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January 2020

Leadership and Management Training for Film Professionals – Deadline February 12th

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Are you an experienced film professional looking to develop your leadership and management skills? Are you looking to take the next step up in your career? Are you responsible for overseeing entry-level and early-stage colleagues in your department? Do you feel like an ‘accidental’ manager and want to learn more about leadership and management? Are you available from Friday 6th – Sunday 8th March 2020, for all 3 days?

If the answer to any or all of those questions is yes, then this course, Leadership and Management for Film Professionals, delivered by Screen Central and commissioned by ScreenSkills, is for you. It’s a two-day intensive course from Friday 6th – Sunday 8th March 2020; in developing leadership and management skills for film led by experienced industry professionals together with expert speakers.

For £75 – it includes attendance at the training course, hotel accommodation (if required) and all meals. Participants will be expected to attend the full course including the evening events.
For more information: http://bit.ly/30RUNiJ

Requirements

We’re looking for 12 participants from any department – you could be producing, directing, an assistant director, in locations, art department, costume, hair and make-up, production office, cameras, lighting, sound or post-production. The main criteria is that you’re looking to step up into management and want some training and support to do this or are already a manager and looking to polish your skills.

By the end of the workshop, you will have created a professional development plan identifying how to actively apply your newly acquired leadership and management skills.

How to apply

Early applications are encouraged and will be considered before the deadline. The application deadline will close on the 12th February 2020. Reminder: There is a fee of £75 per person payable by participants for taking part in this course.

Apply now at: http://bit.ly/30RUNiJ

 

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Writers and Directors Wanted for Casualty and Holby City – Deadline February 29th

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BBC Studios Continuing Drama are seeking a new generation of writers and directors to reflect the stories of today’s Britain on its multi-award-winning dramas Casualty and Holby City. If you are passionate about bringing your voice to one of these shows then they would like to hear from you. You must be able to demonstrate a familiarity with your chosen show and a relevant and recent credit.

Casualty – Writers

Casualty seeks writers with a fresh perspective to write for this award winning flagship BBC series. If you are passionate about bringing your voice to this show then they would like to hear from you. You must be familiar with the show’s characters and have watched a minimum of 10 episodes. You will need to have a writing credit, either in film or TV. For film this would be a short or feature at a prestigious and recognised film festival. For TV you need a writer’s credit on a broadcast show (within the last two years).

Casualty – Directors

Casualty are also looking for directors with a fresh perspective. You will need to have watched at least 10 episodes and have an enthusiasm for the show and understand its ambition and style. You will have taken a short or feature to a prestigious and recognised international film festival – with a showreel to evidence this.

Submissions for Casualty

All writers and directors must submit a maximum 500 word (do not exceed word count as it won’t be read) pitch on why your perspective will bring about fresh stories and ambition for the show. Writers must submit a minimum of a 45 minute original script for television, film or stage (i.e. not a Casualty script) with an accompanying Casualty guest story pitch of no more than 500 words. Directors must also submit a 5 minute showreel, with two industry references.

Email your Casualty submission to FreshPerspectiveCasualty@bbc.co.uk

Submission are open from Saturday 18th January to Saturday 29th February 2020 

The Casualty team will read and watch all submissions, however sadly they cannot provide individual feedback on submissions due to the small size of the Casualty team and the high volume of submissions anticipated.

Holby City

Whilst Holby City is not running a specific writers’ scheme at this time, the team are still very keen to hear from writers and potential directors.

Holby City is a 60-minute award-winning show that requires significant TV and film writing and directing experience and credits. You must demonstrate a minimum of credits as per the Casualty scheme listed above. Credits must be from TV or Film.

Submissions for Holby City

Writers must submit a maximum 500 word statement on why your perspective will bring about fresh stories on the show, a maximum 500 word guest story pitch, accompanied by a minimum 60 minute film or TV script. Directors must submit a 500 word statement of why their perspective is fresh, a five minute showreel (please do not send a short film) and two industry references up to 500 words each.

