West Midlands Culture Response Unit (WMCRU) is today delighted to announce the Midsummer Festival, a free one-day festival celebrating arts and culture in the West Midlands on Saturday 20th June.

Featuring a collection of many West Midlands theatre, dance, music, artists and venues Midsummer Festival will mark the Summer Solstice with a wide range of live, archived and pre-recorded cultural activity available online including performances which have never been seen before from companies including the Royal Shakespeare Company, ACE Dance and Music and Birmingham Contemporary Music Group.

Midsummer Festival is the first event organised by the WMCRU, which has been created to co-ordinate, develop and deliver an action-orientated, response by over 100 arts organisations in the West Midlands to the Covid-19 crisis in the short, medium and long term. Led by Culture Central, WMCRU’s purpose is to ensure the visibility, viability and recovery of the Cultural Sector in the West Midlands.

Inspired by annual Midsummer celebrations across the region, the day will feature work influenced by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and will respond more generally to nature with open air events in a wide variety of settings across the region and will include a live performance of short excerpts at Compton Verney, which was the setting for the 1968 film adaptation starring Dames Judi Dench and Helen Mirren.

Performances will be streamed online throughout the day with work including WILD, a daring dance-circus production from Motionhouse; a series of Rural Recordings from Pentabus Theatre including Here I Belong by Matt Hartley and Crossings by Deirdre Kinahan; and Rosie Kay’s CITY – BREATH – WATER, a poem of dance responding to the beauty and harshness of the city of Birmingham. Award winning dance and music company Sonia Sabri Company will also be showcasing some of the best highlights of their dance and music performances, as well as a rare opportunity to be part of a live conversation with their internationally renowned artistic and music directors, Sonia Sabri and Sarvar Sabri.

Ex Cathedra will present a selection of summer-themed music, from a birdsong-inspired commission to summer favourites, inviting festival goers to don their best holiday wear and sing along at home as they take a musical Summer Holiday, somewhere beyond the sea. Designers from the Royal Shakespeare Company will provide a workshop on how to create your own fairy bower at home inspired by the wonderous woodland bed of Titania, queen of the fairies. The day will end in celebration at the Midsummer Vogue Closing Party hosted by DanceXchange Vogue Tutor Jason Andrew Guest who will inspire audiences to strike a pose in a 15-minute tutorial followed by a 30-minute DJ set and dance party.

As well as the Summer Solstice, the festival programme will also take inspiration from Refugee Week (15th – 21st June), with Midsummer Festival taking place on World Refugee Day 2020. Refugee Week is the UK’s largest festival celebrating the contribution of refugees and promoting understanding of why people seek sanctuary. Highlights include a dance tribute to Ira Aldridge celebrating his life and achievements as an African-American actor in the UK from Ace Dance and Music; Ikon Gallery and Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham will present Soapbox, 20 quick-fire, home-produced, soapbox videos based on the week’s theme of Imagine; and digital film screenings of refugee stories from Birmingham Opera Company.

Director of Culture Central Erica Love said: “Covid-19 has decimated the cultural sector. It is more important than ever for the West Midlands to come together and support each other.  The WMCRU believe that as a region we should respond to this unprecedented threat in a typically generous, loud and collaborative manner, which is exactly the spirit of Midsummer Festival.”

“The festival is the first collaboration of its kind for the region, building on the many digital opportunities we’ve seen from our arts and culture organisations to bring their work online during lockdown, as well as the outpouring of creativity from households and online communities. It’s set to be a great event and we look forward to welcoming audiences through our virtual doors.”

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands said: “Arts and culture organisations are at the heart of our communities throughout the West Midlands, with the tourism, hospitality and cultural sector supporting more than 135,000 jobs in the region and contributing around £12.6bn a year to the local economy.”

