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South West Screen E-Bulletin #142

17 April 2008

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

 

news

 

Encounters now open for submissions
Deadline: 18 June 2008
Now in its 14th year, Encounters Short Film Festival has become known world-wide for the extraordinary community of filmmakers it attracts, and for the quality and scope of its programming. This celebrated event is the largest festival of its kind in the UK, showcasing over 250 new international short films each year. The HP Digital Viewing library offers more than 600 films for on demand viewing available to all delegates' buyers, distributors, programmers and press. Check out the 'new look' website for details of the awards up for grabs, the submission criteria and how to enter your film. The short listing takes place throughout the summer and selected films will be announced by the end of August.

 

International Screenwriters' Festival programme is now online
The International Screenwriters' Festival takes place in Cheltenham from 1 - 3 July 2008 and is dedicated to the art, craft, and business of writing for the screen.The festival programme, which continues to expand and evolve on a weekly basis is now available to view online. While all details are subject to regular updates and amendments, the festival have decided to make it live as early as possible to enable delegates to begin planning their own itinerary. You can view the programme here. Tickets are now available for purchase at the standard price of £330 - booking details are available here.

 

DepicT! call for entries
Deadline: 8 Sept 2008
DepicT!, Watershed's unique short film competition as part of Encounters Festival, returns in 2008 to challenge filmmakers from across the globe to come up with compelling, imaginative ideas for mini movies of 90 seconds in length. In addition to priceless exposure through Encounters International Short Film Festival, the Digital Screen Network and beyond, filmmakers will be in the running for the first prize of £2,000 cash and all shortlisted filmmakers will also receive an Encounters Network Delegates pass. For more information on how to enter your mini masterpiece or to view previous year's shortlists check out the DepicT! website.

 

Attenborough launches Wildscreen's Google Earth Layer
Sir David Attenborough, Wildscreen's Patron, has launched the organisation's latest project, a layer on Google Earth. The layer uses Google's mapping technology to raise the profile of a selection of critically endangered and endangered species from Wildscreen's ARKive project. Unveiling the new ARKive layer in Google Earth, Sir David Attenborough said: "Having spent over 50 years working in natural history broadcasting, I know how important technological innovation is for reaching new audiences. With the arrival of the Internet, there are now even more opportunities to bring the wonders of the natural world to a global audience. Google Earth is a really powerful way for Wildscreen to show the vital work it is doing with the ARKive project."
ARKive is a centralised collection of thousands of films and photographs of endangered species from around the globe, freely accessible online. The Google Earth Outreach programme has helped give Wildscreen the resources to use Google Earth and Maps to show ARKive's work to a mass audience. The ARKive layer can be found in the Global Awareness folder of the Featured Content section in Google Earth. To download Google Earth for free click here.

 

Creative Media Workforce Survey 2008 - Skillset wants to hear from you
Skillset is currently conducting a survey of the creative media workforce. The information collected will give everyone an invaluable insight into how the industry is shaping up in terms of training, qualifications and skills. It will tell Skillset about who is working in the industry, what you do and what you need to do your job effectively. This is your chance to have your say on the future needs of the industry and ensure that your needs are met. It will provide a crucial opportunity for industry professionals to have their say on the future needs of their particular sector and also ensure that their own needs are met.
Those interested in participating in this important piece of research can access the survey online by clicking here. If you would like an electronic copy (PDF), please visit Skillset's website. If you require a paper version or any other format, please contact Karen Muir, 0113 244 6795. The closing date for completed questionnaires is Friday 30 May 2008. Every response will be invaluable in ensuring that future resources can meet the needs of all.

 

myplace launched
If you have the vision and drive to work with young people to deliver a world class place for them to go, myplace may be able to help you turn your ideas into reality. Channelled through the Big Lottery Fund, myplace will invest £190 million over the next three years in ambitious projects driven by the active participation of young people. This will support the Government's Children's Plan pledge to provide exciting safe places for all young people to go to, and where people can engage in a wide range of positive activities such as sport, dance and music. Young people have a crucial part to play in this process and funding will only be allocated where there is evidence of real participation from young people in the development, design and future running of projects. To find out more click here. Application and guidance materials for the first funding round will be available from 6 May 2008. The deadline for fast track applications is 29 July 2008 and the deadline for the standard route is 30 September 2008.

