RAFAS

By Matt Klein, writing for City Magazine on June 26th, 2007

The amateur filmmaking scene has changed dramatically since the dawn of the YouTube age; now a lone person with a camera can reach millions of viewers. But there’s still strength in numbers, and here in Rochester, Stan Main has put out a casting call for all area “movie makers” – aspiring writers, directors, actors, composers, set designers, etc. – hoping to get people interested in all aspects of movie production to join his club.
Main, 53, who works for Clear Channel Radio Rochester, founded the Rochester Movie Makers Club with the thought that Rochester didn’t have anything of the kind, and that he and others who share his passion for film could benefit from coming together to discuss and work on projects. “My goal would be to really tap into the film community in the Rochester area, and to have fun – and not necessarily in that order,” Main says.
The club is inspired by his first movie-making attempt, at a film school called the Austin FilmWorks in Austin, Texas. Each student came with a script on the first day, and the class voted on which films they would make. Being behind the camera was an experience: “It does change the way you appreciate films; it changes the way you view films,” Main says. He wants to give Rochesterians a chance to do the same. Though the Rochester club’s website has only been up for a few weeks and membership is currently limited, Main envisions a large group, where people can exchange ideas or work on projects collectively.
Main generally prefers on-the-fly amateur film, and has posted a few YouTube videos himself. But he thinks that through planning and production, the club could open the door for better work. “Most of the stuff that people post on YouTube is ‘Hi, I’ve got a camera, I’m gonna go film something today,'” he says. The new club could help people makeYouTube videos, he says, “but make them so that they’re more than just a camera and somebody ranting and raving about whatever.”
The club is recruiting on its website at www.rochestermoviemakers.org; he wants to start meeting later this summer and hopes that “by next year we’re in a position where, when the weather breaks, and you’ve got this gorgeous scenery here – because it’s just great to film here – that we can take time and film.”