“At such a critical time for the sector it’s more important than ever that we proudly come together to show what our region has to offer, and the Midsummer Festival will do exactly that”

Midsummer Festival will take place on Saturday 20th June and can be accessed via: www.makeitwm.com

The recently rebranded Make It WM website will be the central hub for the digital elements of the Midsummer Festival, streaming the wide variety of arts & cultural activities taking place across the region. The free to visit website is also home to a wide variety of content produced during this time, putting all listings in one convenient place.

A full line-up and running times for the festival will be announced in the lead up to the event.

Follow live updates throughout the day using #MidsummerFestival

Visit www.makeitwm.com for info on how to watch.

Source: www.birminghamupdates.com

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A Solihull film director has won funding to develop her horror film from a national development fund.

The British Film Institute is providing grants to filmmakers in the West Midlands, as it says it is focusing on nurturing cinema talent in the region. Jess Loveland, Head of the BFI Network, said: “In the Midlands we have a wealth of storytellers from all sorts of creative backgrounds: theatre-makers, visual artists, writers and filmmakers. The Talent Team at Film Hub Midlands are passionate about finding, developing and funding those talented individuals to realise their stories and creative potential in the region they call home. We intend to amplify the voices of the next generation of filmmakers in the Midlands and profile them on a national scale. Storytelling can connect communities and help us make sense of our experiences, as we emerge into a post Covid-19 world these storytellers will be more important than ever”

One beneficiary of the BFI’s drive in the West Midlands is Birmingham graduate and Solihull resident Cassiah Joski-Jethi.

Following a period where she was mentored by Bend it like Beckham directory Gurinder Chadha, 26-year-old Cassiah has completed the filming of her period horror short film ‘Catch a Butcher.’ Cassiah told the Observer: “My film is a psychological horror short, set in 19th century India, about a nurse who arrives at a maternity ward where babies have been going missing. I hope audiences will see an entertaining, scary ride, but will also think about Indian history and its colonisation. The film is really about suppressing different sides of your heritage, I was inspired to write the film as I am mixed-race – when I looked at Anglo-Indian history I learnt so much about the cultural attitudes to Anglo-Indians at the time.

“Mixed race children were sent back to England and taken away from their Indian mothers, taught to ignore their Indian heritage. I was keen to make it a horror film as I think the most interesting horror films are the ones that are scary, but feature something that could really effect you, like Get Out did. What has been really good about the BFI network is their workshops have run online, and with my film they are continuing to support editing in lockdown. Having already shot the film, we can look at the edit with fresh eyes and spend more time with it.”

Catch a Butcher is Cassiah’s third short film, her previous work was crowdfunded, but with the BFI grant she has support and encouragement from the country’s prestigious cinema network.

Currently deep in the editing process, Cassiah is looking for distributors and festivals to screen the film in 2021. She hopes the spine-tingling short will be a springboard to a career in feature films.

“After this is done I’m hoping to push to go into features. I mainly work as a screenwriter but I’m looking to bring the directing more to the forefront. I’m based in Solihull but looking back, I spent a lot of time travelling when younger. “My Mom is American with German and Polish background, and my Dad is Indian-Canadian. So my one positive in life was watching films again and again, I knew I wanted to tell stories and for a long time I thought it was theatre I wanted to do but at university in Birmingham I stepped into film and realised this is what I want to do.”

Previous funding winners from across the UK have include Nottingham’s Sarmad Masud (Two Dosa) whose debut feature My Pure Land was selected as the British entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards in 2017.

Thort Film funding programme aims to support projects with directors based in England and is run in partnership with the BFI Network who work with filmmakers on the delivery of funded projects. This fund is for fiction shorts, in both live-action and animation.

Source: leamingtonobserver.co.uk

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Source: film.britishcouncil.org

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Lockdown measures are starting to be eased after more than two months of restrictions. But how is everyday life changing? Here is a lockdown update from BBC:

Can I meet friends and relatives?

From Monday in England, you will be able to meet in groups of up to six people from different households outside – either in parks or now also in private gardens – as long as you remain 2m (6ft) apart.

