Producers Forum

Article from the India EU Film Initiative

Warner Bros, Cohen Bros and Walia Bros! How does it sound? 'Cool', say the UK-based filmmakers Walia brothers in an interview with India EU Film Initiative. Yugesh and Sunandan, who founded Endboard Productions in 1985, specialising in single documentaries such as 'Days and Nights in an Indian Jail' (Channel 4) and 'Buddhists of Suburbia' (BBC2)', talk about their latest projects, including a feature film ‘The Bounty Hunter’.

The subject matter in their documentaries is quite diverse. 'Days and Nights in an Indian Jail' was shot inside Tihar Central Jail in Delhi, the largest prison in South-East Asia. Filmed over a period of a year, it focused on the lives of a handful of characters while in 'Buddhists of Suburbia' (BBC2), the focus is on three Buddhists who are about to undertake life-changing journeys.

In another documentary 'Seoul Matess' (BBC2), Walia brothers explore the story of Min-Ah and Hee-Jung, two attractive, twenty-something South Korean women, who have fallen madly in love with Pat and Will, American soldiers based in Seoul.

Walia Brothers are now developing series ideas as well as feature films. The UK Film Council will this year honour some of Britain's best Black and Asian film-making talent through its programme Breakthrough Brits. Sunandan Walia and Yugesh Walia, brothers and a Producer/Director team, are the only Asians to be honoured this year. Click here to see the article on the UKFC website.

In an email interview with Pervaiz Alam of iefilmi.com Walia brothers share their thoughts and projects. Click here to read the full interview.

In this Issue we are focusing on the call for entries not only for Encounters and DepicT! But the Virgin media: Shoot to Thrill Competition with a huge prize of £30,000. We are also supporting a great grass roots festival that has been revived in 2008 to support local filmmakers in the South West.

1) Calling all Filmmakers: Get Your film Screened at Encounters
2) DepicT! 08: Call for Entries Now Open
3) Virgin Media Shorts: Shoot to Thrill
4) Bristol Filmmakers Festival 08

Click here to download a document with more information.

Feature film SOULED OUT is seeking HODS

Shooting in Summer 2008 in Staffordshire and backed by Screen WM, this micro-budget film is being produced by Ipso Facto Films and regional Dreamfinder Productions. Shimmy Marcus will direct.

The film is an exciting coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of the Northern Soul Scene in the early 70’s starring Martin Compston (Sweet Sixteen. Red Road) and Jennifer Ellison (The Cottage). The Film will feature new music from The Dap Kings (band of Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson).

We are looking for:

• DOP/Operator who has experience of 16mm and HD
• Production Designer
• Production Manager
• Costume Designer

This is a micro-budget film and the fee for each of these roles is £3,500. If you are interested in any of the above roles please send a CV to Natasha@dreamfinder.net. Please do not send reels unless requested.

Reels to:

Dreamfinder Productions
114 Abbey Foregate
Shrewsbury
SW2 6BA

If you would like a marketing pack for the film, please e-mail Natasha Carlish.It is anticipated that initial interviews will take place end of May.

Screen WM are delighted to announce a brand new screenwriter bursaries scheme! The scheme will support 10 writers to attend the popular Cheltenham Screenwriters’ Festival from Tuesday 1st to Thursday 3rd July. The festival brings together professional industry delegates, high profile guests and new talent from around the world to debate and discuss screenwriting. For more information about the Screenwriters’ Festival please visit www.screenwritersfestival.com

For more information about the Screen WM screenwriter bursaries scheme, please visit this section of our website

Alternatively, you can email mailto:production@screenwm.co.uk.

Are you a video artist, short-film maker, animator, motion-graphic designer, VJ, or artist using video installation? Would you like the opportunity to present your innovative media work to a wider audience?

Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum would like to find out if there is scope to establish a programme of events for local makers of short films and videos. The events would take place on Thursday nights from 6.30-7.30pm at the Art Gallery & Museum and would provide a showcase for students and artists working in the fields of film and digital media. The aim would be to screen up to three pieces of work at each event and there would be the chance for the makers to discuss their work with the audience.

