Humphrey Park Cine & Video Club

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The group are not keen on titles or descriptions of what they are about ... they just get their creative juices going and have lots of fun making movies.

Humphrey Park Cine and Video Club has now changed its name simply to Humphrey Park, which is what we are always known as anyway. We felt the full title was a bit 1960's and a change might be refreshing. As we now meet in Stretford there was a feeling that Stretford should be in our title but the suggestion we became known as the Stretford Enders was firmly rejected by our more traditional members!

We now meet on the first available Monday of the month for a formal meeting, usually a film or video show or lecture. Other meetings take place in between this informally when we are working on film making projects or doing copies of films or videos for members. Discussion nights are usually very troublesome as we are a band of strong characters each with different viewpoints. However the collective talents of the group make for a fascinating mix and an incredible team to work with. We have nine members and have managed to exist with out having to pay a membership fee, surviving for the last three years on our winnings!

Latest Projects

We are currently working on the introduction film for UNICA 2003 and are finding it difficult to repeat last year's success. However most of the clips are in the can and we spent an interesting few hours at The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester filming " The Baby" (The replica of the World's first fixed program computer) and some of their very early steam and beam engines. The co-operation given by the museum staff was superb. Each member of staff knew to expect us and also that we were allowed to use our tripods! They even switched on the steam engines that we needed when asked.

For our part we took our IAC amateur status cards and a copy of our public liability policy to show we were aware of the dangers and covered for insurance. We also left a few magazines to show the work of the IAC. It is a great place to visit with camera but if you want to do real serious stuff (i.e. use a tripod etc) get in touch first. It is a real joy to work with such friendly and helpful people.

We have also completed another one minute film working with our visitor Afifah Rouillard who, along with her husband Richard, is part of the team running the highly successful Guernsey Lily Festival. It is surprising how much fun you can have on a sunny afternoon with a camera, a cup of tea and chat in the garden!

Afifah Rouillard and Val Ellis making the one minute film Afternoon Tea

Garth Hope and Val Ellis talking to one of the museum staff.

The museum staff was in charge of the three steam engines being filmed

Previous Productions

The team making their untitled millennium movie. Humphrey Park has a reputation for producing quirky, often humorous movies with bite. Behind their sometimes surreal productions there is often a serious message. If you don't like going beyond simple documentaries they are probably not for you ... but if you want to explore the art of movie making in a slightly off-beat way, beat a path to their door.

Possibly their best known work is the piece which they deliberately refuse to title, but which has won several competitions including the Mersey Ten. In it the Creator looks over space towards this planet, reviews what we have done with it ... and finds us wanting. The picture shows preparations to shoot Alan Cartwright in what can only be called the top of all leading roles.

What's more they have a way of winning prizes and applause. They even won a special UNICA Gold Medal for a film not in competition! (Details.)

Read about Blowing in the Wind - one of the UK official entries for UNICA 2003.

For the Guernsey Lily Competition 2002 they met the challenge of creating a movie about Victor Hugo on Guernsey - with almost no footage except a standard-8mm movie from 1977. William Davis drew images, Val Ellis trawled the internet for information and images, Garth Hope worked his magic with After Effects, friends helped with music advice and commentary. It didn't win in Guernsey ... but did in the Newcastle ACA 75th Anniversary Competition!

Pictures courtesy of Val Ellis.

Contact

Secretary on 0161 864 4603

Page updated on 21 March 2008

Authors' views are not necessarily those of The Institute of Amateur Cinematographers

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