 

First podcast from Access to Digital Media Finance now available
The first in a series of Podcasts from our 'Access to Digital Media Finance' event, which took place in March, is now available. Hear Patrick Bradley from Ingenious Media give a strategic overview of the digital media investment landscape. What do Ingenious see as opportunities? What do they want? How do you mitigate risk in a changing world? To subscribe click here.

 

opportunities

 

Media Sandbox Ideas Pitch - win a £1,000 development grant
Deadline: 29 April 2008
At the Media Sandbox final event on 6 May 2008, three lucky people will be given the chance to pitch a pervasive media idea they would like to explore to win a £1,000 development grant and a month long residency at the Pervasive Media Studio in Bristol. Entry is open to creative or digital companies, organisations or individuals based in the South West. You can submit as many ideas as you like around content, a service or pervasive media application. The applicants with the three best ideas will get the opportunity to make a five minute pitch at the event on 6 May. The pitches will be judged by the 2008 Media Sandbox participants (with help from the audience), and the winning idea will be announced live on the night. To find out more click here.

 

Virtual Voices - submit your film
Deadline: 5pm 11 June 2008
As part of our Virtual Voices event on 10 July 2008 at the Watershed in Bristol there will be a screening of films that were made to make a difference. We are looking for heartfelt projects that you really know and care about. Do you feel that society usually undervalues or misrepresents your views? Do you want to set the record straight? Have you made a film that can instigate social change through your passion and energy? We would like to show the strongest work made by people under the age of 25. If you feel your work is powerful enough to inspire others to follow in your footsteps, then we would like to hear from you. Projects can be film / digital media / photographic or radio and must be no longer than 10 minutes in length. The screening will only last an hour, so the shorter your project is, the more likely it is to be screened. For more information, please contact Sas Bonser.

 

Apply to Mediabox
Deadline: 2pm, 29 April 2008
South West Screen are the regional partner for Mediabox in 2008/09, and applications are now being welcomed from youth media projects around the South West. The Department for Children, Schools and Families has invested £2 million in Mediabox for 2008. Mediabox is run by First Light Movies, Media Trust, Skillset and the UK Film Council. It offers disadvantaged 13-19 year olds the opportunity to develop and produce creative media projects, using film, television, print, radio or online platforms. Mediabox is for young people to express their own opinions, ideas and views, gain new skills, encourage creativity, boost personal development and get their voices heard. Three different types of grants to make and distribute youth-led media projects are offered, ranging from £100 to £40,000. Application forms and guidance notes on applications are available on the Mediabox website. The stage 1 application deadline is 2pm on Tuesday 29 April 2008 with the stage 2 full submission deadline at 2pm on Tuesday 10 June 2008. If you would like more information contact Sas Bonser.

 

60 x 60 Bath Film Challenge
Deadline: 7 May 2008
Do you fancy making a film to coincide with the 60th anniversary of Bath's International Music Festival? Suited and Booted Studios, Bath Film Festival, and Media Art Bath have joined together to bring this exciting event to the streets of Bath. They want sixty second films inspired by the year's "60 x 60" theme - you can interpret 60 in whatever way you want. All film entries will be compiled into a feature length DVD, which will be screened at the Pavilion and other main venues at the 'Party in the City' (the festival's 60th anniversary celebration) on 23 May, and in shop windows, bars and clubs for the duration of the Bath International Music Festival. Visit the dedicated website for all the information you need to take part, including how to register.

 

Part-time writer/ script mentor wanted
Action Time Vision are looking for a writer and mentor for Night in Easton, a community based research and film project currently underway in Bristol. The position would involve developing ideas through to the completion of a final script in collaboration with the young people involved with the project. They are looking for an accomplished writer familiar with the short film form who has experience of script mentoring/editing. Experience of teaching, community and youth projects an advantage. This is a paid position approximately 6-8 hours per week for a period of 6 weeks starting in May/June. To apply and for further information please contact David Marks.

