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April 2021

Apr 30
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Birmingham’s new Screen and Film School Soon to Open in Digbeth

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Screen and Film School Birmingham is opening in Digbeth in September and it’s getting ready to welcome talented young creatives from across the region. Birmingham’s new film school is proud to provide practically led, industry-focused specialist degree courses designed to enable up and coming filmmakers to flourish as they access the creative sector.

Rated as a top 10 UK Film School, Birmingham’s sister school, Screen and Film School Brighton, has spent the last 15 years turning passionate filmmakers into industry professionals. Screen and Film School Birmingham is delighted to bring these same opportunities to the new Midlands campus.

Screen and Film School’s bespoke combination of practical courses, high-tech facilities, industry placements, masterclasses, live project briefs and site visits provide students with an understanding of how to operate and thrive in the film industry.

Screen and Film School Birmingham is building outreach initiatives with local schools and FE colleges and has already formed meaningful partnerships with media companies including Optomen, North One Television, Early Day Films, and Daniel Alexander Films.

Where will the Film School be?

Part of the BIMM Group of colleges, Screen and Film School is opening its specialist facilities at Rea Studios on Floodgate Street in Digbeth. Situated directly opposite the successfully established BIMM Birmingham music college, it will share premises with a new Midlands based Performers College for budding performing arts practitioners. The proximity of all three BIMM Group colleges will enable meaningful creative collaborations between the screen and film, music and performing arts cohorts. BIMM Group is Europe’s largest contemporary arts education provider and its unique approach is designed to open doors to the creative industries.

The building will house two purpose-built film studios, a screening room, seven fully kitted edit suites, each with industry-standard software such as Avid, Adobe Suite, DaVinci Resolve Studio and Final Cut X. There will also be two Mac rooms, and an open plan communal reception area, providing everything students will need to succeed creatively. Students will be stepping directly into the industry from day one of their undergraduate degree course.

Why now?

The UK’s creative industries were the fastest growing sector of the past decade. The Department for Culture, Media and Sports has revealed that by 2019, the creative industries had contributed £115.9bn gross value to the UK economy, second only to the digital industry – and more than the aerospace, automotive and life sciences sectors combined.

To meet the demand for industry-ready graduates in the creative sector, Screen and Film School Birmingham will offer a BA (Hons) Filmmaking Degree course and the additional opportunity to join the final year of the BA (Hons) Filmmaking degree through a top-up route starting this September for young people who want a specialist film school experience in their last year of study.

About the Screen and Film School Team

CEO and Head of Institution for the BIMM Group, Adam Carswell, said: “While the recent pandemic has brought many challenges, it has also demonstrated the agility and resilience of the creative industries. With the ever-growing opportunities in the sector, there’s never been a better time to be a student or practitioner in today’s diverse, creative and world-leading industry.”

Executive Principal of the School, Dara Kilkenny, added: “Screen and Film School students are equipped with so many advantages. As with all BIMM colleges, our film students are taught by current industry professionals, and many well-known faces lead regular masterclasses offering a truly specialist insight into the industry’s wide-ranging and exciting opportunities.”

Screen and Film School Birmingham’s Principal Hannah Stevenson said she felt highly privileged to shape and influence the next generation of filmmakers in the region.

“Our courses are 70% practical, and the industry focus means our students can hit the ground running as they begin their careers. I’m hoping students find their creative families, the peers they shall inevitably grow with, create with, and possibly set up companies with in the city.”

Why Birmingham?

The city is one of the country’s most exciting, emerging hotspots for the creative industries. The film and TV industry is already forging links with Hollywood and Netflix alongside homegrown companies such as ITV and the BBC. The school also cited a planned film studio development, led by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, set to be located a short distance from the Screen and Film School in the Digbeth area.

 

Find out more about the Screen and Film School Birmingham and sign up for the open day on May 29 here

 

Source: www.birminghammail.co.uk

 

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Apr 28
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Job Alert: Production Coordinator

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Full Fat TV is seeking an experienced Production Coordinator from early May to mid-August to work on a new Factual Entertainment series for Channel 4.

