Give somebody your heart this Valentine’s Day.

Thanks to everyone who came to the Durham Film Festival! It was a huge success – there were loads of great films shown at the screening (and we still have more to show later on in the term), the workshops were really interesting and everyone had a great time. Our Facebook page also tells us we’ve had about a 300% increase in popularity since the Festival so it’s looking good!

Tonight there will be no meeting – next week we’ll go over plans for the rest of the term and get started on our next projects, but tonight we’ll have a break. If you have any ideas for what you’d like to cover this term feel free to send them in!

See you all next week,

Ellie Onions – Sexcretary
Durham Student Film
www . durhamstudentfilm . co . uk

“Two mice fell into a bucket of cream…”

2:04 pm – Ellie arrives in Riverside Café. Where is everyone? She stands there like a fool. Is she in the wrong place? Caleb shouts out loudly ‘Ellie!’. Ellie hastens over to the hidden comfy seats.
2:06 pm – The comfy seats are making Ellie feel sleepy. She approves.
2:07 pm – Frances arrives. Frances suffers the same fate as Ellie, looking for Lyle and Caleb. Frances does not get the satisfaction of a comfy seat, as it is missing its cushion. She chooses the boring seat.
2:08 pm – Where is Will? Will is late.
2:09 pm – The Durham Film Festival is tomorrow. TOMORROW. The exec let this thought sink in.
2:10 pm – Caleb and Lyle discuss how they should introduce the Durham Film Festival. Caleb suggests that they are like Ant & Dec – winners of Best Entertainment presenter for the last 11 years running. Frances and Ellie can’t find any flaw in this argument.
2:12 pm – There is a discussion of dress code. Lyle and Caleb want to suit up. Frances wants to wear a dress and heels. Ellie will wear a casual dress. [This plan is altered at a later point in the meeting – see below].
2:14 pm – Caleb and Lyle are discussing their MEGAHOST BONANZA. Due to Will’s absence, there is a brief discussion of the word ‘quorate’ or the word to describe the legitimate number of people necessary to make a decision without the leader [n.b. Word does not recognise ‘quorate’. Wiktionary suggests ‘quorum’.]
2:17 pm – What will the schedule be? Chiari’s films don’t play – Will will (!) put the videos on a playable DVD. Will has the order, apparently [This point is altered after Will’s arrival: see below]
2:20 pm – Will arrives. There will be no need for a quorate/quorum.
2:22 pm – Ellie messages Karina to see if she can print off certificates for the awards.*
2:23 pm – Plans are made for Friday. Caleb, Lyle, Frances and Ellie will meet Jez (the legend of Jez) at 6:30 to set up. They will ‘shoot off’ (quote CebsyP) to PTV for 5 minutes before coming back for the screening to start at 7:30 pm.
2:25 pm – Lyle writes up the schedule.
2:29 pm – Lyle is still writing up the schedule.
2:32 pm – Lyle reveals that the running time will be 2 hours, without any breaks. This means the screening wouldn’t finish until almost 10:30. The exec find this distressing. It is time to cut.
2:37 pm – The exec discuss which films to cut. It is also decided that the films will be played on Lyle’s computer. This is because Lyle has a Mac. Everyone bemoans his or her own rubbish laptops and harbour a secret jealousy of Lyle’s Mac.
2:40 pm – Will addresses the issue of Lyle’s bottom shirt button being open. Lyle says that this is always the case. Will finds this cute. Lyle does not find it cute that Will finds it cute. Lyle does not like being called cute. Will laments the fact that he says ‘arguably’ too much. Also that he says ‘and it really shows’. Ellie wonders why we are talking about individuals’ lexicons when the film festival is tomorrow.
2:42 pm – It is decided that after Durham Film Festival we will combine the films that we can’t fit in to the film screening in the Film Festival with the Society Film Premiere. Caleb suggests contacting the various media outlets as well, urging them to ‘go forth and media!’ (quote CebsyP).
2:46 pm – Ellie asks whether we have enough money for the film festival. This seems to be quite an essential point but there is unease. Will checks his phone. Apparently we do. Will will (!) double-check with Jon. This reminds Ellie – where is Jon? Jon has a job.
2:50 pm – Caleb and Ellie will go talk to Jez about the Fonteyn Ballroom.
2:55 pm – Caleb and Ellie have not gone to talk to Jez about the Fonteyn Ballroom. Caleb will miss his tutorial. But, the exec have decided who will be taking care of Sandie and Ken. YES.
2:57 pm – There is a brief chat about PTv. Because PTv is awesome.
2:58 pm – Caleb leaves. He will be late.
3:00 pm – Will has had very little sleep. He admits that he is going crazy. The exec realise that admission is the first step to recovery and are pleased.
3:02 pm – The exec (-CebsyP) go and see Jez. Jez explains how the tech stuff in the Fonteyn Ballroom will work. He says that it will be free for us from 6 pm. He also says that he will not charge us. Will, Frances, Ellie, and Lyle are huge Jez fans. The legend of Jez is born.
3:05 pm – Will and Lyle go to Poundland. Frances goes to her lecture. Ellie goes to spam people’s social feeds about DFF. She is excited. As is everyone. DFF will be fantastic.