This programme would provide a platform for recent film and video work and aims to support new and emerging practitioners as well as more established artists. There would be no charge for the use of the Art Gallery & Museum’s facilities. If you would like to offer your views or find out more about this proposal, please contact Tammy Woodrow at the Art Gallery & Museum at tammy.woodrow@warwickdc.gov.uk or call 01926 742719. We look forward to hearing from you!

Artsfest are currently looking at the Short Cuts Film programme for ArtsFest 2008 and are now looking for submissions. Short Cuts is an established and brilliantly attended part of the festival weekend and a great showcasing opportunity. The majority of films shown are normally 5-20 minutes in length but we are happy to consider longer ones if we feel they will fit in to the programme.

For more details please contact Kate Sullivan, Festival Assistant on 0121 464 5678 or email kate_sullivan@birmingham.gov.uk

Department of Media and Communication

With a strong reputation for learning and teaching, research and knowledge transfer, the Department of Media and Communication at Birmingham City University is one of the most successful centres for media education in the United Kingdom. The Department is seeking experienced and knowledgeable practitioners for the following teaching posts.

You will lead on TV Production in the department and teach on both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. You should have extensive professional experience in the television industry, preferably as a senior production team leader. It is essential you have a wide knowledge of the industry, and an understanding of future developments, especially in new platforms and interactivity. You will drive further developments in both the curriculum and TV resources of the department.

You will also play a role in developing the university’s Skillset Media Academy status.

Location: City North Campus
Faculty/Department: BIRMINGHAM INSTITUTE OF ART DESIGN
Salary: £35,683 - £42,618 per annum
Term of employment: Full time
Permanent
Hours per week: 37 hours per week
Weeks per annum: 52
Job reference: 080421/002
Closing date: 08/05/2008

Interview date: 10th June 2008.

http://jobs.uce.ac.uk:80/JobDetails.aspx/185/SeniorLecturerinTVProduction

The Edinburgh International Film Festival is currently compiling its annual Film UK Guide to British Film 2008. If you have completed a fiction live-action film (either a feature or a short) in the last year (between 1 Aug 2007 and 31 May 2008) it can be listed in the Guide for free! During the Festival there is a Videotheque located in the EIFF Delegate Centre, where industry professionals can go to view films in individual booths. Should you wish, your film can also be included in the Videotheque.

If you would like your film included in the Guide and/or in the Videotheque please go to the Professionals section of the EIFF website www.edfilmfest.org.uk to download a Film UK application form. Alternatively, if you have any queries please contact filmuk@edfilmfest.org.uk

The Movie Mogul Fund uses membership fees and industry sponsorship to create micro-production budgets for new films. Members become real-life Movie Moguls, and can claim their share of the profits, should that film be successful.

They are now seeking 4 feature film projects well suited to micro-budgets to enter our next funding phase. Cash budgets will be capped at £100k, and max ‘in-kind’ sponsorship at £150k.

To find out more about this news scheme, visit www.moviemogulfund.com

Opportunity to send in a two and a half minute film in, and be in with a chance of winning the following;

1. Their work broadcast in front of millions, online, on TV and through mobile internet.

2. Shown on 211 cinema screens nationwide for a whole year.

3. The chance to win up to £30,000 and work direct with the UK film council and Virgin Media to shoot their next film.

To find out any more information in the time being please do visit the website at www.virginmediashorts.co.uk

The UK Film Council, Film4, 4Talent and Skillset will support six emerging directors with strong, distinctive voices looking to make the transition from shorts or documentary to features to take part in The Director’s Lab. Taking place over five intensive days during the Edinburgh International Film Festival from 20 to 24 June 2008, the Lab is a unique and intensive personal and professional experience that will equip the selected filmmakers with the skills, contacts and knowledge they need to develop their careers.

