The Ealing and Boston Manor Cine Club formed in 1964
The Ealing and Boston Manor Cine Club (EBMCC) came into existence. Formed by Alan Bunting and Gerry Erwin. Its members gathered at Ridley Hall, Ridley Road, to make movies and make them they did.
The sights set high, they chose to better the production of Lumiere's 1895 classic, "Watering the Garden".
Original storylines by club members were another option.
Then there was a lighter side with the club shifting into top gear and producing the award-winning "Drained".
The EBMCC standards were now such that even the mighty Kodak paid homage. They asked that the club make a film to demonstrate the quality of their new Super-8 film stock and "Thruxton" was the result.
The Triangle Competition
Then, in 1968, Ealing, Edgware and Watford clubs decided to compete annually against each other and together founded "The Triangle Competition".
Ealing hosted the first and made it a gala night indeed with TV personality, Kenneth Kendall, presenting the award to the winning club in front of 390 guests which included the mayors and mayoresses of all three towns.
Move to Evershed Sports and Social Club
Came January 1970, Ridley Hall caught fire and burned down. The fire forced a hurried retreat to temporary accommodation at Evershed Sports and Social Club. There were no black-out facilities but the bar was excellent!
Move to St. James Church Hall
After eight months with Evershed's the club moved on to St. James Church Hall, West Ealing. Perhaps a more sober venue was needed but the reverential tone of the new location failed to influence the content of the productions which continued unabated.
Move to The Odeon
Did the church cry "Enough!"? On the 4th of February 1971 the club moved on again this time to a location far more in keeping with its activities.
I wonder just how many people have passed through those doors into the fantasy-land of the film. But then, film is not just fantasy... it's an art form and one that attracts many to amateur movie-making.
I'm one of them and for me it all started at the Odeon, as it was then called, in Northfields. Not through its main doors but through a little one just round the corner which led to a room above the foyer and the Ealing and Boston Manor Cine Club.
Not much to see there now I'm afraid but through the 70s, that room buzzed with activity and interest. There were days when we had more in there than they had in the cinema downstairs.
I wonder just how many films we projected through its old box. And when they hit the screen what pleasure and sense of achievement they gave.
The Buntings and the Erwins sought pastures new and moved away to West Sussex. A new leadership, headed by Alan Foster, took up the controls.
For him, the Odeon was good but not good enough. He ruled the formal presentation of the best of the club's films now demanded a location in keeping with their quality.
Move to The Town Hall
Where else, but Ealing's Town Hall? And on Friday, the 19th of May 1972 this was the venue for the EBMCC's Best Film show.
Not only did he get the Town Hall but invited the film star, Jack Hawkins, to come along too and made him an honorary member of the club to boot.
By now, the club had mastered many of the facets of movie-making but not how to get Rin Tin Tin to co-operate. Dogs... just plain difficult!
Those that could afford to buy more than two fifty foot reels of film a year were now visiting lands more distant. The pleasures of such visits were recorded to be shown to envious audiences discovering the delights of foreign travel.
Then there was animation... completed one frame at a time.
There were now no bounds to the subjects members tackled. The club's production menu became like that of a fine restaurant where variety prevailed. and you only had to call up the order...
"Some day I thought I'll make a film
to realise an old ambition.
Then came the chance I'd waited for...
to enter my first competition."
Such desperate efforts were regularly put aside as we followed different pursuits. There were the great days out. The great nights too enjoyed by an ever-changing membership but the movies prevailed. Name it, the EBMCC won it. Films like "Beginner's Luck" producing classic performances.
Alan Foster then moved on to Dorset. Handing on the baton to Mike Kent. And leaving the EBMCC to annually fight the mighty Finchley Cine Society for the trophy he left behind.
Move to Greenford
Mike Kent, in turn, moved on. And the Odeon, determined to top the attendance figures gave its upstart tenant notice to quit. This took the club to Greenford.
As we entered the 80s movie-making continued apace. Bob Vloeburgh's "O Thou Mysterious Moon" winning a coveted IAC international award.
Science Fiction was now in so we made "Time Out" Such was our success with this that TV companies showed an interest.
Ealing Video & Film Makers
A new age had dawned... video was rapidly becoming the amateur's prime movie-making medium and in keeping with the times the EBMCC became the EVFM : the Ealing Video & Film Makers.
The introduction of computers, digital cameras and low-cost computer-editing programs finally freed the amateur. The obstacles that so often restrained ambitions or that involved so much painstaking ingenuity to overcome had been eradicated. Well... almost... there is the cantankerous computer itself to master. But, once having done that, full movie-making creativity is available to anyone seeking it, providing, of course, such creativity is within them.
Thus, the enthusiasm and efforts of the EVFM have never waned; movies continuing to be made with, as in the past, many to win prestigious national and international competitions.
And so Ealing Video & Film Makers continue to keep alive the movie-making traditions of Ealing.
Adapted from the transcript of the movie "The History of the Ealing Video and Film Makers" by Tony Keywood.
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