*Karina says she will look up templates, DSF-ify them, and print. WOOP!

The time has finally arrived – this weekend is the Durham Film Festival! Meaning we will need as much help as possible to get it all organised. At the meeting tomorrow we’ll be assigning roles so that the both the film screening and workshops on Friday and Saturday run smoothly.

If you haven’t done so already please like our Facebook page: http ://www . facebook . com/pages/Durham-Film-Festival-2012/257041114316860 and click attending to our events (search Durham Film Festival on Facebook). Mainly this event: http ://www . facebook . com/events/223801951040735/. We’ve had loads of good films sent in and the workshops will be run by professionals in the industry. For the full schedule and trailer see our main website: http ://www . durhamstudentfilm . co . uk/durham-film-festival-2012/  (and post to Facebook!)

We also need to organise the filming/editing schedule for the Durham Drama Festival tomorrow so if you would like to be involved in filming (and getting free entry) to any shows during DDF come along to the meeting tomorrow so we can arrange the scheduling.

Finally, we have a few other events that need filming (notably Night Watch), so we will be assigning people to those.

Hope to see you all tomorrow!

Ellie Onions – Secretary
Durham Student Film
www.durhamstudentfilm.co.uk

“Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”

P.S. Sorry, one day I will send just one email with all of the information in it… ( For future referene it’s the same every week this term)

ER 142, 7 pm.

See you there!
Ellie Onions – Secretary
Durham Student Film

‘Stupid is what stupid does’

P.P.S. Additionally, it may interest you to read the features that have appeared in a variety of Durham University media outlets this week:

http://www.thebubble.org.uk/creative/lights-camera-action-durham-film-festival-2012

http://www.durhamone.co.uk/en/photos/feature/2012-01-25/852/durham-film-festival-2012.html