The Lab is designed by major feature film funders based on their experience of the obstacles faced by first time feature directors in developing and financing their films. The UK Film Council and Film4 have developed a programme of sessions led by filmmakers and leading industry figures to support, challenge and inspire. Additionally, once participants have been selected the Lab will custom-design extra sessions to meet the needs of individual participants. Each Lab participant will also be matched with a mentor from the international filmmaking community who will be specifically invited to support their individual needs.

The Lab is residential. Participants will stay together at the heart of the festival and have access to the full range of festival activities to maximize opportunities for creative exchange and networking. Those selected to take part will have access to free accommodation, travel, subsistence, festival passes and help with childcare during the 5 days that The Lab takes place.

www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/directorslab

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 12pm, Monday 12th May 2008

Have you had trouble finding a fully-equipped studio in Birmingham? If so, then look no further. Studio B15 is situated in the heart of the University of Birmingham and offers a one-stop shop for all of your shooting needs. The facilities on offer include a 756 sq.ft main studio, sound gallery, vision gallery, workshop, production office, multi-format transfer area, edit suite, viewing room and green room which can be hired at exceptionally competitive rates. The studio has recently been refurbished and kitted out with new equipment.

Please download the studio profile by clicking on the link below to find out about these fantastic facilities located right on your doorstep. Members of the Producers' Forum are entitled to a 10% discount on all services and facilities. To discuss hire, please call Mark Ray on 0121 414 2536 or email m.ray@bham.ac.uk.

Click here to download a document with more information.

The Big Pitch is the UK’s only international pitching forum. We bring together an exceptional panel of commissioning editors and film funders from the US, Europe and the Far East, all poised to invest in ambitious British feature length documentary films. Last year our panel included: HBO, IFC, ARTE, Sundance Institute, ITVS, NHK Japan, Netflix, Discovery Films and SBS Australia.

The Big Pitch provides 12 filmmakers with a golden opportunity to pitch live for international funding for their project. The event also allows up to 400 spectators the chance to hear international commissioning priorities direct from the decision makers and get a taste of how international co-production deals are made.

The results speak for themselves: over two thirds of the projects pitched at BRITDOC 07 are currently receiving funding as a direct result of pitching in just 2 years, the pitching forum alone has secured over £2 million of funding into the 24 projects pitched.

We are looking for ambitious, feature-length documentary projects (over 60 mins). You must already have or be able to put together a trailer before BRITDOC 08 to accompany your pitch. The director (or a co-director) on the project must be British or British-based. You must hold a day pass for Thursday 24 July or a 3-day pass to BRITDOC 08 to apply for the Big Pitch. You can buy one via the Britock website (https://www.britdoc.org/festival/ApplyFor/Pitchingforums).

If you are off to the Cannes Film Festival and need to be there last minute, it can be a nightmare to find accommodation. The Forum has been contacted by Blue Hippo Media who have a lovely appartment in central Cannes available for rental. The apartment is a 15 minute walk from the Croisette.

Availability: 14th - 19th May 2008

Spec: Large lounge / kitchen and dining room / 3 bedrooms and terrace and gardens / wifi

The cost of this accommodation is 100 euros per night per person. If your flight is the 10.20 from Birmingham International on the 14th then they can even give you a lift as well! For more details, please conatct Pip Piper on 0121 687 1404 or 07525 780393.

Raindance showcases features and shorts made by independent filmmakers from all around the world to an audience of film fans, journalists, acquisition executives, actors, producers and directors. Each year we receive thousands of film submissions of just about every genre you can imagine from very talented filmmakers so it’s safe to assume that the competition is fierce. If you think your film has what it takes to make Raindance ’08 then submit your film before the 6th June 2008.

Submitting is easy and we offer two ways of going about it - either submit your film is through Withoutabox, the world’s first site dedicated to film festival submissions or download our online Submission Form read all the rules and regulations, fill in the form, and post it to the address listed along with your DVD submission and press pack.