 

Key Arts Provider funding now launched
Deadline: 4pm, 23 May 2008
Applications are now open for Bristol City Council's three year Key Arts Provider (KAP) funding. Bristol City Council will invest £735,000 to enable a proactive approach in seeking out and cultivating existing and new opportunities that will feed the arts and cultural ecology of Bristol and the South West region. To find out more and apply click here.

 

Autocue and operator urgently needed
Antix Productions will be filming a piece for 'Most Haunted' for Living TV in Exeter on Wednesday 23 April (approximate hours 10am - 4pm). They are looking for an autocue and operator (preferably from the South West region) to work on this day. If you can help, or suggest somewhere they might be able to try, please contact Deborah at Antix.

 

Guiding Lights Mentoring Scheme
Deadline: 29 April 2008
Are you an up-and-coming filmmaker with at least two years experience in your field? Guiding Lights is a 12 month programme that matches emerging film professionals with some of the biggest names in the UK film business. The scheme is open to directors, producers, writers, cinematographers and sales, distribution, exhibition, marketing and business affairs professionals, who have at least 2 years experience in their field. Successful applicants will benefit from 12 months of one-to-one mentor support from the best in the business alongside additional industry training and networking events. Click here find out more.

 

Apply to Inside Pictures
Deadline: 9 May 2008
Now in its sixth year, the Inside Pictures business training programme covers all aspects of the international film business - from development through production, financing, worldwide distribution, marketing and exhibition. Comprising three intensive one-week modules, Inside Pictures takes place in London and Los Angeles between July and November 2008. Seminars, workshops and studio visits are hosted by some of the US and UK's most senior industry professionals. The programme also provides considerable networking and profile raising opportunities for the participants. Up to 15 executives and producers will be selected to take part. Participants will need to display ambition, a determination to broaden their knowledge of the global film industry, desire to expand their network of high level contacts and develop leadership skills. They will probably have at least 5 years' experience in film or an associated creative industry such as television. Application forms can be downloaded from the Inside Pictures website or requested from the Inside Pictures office on 020 7478 0930.

 

The Network is searching for the next generation of TV talent
Deadline: 21 May 2008
Do you love TV and want to know more about what it takes to get a job in television? Fancy working with the teams behind Big Brother, Sky News and Coronation Street? The Network, previously known as Television and Young People (TVYP), has opened applications for its FREE event in Edinburgh in August 2008. Over five days, Networkers get to meet the best talent from behind and in front of the camera and come away with new skills, contacts and advice. Previous experience is not necessary, just a passion for television. Part of the Edinburgh International Television Festival, the event gives delegates access to some of the top talent working in TV today. Past speakers have ranged from celebrities such as Vernon Kay, Kate Garraway, Graham Norton, Simon Amstell and Sir Trevor McDonald as well as leading industry figures including Dr Who writer Russell T Davies and newscaster Krishnan Guru-Murthy. Applications via the website are open now and close on 21st May 2008. Delegates who have attended The Network are also given the opportunity to apply for a six month paid work placement at some of the most prestigious TV companies in the UK through the The Network at Work programme.

 

UK Film Council Short Film Completion Fund now open for submissions
Deadline: 30 May 2008
Producers or production companies are now invited to send a rough cut of their unfinished short film to Maya Vision International, along with a completed application form. If you don't have a rough cut by then, don't worry as the Completion Fund has expanded to 2 calls per year allowing up to 14 short films to be completed under the scheme each year. The next call, 2009/I, is scheduled to open in September 2008, but full details to follow in due course. Full guidelines, forms and more information can be found here.

 

exposures - call for entries 2008
Deadline: 31 July 2008
exposures - the UK's leading competitive festival for student film and moving image - is looking for the talent of the future. Call for entries is now open for the 2008 edition to be held from 23-27 November at Cornerhouse and Urbis, Manchester's two leading contemporary arts venues. This year's competition widens the criteria for entries to include not only film but all aspects of the moving image: i.e. video, mobile 'phone work, animation or visual art installations. The competition is open to students who have created their work whilst studying on any UK course between August 2007 and July 2008 - the work does not have to have been made as part of the course. Pieces should be under 30 minutes long and year's exposures theme is change. The festival has also responded to the growing number of younger filmmakers by introducing the underexposed strand which showcases pieces from under-19s. To download entry forms for both exposures and underexposed and enter for free, click here.

