That's a wrap for 2025 - club meeting 4 December

President David opened the indro Hall meeting at 7.35pm and welcomed another big roll up with just over 30 members and visitors with apologies from Peter W, Neil and Val.

Brisbane Celtic Festival  To kick off the night, Ian Campbell showed a short film of last year’s Brisbane Celtic Festival at Moorlands Park, Auchenflower. The video by a team of club members captured the culture, music, rhythm and energy of the eight Celtic Nations. It was used as a promotion for this year’s festival held in October which Ian said attracted four thousand visitors, double the number who attended last year’s festival.

President’s Report  David thanked Noel for his efforts throughout the year preparing the hall for our meetings, cleaning up and putting things away afterwards. David said Noel was usually the first and last person at the club meetings. His appreciation was echoed by members and guests with a round of applause.

The Dome David mentioned that he was planning a trip to Robbie Lushere’s “demonstration Dome" at Casuina in the Tweed Shire and invited members to join him. He reminded members that Robbie has invited club members to contribute new content footage for his Dome project.

Looking back over 2025 David gave a quick wrap up of the Club’s activities this year…. Peter’s ME porject and highly successful Green Room project. David’s Smoke and Mirrors project. He also paid tribute to immediate past president Jenn for her contribution which was sadly cut short by personal tragedy.

Looking ahead to 2026, David said Joel had agreed to take over the club’s Social Meda activities and would be looking at a ‘mind mapping’ exercise in the early new year to flesh it out.

Artificial Intelligence David played the audio he created with AI for the video Boiled Frog (version 4). Utilising the SUNO “for music creators’ AI program, David’s solo guitar efforts were transformed into a full orchestral version Incredibly impressive.

Speaking of AI produced videos, David mentioned a comedy series called Deep Fake Neighbour Wars” which uses deep fake to create a fictional world where “the world’s most famous celebrities happen to be embroiled in petty silly neighbour disputes”, except that the ‘celebrities’ are ‘deep fake impressionists. It’s currently available on SBS OnDemand and on YouTube.

Another film bite was a trailer for a non-verbal documentary film called Baraka. It was made in 1992 by Ron Fricke and explores ‘humanitty and the planet”. David described it as “a cinema experience unlike any other”. Very confronting and powerful.

UGG competition The club’s UGG competition with the theme “Light and Dark” drew only one entry but it was a cracker. It was produced by Bala who revealed he had finished editing only an hour before coming to the meeting. The movie was about a woman settling in alone for a night of television, pop corn and a sip of wine, She was alarmed by a report of a stalker in the neighbourhood. It was well acted, well shot, well lit and it built the tension. A definite worthy winner of the UGG award.

Quiet Achievers preview Glenn showed a preview of some of the films being made for the Quiet Achievers project… among them, a feature on Peter W, Brisbane Playback Theatre. This is a project that is well underway and truly inspirational for both the subject matter and the filming experience.

Screenplay software Heather talked about the screenplay called Australia Awake which she has written for the Smoke and Mirrors project. It was inspired by a book of photographs which captured what was happening in Australia on one particiular day. While the work is still in its formative stage Heather explained she has been using a specialised screenwriting software program called Fade In. She said it cost $140 but it was so simple to use and the time it saved her was well worth it. Heather demosntrated how it easily conformed into a professional working script.

Table Read To wrap up the business end of the meeting, Joel and cast did a ‘table read’ for script another Smoke and Mirrors project. This was a movie which David described as an ‘exploration of someone’s life’, a film about the ‘concept of euthanasia’. It was confronting, but certainly a subject which reflects discussions in today’s society.

Table Feed From a table read we segued smoothly and enthusiastically into a table feed with more than enough nibbles and drinks to see us out of 2025.

To all who particiapted in club activities throughout the year, club members, visitors, guests, we wish you safe holidays and look forward to welcoming you back at our first club meeting

for 2026 on the third Thursday of January.