http://www.purpleradio.co.uk/article.php?id=281

Caleb Pike – Events Officer
Durham Student Film

2:05 pm – Ellie arrives at the Techno Café. Will and Frances are already there. Where is Lyle?
2:07 pm – Lyle arrives.
2:08 pm – Ellie realises she doesn’t have her phone. She is distressed about the hundreds of messages she must be missing from people.* Also her minutes will be inaccurate.
2:10 pm – Frances asks ‘Where the hell is Caleb? I came back from Newcastle to meet him! He has to give me a tripod.’ The tripod is for Frances’ feature on Klute for PTv (yay).
2:13 pm – Caleb arrives.
2:14 pm – Ellie raises DDF issues. Will agrees that we should pay a bit towards the documentary workshop, but would like all the details before we pay. Lyle agrees to edit together clips of DST for the DDF publicity video. This is because Lyle is a fresher and less busy than everyone else. Also because he is helpful and nice.
2:17 pm – The exec go off on a tangent. Will needs to learn how to cite more sources in essays. Lyle needs to learn how to use the library. Will then discusses who has turned down the OBE (Phillip Larkin? Hitchcock?!) The meeting needs to be refocused.
2:20 pm – The meeting has focussed on the Vane Tempest booking. Ellie has emailed multiple wrong email addresses and has not heard anything back.**
2:25 pm – The Film Festival is next week. This is a surprise to Will, as he thought it was the week after. The rest of the exec are a bit concerned for Will’s sanity. The Film Festival is discussed. Will will (!) put together a schedule and email it to Ellie to see if we need to book Vane Tempest for longer. We might have too many films now. That’s a surprise to the entire exec.
2:27 pm – Ellie needs to ask Alex about Oklahoma editing. It sounded like a mammoth task at the meeting on Monday. It is agreed that everyone is concerned about how that will turn out.
2:29 pm – What awards will we have? The issue is raised and ignored.
2:30 pm – The entire DSF crew will have to send out the trailer. Will decides to make an event for the film screening. Caleb reiterates how he has been updating the website. Well done Caleb.
2:31 pm – Will needs a photo for the film screening. He is going to choose a photo of a dog. Ellie objects.
2:32 pm – Frances leaves. To do PTv stuff (yay).
2:33 pm – Will has chosen a ‘generic’ photo. He is not happy. Ellie is happy.
2:34 pm – The meeting digresses with Frances’ absence. Caleb discusses his ‘rockin’ new intro for Blurred Vision. Ellie is sceptical but intrigued.
2:40 pm – Will brings up the topic of Ellie’s dissertation. The meeting digresses further. What is truth? What is reality? What is literary truth? Ellie has had enough of these questions. She asks about Friday.
2:47 pm – On Friday, Ellie will set up the seats for the screening, as Will is running the workshop. Lyle will meet Sandie and Ken, and will organise times for other DSF members to entertain them.
2:50 pm – At the Monday meeting, roles will be assigned to members. One role will be to set up the projector and screen. We do not have this yet. Will will (!) work on getting this.
2:52 pm – There is a minor digression as the group reflects on Lyle’s use of ‘wee’. Lyle is Scottish. Lyle says ‘wee’. Lyle does not say ‘och aye’. Scottish people do not say ‘och aye’. Will, Caleb, and Ellie have learnt something.
2:56 pm – The other tasks will be to b) get sweets and popcorn, and have an intro from Caleb and Lyle. Danford, Owain, Adam and other techies will take care of the sound system, hopefully.
2:58 pm – Caleb has to leave. Ellie has to leave. The meeting is over. The film festival is next week. Wow.

*Ellie had one notification and one message – an invite to the Film Screening from Will, and a text from Caleb saying ‘Don’t forget to do the interviews for the DFF PTv feature’. This is rather unhelpful as Ellie has arrived at home.
**Ellie phoned Kayleigh Waite who confirmed she was still reorganising bookings and will email shortly. At 12:26 pm, she had not emailed. Ellie has heard back from the Careers Service though: they will publicise the workshop.

Tonight we have our postering social! After the meeting (in which we’ll be discussing new developments with DFF and DDF – including showing you the trailer for DFF!) we’ll be heading to Kingsgate and then following on to other colleges to publicise the Durham Film Festival.

Hope to see you all there!

Ellie Onions – Secretary
Durham Student Film
www . durhamstudentfilm . co . uk

“Well, Clarice – have the lambs stopped screaming?”

P.S. By the way, as per usual, the meeting tonight will be in ER142 at 7:00pm.

Caleb Pike – Events Officer

Here is a trailer for the upcoming Durham Film Festival!