From Friday in Scotland, members of two different households will be allowed to meet up outdoors if you maintain social distancing. Groups cannot be bigger than eight, and people are “strongly recommended” not to meet more than one other household per day.

In Wales, the BBC understands that people from two different households will be able to meet each other outdoors from Monday.

Groups of four to six people who are not in the same household can meet outdoors in Northern Ireland, although outdoor weddings with 10 people present may be allowed from 8 June.

Can I exercise more?

There is no longer any limit to the amount of time you can spend outside doing exercise, or in “open-air recreation” like sunbathing in England and, from Friday, in Scotland.

Currently, you can play outdoor sports such as golf or tennis with members of your household or with one other person from another household (while maintaining social distance).

From Monday, people in England will also be able to exercise outside with up to five others from different households. That means small groups of sport teams can resume fitness sessions, but social distancing must be maintained.

In Scotland, outdoor activities where physical distancing can be maintained can resume from Friday. This includes golf, tennis, bowls and fishing.

Households can also drive any distance in England to destinations such as parks and beaches. But they should not travel to Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, where the rules are different.

Why are rules different in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland?

Decisions on easing lockdown in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of each national government.

However, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced the lifting of some lockdown measures in the country from 29 May.

As well as meeting people from one other household outside, people will also be able to sit or sunbathe in parks and open areas.

It will also be possible to travel – preferably by walking or cycling – for recreation, although people will be asked to remain “where possible” within or close to their own local area.

Rules in Wales are set to be relaxed next week, while any changes in Northern Ireland will be confirmed after the executive meets next Thursday.

Should I go back to work (and how will I get there)?

People who can work from home in England should continue to do so “for the foreseeable future”.

But the government says those who can’t, should travel to their workplace if it is open – and walk, cycle or drive if at all possible, to prevent overcrowding on public transport.

Those who do use buses or trains are being told to expect social-distance queuing and to wear face coverings.

Workplaces should be made safe for staff, with more cleaning, staggered working shifts and, for office workers, no hot-desking.

• How will transport need to change?

What if I go into other people’s homes to work?

If you’re a cleaner or plumber, and need to enter someone else’s home for your job, you are allowed to return to work.

No work should be carried out in the home of someone shielding or isolating because of Covid-19 symptoms, unless it’s a household emergency.

In homes where someone is clinically vulnerable – for example, where a person is aged over 70 – face-to-face contact should be avoided, and strict hygiene rules followed.

What are shielded people being told to do?

People in England and Wales who have been asked to stay at home and shield will be able to spend some time outdoors again from Monday 1 June, while continuing to follow social distancing rules. These people all have health conditions that make them particularly vulnerable to coronavirus.

It means those with families will be able to go out once a day with members of their household. People living alone can meet someone from another household while maintaining social distancing – keeping 2 metres apart.

Other parts of the UK have not yet recommended the same.

Can I move home?

House moves and viewings can resume again in England.

Potential buyers and renters will be able to visit show homes and view houses on the market to let or buy.

Anyone who has already bought a new home can visit it to prepare for moving in.

What about childminders, nannies and nurseries?

Childminders and nannies in England have now been told they can return to work – but only if they’re caring for youngsters who come from the same household.

During lockdown, registered childminders have either been closed or providing care for vulnerable children or children of key workers.

The government has said it would like pre-school nurseries in England to start reopening from 1 June.

When will schools and universities return?

The government’s ambition is for all primary school children in England to return to school before the summer for a month if feasible.

In England, pupils in nurseries, early years and Reception and Years 1 and 6 at primary schools will be able to return from 1 June.

Class sizes are expected to be no more than 15 pupils, with staggered breaks and frequent hand washing.

From 15 June, the government says secondary schools and further education colleges will be able to have face-to-face contact with Year 10 and 12 pupils who have key exams next year, in addition to their “continued remote, home learning”.

Meanwhile, there is uncertainty over whether students will be able to go to university in person in September or whether they will be taught partially or completely online. The university watchdog says new students must be told with “absolute clarity” how they will be taught before accepting a place.

