‘The Great Staycation’ is a brand new BBC documentary film narrated by Adrian Chiles. It follows three family businesses in Stourport and explores how the town has evolved into a thriving holiday destination.

The documentary is the brainchild of Kidderminster’s Paul Barnett, of GOSH! TV, who has produced and directed several well-known shows for the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. These include Come Dine With Me, Coast and Embarrassing Bodies.

Paul told The Shuttle: “I’ve visited Stourport for many, many years as both a child and a parent. So it was the first place I thought of when I pitched the idea to the BBC. What amazed me most was the history of the resort – there’s been a fairground in the town for over 100 years. And the families that run many of the attractions in Stourport go back for generations.”

Filming Locations

Paul and his team have spent most of the summer filming with Stourport’s tourist attractions, including riverboat steamer The River King. The steamer was recently taken over and refurbished by cousins Tom Moore and Jamie Dyde.

“Years ago, people used to flock to Stourport from miles around to take a trip on one of the many steamers that were based here,” said Paul. “Today the only one left is Tom and Jamie’s boat, which they’ve done a brilliant job of renovating.”

‘The Great Staycation’ also spends time at the Treasure Island fairground, which was taken over in 2007 by Henry Danter. Away from the main town, the film also spends time at Lickhill Manor Caravan Park, including a unique interview with the park owner Dennis Lloyd-Jones, whose father started the business in 1956. The film concludes on August Bank Holiday weekend, when the town was flooded with holidaymakers.

Aerial Filming

Specialist drone filming was used to show off the Stourport landscape. Producer Paul says he is keen to show Stourport from a new perspective.

“I was really surprised how different Stourport looks from the air,” said Paul. “The picturesque canal basins are surrounded by beautiful green countryside. I think people will be amazed how beautiful the town looks. It’s a warm, charming and beautiful film, full of amazing local characters. I hope this shows Stourport at its best – It’s certainly a summer I will never forget.”

Watch ‘The Great Staycation’

The Great Staycation: Stourport-On-Severn airs Monday, November 11 on BBC1 West Midlands at 7.30pm.

Source: www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk

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Film Hub Midlands are looking for a dynamic project manager for the Coventry Film Pilot. They will plan and deliver a series of screenings and events in the run-up to Coventry’s year as City of Culture in 2021. The successful applicant will help with developing local partnerships, deliver pilot activity and with laying the groundwork for a film strategy for 2021 and beyond.

Coventry Film Pilot – Role Brief

Role: Project Manager – Coventry Film Pilot
Freelance – approximately 80 Days
Salary: £200 per day (based in Coventry)
Project timescale: November 2019 – September 2020
Application deadline: Friday 29 November (interviews to be held Wednesday 11 December)

See the full Job Description here.

About Coventry Film Pilot

In the run-up to Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture in 2021, Film Hub Midlands are working with partners across the city to produce an exciting calendar of screenings and events designed to roadtest a range of spaces and develop new audiences for film. The main objectives of the project will be:
– to give people across Coventry the opportunity to enjoy a rich variety of film;
– to lay the foundations for an eye-catching and unique programme of film as part of the
City of Culture celebrations;
– to ensure that the ingredients are in p

To Apply

To apply send a CV containing relevant information and a covering letter that addresses the key deliverables of the role and shows how you fit the candidate profile to eleanor@filmhubmidlands.org

Source: www.broadway.org.uk

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Join RTS Midlands for this unique opportunity to learn from TV Producer, Writer and Show Runner, Mal Young.

About Mal Young

Mal’s credits include Channel 4’s Brookside,  where he was responsible for the first Lesbian kiss on British Television and the infamous ‘Body under the Patio’ storylines, leading to the show to record ratings and critical acclaim. Mal also saw the re-launch of ITV’s The Bill to an hour long format.

He joined BBC as Controller of Drama Series where he was responsible for numerous successful series including the launch of Holby City and Doctors and the hugely successful re-launch of Dr. Who.   He also oversaw a diverse slate of productions including EastEnders, Casualty, Judge John Deed, Waking the Dead, Being April, Murder in Mind.