The ideal candidate must have strong organisational and planning skills with proven experience of setting up location filming and negotiating costs. Responsibilities will include generating call-sheets, booking crews, liaising with research and edit teams along with providing general support to the Production Manager to ensure the smooth running of the schedule and shoots. A thorough knowledge of post-production, with experience of completing post-production paperwork on Silver and Sound Mouse are desired.

If you have solid experience in all of the above and think this sounds like you, do apply. They particularly welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

Full Fat TV is a Birmingham based company; however, due to current Government restrictions, the successful applicant could  be working remotely, so applications from across the UK can be considered.

To Apply

Please send a CV and covering letter to production@fullfattv.co.uk with the job title in the subject line. If you are happy for them to keep your CV on file, please add the following disclaimer to the top of your CV ‘I consent to you keeping my details on file and distributing for employment purposes.’

The company is committed to sharing job opportunities with creative, diverse talent working in the industry. Due to the expected high volume of applicants, please note that we will only be able to contact candidates who are selected for interview.

Apr 28
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Job Alert: Production Manager

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Full Fat TV is looking for an experienced Production Manager ideally from mid-May up until 3 Sept 2021 to work on a landmark 1 x 60’ music documentary for BBC2.

Responsibilities include managing the overall schedule, budget and post-production delivery paperwork whilst working closely with the editorial team to meet Channel deadlines.

The ideal candidate will have experience of managing productions that have complex rights clearance for archive and music content and working with high profile talent. Full Fat is a Birmingham based company; however, due to current Government restrictions, we anticipate the successful applicant will work remotely, therefore they can consider flexible working and applications from across the UK.

To Apply

Please send a CV and covering letter to production@fullfattv.co.uk with the job title in the subject line. If you are happy for us to keep your CV on file, please add the following disclaimer to the top of your CV ‘I consent to you keeping my details on file and distributing for employment purposes.’

The company is committed to sharing job opportunities with creative, diverse talent working in the industry. Due to the expected high volume of applicants, please note that they will only be able to contact candidates who are selected for interview.

Apr 22
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Job Alert: Location Coordinator – LS Productions

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LS Productions’ Location Department is expanding in England or Wales, and they’re on the hunt for a Location Coordinator!

Overview

As LS Productions’ Location Coordinator, you will assist the Head of Locations and Location Manager with running the Location Department (all the shoots the Location Department facilitates plus location-related business development on behalf of LS Productions). You must have 3+ years experience working in a Location Department. This is a permanent role.

Required skills are: 3+ years experience, Clean Drivers Licence, Confident managing workflow, Impeccable organisation skills, Confident delegating tasks, Creative thinker, Attention to detail

Key Responsibilities

You will be responsible for the workflow of each shoot LS facilitates on behalf of the department. This includes overseeing the collation of all information from the client, location images, site plans, information regarding locations and crew pencils. You will take overarching responsibility for the collation of the above.

Also, you will:

  • oversee the addition of new locations to the database and ensure this is being recorded and actioned correctly in line with LS procedure.
  • assist the Location Manager to present suitable locations to clients and to contact owners, arrange recces, negotiate fees and carry out all necessary location pre-production where required; ensuring you deal with all enquiries in the most efficient way.
  • assist with contacting Location Owners, Scouts and Location Managers for both live jobs and general enquiries and you will ensure that you capture all contacts and notes on the database for future use.
  • work with the Head of Locations to organise content for location-related marketing material and help monitor the location section of our website ensuring locations are kept up to date and current, based on trends in briefs and the acquisition of new locations. You will be responsible for tracking what clients are asking for and feeding this into plans for database development.
  • keep up to date with location news in the industry, and share thiswith the Head of Locations to inform future strategy.
  • be responsible for scouting and arranging scouting for the database as briefed by the Head of Locations.
  • be required to scout, recce and work shoots at various levels within the department as the size of the shoot requires.

