They showed six continental entries and three British entries. Ron pointed out the marked difference between the continental entries and the British entries. Though each film has its own unique treatment of a particular situation it was agreed that the contrast was stark, especially between the continental entries and the British entries. The continental films covered the whole panoply from erotic to exotica. Club members expressed much appreciation to the Haywards Heath colleagues. On the evening of Wednesday October 1 the club's annual film competition took place. Play It Again, Sam was the first entry by John Pickett in which his grandson was practising playing the piano. As if by magic the scenery suddenly changes to a fairground in which the lively tune accompanies lots of children enjoying the fun of the fair. The second entry was far more sombre. Jonathan Wilde set a background to Rivers, Centuries and Years of the sound of appropriate music accompanied by prose. This film featured a young lady strolling in and out of this timeless atmosphere. Dragon Flies In My Garden accurately summarises Julia Galvin's expert photography as she studies, with the assistance of the internet, these strange creatures. Members were surprised to learn that there are so many different breeds of these insects. Mrs John Pickett had suggested a holiday in the Loire Valley to her husband as he lay on the couch at home. John's video film showed the cathedral at Chartres, Claude Monet's house and gardens at Giverny before arriving at the Château de Villandry with its superb gardens, in the Loire valley. Then Château de Chenonceau on the river Cher and finally on the return journey the Palace of Versailles near Paris. As Mrs Pickett woke John from his sleep on the couch the question arose: had it been a dream holiday or a dream of a perfect holiday? Keith Monks produced In The Realm Of Darkness which summed up the pessimism of an old man with nothing to look forward to. To cheer everybody up before the tea break, but not part of this competition, David Hillebrand showed a film which was entitled Wheels and to the melodious tune Wheel Of Fortune sung by Kay Starr, who was a forces sweetheart in the 1950s and 60s. This film showed how the wheel in one form or another played an integral part in the working of windmills and steam engines and many other instruments but demonstrating how the turning of the roulette wheel could make or lose fortunes. Members elected Jonathan as the winner, Julia as runner-up and John Pickett's Loire Valley took third place. Members were reminded to take the minutes of the 2007 AGM to this year's AGM on October 15.
The American Motion Pictures Society had 64 entries for this year's competition. There were awards for the best 10 pictures as well as 12 certificates of merit. Alan Tutt and Harry Lederman's The Art Of Making Sussex Trugs won one of these certificates. Congratulations to Alan and Harry on this prestigious award.
Club meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month in St Luke's hall, Stone Cross, 7.30pm for 7.45pm. For further information telephone the hon secretary 461063 or e-mail harrylederman@tiscali.co.uk