If you are thinking of entering your film, there are a few points to consider in terms of eligibility:

- The film must have been completed after 1st June 2007
- The film must be independently funded
- The film can be of any length and of any genre. Any film between 0-49 minutes will classify as a short, anything thereafter will classify as a feature. Submission fees will be worked out on the basis of running time
- The film must not have appeared on British television

Deadlines:

- 1st May - Early Deadline
- 6th June - Final Deadline
- 20th June - Withoutabox ONLY extended deadline

To visit the 'how to submit' section of the Raindance website, please visit http://www.raindance.co.uk/site/index.php?aid=1372

Are you aware that just 1% of today's output on childrens' TV are new productions made in the UK? If not, then now is your chance to raise awareness of this issue.

As part of its campaign to save British kids’ TV, Pact has released a viral film starring much-loved characters The Wombles in a hilarious sketch highlighting the effects of US imports on our children’s programming. The viral, created by Clikflik and featuring the voices of Bernard Cribbins, Wayne Forester and Emma Tate, can be viewed by clicking the link below.

You can view 'Bad Ass Wombles of Central Park' at www.britishkidstv.com. Here, you can also help save British kids' TV, by signing up to a petition to be sent on to the Government.

In The Bad Ass Wombles of Central Park, Great Uncle Bulgaria, Tobermory, Bungo and Madame Cholet are back on our screens, but not as we know them. Rather than the furry versions of typically British characters that we know and love, they are loud and brash, as over-Americanised caricatures. It serves as a reminder of the days when the high-quality kids’ TV that Britain is renowned for had many more hours on our screens, and the stark reality is that this may not be the case for future generations should the current decline continue.

Inside Pictures, the highly respected film business training programme, will be accepting applications from 9 May 2008. Now in its sixth year, the programme continues to go from strength to strength. 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 covers all aspects of the international film business - from development through production, financing, worldwide distribution, marketing and exhibition. It also provides considerable networking and profile raising opportunities for the participants.

The successful applicants will be up to 15 executives and producers who 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.

Click here to download a document with more information.

Under the banner of 'FilmFirst' producer Mark Pressdee has been working with Birmingham City Council and has negotiated 10 FREE monthly evening slots from May 2008 this year until April 2009. The project was inspired from a 'FilmFirst' pilot programme initiated late last year that gave filmmakers the opportunity to showcase and premiere their films with an average audience of 100 to 200 people per screening.

The venue is located at Birmingham Library Theatre with a capacity of 250 seats - cinema projector screen - quad PA sound system - dressing rooms, licensed bar - stewards - a technician and Mark available to compare and organise a Q&A session with the filmmakers after the screening if required. All provided for free for your film!!!

Any filmmakers from the region that have a film of any genre that is 20 - 90 minutes in duration and would like the chance to premiere or showcase a film that has not be screened before should contact Mark below as soon as possible.

Mark Pressdee
Macoy Media
309F The Big Peg
Vyse Street
Birmingham
B18 6NF

Tel: 0121 236 4620
Email: info@macoymedia.co.uk

This project is supported by Birmingham City Council

Are you a freelancer looking to upgrade your production skills? Maybe you need to learn how to self shoot? Or what to do in an edit? Focus on Freelancers can help you with information on where to go to upgrade your skills as well as offering up to 70% off course costs. Make sure your skills are up to date to help you secure the all important ‘next job’.

Made possible with funding from Skillset’s Television Freelance Fund, more information and application forms can be downloaded by visiting this section of the Screen WM website.

SKILLSET, the Sector Skills Council for Creative Media, 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 us 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.

Those interested in participating in this important piece of research can access the survey online via the following link:

If you would like an electronic copy (PDF), please visit Skillset’s website at www.skillset.org/research. If you require a paper version or any other format, please contact Karen Muir on 0113 244 6795 or email .

The closing date for completed questionnaires is 30th May 2008. Every response will be invaluable in ensuring that future resources can meet the needs of all. Thank you for your support.

Regional Screen Agency, Screen WM, has announced that it will be appointing a new Chair, to support the implementation of its new digital strategy. This includes managing a new £10m Digital Media Fund as part of Channel 4’s recent decision to locate in Birmingham its Four Innovation for the Public Fund (4IP) commissioning hub for England and Wales.

