Fulwell 73 is developing a boxing feature called For Whom the Bell Tolls, exploring the infamous rivalry between British boxers Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn. This will be directed by Brummie David Harewood and will feature in the main strand of Film London’s Production Finance Market (PFM) on Oct. 12-13 as part of the BFI London Film Festival.

About ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’

Set in the 1990s, the story will follow the two men as they compete for the title of World Boxing Organization middleweight champion, and will also give the audience a glimpse into their personal battles against racism. From the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, Benn and Eubank captured the imagination of the public, with their constant feuding and rivalry resulting in two famous bouts that defined British boxing for a decade.

For Whom the Bell Tolls is produced by Leo Pearlman and Heather Greenwood and penned by seasoned sportswriter Daniel Harris with Belinda Joanne Ampah and Kieron Hawkes. David Harewood will direct, marking his feature directorial debut.

Harewood remarked: “I’m delighted to be at the helm of this fantastic project. It’s an exceptional script and I was drawn to it immediately as it covers many of the themes I have explored in my documentaries and so fundamentally in my book – that of Black British male identities and the unique struggle to find a sense of balance and belonging. As a result, it feels like the perfect time for me to direct this, my first feature film. As a boxing fan and someone who watched both titanic fights live, uncovering the personal and private stories behind those epic battles has been revelatory and I cannot wait to bring their stories to the screen.”

Pearlman said: “We all remember exactly where we were and how we felt when Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank fought their two epic battles, our aim is to bring back those memories and feelings, to remind people just why they remain two of the most compelling characters in British sports history. In Daniel Harris, we have one of the most original and exciting sports writers in the UK, someone with a visceral and highly visual style.”

Harris added: “I grew up in the era of the middleweights, so getting to tell this story is a ridiculous privilege. It’s just the most amazingly rich, cinematic tale, full of compelling, unique characters and driven by eternal themes like rivalry, tragedy, humanity, and identity – pretty much all you could need to make something really special.”

About David Harewood

Harewood is an actor, writer and documentary maker. He has appeared in titles including “The Night Manager,” “Homeland” and “Man In The High Castle” and written a memoir about mental health called “Maybe I Don’t Belong Here.”

Source: www.theknowledgeonline.com

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Source: www.screenskills.com

The UK’s Film and TV Charity, which played a vital role in aiding sector workers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic during lockdown, is launching a new anti-racism initiative following the publication of two industry perspectives on the subject.

The Impact Partnerships Programme, which will funnel £1 million ($1.4 million) over a period of three years into organizations and community groups led by people of color for people of color, comes in response to a think piece from Sasha Salmon, a senior public policy advisor with expertise in anti-racism and equality.

About the Anti-Racism Think Piece

Speaking of her Think Piece on Anti-Racism in the Film and TV Industry, Salmon wrote that while it was clear to her that “many people in film and TV speak about diversity, few people and leaders have really recognized and internalized what racism looks like in the industry for individuals, and the way that structures enable this.”

She added: “The relationship-based structure of the U.K. film and TV industry described throughout the review makes it particularly ripe for racism and bias. Given the influence film and TV has on society at large, this has damaging effects. If this industry gets it right, there is a precious opportunity to illuminate and change perceptions around race and help dismantle racism.”

Salmon’s work followed an internal review of The Film and TV Charity’s own approach to anti-racism and led to her also commissioning Dr. Clive Nwonka and Professor Sarita Malik to write a second piece, Racial Diversity Initiatives in U.K. Film and TV, to survey and analyze the major racial diversity initiatives seen in the industry over the last two decades.

Purpose of the Think Pieces

The charity is in the process of sharing both pieces with the industry and hopes to reach agreement on a new anti-racism action platform for U.K. film and TV by summer 2022 with the help of industry leaders.

“Our ultimate intention with both of these documents is to catalyse industry-led action,” said charity CEO Alex Pumfrey. “In the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the unequal impacts of the pandemic we heard the clear testimony of people of colour working in film and television – our beneficiaries – living with both interpersonal and structural racism in our industry. We heard how this was impacting not only their career progression but their wellbeing and their mental health. For some it ultimately affected whether or not they could stay within the industry.”

Juliet Gilkes-Romero, writer, broadcaster and one of The Film and TV Charity’s trustees, said: “For me, a key aspect has always concerned the lack of formal accountability regarding racism in the industry. The insights we gained [in the publications] show that there have been over 100 diversity schemes in the last 10 years and yet there remains no robust public evaluation of their impact. I find this troubling. Why is this missing? How can there be measurable, demonstrable change without it?”

Gilkes-Romero added: “I would hate to see current good will go through the endless and repetitive cycles of well-meaning, encouraging, but ineffective actions, commitment and then amnesia as witnessed over the past 30 years… . The Film and TV Charity is looking to collaborate with industry partners to bring sustainable commitment and change with integrity so that we’re not sitting on the wrong side of history but creating a far better and egalitarian industry future.”

Source: www.hollywoodreporter.com

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The U.K. government has revealed its Film and TV Production Restart Scheme, which was first unveiled in July 2020, has been extended for a further six months amid the ongoing pandemic.

Applications to the scheme will remain open until April 30, 2022, providing claims cover until June 30, 2022.

The aim is to support a further 400 productions. After just one year, the scheme helped over 640 films and TV projects — including “Peaky Blinders” season 6 and the Cannes feature “Mothering Sunday” — worth over £1.9 billion ($2.63 billion).

Three months on from that, the scheme has now supported 835 U.K. productions, worth £2.3 billion ($3.1 billion) of production spend, and preserved over 70,000 jobs.

The extension will, the government predicts, result in £1.2 billion ($1.6 billion) of production spend and protect around 34,500 jobs.

Changes to the Restart Scheme

From Nov. 1, however, the scheme’s registration fee will increase from 1% to 2.5% of the production budget to “ensure that the current needs of the U.K. production industry are maintained while balancing the need to deliver value for money for taxpayers.”

The government also confirmed that the U.K. Global Screen Fund has given almost £1 million ($1.3 million) worth of awards to the independent film and screen sector to assist with international exposure.

“Our world-leading film and TV industry supports hundreds of thousands of jobs — that’s why it was so important we helped it to get up and running again as part of our Plan for Jobs,” said Rishi Sunak, chancellor of the exchequer.

“It’s great that by extending the Film and TV Production Restart Scheme we will give even more productions the confidence to keep rolling, supporting jobs across the U.K. and producing the film and TV we all love.”

“Our brilliant film and TV industry is creating jobs, driving investment and selling the U.K. on screens both big and small across the globe,” said newly installed culture secretary Nadine Dorries. “Together the U.K. Global Screen Fund and U.K. Film and TV Production Restart Scheme are developing new opportunities in the sector and helping British talent and creativity to develop, grow and reach audiences around the world, whilst protecting and supporting our brilliant producers and screen businesses across the whole country.”

Source: variety.com

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