Email your Holby City submission  to holby.talent@bbc.co.uk

The team at Holby City will read and watch all submissions, however sadly they cannot provide individual feedback on each submission due to the small size of the Holby City team and high volume of submissions anticipated.

Submission are open from Saturday 18th January to Saturday 29th February 2020 

Additional Information

If you feel that you do not have the required experience at this stage, but you do have experience of telling exceptional short form work, for film, TV or stage, please submit a maximum 500 word statement on why your voice is needed on one of the long running Continuing Drama series and which show you want to write or direct for: Pobol y Cwm, River City, Doctors.

Your statement must be accompanied by an original script for television, radio, film or stage or showreel.  For River City writer submissions it needs to be a minimum 60 minute script, For Pobol y Cwm or Doctors it needs to be a minimum 30 minute script. Please do not send short films.

Please send your submission to CDS.Talent@bbc.co.uk

This open call will close on Saturday 29th February 2020

Find out more by attending one of the Roadshows

Please note that these opportunities are in addition to the BBC Studios Writers’ Academy and the BBC Continuing Drama Directors’ Scheme from BBC Writersroom and Directors UK (which also covers EastEnders)

To explore other writing opportunities from the BBC and other organisations visit the BBC Writersroom opportunities page

 

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

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Apply for BFI NETWORK Midlands co-working space

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If you’re a Midlands based filmmaker, you can apply to join the BFI NETWORK co-working space for the free use of shared work space at Broadway Cinema, Nottingham.

You should apply if you are looking to develop your projects and would benefit from having access to a shared work space with the opportunity to discuss ideas in a collaborative and supportive environment.

 Benefits include:

  • Free desk space in Broadway’s Studio or Workshop every Monday for six months.
  • Access to a programme of workshops and other skills development opportunities.
  • Opportunities to share work with other coworking members.
  • A chance to showcase of your work in progress to peers.
  • Discounted cinema tickets.
  • Discounted food and drink from Broadway’s cafe bars.
  • Free tea, coffee and Wi-Fi.

Is Broadway Cinema too far to commute?

Please contact us if you are interested in co-working space but unable to commute to Nottingham. We have been afforded this space through a donation of resource made by Broadway Cinema, but we are keen to ensure filmmakers who are not in the Nottingham vicinity are also supported. This support will also be available on a first-come-first-served basis and dependent on applicant eligibility and budget availability.

Am I eligible to apply?

  • You must be aged 18 or over and not in full time education.
  • You are a Midlands based filmmaker who has yet to have a feature film theatrically distributed.
  • You have a previous creative track record and evidence of this – You will need to have a BFI NETWORK Postroom account.
  • Clarity in articulating how co-working membership will support the development of your project, filmmaking and professional development.

Please make sure you read both the Further information and Terms documents before applying.

Further Information

To Apply

Complete the BFI NETWORK Midlands co-working membership application form HERE.
Source: www.filmhubmidlands.org

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Tributes to Tony Garnett, producer of Kes, Cathy Come Home and This Life

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Tributes have been paid to Birmingham-born TV and film producer Tony Garnett following his death at the age of 83. Originally an actor, Garnett produced such seminal Ken Loach works as Cathy Come Home and Kes, and later produced influential TV series This Life. World Productions, the TV company he founded, said he died on Sunday “after a short illness“. Loach said Garnett “believed in drama, in film and its power to communicate truth”.

“He understood the basic conflict at the heart of society, between those with power who exploit and those who are exploited,” the director told Radio 4’s Today programme, “He was a brilliant, complex man, intensely loyal and generous-spirited.”

Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio said he was “an inspirational figure who’ll be greatly missed”. He wrote on Twitter: “Tony was instrumental in giving me my break into TV when I was a junior hospital doctor who’d never written anything. They don’t make ’em like him any more.”

Garnett was also remembered with affection by former Line of Duty cast member Daniel Mays, who called him “the nicest man… Very sad to hear of the passing of the great Tony Garnett,” he wrote. “His legacy and body of work is truly exceptional.”