Jonnie Turpie, Director of Digital Media at Maverick Television, has been Chair of Screen WM since 2002 and has been instrumental in developing the successful screen agency. As Executive Chair (2005-2007) Jonnie played a key part in securing Screen WM’s £4m Advantage Media Production Fund, developing a strong partnership with Advantage West Midlands, Government Office WM and is a national advocate of the West Midlands’ screen industries. Jonnie Turpie said:

“After two terms as Chair of Screen WM, I have taken the decision that the time is now right to step down. It has been fantastic to have been part of the agency’s development and to see it go from strength to strength across the region and taking its rightful place on the national film, tv and digital media arenas. Our feature film investment strategy has been of particular pride and I look forward to the new slate of films hitting the screens.”

“Digital is a major strand of Screen WM’s Business Plan from 2008 -11, and from July, the agency will be in a position to start allocating significant funds to digital media companies. It is imperative that the Board is led by a Chair who is independent from the digital media sector, to enable fair and open applications for these funds”

“I wish the agency every success in the future and most importantly its support of the region’s on and off screen talents and the companies that will provide increased media opportunities in the region and beyond as our reputation grows.”

CEO, Suzie Norton, said: “Jonnie’s huge expertise across digital and screen media has been invaluable to Screen WM. He has long been a champion of our region’s screen media industries and has played a significant part in their development and growth. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Jonnie for his enormous contribution and support.

“The agency’s recent announcement of a new £10m Digital Media Fund, in addition to over £5m to invest in regional feature film and television production and development, and significant funds for education, archive and exhibition, mean that Screen WM is in its strongest position to support the screen industries in the West Midlands.

“We’ll be looking to appoint a Chair of significant standing to work with the agency to build on our success and to add to the wide ranging expertise we have on our Board”

Screen WM will be advertising for the Chair in April, with an appointment scheduled for June. Jonnie Turpie will remain as Non-Executive Chair of the Board during this period.

An Investment Panel for the new Digital Media Fund will be established by Screen WM prior to its launch in July, comprising Screen WM’s new Chair, CEO and independent industry experts. Channel 4 and AWM will also sit as observers on this Investment Panel.

INFINITE WISDOM PRODUCTIONS presents STUDIO 409 a vibrant new meeting space in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter. Perfect for businesses seeking a welcoming environment for project meetings, trainers looking for a creative space to foster fresh ideas or companies in need of a briefing room for daily use, our flexible hub boasts an impressive array of facilities in one space for one clear price. For more information or for bookings call 0121 233 9888 or email studio409@iWisdom.co.uk.

OUR FACILITIES INCLUDE

:: Flexible Boardroom Table [seats MAX 12 persons]
:: Colour Projector
:: DVD/VHS Player
:: Glass Whiteboards
:: A1 Flip Chart
:: Wi-fi Access
:: Telephone
:: Sofa Seating Area

PRICES

:: £25 per hour
:: £150 full-day hire

Prices are inclusive of refreshments served AM & PM. Catering and photocopying services are available for an additional cost. Please ask us for prices.

*all prices are subject to VAT at the standard rate of 17.5%
**weekend bookings are charged at 1.5 times the daily rate
***a full-day hire is based on an 8 hour working day

South West Screen's new podcast presents a range of content, including live event recordings, interviews and news relevant to people working in film, TV and digital media in the South West and beyond.

Click here to visit the podcast section of the South West Screen website. Here, you will also find a growing archive section of event recordings on topics such as commissioning, financing, tax and international markets.

Birmingham based AEFilms is pleased to announce the availability of one of the UK’s first RED ONE Digital Cinema Cameras. This revolutionary camera and workflow enables cretives to produce content that eclipses traditional Hi-Def formats whilst keeping costs down.

Our experience of both 35mm film and alternative digital cinema cameras makes AEFilms an ideal partner to help you get the most out of this exciting new technology. To find out more, please visit the AEFilms website.

