Walthamstow Wide Web #1

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In this – the first of an irregular feature highlighting Walthamstow on the World Wide Web – we look at some of the videos uploaded in the last month or so.

First up a lovely music video by the much hyped band Temper Trap, filmed on Walthamstow Marshes during the recent cold spell. Its odd to see somewhere as familiar as the marshes and canal featured in a “Kes” style school run .

Waltham Forest may be the only borough in London without a cinema but there are plenty of budding filmmakers living in E17. Two of them have set up the ambitiously titled “Walthamstow International Film Festival 2010” and are calling for entries through their website, E17 films.

To promote the festival and encourage entries theyve produced this charming short film following a man, his sofa and a search for somewhere to watch films.

The history of amateur filmmaking in Walthamstow goes back at least as far as 1949 when “The Walthamstow Amateur Cine Club” formed.

They are still going strong, charging 1 pound for every meeting in Stafford Hall where theres ample room for sets, lighting and more. The group say “You do not need a camcorder to join us, just a sense of humour and a desire to get involved in making ‘Movies’. Come for two or three weeks at no charge to see if you like us“.

Find out more on their website, view a recent competition entry, and watch this fascinating in-depth history of the club below.

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Someone’s wedding video may not sound that interesting but as archive footage it’s a little glimpse back into the past. Here is Walthamstow Registry Office in 1980, with the car driving off through Walthamstow midway through. Good comedy walk by the man at the end too!

A local church group re-enacted the passion in Walthamstow town square as part of their Easter Parade. Meanwhile at Blackhorse Road Tube Station some local youngsters freestyle rap about the gospel (Youtube).

The next clip features Terry Cole – not strictly speaking in Walthamstow – but he’s a famous resident (as he talked about in this recent interview) and its a good excuse to show an ancient edition of Roy Castles Record Breakers (featuring Terry).

A film about the big screen in Walthamstow town square. Who watches? Does it use too much energy and create too much noise? Why does it face the wrong way? Its all discussed in the video including the person in charge of BBC screens.

11 year-old Shakara and 10 year-old Oluseum from St Saviours school in Walthamstow won a competition to interview Emma Thomspon and Maggie Gyllenhaal on the red carpet at the UK premiere of Nanny McPhee and The Big Bang in Leicester Square.

Free-Jumping in E17. Local freejumpers training in Whipps Cross, Leytonstone and Walthamstow. Music is a dubstep remix of “Mr. Postman“!

500 people turned up for the recent EMD hustings and questioned local politicians who had warm words for the future of the cinema but have delivered nothing for 8 years. This short documentary is from 2009 but just popped up on Vimeo. Locals are asked about the EMD cinema which closed after being bought by UCKG in 2003.

Experiments and tests for a film exploring the hidden nature of an inner city landscape, with a soundscape of noise from hectic everyday city life, such as supermarket tills beeping and roaring bus exhausts. Juxtaposing edible plants and picturesque landscapes with the sounds of urban environments, the film will challenge people’s perceptions of green spaces in cities.

A 30 minute discussion with youngsters at The Walthamstow Academy about the London 2012 Olympics.