 

cluster groups

 

There are five media cluster groups in the region - Bristol Media, Cornwall Media Focus, Gloucestershire Media Group, Plymouth Media Partnership and Wessex Media Group - offering support including regular events. If you're not a member, why not join your nearest group now?

 

Media Innovation Awards Show and Tell Networking
Thursday 24 April 2008 - 7pm at The Treasury Function Room, Plymouth
Come along and find out about the winning entries of the Media Innovation Awards and then take the opportunity to network with other Plymouth Media Partnership members at this fun social event. It's a great way to make new contacts and to keep up to date what's happening in the region. This event is sponsored by Business Link Peninsular - to book your free place please contact the PM-P office on: 01752 346530 or email PM-P.

 

Working and Thriving in Rural Gloucestershire
30 April 2008 - 6pm at The Photo Block, Cheltenham Film Studios
This Gloucestershire Media Group workshop is for freelancers, small creative businesses, artists, designers, writers and all those engaged in creative work. It will be a seminar workshop (with small buffet!) exploring the issues that arise when living, working and running a business rurally out away from the bigger cities. The session has been developed to meet the needs of GMG members, across all disciplines developing their arts practice / business in Gloucestershire. The key themes will be: How are you managing and developing your business and what kind of work do you make with and for rural audiences? The session will examine and discuss: the challenges you encounter working in Gloucestershire; your creative / business development and training needs; the resources you have, and the ones you need to thrive; where to turn for advice, support, assistance, mentoring etc; possible solutions, and how to embrace the challenges. The workshop will be led by Richard Povall from SW based Aune Head Arts - Richard is a composer and digital artist who also runs Half Angel. Free sponsored places to GMG members, please email Emma to reserve your place with your name, email and a sentence describing what you do with any website links..

 

Show and Tell - Heroes
12 May 2008 - 6.30pm at The Picture House, Bristol
Attend this Bristol Media Show and Tell event to find out how the Audience helped Tim Kring get it right. Heroes was one of the international successes of 2007 - and it had a local angle. Chris Humpherson, Adrian Edwards and Katherine Bristow from Attentional (Bristol Media's resident audience bloggers) reveal the role of audience research in shaping the complexity of the storylines, and the character development. With "Audience Need" the starting point for most projects, the team provide focussed research for ideas, rebranding and launches. They use a system of Targeted Indexing to provide a rigorous analysis of TV overnight figures, and an understanding how new technologies in PVR and VOD are affecting the viewing of programmes. They work with Bristol University's Evolutionary Psychology department to find out what goes on in a viewers brain. Full details available on the Bristol Media website.

 

training

 

Artists' Moving Image training for Exhibitors
23 April 2008 in Brighton and 7 May 2008 in Exeter
Do you want to screen artists' films at your venue or festival but aren't sure how to go about it? Do you want to develop an audience for this work? The Independent Cinema Office presents two essential training days aimed at cinemas, galleries and mixed arts venues.
Developing Audiences for Artists' Moving Image takes place on Wednesday 23rd April at Lighthouse, Brighton. It will provide a brief history of artists' moving image, encourage you to think differently about your audiences, look at what networks can you use to best promote your programme and develop effective marketing materials.
Curating Artists' Moving Image will take place on Wednesday 7th May at Exeter Phoenix. The day will look at sourcing work, rights clearance and technical considerations, working with artists and developing your programme. Attendance will cost £30 + VAT (£35.25) per course or £50 + VAT (£58.75) for both days. Further information and booking can be found here.

 

My Media Cityscapes
3 - 5 May 2008, 10am to 5pm, Bristol
Make your own digital landscape on this fun but focused introductory Summer School. Create your own interactive city story and walk through it, using headphones and GPS equipment. Constance Fleuriot and Clodagh Miskelly will introduce the design concepts for mediascape production and provide and teach you how to use the software. Working in pairs, you'll make interactive experiences that blend with the sights and sounds of the world around you. You'll create the narrative, prepare and edit audio and images, and design, build and test a simple mediascape that communicates your view of the city. Bring music, text, or an image to get you started. Attendance costs £130 book by e-mail or by calling 0117 954 5471.

