Our new home - Trongate 103/Fifth Floor, Glasgow G1 5HD
Tel: 0141 553 2620 - Email: enquiries@g-mac.co.uk
This website is only temporary and will relaunch with a new site soon.
7 FOR 4 THATS A GOOD DEAL
Take advantage of the great deals that GMAC has for members.Ý Now available is our 7 DAYS HIRE for 4 DEAL. That's right, you can hire out anything for a week and ONLY PAY FOR 4 DAYS.
SUPER SAVING - All camera kits now include a free Tripod saving you £15 per day.
REEL WOMEN - THURSDAY 5TH AUGUST
GMAC will be taking a look at films produced by GMAC and made by women filmmakers in partnership with the Glasgow Women's library.
GMAC,
5th Floor,
Trongate 103, G1 5HD
Thursday 5th August
Doors open from 6.30, NO ADMITTANCE after 7
Admission is free
Edinburgh International Film Festival 2010 a Second Light perspective
written by Mark MacDonaldIt's film-watching, it's walking in the sunshine, it's looking out for famous faces, and it's finding that four-minute short that brought tears to your eyes. An attempt to sum up the myriad of elements that make up the Edinburgh International Film Festival is a near-impossible task. What stood out significantly is the amount of planning and dedication that goes into the organisation of such an event.
The 'What Will You Discover?' tagline attached to all the posters, leaflets and brochures is essentially what seems to be at the heart of the festival. It is what you make it. A key factor that became apparent during our experience is that time is short, and the films won't come to you. There really is no right or wrong way to do the festival, it is simply a case of throwing yourself into the calendar and deciding where you want to go.
As delegates, we had the opportunity to attend industry events as well as press screenings of a range of features and shorts. The videotheque proved a huge benefit to those of us running on tighter schedules, as it was essentially a database of every screened film ready for viewing at the touch of a button. Naturally, not the classic way to watch a film, but a great aid in getting the most out of our days there.
Networking was arguably one of the most practiced and successful aspects for the apprentices, and definitely beneficial, since it gave us the chance to promote both ourselves as new talent and bring GMAC into the spotlight. If anything, it is proof that there are opportunities out there for those who are up for the challenge, and our experience this year is only the starting point. With the right approach and attitude to the hard work ahead of us, EIFF 2011 could be where the explorers become the discovered.
CHEER UP SCOT
GMAC'S First Thursday event in July featured ELEANOR YULE'S 'Scots Miserabilsm'. The talk, illustrated with lots of clips of relevant Scottish work, went down a storm, sparking a lively debate.
ELEANOR YULE studied film at Glasgow and Bristol Universities, making her first network drama, IMPULSE, for BBC 10x10 series as a student. Her second drama, A SMALL DEPOSIT, was nominated for a UK BAFTA.
She has written and directed numerous drama documentaries, which include the successful series CRIMES THAT SHOOK THE WORLD (UK/US Discovery Channel) and SCOTTISH KILLERS for STV, which has been nominated for the 2010 Celtic Media Festival. Most recently she completed a 'comedy pilot' for the BBC featuring the popular Doric ensemble, 'DESPERATE FISHWIVES'.
Eleanor is also a teacher of screenwriting and has delivered courses and master classes all over Scotland. She was commissioned to write a paper on 'Scottish Miserablism' by the IFF and the Glasgow Centre of Population Health and gave it for the first time in February 2010.
The emphasis of Eleanorís talk is that "we" as Scots replicate our films with the same dark, gritty oppressive themes. Trainspotting is a classic example of this: celebrating how awful life is in Scotland, with young people blighted by drugs, violence and HIV. This is in contrast to the 'Tartan and Shortbread' vision of the Scottish hero as a whisky guzzling, sword dancing, kilt-wearing fighter.
Eleanor puts forward the argument: why do we see ourselves as the underdogs, both culturally and socially? Why do we find it difficult to celebrate our creativity and industry?
Although the argument is substantial that we do make miserable films, Eleanor also looks at the films that arenít all doom and gloom, stating that we do have a rich culture in comedy, music and drama. Her inspired use of a clip from the US feature film 'Juno' 2007 Dir. Jason Reitman illustrates a successful comedy that deals with the serious issues of teenage pregnancy and relationships. This is a story that could easily have been set in Scotland, but we struggle to depict these stories out with the 'miserablist' context.
Want to share your views: please join the GMAC Facebook fan page and join in the debate
GMAC to the Future - new digital equipment for hire
GMAC is very proud to announce that the new digital equipment has arrived and available for hire. Please phone GMAC on 0141 553 2620, to enquire about the hire of the new digital equipment.
