The Reelshow..

 Some years ago my wife, Mary Lou Clarke and I set up a website to show student film makers Graduation films.

Why?...

During my years as a Director of Photography on hundreds of TV/Film shows I was always asked by new additions to my film crews..they were always called 'Trainees' if I couls spare the time to look at their graduation films..I didnt have the time really but I crammed them all in somehow.

When I asked the Trainees who had actually seen their creative efforts they invariably told me that their parents, grand parents and very close friends were the only ones they could force to watch.As usual the many agencies were not interested and wouldnt even accept the tapes or discs.

I knew how much effort and dreams had gone into those Showreels..it was a shame that no-one ever saw them.

So we set up a site where any graduate or avid film maker could upload to a Social media page and the world could see their creative efforts.The results were astonishing.  We had films from every corner of the globe..Some were fantastic ..some were ok and some were dire...no matter,  they al got an appreciated showing on The Reelshow.We ran International Show cases..Had financialprizes..small ones.. and the films just flooded in.

  Mary Lou did the organisation and we employed a massive server unit in America to stream the films on request..Lotsa fun..

Unfortunately at that time the world was hitting some bad times economically.. costs were always rising and we never charged anyone for the site..eventually a large organisation began to take over the idea, paid money and naturally the students moved there. We cut our finacial losses and closed the site..

A sad loss but  we often wonder how many of the students went on into the industry and found their dream job..We hope it was many of them. 

 Maybe we should re-start 'The Reelshow' ..Part two.. on Chelsy Swann