Mark Newell
Biography
Born in Woking. Educated to A level. Worked in public and private sectors. Took early retirement to write. First attended NFT in the early 1960s. Joined to see films that were not being shown elsewhere. More recently became a BFI Library member. Main interest is in comedy. In 2001 petitioned the Board – with three others – about budget cuts and had meeting with Chair and Members. Have attended all Members' Meetings/Forums and continue to campaign on archive preservation and programming, inappropriate presentation of silents and needless "live performances" of sound films.
Supporting statement
The BFI should rewrite film history by challenging critical clichés, encouraging new research and screening a wider range of early film. It should also adhere to its cultural remit and avoid flirtations with commercialism such as its new DVD strand.
Exhibition
If BFI Southbank is the model for the proposed Film Centre, it needs:
- higher technical standards
- a more welcoming environment
- a direct link to information in BFI Library
- a fourth screen, raked and able to show film
- a more prominent exhibition space for materials from BFI Collections
- an expanded Filmstore with a wider selection of magazines
- Gallery installations more closely related to major seasons
- a more efficient Mediatheque, with new titles added when announced
- longer, more authoritative film seasons, less domination of the Guide by events, outside festivals and extended runs, and equal emphasis on world cinema, classics, archive rarities, British film-makers of all periods and contemporary film.
Membership
Members should have:
- special ticket offers for seasons, and longer programmes
- accurate information on how titles are to be screened (via film or DVD)
- a cloakroom and a quiet coffee area
- a clear complaints procedure with a fixed timetable for replies by staff
- a greater say on BFI programming and preservation policies
- regular opportunities for meetings with both BFI staff and Member Governors
- a chance to express their views on the content and design of the Film Centre
Preservation
As the 75th anniversary of the National Archive approaches, a new initiative is urgently needed to find "missing" British films, particularly those from the first half of the last century. The BFI should be proactive and use its website to advertise the most wanted titles. An Archive Day, Missing Believed Lost, should be held annually on the South Bank, doing the job for film that Missing Believed Wiped does for television.
Programming
One Archive night a month (Total Recall) is clearly inadequate while hundreds of viewing copies are stored in Berkhamsted awaiting their first showing on the South Bank. The BFI appears to lack real confidence in its greatest asset. It could save money by programming more seasons based on its collections. (The Mediatheque is an excellent idea but shouldn't be used as an excuse to avoid screening films as they were meant to be seen.)
Similarly the Treasures from the Archives section in the London Film Festival could be greatly expanded and spread over the year.
The BFI is currently showing hardly any silent films in its regular programme. They are said to incur more expense and attract smaller audiences than sound films. Meanwhile the Barbican has been drawing full houses for its silent screenings (and recently hosted the British Silent Film Festival and a Conference on the Sound of Early Cinema). There seems no reason though why the BFI, with its great traditions, its own expert accompanists and the help of adequate publicity, should not achieve similar results.