Membership is available now from GMAC and entitles you to rental of our equipment.
- Download Facilities Hire pdf (152kb)
- Download Equipment Rate Card pdf (444kb)
- Download Membership Application Form pdf (180kb)
PRINCE'S TRUST
Get Started in Media is a course run with The Princes Trust, aimed at boosting young peopleís self-esteem and communication skills, as well as giving a behind the scenes look into the world of broadcasting.
The programme aims to improve communication skills and confidence; giving young people a basic understanding of presenting skills, as well as addressing issues such as self-esteem, articulation, body language and appearance. The ambition of the course is to make a real difference to young peoples lives. GMAC also provides participants with technical training in camera and sound operation both in studio and on location, as well as tips on conducting topical research and interview and reporting techniques.
I'LL HAVE MY CAFE FLICKER DEEP FRIED PLEASE
Café Flicker was deep fried in July!
Martin Greechan hosted the night, showcasing the Deep Fried Film festivals previous films, including a Glasgow made Manga style animation used to promote MTV Japan's award ceremony. The evening was also an opportunity to network with the filmmakers and the Deep Fried Film Festival's organisers.
Festival Director, Martin Greechan, conceived the DEEP FRIED FILM FESTIVAL in 2005. He was teaching a full time media course when he had the idea of screening the students' work under the banner of The Deep Fried Film Festival. The night was a success. Martin then built on this success with the concept for a full-blown international festival that would showcase films from around the world, helping stimulate the film industry in Lanarkshire and its surrounding areas. Martin set up the site deepfriedfilm.org.uk and within two weeks of being up and running, the festival had received its first submission BATCH from Dublin. The festival, now in its fifth year, receives international press and has grown year on year.
The Deep Fried Film Festival aims to develop the talent and skills of filmmakers, by encouraging best practice amongst filmmakers and promoting relationships between filmmakers and production companies. By involving the local community, raising awareness of independent film and creating filmmaking opportunities the Deep Fried Film Festival intends to help filmmakers get access to the necessary practical and theoretical resources. This helps the filmmakers realise their abilities and promote themselves to a larger audience.
GMAC would like to offer the Deep Fried Film our congratulations and wish Martin and his team all the best for Deep Fried Film Festival 2010.
CAFÉ FLICKER
See your films on the big screen? Join GMAC for CAFÉ FLICKER the 1st Wednesday of every month (next screening Wednesday 3rd February) for our screening and networking event. Please submit any work you would like to have screened in advance. Screenings from 7pm-10pm
April
April's Café Flicker was a remarkable event: for the first time in GMAC history,
Café Flicker had three winners! The screening event hosted a huge variety of short films from a music video made for ìThe Prodigyî to a time lapse of mould and rust growing in a car...
The three winners were:
"My Year in the Hills" by Sandy Boutall, Director/Writer/Animator: an animation
about a manís year away from his Mum to get some Hollywood stardom.
"Caf Fiend" by Andy Mallon: a twisted comedy tale of love, deceit and
coffee. Just be scared then next time you hear "I'd kill for a cup of coffee"
"Edgar Allen Poe's: the Spirits of the Dead" by Charmaine Gilbert: a
beautifully haunting drama based around an Allen Poe poem.
May
May saw our first ever Café Flicker focus event on Animation. The standards of animation were incredibly high, with some really outstanding work.
Winner Rob Zwietz showcased 3 different styles of animation: "Posthaste" "Bussipysäkki" and "Fields of Vision").
June
Finally congratulations to "Dingodogfilms" Director Les Armstrong with his drama/comedy "39.997": the film won our Café Flicker June showcase. The film follows a man on the brink of 40 hence 39.997, looking back at his life and contemplating his future as a dirty old man.
For twenty-six years GMAC has supported and developed independent film makers and the community through access to low cost facilities, equipment and high quality training and production opportunities.
GMAC provides a central space and resource for all people interested in film and media. The organisation aims to be a bridge between local communities and the screen industries by providing opportunities and accessible resources for all.
GMAC is a significant partner in the development and nurturing of new film making talent from across Scotland and has a strong track record in supporting access to the film industry through its multi award winning short film production initiatives. It also provides training, low cost hire of production facilities and equipment and networking events such a 'Café Flicker' which enables filmmakers to screen their work and discuss it with other film makers. An important strand of GMAC's work is carried out by the '2nd Unit', which enables individuals, groups and organisations who are under represented to gain access to moving image media through training, workshops and support to make their own films.
The enhanced surroundings and resources at GMAC's new home in Trongate 103 will enable the organisation to provide a better and more accessible service to wide range of participants and audiences.