The Joe Kay Trophy Comes Home

By Breda Quirke, Publicity Officer

Read the press release.

See some photos of the winners.

On Monday 29 January 2001, Borehamwood Camcorder Club won the Joe Kay Trophy after losing it to Harrow Cine and Video Society for the previous five years. Joe Kay was a member of the Edgware Amateur Cine Society in the 1960s who was well known for the entertaining films he made. When he died in 1968, Borehamwood & District 8mm Cine Club (as we were then known) presented a trophy in his memory, to be competed for annually by the two clubs. The first competition was held in Edgware on Wednesday 30 April 1969. Due to the closure of the Edgware club in 1995, most of the members joined the Harrow Video and Cine Society. As a result of this, it was decided that the competition would continue between Borehamwood and Harrow.

Each club presents a programme of films or videos, which are to last no longer than 40 minutes. These programmes are judged on the entertainment value alone, by four independent judges who are not involved in film making. Two nominated by each club. The judges were John and Maureen Pearce nominated by Borehamwood and Joy O'Donnell and Nazeer Kwaja nominated by Harrow. With two programmes of very high standard, the judges had a very difficult job to decide the winner.

Borehamwood's programme consisted of five films.

1. The Benchwatchers of Borehamwood. (Script and stills) A Group Production. This comedy spoof about a train spotter who gave up train spotting which got too hectic for him became a benchwatcher instead, was written by Steve Pemberton and directed by Fraser Brown. This has been a very successful film for the club. It won the 1998 HACCA competition, and also won a Silver Seal in the IAC's Movie 2000.
2. The Tower by Dennis Edwards. An enlightening documentary about the Eiffel Tower, and the Architect who designed it, Gustav Eiffel.
3. New Millennium, New Hobby by John Eakins. John shows us his new aviary complete with budgies and quails. Two of the budgies decided to start a family. Five chicks were reared successfully and the hen went to to rear three more chicks with a different cock.
4. Six Past Four by Steve Pemberton. (Lyrics, stills and RealAudio) A pop video which Steve made with the help of Breda Quirke and Veronica Browne, for one of his own songs which he performs in the video. This won a Bronze Seal in the IAC's Movie 2000.
5. Around The World In Four Days by Peter and Barbara Norman. Peter and Barbara show us Las Vegas with its amazing hotels. Each hotel is themed on a different place in the world. The Venetian Hotel, themed on Venice, boasts an indoor canal complete with gondola rides. This film was also the winner of the club's Film of the Year 2000.

Harrow Cine and Video Society showed six films:

1. Gruyere by Norman Lewis. Norman visits the village of Gruyere and its famous cheese-making plant which still make the cheese using traditional methods.
2. A Night at the Opera by Ludwig Levy. Ludwig travels to the city of [fill in] in Brazil which was once one of the richest cities in the world due to its rubber production. One of its past glories is its beautiful Opera House.
3. Water Water by Ken Mills. In this very humorous little film, Ken shows the floods in his garden and basement due to his blocked drains, and the difficult job he had to persuade his local council to come and fix them.
4. Patio Pleasures by Jean Biskeborn. Jean, who lives in a flat above a shop, turns the little space at the back into a beautiful patio garden.
5. 180,000 Lakes by Alan Colgrave. As well as the 180,000 lakes and saunas, Finland hosts The World Husband and Wife Race. The "husband" has to run carrying his "wife" (who has to be over 17 but not necessarily his wife) over an obstacle course. The old piggy-back style is giving way to the new style of the "wife" being carried upside down with her legs on the "husband's" shoulders. This can be very tricky when they have to go through waist-high water. As well as a trophy the winner receives the weight of his "wife" in beer.
6. Gigue by Harry Mason. This very short film is computer images set to music.

Would you like one of your films to represent Borehamwood Camcorder Club next year? Come along to Room 3, The Community Centre, Allum Lane on Monday nights at 8 pm, or visit our web site at http://www.borehamwoodcamcorderclub.org.uk