Directed and Edited by Will Webb

Starring Will Webb, Lyle Bushe, Caleb Pike, Karina Dar-Juan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can follow the events on Facebook by liking our Durham Film Festival 2012 Page

Make sure you also like Durham Student Film on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter @DSFilm

2:02 pm – Ellie arrives at the Riverside Café, DSU. She sees Caleb sitting at a table. Caleb looks lonely.
2:03 pm – Ellie and Caleb discuss why they are sitting at a table rather than in the comfy seats. Caleb says it is because there are books on the tables and it looks like they are reserved.
2:04 pm – A group sits down at one ‘reserved’ table. Caleb and Ellie decide to investigate.
2:05 pm – After discovering that it was merely a bag of rubbish, Caleb and Ellie are sitting in the comfy seats.
2:06 pm – Will arrives and sits at a table. Caleb and Ellie look at him. Will stares into space until he realises where Ellie and Caleb are.
2:07 pm – Will and Caleb say that the trailer for DFF looks very good already.
2:08 pm – Is this everyone for today? Where is Frances? Frances is interviewing the manager of Klute. Where is Lyle? Lyle has a sprained ankle. Where is Jon? Jon has a job.
2:10 pm – Meeting is in session, with half of the exec.
2:11 pm – Ellie agrees to push for a short PTv feature on the Durham Film Festival, which will include the trailer. Ellie also agrees to email the Careers Advisory Service about the Careers workshop that will take place on Saturday, Feb. 4th at 5 pm, run by Will’s dad. It is decided to be advertised as a ‘comprehensive guide to working in the media’, and people should email secretary@durhamstudentfilm.co.uk if interested.
2:17 pm – Ellie has not had confirmation of Vane Tempest.*
2:18 pm – We do not have enough money to cover judges at present. DST will need to reply to Ellie’s emails.
2:20 pm – Thomas from The Bubble arrives and is apologetic he is late. DSF Exec is unconcerned about tardiness. The Bubble seems to be able to offer a lot of publicity for DFF including: Listings, mentions in the sidebar, and the possibility of an article in the Creative section. The Creative section will also be able to email out to a mailing list.
2:28 pm – The conversation goes on a tangent about no one sending in films.
2:30 pm – The Bubble will also mention DFF on their Facebook page.
2:32 pm – Thomas requests that DSF films the visit of Don Patterson, the famous poet. Ellie will contact Frances about this.
2:40 pm – Ellie will email about the Monday social. She will also email Palatinate Arts/Film section about publicising it.
2:42 pm – Lyle needs to tell us when the judges are coming. Will they just be just doing workshop on Saturday and not actually judging the films on Friday?
2:45 pm – Ellie needs to go to a handback session. She leaves Caleb and Will to discuss Appendix 1 and 2. See below.

*After checking her Secretary account once returning home, Ellie still has not had confirmation of Vane Tempest room booking. She requested 7:00 until 9:30, with agreed show times of 7:30 until 9:00.

Appendices:

We’ve also spoken to DSU societies – we’re going to get £300 in funding, and more importantly, the chance to get the Festival plugged in upcoming society emails and the DSU president’s email. Commercially, we’ve got a DSU contract to film manifestos for upcoming elections. Will and Ellie have more of the important details for these things.

Hope you all had an amazing Christmas and New Year and are looking forward to the term ahead. This term for DSF will be full of opportunities for you to get involved in – mainly because of two festivals that DSF will be playing a part in: the Durham Drama Festival, and, more importantly, the DURHAM FILM FESTIVAL. This email will cover information about both of these festivals, and other important information on projects and meetings for DSF.

1) Durham Film Festival

This year is the first year DSF has held a Film Festival in Durham, and it will take place on Friday February 3rd, and Saturday, February 4th. The festival will consist of two evenings showing films, with an awards ceremony following the final film on the Saturday night. We will also have:

- Films sent from universities across the country
- Films that members of DSF have produced

- Three judges who are all experts in the film industry
- Workshops put on by industry professionals
- Multiple opportunities for promotion, namely

*Posters
*Stickers
*Advertisement in student and local journalism
*A TRAILER that will be completed in the first week of term.
For the festival to be a success, we will need the help of all members in the society. Whether you can only help out once or twice, or are looking to get involved more directly, please keep a look-out for opportunities to film the trailer, design posters, and publicise to all of your friends. Furthermore, if you have made a film, feel free to submit it!

2) Durham Drama Festival

The Durham Drama Festival will occur from Weds. Feb. 22 to Saturday Feb. 25th. DSF’s role during the Durham Drama Festival will be to film the shows that will be performed across all of the days, and edit together short clips for the awards show at the end. This requires a lot of work, so we will need as much help as possible, but it also a fantastic opportunity as you will get to see some of the best theatrical performances for free.

