First Meeting for 2019: Action

​1STFeb meeting. ACTION!
2019 got off to a good start with many movies being shown and President, Norm, giving a rundown of what we might expect during the year ahead.  He pointed out that for some time now Ron has also been doing things that are not strictly part of the Secretary’s job.  Things like keeping in touch with other clubs we exchange videos with; maintaining the disc library; keeping Vimeo charged; keeping the data base of videos screened up to date; opening and closing our meeting rooms. These jobs, on their own, are not onerous.  Norm invited members to give some thought to taking on any one of these jobs. Ron, meanwhile, will continue as Club Secetary.
How we communicate was reviewed. We have our web page, managed by Elizabeth,  www.ringwoodmoviemakers.organd a Ringwood Movie Makers Facebook page, managed by Norm. But our primary method of communication is email and there have been hiccups, for many reasons, with our Rmmeveryone mail address. While we iron out the issues, including recalcitrant Gmail and Hotmail servers, one idea floated was to use a BCC group which members could use by ‘replying to all’. Expect some testing ahead.
Norm and Elizabeth trialed a ZOOM session prior to the meeting start. This is investigating whether we can offer a service to members who may not, for many reasons, be able to attend the meeting. This test is also looking at the possibility of having on-line membership.  Andrew, who lives in in Phillip Island is a possibility. The session went quite well, with Norm’s laptop, using his mobile as a hotspot, displayed the meeting and sound pretty well. Elizabeth could, depending how we work it out, have also spoken to the group. All a member needs is a ZOOM client on his PC or mobile and he/she can watch the Shorts from Timbuktu. 
Norm also aired the possibility of introducing training courses for a couple of hours (or 1.5 hrs)  prior to our eight o’clock start. This time could be used for tech discussions on matters of interest. Members or maybe an outside expert could share knowledge, tricks or experience. To start off, a tech meeting on DaVinci Resolve was floated.  Besides benefitting our own members, suitably advertised, they could also attract new members.
Also discussed was the Group movies format. There was a general ‘AYE’ by members asserting they were still interested in participating in group movies. How should the groups be formed was discussed. One approach, used with mixed success in the past, was to have an impartial (maybe random) selection of members into groups. The other method was to let people form their own groups. Scripts for the groups to work on was discussed. One possibility was to have a common thee ( like we use with Short Cuts) and let all the groups produce their own version if the theme. Another  approach for scripting was to have a list of scripts (by Club members or outsiders) and let the Groups choose which script they would film. This subject is open for discussion.
John Millard pointed out that the next Take One is due next month.  Our President and Secretary can be relied on to fill around three pages.  Almost tearfully he begged for help in filling another dozen or so pages.  A reward was offered for anyone who helps.  One big, moist kiss per page.  (Don’t let that put you off!). Elizabeth Nash, webmaster asked for more photographs of our movie making activities that would showcase what we do and who we are.
Awkward turned out to be not at all awkward judging from the number of ‘shorts’ that delighted us.  Once again our member’s ingenuity was on display.  There was everything from a father meeting his daughter in a massage parlour, gulls fighting next to a PEACE sign, a pregnant lady who wasn’t, unusual art to a stuff up at a funeral parlour – and more.  Congratulations on the NINEmembers the effort.