{"id":10524,"date":"2025-09-23T17:16:20","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T16:16:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/filmcheltenham.online\/?p=10524"},"modified":"2025-09-23T17:16:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T16:16:20","slug":"festivals-galore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmcheltenham.online\/index.php\/2025\/09\/23\/festivals-galore\/","title":{"rendered":"Festivals Galore"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It’s all been happening and not happening in the febrile fan-dance of Film Festival Central the last few days. But there is<\/em> movement. #OldFest<\/a> has had a number of disappointments as various venues, guests, etc have dropped out. I would like to clarify some those things but try getting anyone on the phone in the era of Shirking From Home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s what I am most concerned with today<\/em>. I made the poster and a few flyers this morning and got them printed. Marketing spend, approx \u00a340. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Do come along. IT’S TOMORROW. If not, you can help us by downloading this file and printing it for your friends or passing it on. Samizdat<\/em>. Or punk publishing. Choose your own analogy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neil is a nice guy, he does a wonderful show and he is a walking encyclopaedia on silent film. Last time I saw him it was at the Town Hall with Paul Merton accompanying Harold Lloyd’s Safety Last.<\/em> This time it’s the 1925 version of Phantom of the Opera<\/em> with Lon Chaney. Fantastic! I will be there to encourage. I’ve found some files to make 3D printed masks. Unfortunately, I can barely make my HP inkjet work for more than a day. If anyone has a 3D printer, I’m happy to pass on the material. There are wonderful things to be found on the relevant page at the Internet Archive.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feel free to come in character. I always do. But what character should I choose? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The eagle-eyed will have noticed the lack of branding on my poster. That’s my protest. From now on, my two teenage superstars and myself will be concentrating on one film at a time and not pursuing anyone’s grand vision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Successful (and less successful) events so far: North by Northwest <\/em>and Sauvage<\/em> at the Sherborne Stuntman Rick and The Batman<\/em> at The Playhouse; Shaun of the Dead<\/em> at the Bottle of Sauce; Scrapper<\/em> at Charlton Kings Film Society; The Last Showgirl <\/em>at The Barn, Cirencester. More coming; we are improvising and working fast. ‘Work Fast And Make Things’, as none of our Techlords ever said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, well done Julius and co for putting on ther concert of film music at The Princess Hall. I dropped in at the end and people seemed very happy. It was well-attended. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, #NewFest <\/a>has produced its programme. Lots of interesting stuff. But they can do their own publicity. This is a festival for the usual white, middle-class, well-heeled, elderly, somewhat depressed arts-enthusiasts of Gloucestershire. I wish them luck. I am for change, not keeping things the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over in terrifying Gloucester, meanwhile, my lovely friend Dan Liu and I did our Chinese and English poetry show in Kings Square and had a lot of fun. I intend to do more. We even got a couple of people sporting civic regalia to have a listen. Su Shi, Li Bai, Robert Frost, Ivor Gurney. I like breaking down barriers and finding common ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here’s my handout for the day. I have to say setting and proof-reading Chinese was a challenge, as was editing MIDI to produce backing music. We are here to learn, and I like it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n