New member Dave Thompson beat off stiff competition from seasoned CFMC members to win the all- important judges’ vote in the Chairman’s Cup competition with his entry SP27 Concert. The members’ vote was won with a join entry by Paul Desmond and Robin Garton, entitled Mercury Rising.

Dave explained: “My son’s ‘soon-to-be’ fiancé was the concert’s production manager featured in the film. She had asked if I would film the entire concert as they require a record of it as part of their degree course.

“Since it was a charity event and funds were limited, I did not charge them. Instead I asked them if in return for videoing the concert I could produce a short film of the day for my own amusement.

 “The original idea was to create a Vlog-style video of the process of recording the concert but as the event neared I suspected that this may conflict with the main purpose of the visit.

 “As a means of providing a structure to what would otherwise have been just a b-roll exercise of the orchestra setting up and rehearsing, I struck on the idea of asking each of the management team a few open questions.

 “Their responses and the obvious emotion that builds up around organising such a demanding event meant that the final film really had to be about the three young ladies that put it all together. . .”

 Paul Desmond said: “The joint production is the first in a series of short films documenting the multi million pound redevelopment of Colchester’s Mercury Theatr.”

With writer of the script Neil as Director, Henry as Assistant Director and visitor Vincent as Director of Photography and Lighting, Club members spent a very interesting and productive afternoon and evening last Sunday (10 February 2019) filming shots at the Oak Tree Coffee House in Colchester for one of our latest club films, which has the working title of "Undercover".

We welcomed actors Emily and Dominique, who undertook the two key roles of Nicola and Lance. For some of those present it was the first time that they had witnessed the results of how weeks of planning and careful preparation come together for a complex shoot requiring a significant variety of shots and cutaways. We await with interest to see how the editors pull together the shots into the final film!