Slack Video at the Lamp - Monday 12th April 04 By Gail Anthony

This is the third Slack Video night I've been to. And the best, in my opinion. And what do I know? Slack Video is where a bunch of local film makers show off their skills. Slack is all about the audience's views on local films. Everyone will have their own favourite.

They are organised once a month at The Lamp, the next on 10th May. In the first half, there was a mixture of dramatic offerings, animations and humorous creations.

Old Nick, made by Stef and Gemma, was beautifully shot, and looked very professional. Stef, in her 3rd year of TV & Film Design, said: It's a good chance to show your work instead of trying to get it into a film festival, which could take months. It's something worthwhile to put on my CV, and great for entertainment value. You get to see what other film makers are doing locally, too.

The best animation of the night, I thought, was Dreamwalker, a brilliantly atmospheric offering, which pleased the rest of the crowd too. And I must not forget to mention Cul-de-Sac, which was cleverly done, and kept me gripped, which is quite difficult usually, due to the background noise of chattering and clinking glasses. Siblings Ali and Ed contributed with their spoof sci-fi piece, The Planet of the Robots. I loved this, but then I am biased - I'm on the credits for providing the pigeonoid!

Ed commented: Slack is not snobby and elitist like some film showings. It's certainly open to someone like myself who is doing a spoof piss-take, or the other end of the spectrum, like arthouse stuff. Plus you can have a beer while you're watching!

After a break where the audience replenished their drinks, we were shown short arthouse films. It's always difficult in the second half - people are getting ready to go off to clubs, or get home for some kip before the next working day, and the audience diminishes. Of course, because I was doing the review, I was watching avidly!

I enjoyed Aurelie's film, Temperature. The French accent and subtitles made it hauntingly beautiful. Unfortunately, having to look at subtitles when you're half-cut is understandably quite difficult. Pete, sat in the audience, said of some of the arthouse offerings: It's just self-indulgent - I want to at least identify with it!

And I can see his point. The film makers project is their baby, and from their perspective. So it's not always going to be the most riveting thing to sit through if the subject is not something you are interested in. That's why Slack Video is great - you can always wander off and get another beer, or have a game of pool in the back room of the Lamp if you get bored.

Quinny's film, Untitled, was one of the best films of the arthouse bunch. And rightly so - Quinny and his friend Gary organise the night. Gary said: All information is approximate, (Eh? Well, he is a film maker!). Quinny recommended Slack: Because you can't smoke in a real cinema. And you need somewhere new to get pissed! Cheers, lads! Looking forward to the next Slack Video night....

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