Key Skills

  • 3+ years working in a Location Department. Those with experience in film offices, location agencies, production companies, screen agencies (or similar) and/or working freelance will be considered.
  • Confidence managing workflow, delegating tasks and impeccable organisation skills.
  • The ability to think creatively and find imaginative solutions to location briefs.
  • Driving License.
  • High aptitude for tackling research projects to unearth the seemingly impossible, working with high attention to detail.
  • Experience managing a database and a high level of computer literacy, including DAMS, CRMs, Adobe Lightroom and Microsoft Office.
  • Experience representing a company to clients and location owners, from the office and on set.
  • Ability to manage projects and budgets independently.
  • Good connections within the industry, with a desire to build on this.

Reporting

You will report to Head of Locations Amy Morement and in her absence Sarah Drummond, MD.

Location

You will work remotely initially with a view to working both remotely and from the LS office in either Manchester or London in future. Applications from candidates based anywhere in England or Wales will be considered, and longer term remote working could be supported for this role.

You will be required to travel to meetings and set where required and expenses will be provided for this.

How to Apply

Send your CV and cover letter explaining why you’d be perfect for this role to locations@lsproductions.com

In the subject line: LS Productions | Location Coordinator | Your Name

Deadline Friday 30th April 2021

 

Source: lsproductions.com

 

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Apr 21
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8 Surprise Facts for Line Of Duty Fans

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According to Marie Claire Reporter Rosie Grant, it feels like “the whole world and their nan has caught the Line of Duty bug”. The proof is in the stats: the show’s popularity has almost doubled over the last year, with figures showing the first episode of the sixth series broke BBC records with an all-time high audience figure of 9.56 million.

So, as the sixth season of the hit BBC crime drama nears to an end, Marie Claire has turned into its own detective and delved deeper into the show’s history. Here are their eight interesting facts about what truly happens behind the scenes.

1. Can you spot Jed Mercurio?

Did you know? Line of Duty writer Jed Mercurio made a secret cameo in one of the episode So, can you spot him? In 2020, Mercurio tweeted that he had been driving the grey Golf in front of Lennie James and Gina Mckee. His Tweet shared: “No one on set knew the route we’d recce’d, so Lennie followed me through the streets of Birmingham while they filmed the scene in the car behind”.

Who knows – maybe in future episodes, Mercurio will make more of an appearance. For now, we’ll be paying close attention to who may be behind the wheel.

2. No one knew Martin Compston was Scottish

Scottish actor Martin Compston is a fan of method acting, and stayed in character even when cameras stop rolling. For the entirety of Line of Duty filming as Steve Arnott, he reportedly spoke with a London accent. When they finished recording season six, Martin apparently surprised the whole crew with his native Scottish dialect.

3. Lockdown weight gain for DI Arnott

When the UK – and subsequent world – was first hit with coronavirus in early 2020, Martin Compston returned home to Vegas.

During the lockdown, he himself says he ‘ate too much and drank too much’. Meaning, when he returned to filming, his iconic DI Arnott waistcoats no longer fitted.

“That was a really tough day, I was bursting out of everything,” he shared. Vicky McClure, who plays Kate Fleming in the series, teased that Martin ‘had to get an exercise bike for his flat and [only eat] soup for two weeks’.

4. One messed-up audition led to a huge success

Vicky McClure, aka Kate, has revealed she was certain she wasn’t going to be casted in the show after her audition.

McClure told GQ :“I remember my audition being a shocker. I hadn’t learned my lines, and I missed my mouth when I went to have a drink of water and it all went down my top”.

McClure was still cast as detective Kate Flemming – we guess her audition was one to remember.

5. A different EastEnders nickname?

DI Matthew ‘Dot’ Cottan originally held a nickname referencing another classic EastEnders star.

Fun fact: Craig Parkinson, who plays Matthew Cottan in the show, was supposed to be called Matthew ‘Babs’ Windsor, named after the soap-opera legend Barbra Windsor.

6. Sudden name changes in Line of Duty

After the filming of Season One had wrapped, the production team made the decision to change the name of Lennie James, who plays Tony Gates, to, ahem, Tony Gates.

His original character name has never been revealed, nor has why the crew deemed it so important to change at the last minute. If you watch earlier episodes carefully, you can actually notice camera cuts when Gates’ name is said.

