About BACK IN Xtra

The main programme, ‘BACK IN’ began when Punch and Daniel Alexander got together to create the first Midlands-based black filmmaker development programme in 2016, where 6 filmmakers a year receive 9-months of workshops, support, guidance, a commission and a film screening.

Now in 2021, the spin-off programme BACK IN Xtra is in its second year. This programme is open to everyone from every ethnic background, so that even more emerging creators can benefit from this programme. For BACK IN Xtra, 50 filmmakers in the Midlands will be matched with 1 of 10 relevant media-industry professionals for 6 months. This is for those that want to get their foot in the creative industries door, and need guidance and advice to get there.

Want to Apply?

This is an opportunity for Midlands-based filmmakers, people of colour and those under-represented in the industry. Passion for your work is as important as your experience and you must be 18 or over. Some sessions may be held in Birmingham, post-lockdown.

BACK IN Xtra will take place from September 2021 to May 2022. To apply click here.

Source: www.backinuk.com

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Open City Documentary Festival along with Another Gaze – A Feminist Film Journal are looking for participants for their first collaborative Critics Workshop, which will take place during the festival.

This discursive space will bring together the next generation of filmmakers, critics and other professionals working in the field of non-fiction cinema.

About the Critics Workshop

The Critics Workshop is an immersive five-day programme developed with the Another Gaze editorial team to introduce the ethics and methodologies of feminist film criticism. It will look at questions such as: should the role of a feminist publication be wholly celebratory? How useful are terms such as “intersectional” and the “female gaze”? What duties do we have to others in critical writing? How should we write about works by “neglected” women filmmakers, who are older or no longer alive?

The workshop sessions will take place in-person at the Festival Hub in central London. The 12 selected participants will receive a complimentary accreditation to the festival. They will have the opportunity to attend press & industry screenings at the festival as well as talks and workshops. Though the workshop is open to applicants outside London, we cannot provide travel or accommodation support. Please check with your local FilmHub and ScreenSkills for bursary opportunities.

Another Gaze was founded in January 2016 to provide nuanced criticism about women and queers as filmmakers, protagonists and spectators. They have recently launched Another Screen – an irregular streaming platform, streaming short-term programmes of films by women across modes of production and geographies, with new writing and translations about these works.

Critics Workshop Requirements

Applicants need to demonstrate an interest in film criticism and/or film journalism as well as the ability to speak and write fluently in English. No previous professional experience is necessary.

Applications must include the following:

• CV: A basic, one-page resume
• One article or film review written in English (published or unpublished).
• A piece of critical writing (can be about any art form, not just film) that you find particularly compelling, with a short paragraph explaining why.
• An approximately 500-word statement about why you’d like to take part.

Please note that all the workshop participants will be expected to take part in sessions scheduled 10h to 12h on Thursday 9th, Friday 10th, Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th as well as a full-day event on Monday 13th. In addition, press screenings and events will be scheduled before and throughout this time.

Please send your applications to : info@opencitylondon.com with the subject line ANOTHER GAZE CRITICS WORKSHOP by July 15th at 11.59PM (UK time). Successful applicants will be notified by 10th August.

Source: opencitylondon.com

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Sky has mandated ScreenSkills HETV Leadership and Management training for all heads of production and leaders on its scripted productions.

As part of its updated safeguarding measures, the broadcaster has written to all its major suppliers containing a suite of new policies including the directive on the Leadership and Management training which was developed and is funded by the High-end TV Skills Fund with contributions from industry. The training has been designed for Heads of Department and Managers in high-end TV production, post and VFX to help them to get the best from their teams by helping them address issues such as underperformance, unconscious bias and bullying and bad behaviour.

Other mandatory policies, which apply to all Sky and Sky Studios productions, include requiring all productions to have a trained safeguarding representative; all cast and crew to undertake a ‘respect in the workplace’ training; prominently advertise reporting and support lines on-set and freelancers to fill out anonymous exit questionnaires. Sky is also talking to the new Unscripted TV Skills Fund about rolling out similar leadership and management training in unscripted.

