A very brief look at the last 65 years of Wulfrun Camcorder Club - now called Wolverhampton Film Makers

THE EARLY DAYS

Exhibition at the Savoy Cinema
The club started life in 1948 as Wolverhampton Cine Club.

The first meeting was held in a room in an independent chemists' shop at the top of Snow Hill. A few meetings later, the club moved to a room at "The Bull" public house in Temple Street. There were a few lady members at that time, but in those days, it was unbecoming for a lady to be seen in a public house. This caused embarrassment, so one by one they left the club. As a result, other premises had to be found. This time to the Black and White chambers on the corner of Darlington Street and Waterloo Road in the town centre. Wolverhampton Photographic Society had a room in the building and kindly allowed Wolverhampton Cine Club the free use of the room.

It’s easy to think that to be a successful film maker in those days you needed nothing more than a pair of scissors, clothes pegs to hang the separate clips and some film cement to reassemble them.

However it’s clear from this early picture of an exhibition of members’ cine equipment held in the Savoy Cinema that there was a considerable use of technology even then. Looking at the background you can see that the club’s logo dates back to the club’s formation although the cameraman’s bowler hat has long since disappeared!

First Open Evening - 1948

In March 1948 an advert appeared in the gossip column of the "Express and Star" inviting anyone interested in joining a cine club to get in touch with Fred Nokes. That was the beginning of Wolverhampton Amateur Cine Club and Fred Noakes was the founder member.

From the beginning the club was very successful and could attract large audiences to its presentations of members’ films. This group here are waiting for the start of the club’s very first open evening held during its first year at the Gas Showroom in Darlington Street.

The next move was to Compton Grange, Compton Road. By this time, the title of the club had changed. It was now Wulfrun Cine Club. This proved to be an excellent move because although the building belonged to Wolverhampton Council, it was rarely used, therefore the club had the run of the entire house and many excellent films were made there.

Love on the Links

There was a busy programme of club film making. One project was the making of a road safety film “Live and Let Live” for local school children. Another project was the filming of “Love on the Links” – the story of a young man’s difficulties in trying to woo his beloved.

There has been talk recently of making this film again - with modern equipment of course.

These days, club members use video rather than film, making the hobby considerably cheaper than when we had to buy expensive film stock.

Some of these early films still survive and are shown as club film shows occasionally.

Filming the Annual Fiesta - 1976

In 1976 the club was commissioned by the then Wolverhampton Corporation to make a film of the town’s annual Fiesta.

Club members filmed the various events including a demonstration by the Sealed Knot Society, an RAF helicopter display as well as the various floats and processions.

CHANGING TECHNOLOGY

With the gradual change from cine to video the club became firstly Wulfrun Cine and Video Club and then, in 1993, changed the name to Wulfrun Camcorder Club. To keep abreast of the times, in 2014, the name was again changed to Wolverhampton Film Makers, which more accurately reflects what we do.

The club continues to flourish and to make films for the community. In the Millennium year it used five video cameras to record a stage production by Wolverhampton schoolchildren, and more recently recorded a presentation on Wolverhampton history given by the History and Heritage society and also has produced material for a local charity.

To keep its members abreast of current technology is has a full programme of talks and demonstrations as well as several opportunities for “Hands on” experiences. In addition there is a full programme of competitions and other occasions when members can sit and watch amateur video productions. The Club is affiliated to the IAC – the Film and Video Institute and regularly projects films from the IAC archive on to it’s huge 10 foot video screen. If you love films or film-making you will fit right in at Wulfrun Camcorder Club.

Now heading fast towards it's 70th year Wolverhampton Film Makers continues to attract a loyal group of members who enjoy the challenges of amateur film making. Why not call in and see if you would like to join us? You will be made very welcome.

AN EARLY MEMBERSHIP CARD

Long-standing member Harry Brown has recently show us his membership card from 1952. It is interesting to see how things have changed since then, especially the membership fee of one guinea!

THE PRESENT DAY

After so many years since 1948, the club is still going strong and hosts many lively and interesting meetings every Friday evening.

Please get in touch with us click here

To download our current programme click here