South West Screen E-Bulletin #124

2 August 2007

contents: news; opportunities; cluster groups; training; screenings/events/exhibitions;

news

Do you have something you want to contribute to the e-bulletin?
We are always on the lookout for interesting news, events and opportunities to include in our e-bulletin. If you have a story that you want to share with other e-bulletin subscribers, please send around 150 words explaining who, what, when where and why to Becky Bishop. Our e-bulletins appear fortnightly on a Thursday - dates for the next e-bulletin and copy deadline can be found on the news section of our website and at the end of each e-bulletin.

Calling all 'Bright Sparks'!
Are you passionate about daytime and popular factual TV? Have you got what it takes to work in this demanding, fast-paced, competitive industry? Are you willing to hand yourself over for the next 12 months? If you are over 18 and resident in the South West then take a look at Brights Sparks a unique opportunity for new entrants brought to you by South West Screen and Skillset in partnership with BBC Bristol, RDF Television West and Twofour. We want to hear from you right now! Click here for more information.

Latest podcast from Made in the South West now available
The latest in our series of Podcasts from our 'Made in the South West' commissioning event is now available. Hear Andy Whitman, Commissioning Executive at UKTV and Edwina Thring, Head of Acquisitions and Co-productions at National Geographic discuss their channels' commissioning processes. To subscribe click here.

£500,000 for independent local cinemas to improve access and facilities
Independent cinemas across the UK will be able to apply for Lottery funding to update their buildings, improve facilities, and boost access for audiences with sensory impairments. The UK Film Council has set up a £500,000 Capital and Access Fund for Cinemas to ensure high standards of cinema facilities around the country, improve the cinema-going experience for the public, and increase access for people with sensory impairments. The fund will assist cinema operators with capital projects, particularly where the works are considered essential to the cinema's continued existence, or of benefit to audiences that may currently be excluded such as improving access for disabled cinema-goers. Find out more on the UK Film Council's website.

Twofour takes on twelve trainees
Twofour's 2007 Talent Day has proved the most successful yet and resulted in the company taking on twelve trainees to work at its Plymouth headquarters. Over fifty young people were invited to attend a day of interviews and workshops earlier this month. Of the twelve successful candidates seven will work in Twofour's broadcast department - each with their own mentor who will teach them about production and programme development, directing or production management. Three trainees have been offered places in Twofour Communications where they will learn about the production of communications content for clients in education, the public sector and for many major brands and finally, two will be working for Twofour Digital learning about post production.

New Culture Module for the South West
Culture South West is delighted to announce the launch of the Culture Module which incorporates the agency's strategic research functions. With a focus on building and supporting a regional evidence base, the Module is a partnership between Culture South West and the region's cultural agencies and South West Observatory. The service offers an authoritative voice on cross-sector research and a central point of contact for collecting and disseminating cultural and relevant research. Click here to find out more.

3Vision launch Internet TV report
3Vision have created a substantial Internet TV report based on a detailed analysis of the market, and research with many of the key players, to understand the global market trends. This report can help you understand this area more fully, cut through the hype and evaluate the real opportunities and threats for your business. For information on how to access this report click here.

3Vision are also pleased to announce the launch of 3Vision People its media recruitment arm, exclusively for businesses and professionals in the media and telecoms industry. Headed by Disney Executive Maria Bayman, the division specialises in finding people at a senior level from Manager to Chief Executive. Current clients include a number of the Hollywood Studios, TV Channels and TV Platforms.

South West Screen wants your images!
We are currently seeking new images to use on our website. We are looking for strong images from South West productions (production stills, behind the scenes shots, animation frames and location stills) and images that represent the South West's culture of film education workshops, community film and video projects and film festivals/events. If you have any images which you would be happy for us to use on our website, and possibly in South West Screen publications (e.g. Annual Report), please e-mail them to us giving full details of how they would need to be credited. Thanks in advance.

opportunities

Still time left to apply for Toronto Film Festival bursaries
Deadline: 10 August 2007
South West Screen has funding of up to £650 for SMEs or freelancers who would like to attend Toronto Film Festival. The resource can support up to 50% of delegate's fees and other supplementary activity. In addition to the South West Screen bursaries UKT&I are now offering bursaries to assist with travel and accommodation.

This festival is not only aimed at feature film production but also feature documentary, TV drama, animation and natural history producers with projects that need co-production partners and those wishing to form production partnerships with Canadian companies. Click here for more information about the South West Screen and UKT&I bursaries.