 

Digital Editing using Final Cut Pro HD Training
26 - 28 May 2008 - 10am-6pm at Waterslade Studios, Devon
This course run by Forkbeard Fantasy will cover capturing footage, editing, adding transitions and effects, compositing, adding text and graphics, speed manipulation and audio editing, but most importantly it will centre on the creative methodology of digital post production resulting in artistically valid editorial decisions. Attendance costs £425 - details of how to book can be found here.

 

Forkbeard Fantasy Summer Schools 2008
27 June to 4 July and 11 - 18 July 2008, Waterslade Studios, Devon
In 2008 Forkbeard Fantasy will be holding residential courses at their friendly and stimulating creative base in the heart of rural Devon. The 6-day courses give participants the opportunity to explore the diverse artforms used in Forkbeard's multi-media shows, films and exhibitions. Participants will receive a hands-on introduction to a range of techniques - including performing and interacting with film projections, making animated props and digital editing - as well as having space, equipment and materials with which they can experiment. Attendance costs £600 including all meals and accommodation. Full details can be found here.

 

screenings/events/exhibitions

 

Animation Bridge Masterclasses
Visual Structure with Bruce Block - 10 May 2008, BAFTA London
Visual Language and Story Structure with Frank Gladstone
- 17 May 2008, Watershed Bristol
Comedy Intensive Course with Steve Kaplan - 31 May 2008, Arts Institute, Bournemouth
As part of Animation Bridge: Storyboarding from Start to Finish, South West Screen is running 3 masterclasses in London, Bristol and Bournemouth. The three masterclasses are:

Places cost £25.00 per course and are limited to people with prior media industry experience. Please email us for a booking form. These events are funded by South West Screen, Skillset, South West Regional Development Agency and Aardman Animations.

 

Virtual Voices - tickets now available
10 July 2008 - 9.30am - 5pm, Watershed, Bristol
How can we develop young people's voices so they become the media literate content creators and storytellers of the future? A one day event presented by South West Screen and RIO, Virtual Voices brings the media industry together with young media makers and their teachers or tutors to attempt to answer this question and many others.Tickets cost £50 each including lunch and are now available from Watershed box office on +44 (0)117 927 5100. We have some free places reserved for young people involved in producing media - if you'd like to attend but don't have the money please email us. Full details of the event can be found here.

 

Leadership and Management focus group
22 April 2008 - 1pm - 5pm at Engineers House, Bristol
Are you: Looking for ways to develop your business or organisation? A manager responsible for resources and people? Keen to explore your organisation's leadership and management development needs? If you answer 'yes' to any of these questions, Sector Skills Councils are running a focus group which will appeal to you. This highly participative 'action learning' seminar will give you the opportunity to network with other managers and discuss future business needs. Action learning is a powerful way for business leaders to learn from each other and explore new ideas.
The focus group will be run by Leadership South West (LSW) on behalf of the Learning Skills Council (LSC). LSW is a regional centre of excellence in leadership and management development, based at the University of Exeter, which assists in building leadership and management capability across the region. Employers registering with the 'Train to Gain' service at the event will be able to get free advice on eligibility for funding and sourcing appropriate providers for leadership and management development to meet needs identified during the seminar.
Each participant will take away with them a free copy of the book 'Perspectives on Leadership' (produced for the LSC by Leadership South West). These half day events are free, include lunch and an opportunity to network. To book your place please contact Sally Howard, 01392 269231. Please note that reservations for the event will be on a first come first served basis.

 

Start producing your own documentaries
21 - 25 April 2008, London
Want to become a producer, or have more control over your documentary by producing it through your own company? Then look no further than Producer's Week. Run by DFG - the UK's leading provider of industry-focussed training in documentary filmmaking, and a member of the elite Skillset Media Academy Network - and led by Natasha Dack and Nikki Parrott of Tigerlily Films, Producer's Week will give you up-to-the minute information on industry demand and opportunities.
This highly intensive course will equip you to face the full spectrum of issues you will encounter as a producer, from setting up your company to improving your pitching technique, building relationships with broadcasters, production management issues, funding models and strategies for survival as a micro company. Guest speakers who have previously shared their insight with participants include representatives of Channel 4; Colin Luke and Andy Glynne (EPs, Mosaic Films); and Franny Armstrong (Spanner Films, McLibel). More information can be found here. Places are limited so early booking is recommended. To book your place please contact DFG on 020 7249 6600 or email DFG. Freelance rate: £600 + VAT, corporate rate: £950 + VAT.