7. Real family members were in the show, too

Martin Compston’s real wife has appeared on the show, but unlike Jed Mercurio, you can actually spot her.

Tianna Chanel Flynn made her cameo as Tina Watts. Sadly, you only saw her photo on a dating profile – but this does mean that Martin’s dog is next to her in the appearence, too.

As well as Tianna making an appearance, Vicky McClure’s nephew Kai makes a cameo as the son of her character, DI Fleming. Now that is one cool aunt.

8. Rejection, rejection, rejection

This one’s interesting. It’s been widely reported that when writer Jed Mercurio first pitched his idea for Line of Duty to the BBC, he was met with rejection. He waited nine months before BBC 2 picked it up for one season.

Tune in to the next episode of Line of Duty this Sunday at 9pm on BBC One.

Source: www.marieclaire.co.uk

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Apr 14
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A Call for More South Asian Representation On British Television

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This is an opinion piece by Kiran Hothi and Sonam Kaur. They are cofounders of NotYourWife, a digital platform celebrating South Asian women and South Asians living in the diaspora. Read the full article below:
The socially awkward, nerdy sidekick. The scientist with a distinct lack of charisma. The thickly accented foreigner. As second generation British Asians growing up in the ’90s, these were the closest things we saw to ourselves on television.
It’s now 2021 and the words ‘diversity’, ‘BAME‘ and ‘inclusion’ are plastered everywhere but what does that really mean in the context of representation on our screens? Apparently not much. According to the 2011 census, South Asians are the largest minority ethnic group in the UK and yet the media hasn’t quite caught up. Why is it that our television screens don’t reflect the world we currently live in? Why is a South Asian protagonist still considered an exception rather than a norm?
Figures show that there are roughly double the number of South Asians in the UK today than there were in 2001 yet we are the least represented in global and British media of any major group, according to Ofcom’s 2018 report on diversity in primetime programming. It also suggested that the BBC was at risk of losing a “generation of viewers” due to diversity issues.
The report, “Representation and Portrayal on BBC Television”, found that people from a South Asian background make up only a small share of BBC One and BBC Two’s onscreen population (3%). It should be obvious that having South Asian stories told, seen and represented is important — for children as well as adults. Television doesn’t just reflect culture, it shapes it. It’s impossible to underestimate the importance that seeing yourself in television, film and print can have on self-perception and identity.
The lack of representation in British television is troubling and, surprisingly, the industry remains a few steps behind Hollywood, which itself still has a long way to go. While the likes of Dev Patel and Sanjeev Bhaskar are paving the way for British Asian actors, compared to the British Asian population, representation is still minimal. Many South Asian characters remain stereotypes imagined through the lens of the ‘model minority’ myth, which perpetuates the idea that South Asians are a less ‘problematic’ minority than others and leads to stereotypical characters like ‘the doctor’, ‘the computer geek’ or ‘the humorous sidekick’.
A 2018 analysis of BAFTA awards by ethnicity and gender found that just 1.9% of Best Actor nominees – and 0% of Best Actress nominees – since 1969 were of South Asian descent. The study also revealed that where a South Asian actor had gone on to win the award, it had been for playing a racially typecast character such as Gandhi.
What’s worse than being misrepresented on television is perhaps not being represented at all. In a large proportion of mainstream films and television shows, South Asians appear as extras – a token of diversity. There is a feeling, watching British television, that an ‘every brown family is the same’ approach has been employed. Seeing the silk-wearing South Asian extras in the background of the local Asian restaurant feels predictably insulting. These characters, more often than not, are missing the fundamental complexities and multidimensional personalities of real-life people.
Another example is reality TV, which has experienced a huge increase over the past few years, particularly during the pandemic. Delving into the data for one of the UK’s highest grossing dating shows, Love Island, it is not hard to miss the fact that out of a total of 150 contestants, there have been only two female South Asians: Malin Andersson (2016) and Nabila Badda (2019). Knowing that producers are keen to feature attractive people, it throws up some questions regarding how South Asian women are seen. If Love Island is the idealised media image of beauty, where does that leave women who look like us?
Moving forwards, what can be done to increase representation? Does change lie exclusively in the hands of production companies? It’s a solution that starts with inclusion in the writers’ room and behind the camera; it means introducing ideas from the top down and actually having that diversity of thought there to help bring in more varied audiences, to build and construct authentic and reflective storylines and characters.
Ultimately, South Asian people have far more to offer than being restricted to ‘Asian films’ or typecast characters; those who have been born and bred in Britain likely identify just as much with British culture as with their own heritage. Shows created for the nation should represent the nation, and should most definitely be inclusive of – and authentic to – the British Asian experience.
Source: www.refinery29.com
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Apr 13
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Bukky Bakray of ‘Rocks’ Is BAFTA Rising Star winner