Apply to our Screenwriter Development Competition
Deadline: 16 August 2007
Only a couple of weeks remain until the deadline of South West Screen's Screenwriter Development Competition. The winner will receive £3,000 and mentoring from Oscar-nominated screenwriter William Nicholson. If you've written a feature length screenplay with commercial potential, the South West Screen Screenwriter Development Competition could help take your script to the next stage. Find out more here.

South West Post Graduate Bursary Fund
Deadline: 5pm, 31 August 2007
South West Screen is offering an industry-backed Post Graduate Bursary Fund. The fund will make awards of up to £3,000 each to students based in the South West who are looking to attend a post graduate course with Skillset accreditation and/or industry approval. For more information and details of how to apply please see the training section of our website.

Script Consultants Bank - call for interest
Deadline: 12 noon on 13 September 2007
South West Screen is looking for script readers, developers, editors and mentors from the South West to join a Script Consultants Bank, to help to develop the skills of writers in the region. The Script Consultants Bank will consist of 8 - 10 people. South West Screen will draw on the Bank to assist with its own projects, such as Digital Shorts, our Script Critique service and Script Development. South West Screen will also promote the Bank to other potential users both within and outside the region, which could include Regional Screen Agencies, the UK Film Council, colleges, writers' workshops, resource centres or individuals. To find out more click here.

Film director required
Bath Spa University is looking for a director of a short film to get involved with a film audio post production module that runs as part of the BA Hons Creative Music Technology. The module is funded by Artswork, which is an initiative to offer 'industry focussed teaching'. They are looking for a short film nearing completion that requires sound design/Foley/ADR. Ideally the film footage should have some production audio. There is funding available to support the involvement of the director in progressive briefing / cutting sessions. For more information please email Jan Meinema.

Photography and Digital Media Programme Manager
Deadline: 5pm 10 August 2007
A highly motivated and experienced creative manager sought for thriving media centre about to move in to a new delivery phase and state of the art premises. This is an opportunity to be part of a team taking a lead in developing innovative media arts practice in a community setting. For further information contact Katie or see the Knowle West Media Centre website. Closing date for applications is 5pm on 10 August and interviews will be held on 22 August 2007.

Apply now for Specialist Mentoring awards
Deadline: 10 August 2007
Are you working in animation, film, broadcast, or digital media? Do you need help to develop your great idea for a film, TV or digital media project? Would you like to work with an expert who can point your business in the right direction, provide support to develop your project effectively to reach your audience, get you great publicity or provide access to key contacts, research and funding? Specialist Mentoring can be provided in the development and marketing of proposals, proofs of concept and screenplays, legal issues, business planning, executive production and distribution, or other areas where you feel your business would benefit.
Investments are being managed by Cornwall Film. Three awards of £1000 will be made, supported by Creative Skills and the European Skills Fund. We may also be able to contribute towards travel costs for you or your mentor. Successful applicants will work with their mentors for a minimum of 3 months, with all mentoring completed by 30 November 2007. To find out how to apply, visit the Cornwall Film website.

Preloader wants your films
Deadline: 28 September 2007
Wiltshire filmmakers are invited to submit short films to this year's Preloader competition. Heats will be held in four locations around Wiltshire, with the final in Swindon in November. Email Kevin Philips for more information or an entry form.

Graphic Designer opportunity
Cinéformation are looking for a Graphic Designer to redesign the logo and freshen up the brand. In accordance with our exciting development plans, the logo will be featured on the re-vamped website and on all correspondence next to the highly established logos of BAFTA, South West Screen, Watershed and UWE. This is a great opportunity for an enthusiastic and creative individual with the relevant skills and experience to get their work noticed. For more information see their website. If you are interested in the position please contact Beth Jones ASAP or call 07806 716106

Calling all filmmakers
Deadline: 5 November 2007
Devon and Cornwall Film is calling on today's directors to make a short, socially real documentary for the D+CFree competition. The best short documentary films submitted to D+CFree will be edited together and shown with Free Cinema 1, at Two Short Nights, the short film festival at the Exeter Phoenix on 6 and 7 December 2007 and be eligible for a unique award designed by Helen Snell. The films should be documentary-based and no longer than 10 minutes and can be shot on any medium and submitted on DVD to Devon and Cornwall Film, 19 Gloucester Road, Newton Abbot, TQ12 1AY. Mobile movies should be e-mailed to Devon and Cornwall Film. Find out more here.

Enter Film Street's Summer Shorts competition
Deadline: 1 October 2007
Film Street has teamed up with Cineworld Cinemas to launch its Film Street Summer Shorts competition which challenges young people (aged 12 and under) to make a five minute short film this summer with their family or friends. The films will be judged by film industry experts with the lucky winning family or group awarded four Cineworld Cinemas passes valid for a year and their winning film will be shown on the Film Street website.Films must be no longer than 5 minutes and can be filmed on a digital camera, camcorder or mobile phone. Films can be live action, animations or documentaries; budding filmmakers can tell us all about their holiday adventures, make their own five minute version of one of this summer's films, or come up with something completely new. Click here to find out more.