Now based in the U.S. Mal has been Show Runner/ Executive Producer/Head Writer on the #1-rated daytime drama The Young and the Restless for CBS/Sony winning several EMMYs for his work.   He is now once again creating a number of new scripted projects with traditional broadcasters as well as streaming platforms.

Mal will share his experience and knowledge of working both in Britain and the US as well as giving insights into what makes a successful television drama.

This event is for professionals and those studying drama production or script writing.   It is free to attend but places are limited and booking is required. Book your spot here.

Event Details

Friday, 29 November, 2019
2pm – 4pm
IET Birmingham
Austin Court, 80 Cambridge Street
Birmingham, B1 2NP

Book your spot here.

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Queens of Amathus, a powerful Birmingham documentary, is set to tell incredible journeys made by Cypriots to Birmingham. It will premiere on  Sunday 3rd November at Cineworld, Broad Street, Birmingham.

Women highlighted in the film headed to Birmingham for various reasons, united by their stories of personal sacrifice, poverty and war. BirminghamLive journalist Christina Savvas helps to tell their stories for the first time.

Along with Chapter 1 films in the West Midlands, the studios involved (listed below) will work alongside Channel 5’s commissioning team. The Channel will then guide them in the development of new projects, receiving development money from a dedicated fund.

Selected Indie Production Companies:

Chapter 1 Films (West Midlands)
Chapter 1 Films is brand new indie set up through a partnership with Producer/ Director Shurwin Beckford and Karma Productions. Their aim is to create unashamed populist mainstream factual television.

Afro Mic (Belfast)
Owned by Emma Dias, Afro Mic started as a short form digital indie in 2014, producing fact entertainment as well as drama shorts. In 2017 it won its first terrestrial TV commission for BBC NI.

Heenahn Bhatti (Yorkshire & the Humber)
Heenahn is a multi-award-winning programme maker, with experience in all factual genres, from obs doc to specialist factual and factual entertainment. Having directed a number of documentaries, Heenahn is now creating his own independent production company.

Big Deal (London)
Owned by Dhanny Joshi and Thomas Stogdon, Big Deal were founded in 2014 and specialise in factual, factual entertainment and scripted formats.

Meridian Line Films (Yorkshire)
Nacressa Swan has 15 years of experience working in factual television and international documentary production and co-founded Meridian Line Films, based in York.

Chatterbox (London)
Owned by Nav Raman and Ali Quirk, Chatterbox is a new production company which is female and BAME-led. Their ambition is to create for major content and platforms with new voices fresh perspectives and thought provoking content.

Ten66 (Hastings, Sussex)
Ten66 is a small, regional BAME-owned indie owned by Rukhsana Mosam, an executive with 27 years’ experience in the business. Their main slate is in factual and they have also recently started creating scripted content with new BAME comedy talent.

King of Sunshine (Manchester)
King of Sunshine Productions is the brainchild of former BBC Commissioner and Entertainment Exec Sohail Shah. Salfordian Sohail has 20 years’ experience in the industry.

Doc Hearts (London)
Owned by Andy Mundy-Castle and Roy Agyeman, Doc Hearts specialises in factual entertainment, scripted, feature documentaries, children’s content, branded content and reality formats.

What People Say

Channel 5 director of programmes Ben Frow said: “We are passionate about working with hungry, creative and enthusiastic small independents who offer a new perspective, whilst being tuned into our channel and audience needs. So this important scheme, brilliantly engineered by Simone from The TV Collective, offers business opportunities to nine talented production companies across the UK, many of whom are start-ups. In broadening our creative influence, our ambition is to see new mainstream commissioned programmes also in the peak time schedule.”

The TV Collective’s Simone Pennant added: “It was a real pleasure working on this project. For years I’ve been saying the talent is out there and they are – in abundance. So this is such a fantastic opportunity by Channel 5 and has the potential of providing life changing business opportunities for the selected companies, which can only be a good thing for the industry.  I really hope this project inspires other broadcasters to move past platitudes and look for meaningful ways to not only diversify staff teams but suppliers as well. Massive Respect to Ben and his team for showing just how easily it can be done.”