New Tricks writer Lisa Holdsworth, who chairs the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, wrote: “Every TV writer in the UK owes him a debt of gratitude. He elevated our medium by showing how fierce, relevant and vital it could be.” Other writers and actors added heartfelt tributes on Twitter.

Born in Birmingham in 1936, Garnett began his career on screen in 1960s TV shows including Emergency Ward 10 and Z Cars. His subsequent work with Loach, Jim Allen and others was characterised by hard-hitting social realism. Through World Productions, the company he founded in 1990, he executive produced such TV series as Between the Lines, Ballykissangel and This Life. The latter, he revealed at a BFI talk last year, came about when Michael Jackson, then controller of BBC Two, wanted a drama “about young people who are just starting their first jobs”.

“He said, ‘Could they be lawyers?'” Garnett recalled. “I said, ‘They can be anything you like Michael.'” The show, about a group of young lawyers sharing a house in London, ran for two series and gave early breaks to rising stars like Jack Davenport and Andrew Lincoln.

Garnett enjoyed much success at the BBC but could be highly critical of the corporation.

“I have criticised the BBC in the past because I think it’s very important for all of us,” he said in 2014,  “I’m a defender of the BBC but at the same time a loyal defender of the opposition.”

 

Source: BBC News

 

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New Year Honours 2020: CBE for Birmingham’s Peaky Blinders creator

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The writer and creator of hit BBC drama Peaky Blinders has become a CBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours. Steven Knight was recognised for services to drama, entertainment and the community in Birmingham, which provided the inspiration and setting for the programme.

On finding out about his CBE, Mr Knight, whose film and TV credits also include Taboo, Dirty Pretty Things and Eastern Promises, said it was “amazing”.

Mr Knight, who grew up in Birmingham’s Small Heath area, joked he would be celebrating “Tommy Shelby style”, saying the fictional gangster “occasionally has a bottle of champagne… So that’s what I’ll do. I am very honoured to receive this award and would like to think it might reflect on the people of Birmingham whose stories and spirit have informed a substantial part of my work.”

The 60-year-old, who also wrote BBC One’s adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, created Peaky Blinders based on retellings of his parents’ childhoods growing up in Birmingham in the 1920s. It first aired in 2013 and has now run to five series, attracting a global following of fans.

“I’ve just finished writing series six and it’s the best yet,” Mr Knight, who lives in East Sussex, said, “but we always say that.”

In October, Mr Knight revealed plans to launch a new group to boost creative output in the West Midlands, including a £100m film and TV studio. Much of the first series of the drama following Birmingham’s gangsters was filmed in Yorkshire after “a combination of the Luftwaffe and the local council in the 60s and 70s” made filming in the city difficult, Mr Knight told Radio 4. He has been a vocal advocate for Birmingham, which he said suffers from “self-deprecation”, and hopes the new studios will be transformative for the region. He also made the city the venue for the first official Peaky Blinders festival.

 

still

Zombie apocalypse film ‘Still’ filmed in Birmingham goes viral

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A Bewdley film company’s short movie about a living statue street artist caught in the midst of a zombie apocalypse has gone viral. Dark Matter Films’ seven-minute video has racked up more than half a million times since it was made public on YouTube in December 2019.

‘Still’ was shot in Birmingham’s bustling Jewellery Quarter in 2015 and has since been doing the rounds at 25 film festivals all over the world, where it won nine awards. This is the first time the movie has been available to watch for free online, and filmmaker Carl Timms has been blown away by the response, with one commenter describing it as the “most original idea I’ve seen for a zombie apocalypse movie”.

‘Still’ was funded entirely by crowdfunding and was shot in just two days. It featured more than 100 Midlands-based extras and crew.

Dark Matter Films’ follow-up short movie Off Grid had its London premiere on Friday (December 13) as part of a five-day Lift-Off London Film Festival.

People can watch ‘Still’ in full here.

Source: www.worcesternews.co.uk

 

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