3) Society Film

This term we will also finish our society film! We have a few more scenes to film and need to edit them all together. We will ideally have either the film finished, or a sufficient number of edited scenes, to show at DFF.

4) Meetings

Our first meeting of term will be next Monday (the 16th) at 7 pm in ER142. This meeting will be extremely important in organising tasks for everyone to help make DFF, DDF, and our society film a success.

5) Other projects

Aside from these exciting projects, we also hope to hold another 48-hour film competition and multiple socials throughout the term.

If you have any questions about any of the above, please email. If not, see you all on Monday!

Ellie Onions – Secretary
Durham Student Film
www.durhamstudentfilm.co.uk

“The Mayans saw this coming thousands of years ago!”

3:05 pm – Ellie arrives at Riverside Café. EVERYONE from the Exec is there! (Will, Frances, Jon, Caleb, and Lyle).
3:09 pm – After expressing surprise at our first FULL EXEC meeting of the term, Will announces that the meeting is in session. He also says that he has been paid £600 for the camera. Woop!
3:11 pm – TERMLY REVIEW: The Society Film is not finished. This has been a minor failure. We have not found a Frank, and will not have time next term to film all of the Frank scenes. The Frank scenes will probably be cut. The Anna and Emily scenes will be enough for the film, and will be finished in the first few weeks of next term.
3:15 pm – Will asks if we will have a stand at Refreshers? Yes. We can, so we might as well.
3:17 pm – Will says that we have not yet been paid for the ‘Party’ trailer, or the work by the International Office. Jon will follow this up.
3:20 pm – Ellie raises the issue of the Durham Drama Festival. How much are we charging? Jon explains that last year was a lot of work and we were given money for the tapes rather than the filming. The new exec (Lyle and Frances) agree that we should still do what we did last year, but that we should charge this year. For each event we charge £60 per camera or £90 for a 2-camera feed. There is some surprise that we charge this much. It would the DDF Exec way too much if they wanted a camera for twelve shows. It is agreed we will charge £300 or ask for a percentage of what DDF earns for DST. Of course we will discuss this and see if it’s okay with the DDF Exec.
3:25 pm – Frances has to leave. There are goodbyes and ‘Merry Christmas’es.
3:26 pm – There is more talk about the Durham Drama Festival budget. Ellie will email Paul and finalise this.*
3:30 pm – Jon has to leave. There are goodbyes and ‘Merry Christmas’es.
3:32 pm – Lyle asks about the Durham Film Festival!
3:33 pm – Caleb and Ellie are also interested in the Durham Film Festival. Will explains what has happened:
- No one has sent out anything yet.
- Our website is very good. Well done Caleb. In comparison to other university film societies ours is always up to date. Mainly because Caleb obsessively publishes everything on there. Lyle says that this is very good and he is impressed.
- We need to decide on workshops. Will’s dad might be able to run one. Lyle might also know people. Caleb and Ellie are impressed with everyone’s connections.
- Ellie suggests we ask for deadlines. It is decided that December 31st will be the deadline for getting in touch with possible judges and workshop leaders.
- Roles are decided:
o Lyle and Will will (!) get in touch with possible judges and workshops
o Ellie will type up the template to send to possible applicants at other universities.**
o Caleb will keep updating the website.
- The TRAILER for the DFF will be completed in January. The deadline for the trailer is the end of January.
3:50 pm – The Durham Film Festival is planned! Hooray! The meeting is over! Term is almost finished! Everyone is in the Christmassy spirit. Caleb, Will, Ellie and Lyle get up to leave. There final are goodbyes and ‘Merry Christmas’es.

*Ellie sent this email, but hasn’t heard anything back yet (Dec. 31, 2011)
** Ellie sent emails to Birmingham, Christ’s College Cambridge, Edinburgh, Loughborough, York, Warwick, Trinity College Cambridge, and Lancaster Students’ Union