• The government in Wales has ruled out schools reopening on 1 June
• Scotland‘s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that children will return to school on 11 August.
• Some pupils in Northern Ireland will return to school in August

When can I go High Street shopping again?

All non-essential retailers – from department stores to small independent shops – can reopen in England from 15 June, if they put in place social distancing measures.

And outdoor markets and car showrooms can reopen from 1 June, if they are “Covid-secure”.

But the government has said these dates could change if coronavirus infection rates increase.

Garden centres have already reopened in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

They are now due to reopen in Scotland.

DIY chains – some of which stayed open throughout the lockdown – have also reopened many of their shops.

Source: www.bbc.com

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The Film and Television Charity has launched an online mental health platform, available for everyone who works behind the scenes in film, TV and cinema. The online community resource has been developed by Big White Wall and can now be accessed by everyone working behind the scenes in film and TV for free.

What it offers

Now, people can chat with others, get advice, take part in courses and feel connected. This online tool provides a safe space for industry professionals, allowing them to express their thoughts and concerns openly and anonymously.

As well as receiving support in group or one-to-one chats they can also access guided self- help courses on managing a range of mental health difficulties including depression, stress, panic and grief, as well as problem-solving and assertiveness training. The platform –accessed via the charity’s website at filmtvcharity.org.uk /community – also offers self- assessment tools and allows people to track their progress. Community posts are monitored 24/7 to ensure safety and anonymity.

Spread the word. You can access the platform here: https://filmtvcharity.org.uk/we-can-help/community/

The Whole Picture Programme

In light of the Covid-19 crisis, The Film and TV Charity is now accelerating its mental health action plan, known as the Whole Picture Programme. Launched in February after a survey for the Film and TV Charity found 87% of the UK film and TV workforce has experienced a mental health problem, the action plan is being extended rapidly to increase mental health support with wellbeing services developed in partnership with Mind. The Film and TV Charity continues to lead the Film and TV Taskforce on Mental Health, established to implement the Whole Picture Programme.

This comes as The Film and TV Charity distributes much-needed funds to workers and freelancers hit hard by the closure of productions across the UK. A survey 1 for The Film and TV Charity found that more than nine industry freelancers in 10 (93%) were no longer working due to the crisis while three quarters (74%) did not expect to receive any support since they were not eligible for government support schemes or had not been furloughed. Launched last month The Film and TV Charity’s Covid-19 Emergency Relief Fund – providing one-off grants of between £500 and £2,500 depending on need – awarded a total of £3 million across 2,000 applicants. A further £140,000 has been distributed via the PRESS RELEASE 2 charity’s long-standing Hardship Fund to nearly 400 people receiving stopgap grants of up to £500 covering essential living costs.

Meanwhile the charity’s free 24-hour Film and TV Support Line, providing advice on mental health as well as financial and legal problems, received over 1,000 calls in April, four times the average number during the two years prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Alex Pumfrey, CEO of The Film and Television Charity, said: “Mental Health Awareness Week is an opportunity to reflect on the mental wellbeing of a brilliant, successful and creative community that’s having to cope with the toughest challenges imaginable. The online community we’re launching today gives everyone in film, TV and cinema an opportunity to talk openly and anonymously, giving as well as receiving advice, comfort and support. Coupled with online courses on dealing with mental health difficulties, the online community will provide a much-needed resource for those who feel left out and isolated, and aren’t able to turn to company structures for help.

“As the industry now works out how best to return to work it is vital that we put both physical and mental wellbeing considerations front and centre of our plans for recovery. We need to consider the mental pressures and anxiety that thousands of people in the workforce are experiencing and be conscious of the fact that many will also have unresolved financial problems. The Film and TV Charity will continue to highlight the importance of mental wellbeing in our industry, and do all we can to support people through, and out of the current crisis.”

Online survey conducted by The Film and TV Charity completed by 1,895 people between 31 March and 3 April 2020

Source: The Film and TV Charity 

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