Knowle West Media Centre Commissions
Knowle West Media Centre want to commission site specific work from artists for their new building which is due to be completed in December 2007. The building will be a flagship of environmental design and house high quality production facilities, as well as incubation and managed workspace to encourage small business growth, particularly supporting creative enterprise. Knowle West Media Centre want to provide more opportunities for artists to engage with the process of regeneration, set against a backdrop of critical thought. In particular they want to create a context for the new building as a regional centre for production and debate. Commissions are open to artists resident in the South West of England and nationally - to find out more click here.

Enter your film into 2 Days Later 48hr Horror Shorts Competition 2007
Deadline: 21 October 2007
Now in its fifth year, 2 Days Later is a short horror film competition designed to encourage filmmakers, enthusiasts and students to produce a 10 minute horror film in only 48 hours on a micro budget. The competition now has a fully re-vamped website that contains full information, a trailer for this year's event, and the opportunity to view previous year's winning films. Entrants can access the competition brief here.

Radical Reels: Five Minutes of Mayhem!
Deadline: 10 September 2007
Five Minutes of Mayhem is an exciting new short experimental film competition taking place in conjunction with The Compass of Resistance International Film Festival in Bristol, autumn 2007. Films submitted must be no longer than five minutes and must fit into the genre of experimental film. There will be prizes for Best Film, Most Experimental Film & Audience Award, plus additional Young Film-maker prize. Prizes and judges to be announced.

Entries must be submitted on DVD, Mini DV or full quality DV QuickTime files along with the short film entry form (available on their website) to: Compass Film, 19 Albany Road, Montpelier, Bristol, BS6 5LQ. For further information please e-mail Compass Film.

Call for Proposals: Awareness raising in the field of development - audiovisual projects for television
Deadline: 4 October 2007
The European Commission wishes to promote the production and broadcasting of television programmes on European TV channels likely to contribute to a better understanding by the public of the realities of the developing world, of the need for North-South co-operation and of European actions and initiatives in this field. Television programmes that may be co-financed under this programme are: documentaries, docudrama, magazine, report, debate, animation etc. The total cost of the project cannot be lower than ?100,000. The grant available is from 75,000 Euros to 250,000 Euros and may not exceed 75% of the eligible costs. To find out more click here.

60 Seconds to Save The Earth
Deadline: 16 September 2007
Current & the Alliance for Climate Protection have launched a competition calling for creative and provocative ecospots; very short video messages that will drive the community and government to get involved in solving the climate crisis. These video messages can be either 15, 30 or 60 seconds long and the best will be broadcast on the channel and entered into competition to be judged by an ecologically conscious jury of celebrities. To find out more click here.

cluster groups

How Business Thinking Gets Ideas on Screen
19 September - 6pm, venue TBC
Lena Samuels, Wessex Media Group, is an experienced business to business consultant and has worked with creative businesses over a number of years. At this event she will suggest ways in which indies and freelancers can apply firm business principles to their own creative media businesses. The session will also include case studies from Wessex Media Group members and present an opportunity for members to discuss training needs for business planning which might be met via WMG. To register your place please email Lena Samuels or telephone 01590 671 446.

Bristol Media Show and Tell
10 September 2007 - 6.30pm at The Picture House, Bristol
A monthly event for Bristol Media members where local media professionals introduce a project on which they are working and outline the challenges involved, the obstacles overcome and the info they wish they'd known before they started on the assignment. With plenty of scope for questions and debate, and freshly cooked food available from the bar. Keep an eye out for e-bulletins announcing the autumn line-up of talkers and topics.

training

How do you become a professional actor?
11 and 12 August 2007 - Bristol (venue TBC)
This McGann-Malone acting workshop seeks to give acting students a thorough foundation in acting to camera whilst allowing each individual to explore their talents to the maximum and gain an understanding of the difference between acting on the stage and working to camera. Participants will receive on camera training on the day, an intense learning experience with veteran professionals who know the industry, inside industry advice from a casting director as well as a notable actor and a DVD reel of their performance. The one- day workshop costs £48, inclusive of camera filming and your own DVD. If you are interested in applying please contact Jesse Malone stating which day you'd like to attend or see the McGann Malone website.

