Learning what to do "when things go wrong"

(we've all been there)

BMM CLUB MEETING 7 AUGUST 2025

Glenn opened the meeting at 7.30pm welcoming 13 members and five guests Kay, Leanne, Minelli, Gareth and Duncan. Peter W sent an apology.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEEETING: The AGM will be held at the Indooroopilly Hub on Thursday 21 August at 7.30pm. Secretary Paul has sent out an official notice including nomination forms and proxy voting forms. Treasurer Nigel reminded members that only members who were fully paid up would be eligible to nominate as for committee positions and vote for committee members. He reminded members that membership fees $80 for individual and family membership and $40 for country members and students.

FILM BITE Glenn asked the question "who has been on a shoot when things go wrong".

Pretty much all of us. He presented a compilation of stuff ups on “When things went hilariously wrong in movies” which shows that things go wrong even for professionals such as Leo Di Caprio, Arnold Schwarzenegger and the monkey in Pirates of the Caribbean and the groundhog in “Groundhog Day”. Looking at the comments on YouTube it seems even the creators of the compilation ‘got it wrong’ when they wrongly attributed a stuff up in the movie Wet Hot American Summer to the actor slipping in the mud rather than tripping on a rope. Can’t win them all. So don’t feel so bad when things go wrong on our productions. You’re not alone.

Quiet Achievers of Brisbane. The Quiet Achievers project is well underway. Glenn has finished on project and there are three others on the go. Glenn showed a clip from his project which is a profile of Peter Waterman “to show the vibe” of what is being proposed. Nigel is in production of a profile on Ross Stenhouse. It’s planned to show the finished projects around October.

Glenn also advised that he has sent a letter to the Queensland School of Film and Television inviting their students film makers to collaborate on the Quiet Achievers of Brisbane project either as part o their program or by encouraging their students “to have a go in their own time with the support of Brisbane Movie Makers”. Glenn said he planned to send similar invitations to other organisations.

Gympie Railway Station shoot. Murray and Nigel went on a shoot recently to film a scene for Sally Elliot’s production Because of the War. It was shot at Gympie Railway Station using the Mary Valley Rattler as the background. Murray was asked to also shoot some vision to present to the Mary Valley Heritage railway as a ‘thank you’ and for their promotional purposes. Two cameras were used – one with good quality audio, the other with sound-on-camera to sync in editing. Murray talked about the extensive detail Sally provided in the ‘call sheet’ and handed out copies of the sheet so that members who haven’t been involved in such a detailed process can see how much work goes on behind the scenes before the first frame is shot.

Smoke and Mirrors David Wright spoke about the project and some of the feedback he had from the meeting he organised at the Regatta Hotel. He is looking at episodes around live footage (featuring real people), animation, non -narrative. David said he is hoping to present a ‘proper pitch’ for the pilot episodes of Smoke and Mirrors series at our next meeting on 21 August. He urged members to have a look at the Netflix series Love Death and Robots which reflect the style of movies he is hoping can be created for Smoke and Mirrors. Some of the episodes contain some amazing computer graphics. He also showed a short film called Desserts made in 1999 starring Ewan McGregor before he became famous. It has a great twist. David made the point that Netflix which would be his primary target has specific policies for films, as opposed to YouTube ‘where anything goes’.

How to make a shot list. Glenn gave a presentation on the need and value of making a shot list, story board or both. He went through many of the ways in which a producer can convey what is needed in a shot list including the type shot required – close up, extreme close up, medium shot, wide shot, zoom, pan, tilt etc, as well as the camera tools needed - lenses, filters, dolly, drone, crane, gimbal, go pro etc. Glenn made the point “if you want to tell the story the best way you can, look professional, maximise every resource”. Glenn also showed a video “How to Make a shot List for Film”. As a practical exercise, Glenn handed out a script he has written and invited members to work out what shots and/or resources they would recommend (and give him some ideas that he could use in the shoot).

The next meeting on 21 August will begin with the Annual General Meeting at 7.30pm, followed by the club meeting at 8pm. Lots being planned for that, so keep across the club’s website for details. At this stage, we Peter W will be looking at his “Me’ project, taking about special effects with AI. Nigel will be talking about “B roll shots. This will be a practical project so bring your camera gear along.

And looking further ahead, our first meeting in September will be a club shoot at the Hub where we will be filming “Grandma’s Nuts”. If you weren’t at last Thursday’s meeting, you’ll have to wait to see what that’s all about.

The club meeting closed at 9.36pm.