Comment from Sky

The letter, which was issued by Sky UK’s Managing Director of Content, Zai Bennett and Sky Studio’s Chief Content Officer, Jane Millichip, outlined that the new policies were being rolled out in response to recent media stories around allegations of sexual misconduct and other unacceptable behaviour:

“It’s our belief at Sky that we have good and appropriate policies in place on our sets already, […}, but recent events have shown us that we could and should do more. We believe the cast and crew of every production commissioned or produced by Sky and Sky Studios, has the right to work in a safe and supportive environment. Now is the time for us all to take a firm stand and ensure there is no ambiguity whatsoever on the behaviours, culture and levels of professional standards we expect on our productions.”

Source: www.screenskills.com

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Screenskills’ High-End TV (HETV) Fund received £3.3m in industry contributions in 2020/2021, compared with £3.9m the previous year, illustrating a robust bounceback for the production industry despite a hiatus of more than three months last year due to Covid.  The contributions are invested in skills and training, to deliver workforce growth and upskilling in the high-end TV sector in accordance with priorities identified by working groups of industry professionals.

Kaye Elliott, ScreenSkills director of high-end television, said: “It is a testament to the value industry places on the skills and training we provide, that contributions bounced back even though it was a very challenging year. We were able to deliver a relatively successful year of training given the circumstances, which has been much needed as production returned with gusto and production is now at levels not experienced before.”

What the HETV Fund Supports

Investment from the HETV Fund supported 1,881 people with training and career development in the year to March 2021, with a tranche of activity moved rapidly online. This was in addition to 56,000 people in the same period who undertook the online coronavirus basic awareness on production training, designed to support safe working in the context of Covid-19. Training placements resumed only when it was safe and possible to do so.

Nearly 100 individuals were supported to step up to a more senior role or grade through the Make a Move programme as well as grade shortage programmes, including in craft and tech shortage areas and producers, accountants, production managers, line producers, script editors and locations. The Trainee Finder trainee programme worked with 156 trainees, of whom 66% were women, 20% Black, Asian or minority ethnic, 68% from the nations and regions, 21% LGBT and 12% disabled.

Working groups have met in recent weeks to decide investment priorities for the coming year using the contributions from 104 productions in 2020/21 including Bridgerton, Call the Midwife, Death in Paradise, Sex Education, The Pursuit of Love, King Gary and Ted Lasso.

Source: www.theknowledgeonline.com

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First Steps into Film and TV is a not to be missed one-day event. It will put you in the driving seat so that, by the end of the day, you will feel empowered with the knowledge you need to Switch On Your Potential and go out and find the work that best suits you in Film and TV. This one-day event is designed to demystify how you can build a career in the film and TV industries. This is the place to find out how the film and TV job search really works. It is designed to showcase the wide variety and range of roles for new entrants in film and TV and as such is open to everyone, not just those who have studied media.

First Steps into Film and TV features a curated series of talks and panel discussions backed up with useful industry resources. You’ll hear from industry experts whose role it is to hire for productions – and they’ll let you in on the secrets of what they look for – and how to make that all important first impression. You will also hear from those who have recently embarked on the TV and film journey and how they are building their careers. You will discover their tips and tricks for gaining traction, and the various DOs and DON’Ts that they’ve learned along the way.

If you are looking to gain traction with a career in Film or TV and struggling to get your foot in the door then First Steps into Film and TV is the event for you.

Attend ‘First Steps into Film and TV’

See the full schedule and register your place here.

This event will be recorded and available to ticket holders for a limited period of time following the event.

For more industry information, visit Film Birmingham’s news page. Or add us on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.

BBC Three and BBC England are partnering with Create Central to launch West Midlands Voices, a new creative partnership focused on nurturing West Midlands-based talent and creativity. The partnership is inviting independent production companies based in the West Midlands to submit documentary ideas that reflect the life experiences of 13-24-year olds, and will be commissioning two production companies to make a film each.

The scheme aims to celebrate the inclusive spirit of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, focussing on people and stories within the West Midlands in the lead up to the Birmingham Games, with a broad theme of “Making Your Way” in life. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, relationships, family, friendship, money and business, jobs, study, sport, and overcoming hurdles.