 

Scoring for Film at South West Sound
24 April 2008 - 12pm at Watershed in Bristol
The film industry would be unimaginable without the creative input of musicians. 'Scoring for Film' will offer a priceless insight for musicians working for the film industry. Delegates will benefit from the knowledge and insight from a panel of film business pros: Martin Kiszko who recently composed the score for BAFTA nominated The Killing of John Lennon, Dan Jones who regularly works on film and TV productions, and Sarah Liversedge who specialises in placing music with film and TV. This year South West Sound will be welcoming two new partners, Cinéformation and Bristol Media, making the annual symposium the place to be for the region's aspiring Morricones and Barrys. South West Sound will offer that all too rare chance for film makers and musicians from across the region and genres to meet. For more information on South West Sound 2008 visit their website or email South West Sound.

 

Music For Film
24 April 2008 - 7pm at Watershed, Bristol
In association with South West Sound, Cineformation's Music For Film event will kick off with an informal networking session for composers, musicians, filmmakers and students and will include screenings by Bristol University Composition students and software demos. Then, composers Martin Kiszko and Jean Hasse, who worked together on the recent feature film The Killing of John Lennon, will guide us through the mechanics of creating a score, putting sound to sequence and how to get from the commissioner to the big screen. Using film sequences they will explore the relationship between image and sound, how to work in a successful creative team and the cope with the demands of being a composer. This is a free event please collect a ticket from the box office on the night.

 

New equipment showcase
1 May 2008 - 12.30pm - 6.30pm, Arnolfini, Bristol
Pinknoise-Systems Ltd, an equipment hire and sales company, are holding a trade/equipment show at Arnolfini in Bristol to showcase new technology for location sound recording including new hard disc recorders and radio mics. Pinknoise-Systems deal mainly with location sound for film and TV kit, and also some video equipment and location lighting. There will be approximately 6 manufacturers represented and there will be display stands and equipment on demonstration. Spaces at the event are limited and by invite only, interested parties should contact John McCrombie for an info pack and registration number, or call John on 07970 416043.

 

Media Sandbox Showcase
6 May 2008 - 2pm - 6pm at Watershed in Bristol
From public fountains to bluetooth fountains, street games to shop windows, over the last three months the six groups of Media Sandbox participants have been working on new applications in pervasive media. This final Media Sandbox event is your chance to play with the prototypes, discuss the challenges and watch the final project pitches as the Sandbox participants present their work to a team of industry judges. And, at the end of the night, one project will be presented with a further £8,000 production grant. This event is free - book now.

 

Appledore Visual Arts Festival
29 May - 1 June 2008, Appledore, Devon
The Appledore Visual Arts Festival is famous for its innovative programme of Visual Arts events. In recent years their Film Shorts Programme has rapidly developed and is now a highly popular section of the festival. This year, film shorts will be screened from 6pm - 7.15pm on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights of the festival. Films were submitted from all over the South West as well as from overseas, those selected reflect a variety of categories ranging from those based on the festival theme of 'Earth' to films on the theme of ceramics and ceramic artists. In addition to the Film Shorts Programme, the festival has also attracted an interesting selection of documentaries this year including Earth Pilgrim the critically acclaimed Natural World documentary first screened on BBC2, and a beautifully made Oral History film about the people and culture of Appledore. The full festival programme and booking details can be found here.

 

Book now for b.TWEEN08
18 - 20 June 2008 at Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester
b.TWEEN is a unique cross media gathering where interactive ideas are seeded, shared and sold. Nowhere else will you find such a diverse mix of ideas-rich indies and ideas-hungry big industry players meeting on a level playing field to explore and exploit the creative and commercial potential of digital technologies. b.TWEEN08 features a huge host of industry experts from advertising, creative technology, film, games, mobile, TV and web. To find out more and to book see their website.


Next e-bulletin: 1 May 2008
Deadline for submissions: 29 April 2008