Members of the Producers' Forum will be offered a discounted rate of £550 p/d or £2200 p/w which includes an on-site Red technician.

Cannes - A Festival Virgin's Guide is the essential guide for filmmakers and film industry professionals looking to attend the Cannes Film Festival.

Demystifying the event and providing practical advice for attending, this website can help you make the most of your visit to the festival (and allowing you to come out with your wallet intact). You'll find information on accreditation, accommodation, transport, the markets, restaurant guides and other FAQ's.

You can also visit the official Cannes website by clicking here.

Regional Screen Agency, Screen WM, has today announced a £10 million digital media fund, developed through an innovative partnership with Channel 4, and supported by Advantage West Midlands.

Birmingham has been confirmed as the UK commissioning hub for England and Wales of Channel 4’s new Four Innovation for the Public fund (4IP) announced by Channel 4 today, which will kick start a wave of new investment in public service digital media content for audiences around Britain.

The £10 million fund includes a £5 million investment from Channel 4, matched with £5 million from Advantage West Midlands.

Click here to download a document with more information.

By clicking on the link at the bottom of this article, you can download the latest Skillset newsletter. News includes:

DV Talent’s Fast Track - a training scheme aimed at experienced senior freelance Programme-makers wishing to become Series Producers.

- Screen Bursaries
- Innovation Bursaries
- Animation Bridage
- Film Fellowship programme

Click here to download a document with more information.

Article taken from this month’s edition of Moviescope Magazine by Forum member Stephen Webb

HiDef was going to revolutionise the film industry we were told. Filmmkaing would become cheaper, faster, easier. Yet HiDef’s impact on the world of film has been a damp squib, because it is neither particularly cheap, nor easy to use effectively, but mainly because compared to film, it just doesn’t look very good.

To download the whole article as a PDF, please click on the link below.

Click here to download a document with more information.

We want to hear from you if you are an artist, performer, film-maker or company with work that will be ready to be performed or shown during the late May bank holiday weekend. That’s 23 - 26 May 2008. In the first instance, we need you to complete the attached form telling us about the piece you want to submit. From all of the submissions we’ll select the final 30 that will go onto the FIERCE website. It will then be up to the public - all those people who visit the WIKIFEST site - to vote for the ones they want to see programmed into the WIKIFEST proper in May. (Bear in mind that for our Name In Lights project last year, where the public had to choose someone who deserved to have their name made into a gigantic Hollywood-style light installation, we had over 2 million visitors to the site, so the potential for people hearing about you and what you do is considerable).

Download an application form to apply.

Please email all submissions to marketing@fierceearth.com

If you have any questions, please call the Fierce WIKIFEST team on 0121 244 8080.

For full details, please click on the link below:

Click here to download a document with more information.

Regional post-production house Oakslade Studios recently invested in new technology to increase speed, cater for a wider range of HD formats and add colour grading to its service offering.

But it’s not just the hardware that’s meant clients can now enjoy top-level facilities without leaving the Region. Phil Brice, founder of TV Commercial production company Koala, explains: "We had to edit a television commercial in two days. It was a relatively simple cut - but we were able to encode and transmit the result directly to IMD for broadcast transmission, all at Oakslade Studios. This was a real bonus as it cut out an entire stage from my post-production workflow."

Thanks to recent investment, Oakslade Studios was able to online the advert, encode a copy for client and BACC approval and output in 50Mbps MPEG2 to send directly to the media distributors for transmission.

Head of Post Production Ed Moore said “it’s incredible what the latest software solutions will allow you to do – providing you’ve got a powerful enough hardware infrastructure”.

“Of course it’s also about reliability and security – you need to know the system you’re working on is going to work every time, not just ‘in theory’, and this is something we’ve worked hard to perfect.”

Oakslade Studios prides itself on offering soho-quality post-production in the heart of the Midlands countryside, a stone’s-throw from Birmingham. For more details of the facility and what’s on offer, call 01926 844030.