Create Central launched its initial programme of activities in July 2020 to help drive forward the growth of the creative content sector.

In March, the BBC announced a new commitment to the Midlands as part of its efforts to better reflect the UK. The plans will see at least one new primetime drama series and one new primetime entertainment series in the region, joining Great British Menu in the Midlands, and The Asian Network will be consolidated in Birmingham and Newsbeat will move to the city – providing news content for Radio 1, Radio 1Xtra and Asian Network. The BBC will also pilot an Apprentice Training Agency in the Midlands.

Word from BBC Three and BBC England

Fiona Campbell, controller, BBC Three, says: “This latest partnership reinforces BBC Three’s commitment to developing better working relationships across the UK to deliver programming that is more representative of the whole of the UK. These incentives are a brilliant breeding ground for creativity and new talent which is positive for the industry and positive for the audience. We’re looking forward to working with BBC England again and excited by what we can achieve with this new partnership with Create Central.”

Aisling O’Connor, head of TV commissioning, BBC England, says: “BBC England TV Commissioning is based in Birmingham and the West Midlands is a key areas of focus for us. We want to grow our existing commissions in the West Midlands and help nurture local talent and companies. We already have a close working relationship with BBC Three and I’m delighted to extend that with this new creative partnership. I also look forward to working with Create Central and finding diverse and rich stories from this vibrant and exciting region of England.’

Apply to West Midlands Voices

Expressions of interest will be accepted from 10 June 2021 – 22 July 2021. A briefing will be held towards the end of June, where BBC and Create Central representatives will talk about the partnership and the creative brief in more detail.
The BBC Three and BBC England team will then shortlist up to six Indies to share further details of their ideas via BBC Pitch, prior to entering into a period of paid development and project scoping. Successful submissions will be notified, and invited to pitch in front of a team of BBC England and BBC Three commissioners in September 2021.

After the pitching session, BBC England and BBC Three teams will select two indies to each produce a documentary film, to be TX’d on both network television and iPlayer in the lead up the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

The full commissioning brief, details on the partnership, how to apply, guidance on pitching, selection criteria and the timeline are available via the BBC Commissioning website.

Source: www.theknowledgeonline.com

The heroic rescue of 12 boys in Thailand by a Coventry cave diver is being made into a blockbuster Hollywood movie. Former Coventry firefighter Rick Stanton was a key player in the dramatic rescue back in July 2018 and now the incredible story is being turned into a film and a book. The blockbuster is being directed by Ron Howard and will see the former Green Watch firefighter at Canley fire station played by Lord of the Rings actor Viggo Mortensen.

Working with Viggo Mortensen

Stanton spoke about his excitement about the film to ITN News, in which he revealed that he has been having zoom calls with the actor to help him get into character. Speaking on ITV News, he said: “Right from the very start people were saying ‘this would make a great Hollywood movie’, it pretty much has all of the elements you would need. We signed up to do that and it is now being made. The director is Ron Howard, whose other notable film of a similar style was of course Apollo 13.

“I have got an actor playing me, who I think is an excellent choice, I have been spending the last nine months on Zoom calls with him, training him up to be me. It’s Viggo Mortensen, who plays Aragorn in Lord of the Rings. My companion while in Thailand John is being played by Colin Farrell. So the two of them are the lead players in a major Hollywood movie.”

It is being filmed in Australia and he has travelled there to check out the set.

“That was really fascinating,” he told ITN. “Seeing how a movie is made, seeing the set, seeing the whole process and just being, actually involved in actually altering the script. Training Viggo to be me and, of course, such a quality actor, he can play me as well or better than I can.”

Rick’s Rescue

Rick and John Volanthen were the first divers to reach the group nine days after they went missing in the underground network in northern Thailand. He spoke about the moment they found them: “Of course it was a euphoric moment, that wasn’t the rescue, that was just the start of a massive process to think about how to get them out. It had never been done before , we were really flying blind and we had to make it up on the go, so that was really the challenge and that is why it took a week from when we found them until we started to bring them out.”

It is not the first accolade to have been heaped on the former firefighter, he was also honoured by Coventry City council.

Source: www.coventrytelegraph.net

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