AV News 178 - November 2009
On this occasion the members in attendance were not up to full strength which
perhaps gave the opportunity for participation by all. A majority had brought
either laptops or sound recording equipment as invited.
Valerie Rawlins FRPS had volunteered to "co-ordinate" activities for the day
and had thrown herself into the task with her usual intense and infectious
enthusiasm, producing detailed plans for the layout of tables and equipment
and then proceeding to provide general guidance on the task, the aims and
objectives. Tables were set up in the four corners of the Hall, each with access
to power points and with one or two laptops loaded with PicturesToExe and
some form of sound recording equipment and Robert Albright FRPS had set up
more specialised equipment in a separate room, if required.
Valerie then proceeded to outline the protocol for the day, that members
should form a team for each table, preferably combining abilities, in operation
of computers, script-writing, music selection and recording, the aim being to
share ideas, techniques and methods, seek strengths and abilities, that all
actions, shortcuts and tips should be shared, especially that precious
commodity, enthusiasm. It was also emphasised that this was NOT a
competition. Three sets of images depicting Lyme Regis, Cuba and a
miscellaneous collection, a total of forty-five were screened for all to view, then
made available to each team with the challenge of making an AV not longer
than five minutes, using a random selection from any group.
Teams of four or five members quickly formed and the room literally buzzed
as everyone got cracking, identifying who could do what and settling down to
work. Valerie hovered and visited each team, picking up tips in order to produce
a compilation for future reference by all members. Ideas came thick and fast
with much hilarity as selections were made from among the images and
decisions made with regards to the tone and structure of each production. Even
the lunch break was cut short as members hurried back to the task and by
3p.m. three sequences had been completed, the fourth delayed by the usual
technical hitch but which was overcome by one of our visitors !! (Now a member)
1. "A Day At The Sea" was a biopic of Lyme Regis, depicting a lazy day
wandering around the attractive streets, shops and sea-front full of people, with
a light musical accompaniment and voice-over at the beginning and end.
2. " No title" The team had mixed the images to construct a story based on
Lyme Regis and the coast, two bikers robbing a Post Office and involving a
Cuban refugee !!
3. "A C Չ