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Rocks star Bukky Bakray has won this year’s EE Rising Star Award at the BAFTAs, following in the footsteps of the likes of James McAvoy, Tom Hiddleston and Kristen Stewart.

The actress is currently filming in r=the West Midlands for the BBC/Netflix’s drama You Don’t Know Me. The series is based on the bestselling novel of the same name, adapted by The Crown writer Tom Edge.

About the EE Rising Star Award

The EE Rising Star Award is the only BAFTA to be voted for by members of the public. Bukky Bakray eventually topped the vote against Peaky Blinders star Conrad Khan, His House star Ṣọpẹ́Dìrísù, Lord of the Rings star Morfydd Clark, One Night in Miami‘s and Kingsley Ben-Adir.

After winning the award, Bakray opened up about not expecting Rocks to be the break-out hit that it was. “When we filmed Rocks, I thought 100 people would watch the film, maximum. I didn’t think it would have this reach,” she reflected. “As I was texting [co-star] Kosar Ali today, I said, ‘This is actually mad, walking around in the Savoy Hotel, speaking to you right now is insane.’ I didn’t imagine any of this, I couldn’t have.”

She continued: “All the nominees and winners from previous years all have astonishing careers that I look up. Actors like Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield who was nominated, Micheal Ward, James McAvoy… I felt blessed to be nominated and now to have won the award, I can’t believe I’m saying that.”

Rocks won the Casting BAFTA at the opening night of this year’s awards on April 10th. Bukky Bakray was also nominated for Leading Actress against the likes of Frances McDormand and Vanessa Kirby.

About You Don’t Know Me

Bukky is currently filming for You Don’t Know Me in the West Midlands. She says: “Now I’m working on a series called “You Don’t Know Me”. It’s going to happen on Netflix. I’m really looking forward to seeing so many great projects lined up with great creators and artists.” Read more about the series here.

Source: www.digitalspy.com and londonnewstime.com

 

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Apr 12
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first look image of Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton) as Clarice Cliff in upcoming Sky Original film, The Colour Room, wearing priod clothing with a foggy city background

First Look at Pheobe Dyvenor in The Colour Room

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Sky released an exclusive first look image of Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton) as Clarice Cliff in upcoming Sky Original film, The Colour Room. It is filmed in Birmingham and co-stars Matthew Goode.

Coming to cinemas, Sky Cinema and streaming service NOW later this year, The Colour Room  follows the journey of a determined, working class woman, Clarice Cliff, as she breaks the glass ceiling and revolutionises the workplace in the 2oth century.

About The Colour Room

Clarice Cliff (Dynevor) is a vivacious young factory worker in the industrial British midlands of the 1920s. Her creativity and ambition drives her to move factory to factory, despite the financial impact on the household she shares with her widowed mother Ann (Kerry Fox) and youngest sister Dot (Darci Shaw). Bursting at the seams with ideas for colours and shapes, Clarice takes more and more dangerous risks – but she manages to stay one step ahead of the workhouse and impress the eccentric factory owner Colley Shorter (Goode) on the way with her talent and innovation.

Apprenticed to renowned Art Designer Fred Ridgeway (David Morrissey) and with support from Colley and other women in the factory, Clarice fights her way through to design the unprecedented Art Deco ‘Bizarre’ range. In the middle of the Great Depression, she ensures the factory’s survival and her future as one of the greatest Art Deco designers and a household name.

