have to ask to view it to find out what it was.
A magic man demonstrated how to read minds via a camera.  Smart one that.
A full bladder left us all gasping with the strain of relief.
Flatulence was almost too much information.
The Doc Martin village was featured. Unbelievably the lifeboat station was on top of a hill above the village, and the streets were too narrow to get the boat through.
Most pleasing was the fact that new members Barbara and Helmut showed a shortcut which impressed our guest speaker.
The next topic is ‘Journey across my backyard’. I know quite few people have interesting backyards so we should have a lot of entries next meeting. Remember, it doesn’t have to be great, just tell us a story.
Warwick Merry
We heard through a preamble from Gary H. about Warwick’s background and it was obvious that we could take advantage of his wealth of experience.
From the start he was in charge and I think we would all agree that he kept us engaged. He was a consummate speaker and fielded questions without losing track in any way.
To say he helped us would be an understatement.  It is now up to us to use the information and promote our club.
You have already had a transcript of the presentation from John Millard and it is opportune to thank John for making arrangements with Warwick and to Gary H. for the initial contact.
Syllabus
March 2nd
Being avid syllabus watchers you will all know that next meeting is a quarterly competition.
Kevin has asked that all entrants let him know beforehand, where possible, details of your movie.  This enables him to sort out paperwork, before the night, easing the congestion.
I’m sure many of you have shot footage over the Summer break so let us see it.
Part two of the evening relates to promoting the club.  Refer to John’s message and attached information. Start thinking about what we might do.
March 16th
Last year Kevin told us about different Directors techniques. On this night he will concentrate on Alfred Hitchcock. I am reliably informed that this is not to be missed.
April 6th
Green screen night.  Gary H will give us tips on how to use green screen and Chroma keying to best advantage. A talk will be followed by all members using their camera to shoot something or someone in front of the green screen. Having seen what he does, this will be a very instructive session. Bear in mind that this evening is to be instructive and fun. If you shoot but don’t produce, there is no issue.
Group Movies
We seem to be having some problems getting the groups moving.  I know one has already got a script. And there has even been speculation that a second, by the same group, might be possible before the November deadline.
The list I circulated a little while ago does not reflect responsibility on any one member, but I did hope that the first named might arrange to contact the others.  April 20th is set down for discussion on a movie with the teams.  I have not included anyone who is ill, or who has expressed the wish to be excluded.  I assume other members will participate.
Great to hear that the new members are being involved. Thank you.
Operations
Not the medical kind, but our equipment. Ron was a bit crook on the night and thankfully Richard stepped in to assist. Using the new computer all went quite smoothly and it is a credit to Ron’s persistence that Gary and Warwick were both able to be connected at the same time. Well done both of you and thanks again.
Your co-operation in getting entries to Ron/Richard early will be appreciated.
Supper
I did well! I remembered milk and biscuits.  There were no complaints. Phew.
Thanks to June and Richard for serving the crowd.
Next meetings volunteers are from Lloyd, Fred, Gary H. Norman. Any absence will be noted.  I have a list (not a mole).
Late News
We’ve just had a message that FAMM will cease to exist as a company on the first of May this year. Not surprising when we consider the demise of many clubs. There is an added challenge for us to buck the trend and grow.  Come on folks. There may be issues which need to be addressed, but we will let you know as more information comes to hand.
I have mentioned previously that the FAMM competition will no longer run.  Also, that we were going to contact other clubs to see if there is any interest in Ringwood hosting a more modest competition.  Ron has contacted other local clubs, and we await replies. 
Reminder
Shortcuts topic is
‘Journey across my backyard’.
Enough for now.
Cheers,
Jack

Hello Everyone,
 
Our opening night for this year was very interesting. It was a fairly relaxed night for all except Ron. More later.
We had fifteen members and three visitors and the program listed ‘members movies’ and shortcuts.  You will remember that the topic for the short movie was ‘That’s enough of that’, decided at the meeting in December 2017.
SET UP
No doubt you also remember that Ron and I get to the hall early to set up the equipment.  Neil comes with Ron and sets out the chairs and the question is always ‘how many tonight’.  Last night was a little different.
After comments last year about methods of presentation the committee decided to purchase a laptop and, after advice from some more experienced members, Ron obtained a machine, trusting that we would do the right thing and reimburse him. Over the previous two weeks, Ron has learned the vagaries of laptops and Windows 10 and with the help of Geoff Ross who tuned the laptop and projector for best results, introduced it on Friday night.
After my usual, ‘though shorter’ introduction we got started at 8.05pm.
PROGRAM
No matter how well a machine works at home, the darned things always seem to play up in public.  This time the machine worked alright, but the learning curve was a steep one.
Again, with the help of a couple of members, Ron got us through the night.  Thanks and well done.
We had five ‘shortcuts’ and three general movies.
The shortcuts demonstrate the varied thinking of members and initiative in production.  Great to see.
The members movies took us from caves in the Crimea to Milford sound in New Zealand. What was a pleasure was to have a ‘visitor’ show a movie which he had scripted for production by others. Richard Hallford has already hijacked Dan McGuire for ‘his’ group. Can anyone catch him?
We were to be shown another visitors movie, but Gary H’s new laptop refused to co-operate.  We look forward to that in a future meeting.
GREEN SCREEN
April 6th is a night on use of green screens.
Gary Hegedus has put a lot of thought into this and will speak at each meeting to prepare us for the night.
To summarise, Gary would like us all to take part either individually or with another member, to produce a short script for enactment in front of the green screen.  We are then to produce a movie showing what we have done over a background of our choice. Think outside of the box for topics.
Cameras are needed to shoot you in front of the screen.  Metaphorically of course.
VISITORS
The three visitors were;
Helmut and Barbara Abt, and Dan McGuire.
Now they are more than visitors as they all joined last night.  We bid them welcome. Make sure you identify yourselves and make them welcome.
Helmut and Barbara have attended a video course at U3A conducted by member Norman Lingwood.  Many thanks to Norman for their introduction. They have a level of expertise in corporate presentations.
Dan has been involved in script writing and now wants to get involved in the making of movies.
I hope I’ve got this information correct, but you will find out when you speak to them.
SUPPER
Gary D and I served tea and coffee (without) biscuits.  Blame that on Christmas and (mice).  Next meeting will be better.
I have been asked to nominate supper monitors instead of calling for volunteers.  Next in line are Brian, June, Kevin and Fred. Don’t think you can miss out by not attending. I have a list.
Even with the odd hiccough with the equipment, movies presented came up nicely.  Thanks to all who participated.
Finally thanks to Ron and Geoff for setting up the laptop, to Kevin and Gary D for helping with the pre-setup on the Monday before, and to Gary D for spotting the special on the laptop which saved a swag on the retail price.
There’s a lot going on behind the scenes.
SHORTCUTS
I’ve kept the best ‘til last.  The topic for the next shortcut movie is..... ‘Unbelievable’.
Viewing is February 16th so –on yer bikes.
Cheers