Source: www.c21media.net and www.tbivision.com

Source: www.productionguild.com

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Applications for the 2020 WFTV Mentoring Scheme in association with ScreenSkills opened on the 25 September 2019 and will close at 14:00 on Sunday 27 October.

It is free to apply and to participate in the WFTV Mentoring Scheme and you don’t need to be an existing member to apply. However, if you are chosen for the scheme you should become a member by the time the scheme starts in January. Application deadlines are advertised via the WFTV newsletter and website, and on social media.

Source: www.wftv.org.uk

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The new TV comedy drama ‘Zomboat’, billed as ‘Two girls. Two guys. And a boatload of zombies’, is set to rock the city’s waterways .

Zombies are never the fastest of movers on screen at the best of times. So when Zomboat! unleashes a zombie apocalypse in Birmingham and trains aren’t running from New Street Railway Station, and plumes of smoke are rising above the city centre, two sisters and their friends will decide to flee… on a canal narrowboat called Dorothy. However their ‘zo-mo’ adventures by the towpath are going to be a long way from the innocent fun of Ragdoll’s children’s TV characters Rosie & Jim.

But given the time it takes to go through a lock will the towpath zombies catch their prey – and what will be the best weapon of self defence against the undead – a bread knife or rolling pin? With narrowboat engine noises a good way of underpinning a contemporary horror score, producers hope that some Peaky Blinders-style knife violence on the quiet backwaters will make giant waves with viewers across the land.

Lines include ‘If I’m not back in two hours… just wait longer’ or how about: ‘Who made you captain?’ to which Leah Brotherhead’s character Kat replies: ‘The total lack of competition’.

What is Zomboat! about?

The story features sisters Kat and Jo and two travel companions called Sunny and Amar. Jo has  just returned from working as a club rep and has decided to move in with her younger sister. She loves computer games,tends to believe in conspiracy theories and receives a message asking if she saw a video of a guy being eaten. So Jo isn’t likely to take her seriously when Kat claims the apocalypse is happening right here, right now… in deepest Birmingham.

Friend Amar is a gym bunny while his oldest friend Sunny doesn’t go a bundle on humanity. Zomboat! will illustrate how friendships, alliances, arguments and romance are all affected by living in packed living quarters. Even a zombie apocalypse can’t change the route of human nature.

Who is in it?

The leading cast members include Leah Brotherhead (White Gold, Boy Meets Girl) as Kat while Hamza Jeetooa (Doctor Who, Our Girl) plays Sunny. Ryan McKen (Temple, Game of Thrones) plays Amar while Wakefield-born blonde Cara Theobold (Downton Abbey) is Jo. Rochenda Sandall (Line of Duty, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch) guest stars. The title track ‘Sleep Forever’ is credited to Loup Garoux.

What they are saying about Zomboat!

Zomboat! is a Noho Film & Television production, created by Adam Miller and Will Hartley, written by Adam Miller, Will Hartley and Liz Doran.

Series commissioner Paul Mortimer said: “ITV2 is committed to comedy for younger audiences and we’re delighted to partner with Hulu and Noho Productions to add this fantastically high-concept, home-grown comedy adventure series to our slate.”

Head of acquired series Sasha Breslau added: “Zomboat! is a gorily funny new comedy with a terrific cast. ITV2 is thrilled to be on board the Zomboat! ready to battle the undead.”

Royal Television Society (Midlands) chair Caren Davies, said: “Zomboat! is set in Birmingham so it’s fantastic to hold its premiere here (private event on October 3rd). “The series is brilliantly funny and has a great cast. It promises to be a gory treat for everyone who comes along.”

The series is expected to air from Tuesday, October 8 on ITV2 in six, half-hour episodes, following the regional premiere organised by the Royal Television Society on Thursday, October 3.

Source: www.birminghammail.co.uk

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