Blue Hippo Media now has a stand alone edit room at the BOND in central Birmingham with full HD broadcast kit. There is 24 hour access and security with on site free parking. The location is 10 minutes walk from New Street and Moor Street Stations. Cafe on site. Free wireless internet.

QUAD INTEL MAC DUAL SCREEN/ KONA 3 CARD / FCP STUDIO 2 / SHAKE / CREATIVE SUITE 2 / RAID STORAGE SYSTEM and SD / HD 1080P BROADCAST MONITOR. FREE GLOBAL FILE SHARE SYSTEM

Available for dry and wet hire with broadcast credited editor.

£250 a day dry / £1000 WEEK (5 days)

£500 a day wet / £2000 WEEK (5 days)

Be spoke longer terms available

We also have a dual 2 gig MAC WITH 23INCH SCREEN / FCP 2 available for £150 a day for dry hire / £600 PER WEEK (5 DAYS). Please call 0121 687 1404 for more information.

Blue Hippo Media, Unit B, First Floor, The Ice House, The Bond, 180-182 Fazeley Street, Birmingham B5 5SE

Tel: + 44 (0)121 687 1404
Mob: + 44 (0)7780 952579
Email: pip@bluehippomedia.com

The Short Film Completion Fund is run by the UK Film Council's New Cinema Fund. A fund of £70,000 has been developed to support filmmakers and production companies in securing vital funds for the completion of short film projects that have already been shot but lack the fund to finish.

Maya Vision International is the managing company responsible for short-listing and selecting the films, in consultation with the New Cinema Fund. We oversee all aspects of the completion process to contractual and physical delivery.

Individual filmmakers and production companies will be invited to apply with films that have been completed to a rough-cut stage or later. The scheme is intended for films with a final running time of up to 10 minutes. Exceptional films of up to 15 minutes might be considered. The films can either be on film stock or tape. To find out more, please visit this section of the Maya Vision International website.

Skillset's Screen Bursaries are money for you to spend on training. You could get up to a maximum of £800 to spend on training if you are a freelancer and up to a maximum of £500 if you are in permanent employment.

You can apply for these training grants, if you:

- Can demonstrate professional experience in the film, TV, animation, computer games or interactive media industries; are either a UK national or living and regularly working in the UK as a freelancer or in permanent employment

- Have selected a training course and have been accepted by the training programme
- Can demonstrate how the training you are applying for will benefit your career
- Have submitted the bursary application form at least 5 days before the training course is due to start
- Have checked with the training provider that the course is not receiving another form of public subsidy

What else do you need to know?

Priority will be given to your application if the course or qualification for which you want the bursary is in one of the following areas:

Business skills
Technical and craft skills
Health & Safety
Grip NVQ, either at level 2 or 3
Crane Technician NVQ at level 2
Stagehand NVQ, either at level 2 or 3
Animal Handler NVQ, either at level 2

We recommend that you read the guidelines before submitting the application form. Find out how to apply step by step, by visiting http://www.skillset.org/training/article_3612_1.asp.

The Music for Media Project provides assistance to SMEs from the screen media and new media industries by helping to improve the quality of music delivered.

Content
Based at UCE Birmingham Conservatoire, Music for Media can help you create unique music content for your production using some of Europe’s finest musical talent. If you need original music for film, websites, games or corporate video, we can help. We can put you in touch with composers, performing musicians and sound engineers working at every professional level.

Facilities
We have state of the art facilities for the development of audio and music content, some available at subsidised rates. From sound dubbing and mixing to recording, we have the expertise and personnel required to produce quality products. With recording studios, G5 (quad) edit stations, surround-capable edit suites and portable location facilities we can also provide post production services and personnel.

Training
As a centre of excellence, we aim to increase the level and quality of audio and musical skills for freelancers and companies. As well as facilitating access to advice and equipment we have a range of one-to-one and group training courses available.

For further information contact Simon Hall, Project Manager, on 0121 331 5929 or email him directly. Alternatively, you can contact Sarah Bell, Project Broker on 0121 331 5929 or email her directly.