So you want to Direct?
18-19 August 2007 - Arnolfini, Bristol
After the success of their first Bristol course 'Lo-to-No Budget Filmmaking', Raindance is bringing the ever popular 'Directors Foundation' to the Arnolfini. Participants will gain a comprehensive grounding in the essential skills a film director needs to become a great storyteller. You'll work with the screenplay to develop a strong vision of the story and how to communicate those ideas with others. Learn how to direct actors and use the camera to create emotion and perspective. There will also be a 'live shoot' practical exercise using professional actors. The course is £195+ VAT for the weekend - to find out more or book click here.

LA's and New York's most popular screenwriting class returns to London
23 and 24 September 2007 - London (venue TBC)
Raindance is pleased to present David Freeman's 'Beyond Structure', the single most popular screenwriting workshop in Los Angeles and New York. The 200 powerful techniques taught in 'Beyond Structure' will advance the experienced screenwriter, fiction writer, or development exec to the next level, and shave years off a beginner's learning curve. Attendance on this two day course costs £250 plus VAT - click here to find out more.

screenings/events/exhibitions

Pandora's Box with newly commissioned score from composer Paul Lewis
15 September 2007 - 7.45pm at Colston Hall, Bristol
Watershed and Bristol Silents present the world premiere performance of a specially commissioned orchestral score from composer Paul Lewis for the silent classic film Pandora's Box as part of Watershed's 25th anniversary celebrations. This special gala event will be hosted by actor Paul McGann, a patron of Bristol Silents and a devoted fan of Louise Brooks. Adapted from the controversial plays of Frank Wedekind, Pandora's Box, starring Louise Brooks as young temptress Lulu, is one of the greatest films from the silent era. Tickets for the event, £20.00 full / £16.00 concessions, are now on sale, available from Colston Hall Box Office (0117) 922 3686.

Beyond the Console: Virtual worlds, interactive experiences and gaming
6 September 2007 - 2pm to 5.30pm at Watershed, Bristol
From alternative reality games to located mediascapes, the internet offers a wealth of opportunity for collaboration around gaming and interactive experiences, and with its blend of digital creatives and highly skilled computer programmers, Bristol should be in a unique position to ride and exploit this wave. This cross-sector seminar/workshop will bring together experts and professionals from a mix of disciplines to explore innovation, content distribution and opportunities for collaboration in gaming and virtual worlds. To find out more and book click here.

Cinéformation 47 Acting for Camera
30 August 2007- 7pm at Watershed Media Centre, Bristol
How does an actor portray a realistic character and what skills are needed to achieve real screen presence? This month's Cinéformation will feature a practical workshop session with professional actor and director Sonia Fraser, who'll show you how to create a mesmerizing performance on camera. Budding stars & enthusiasts bring along a monologue and receive valuable tips and advice.

Cinéformation is a BAFTA in The Regions event; a forum for independent film and video makers offering an opportunity for writers, producers, directors, actors, crew and enthusiasts to meet, screen films, exchange ideas, and foster a creative frenzy of film-making in the South West. This event is free, please collect a ticket from the Box Office on the night.

August at Watershed
A rich combination of fresh features and newly restored classics are screened this summer at Watershed, including animated epic Tales from Earthsea directed by Goro Miyazaki, son of the legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki (Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away) and The Walker, an expertly crafted political thriller set in the highest echelons of Washington society directed by Paul Schrader (the writer behind such tortured violent classics as Taxi Driver and Raging Bull).
Watershed are also delighted to welcome back the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival on tour. Now in its 21st year, the programme presents the very best of the festival and takes place at Watershed and Arnolfini. Highlights include; Beyond Hatred, Olivier Meyrou's sensitively handled documentary about François Chenu who was beaten to death for admitting his homosexuality; Lisa Gornick's latest feature on a lesbian couple's quest to conceive a child in Tick Tock Lullaby. For full programme details visit Watershed's website.

Filmclub Summer Special
14 August 2007 - 7.30pm at Mi Bar, Falmouth
Filmclub, Cornwall's new screening event is having a Summer Special during Falmouth Week with three longer films that will be of interest to locals and visitors alike. With thanks to ITV they will be showing two films made by Robin Toyne about Cornish characters: Mrs Rosewarne Queen of Camborne and Hatched Matched and Dispatched. The third film will be Falmouth The Gem of the West, a 1957 film promoting Falmouth as a tourist destination. This silent film shot in colour has been screened recently in the Maritime museum but uniquely and for one night only this silent film will have a music soundtrack mixed live by Filmclub's favourite DJ Karl using the fantastic new Mi Bar sound system. Tickets are available in advance for this screening at £4 from 01326 317794 or on the door. For further information call 01326 317794 or email George Green.

Next e-bulletin: 16 August 2007
Deadline for submissions: 14 August 2007