Home Movie Day News: November 2007 Archives

We’re passing on an announcement that may be of interest to small-gauge filmmakers out there:

The Rutgers Film Co-op/New Jersey Media Arts Center presents 2008 UNITED STATES SUPER 8 FILM & DIGITAL VIDEO FESTIVAL February 15-17, 2008 at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF ENTRIES: January 18, 2008 @ 5PM EST!

The 20th Annual United States Super 8mm Film + Digital Video Festival will be held February 15-17, 2008 at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey. The Festival encourages any genre (animation, documentary,experimental, fiction, personal, etc.), but the work must have predominantly originated on Super 8mm/8mm film or Digital video or 8mm video formats. All works will be screened by a panel of judges who will award over $4000 in prizes. Last year’s festival drew large audiences which viewed 22 finalist works out of 210 entries from throughout the world over three evenings. The Festival takes as its mandate the spreading of the 8mm and Digital word. For more information go to www.njfilmfest.com
or call us at 732-932-8482!

2008 United States Super 8 Film/Video Festival
Entry Procedure
There is a $45.00 non-refundable entry fee for each work under 50 min. and $75 for works over 50 min. submitted. Do not send cash. Make the check or money order payable to the Rutgers Film Co-op/NJMAC. Include with your entry: the entry fee; a completed entry form; a DVD or 1/2” VHS videocassettes for pre-screening, a self-addressed stamped postcard for notification of entry receipt; and a self-addressed stamped container for return of entry if desired. All entries must have originally been shot predominantly on Super 8/8mm film or Digital/Hi 8/8mm video. Digital works include HD, miniDV, DigiBeta, etc. Video transfers of films are accepted. Do not send originals or prints with many splices. For films, include your name and title on the outside of the film can as well as on the head and tail leader. For videotapes/dvds, include your name and title on both the tape/dvd box and the tape/dvd itself. Please do not send any entries in
fiber-filled mailing containers. Only finalists are notified in advance that their work is in the final screenings. The Rutgers Film Co-op/NJMAC will not be held responsible in the event of loss or damage to submitted work.

Check out the full details and use their online submission form
.

Jen Sidley of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History reports on the people and the films at the event she hosted on November 3

Robbie brought in footage of a 1953 African American river baptism near Jonestown, MS. The reel also depicted crop harvesting of cotton and corn and children picking pumpkins.

David brought in a box of films from his days teaching film at Alcorn State, a black college in Mississippi (late 70s to early 80s). Films depicted student life – working, studying, at leisure. Some reels were out-takes from student-made films. One reel depicting African American
quilting. One reel (S8 w/ sd) of Son Thomas sculpting in clay, singing the blues and playing guitar ca. 1982

Henry had always heard the story of how his mother dated the quarterback, and when the team (Duke) went to the Rose Bowl in 1938, the westbound train stopped in Hattiesburg, MS to pick her up. Duke lost the game, but Henry’s mother got to ride on a float in the parade. Unbeknownst to him until HMD, he had a film of her in the parade and on the train heading back east.

Rita brought in several reels of 16mm from the late 60’s depicting the South, especially Louisiana, New Orleans, and small towns in Mississippi, including footage of Braxton, MS after a hurricane.

Mary saw her children playing in Troy, NY from 1957

Heather watched her first Christmas (ca. 1980).

Greg had some student films he shot at UMass-Amherst during the late 70s. Greg describes them as avant garde and experimental. Scenes depicted were from western Massachusetts in the winter and around Boston in the spring (including the farmer’s market).

Greg also gets the award for best comedy for his student film, a fictional short called “The Great Banana Epic.” We watch as youth purchase and ingest bananas, then become susceptible to their mind-altering effects, until the diligent gun-toting rabbi comes along to straighten them out, dispose of the bananas, and cart the youth off in a boxy yellow 3-wheeled automobile. According to Greg, the car “inspired the whole thing.”

A few patrons brought in films that had mold on them. Mississippi is rather hot and humid, and we had a good talk about the effects of mold on film and how to deal with it.