FOR 90 years, a group of amateur film-makers have been meeting up in Bradford to write, shoot and produce their own big screen productions.
Bradford Movie Makers are one of the world’s oldest amateur film-making clubs. Their story was highlighted beautifully in acclaimed documentary A Bunch of Amateurs, which was nominated for a Bafta. The film, an award-winning international hit, had standing ovations in cinemas and led to a growing fanbase for the historic club.
Now there’s a chance to visit the Movie Makers at their open day this weekend. Visitors can find out how members archive old films, and watch footage from the club’s archive, dating back to 1934.
From family holidays to a film about pre-war Bradford in places such as John Street Market and Lister Park, these fascinating films offer a snapshot of local history. Members are currently digitising the archive, to preserve it, but it’s a long, painstaking process and they need more funding. “There are 300 films plus VHS tapes and DVDs. Years of work to finish,” says Dave Marshall, from the archive team.
Bradford Cine Circle was established in 1932 by a group of enthusiasts who made films using monochrome 9.5mm and 16mm film stock. Membership grew in the 1960s with cheaper Standard 8, then Super 8 colour film. Analogue video cameras appeared in the 1980s, then cam camcorders. The group became Bradford Cine and Video Club, then in 2010 Bradford Movie Makers.
The club makes films for competitions and festivals. People hand in old family films too, and following the success of A Bunch of Amateurs these donations have increased. “Old films are often hidden away in attics, but film has to be kept at the right temperature or it deteriorates,” says Craig Sands from the archive team. “These films are social history. It’s life as it was lived, through amateur film - from a day out in Blackpool to weddings, christenings, holidays.”
The archive team goes through all the films and catalogues them. “Some of the footage people bring in is incredible,” says Jeremy Norman. “Home movies are culturally very interesting. There’s a lot of fiction film too.”
The club meets in a former stable block in Little Horton. It has a cinema, a studio, green screen room, writers’ room and kitchen - where cups of tea and biscuits provide fuel for the movie makers.
The club has always embraced technology - members were shooting in colour in the 1960s when most amateur film was still shot in black and white - and is always working on projects. Members bring their own skills; there are writers, directors, actors and actor/film-makers.
Colin Egglestone, 90, is the oldest member. He has loved film-making since he was five, when his grandad gave him a projector. “When I joined (in 1976) the place was full, we had 80 members,” recalled Colin.
Now the club wants to attract younger members too, to keep it going. “Bradford is the world’s first City of Film, and we’re part of its film heritage,” says Craig. “People get in touch to say ‘My grandad used to be a member’. Now we hear from film clubs all over the world.”
* The Bradford Movie Makers Open Day is on Sunday, July 28, from 2pm-6pm, at Cambridge House, Back Russell Street, Bradford. Tea, coffee and biscuits, and club merchandise, will be available.
For tickets go to www.tickettailor.com/events/bradfordmoviemakers/
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