The Colour Room Production

The Colour Room is filmed in the West Midlands. Co-produced by Sky, Caspian Films and Creative England, the film will be directed by Claire McCarthy (Ophelia) and is written by Claire Peate, winner of BAFTA Rocliffe in 2016. The film is executive produced by Laura Grange for Sky, Paul Ashton for West Midlands Production Fund (Creative England) and David Gilbery, Charlie Dorfman, Marlon Vogelgesang for Media Finance Capital in association with On Sight.  It is produced by Thembisa Cochrane (The Harvesters) and Georgie Paget (Queens Of Syria) for Caspian Films, in association with Denaire Motion Picture Poetry and co-producer Neil Jones (Farming). The film was developed with the support of Film Cymru Wales.

Source: www.skygroup.sky

 

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Apr 09
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Steven Knight Announces Fresh Hopes for Filming in the Region

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The Peaky Blinders movie will be filmed in Birmingham – if its writer gets his way. Speaking exclusively to BirminghamLive, creator Steven Knight said he hoped to be days away from a major announcement about the huge Mercian Studios development, planned for Digbeth. The 38-acre studio complex comes amid the BBC committing major investment to that part of Birmingham – with prime-time television set to be made there. And Mr Knight said it would bring Hollywood too – with one “triple-A-list Hollywood star and director” having already expressed interest.

Peaky Blinders is poised to wrap up following its forthcoming sixth season, with the Birmingham-based BBC One gang drama set to be turned into a motion picture.

Its creator Knight told BirminghamLive: “My ambition is to have film and TV studios in the heart of Birmingham very soon. I plan to be shooting stuff in Birmingham very soon – and I am planning to do all my future projects there… We are in a period where we can’t do specifics. The studio is coming.”

Knight – who also has SAS Rogue Heroes in the works for the Beeb – added: “As you can see with the BBC coming to Birmingham, people are coming and not just for the studio, but to Birmingham in general. These are very exciting times. We will be making an announcement very soon… Peaky Blinders will be coming to Birmingham, that is all I can say.”

 

Source: www.birminghammail.co.uk

 

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Apr 09
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Cast of You Are My Sunshine lying on grass during a scene

Trailer released for West Midlands-based film ‘You Are My Sunshine’

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You Are My Sunshine was filmed in the West Midlands and is set across two decades. And as the trailer was recently released, film fans have been given their first glimpse of a heartfelt and dramatic love story. It was filmed at locations across the Black Country, including Walsall Leather Museum, the Manor Arms in Rushall and The Mindful Gifts shop in Darlaston.

Award-winning director David Hastings and producer Troy Dennison are behind the film, which stars Steve Salt, Jack Knight, Charlie Clark, Charles O’Neill, Ernest Vernon, Rosemary Manjunath, Jonathan Butler and Hellraiser’s Simon Bamford.

It tells the affectionate story of the lifelong romance between Tom and Joe, from their first humble meeting in the 1970s, a world only just waking up to homosexuality, through to their heartbreaking final days, decades later. Watch the trailer here.

About ‘You Are My Sunshine’

David said: “I wrote the film back in 2015, and didn’t plan on ever directing it myself, but the more I thought about it, and in a world where hate-crimes have been unfortunately rising and the LGBTQ community are being persecuted evermore in particular countries such as Russia, I just felt more and more compelled to take up the challenge and surrounded myself with the most amazing cast and crew ever, who just put their hearts and souls into making the absolute best film we could.

“I hope the trailer shows this as a tantalising teaser, full of hope, conflict, but ultimately love… Ultimately love is love, and this film, I hope demonstrates that more so than ever in these times,” added David, a film lecturer at Walsall College.

Producer Troy says: “I cannot wait for people to see our film. It is a cumulation of so much hard work and effort on very little budget. But we have produced a film which people are already getting emotional at from watching the newly released trailer, so we really hope people will enjoy the final film when it’s ready.”

The team, who began filming in 2018, are currently aiming for a later summer release.

Watch the trailer here.

 

Source: www.expressandstar.com

 

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