© Medway Film Makers

Incorporating Medway Camcorder Club

2009

From space ships to tall ships, from filming sound to radio plays - even to changing a name. Born Medway Camcorder Club in 1991, the title was changed in 2008 to Medway Film Makers. After eighteen years, members felt that a change of name was needed. Things had been a bit nomadic, moving from its first home in what was Chatham Town Hall,

to Chatham High Street, to Rochester Riverside, a community centre, a school, and even a working men’s club. Finally, in 2008, the club found its current home in the Davis Estate Community Centre, Chatham, which fits the bill beautifully. We changed the club name to Medway Film Makers, to signal a new start.

There have been some significant milestones along the way. The first film made by the Club was at Chatham Town Hall, where, with Medway Arts Centre, in 1991, it made the remarkable, and for its time, ingenious film “Carry on Down the Medway”, with the leading character an alien from outer space arriving in the Town Hall Car Park in a public toilet!. In 2002, members filmed the dramatic arrival of a fleet of tall ships and even went out in the Medway estuary to film such vessels as the mighty Sedov, from Ukraine.

2004-5 saw Meway Film Makers on the road with the Mayoral team - a year in which Club members were invited to accompany the incumbent during a full year of Mayoral activities, such as the Citizenship ceremonies, ship-board swearing of Freeman of the river, apprentice fishermen, and even a woman being enrolled. They also filmed the Archbishop of Canterbury opening Christchurch University at Chatham Maritime. The club has made various filmed dramas, documentaries and comedies, and won a number of awards.

From outer space (above) to the high seas (right)

Working with the Mayor

Putting on the sound

Putting on the paint

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