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Seize the Future - innovative film- and media-makers training scheme - backed by Forum

Forum board member Natasha Carlish has been working closely with Stoke Your Fires Festival and Sheffield International Documentary Festival to bring Seize the Future to the West Midlands.

"I attended this course earlier this year and it was probably the best 2 days professional development I have experienced in a long time. It was inspiring and informative and a great opportunity to get access to world class speakers with expertise in crowd funding, hybrid distribution and social media. I cannot recommend it highly enough and I would encourage all Forum members to apply.

People should apply for D2D through the Sheffield website but what I really want to push is SEIZE THE FUTURE which is what I went on - it will form part of D2D which is over £200.

The deadline for now is end of first week of Jan and any member interested should mail me asap. (The discount is £125 from £150.)"

Thursday February 23rd and Friday February 24th, as part of Stoke your Fires

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Leadership & Mangement grant

From Striding Out:

Leadership and Management Grant

• Developing an effective personal leadership and management style (e.g. strategic thinking; effective communication)
• Creating a joint enterprise culture with the workforce (e.g. working culture; relationships; managing conflict)
• Planning and developing an effective organisation and teams (e.g. recruitment/selection; team building; conveying vision; objective setting)
• Leading and managing high employee performance (e.g. employee motivation; delivering value; learning & development). 
• Training which impacts directly on the performance of the whole organisation and its capacity to grow (e.g Financial Planning, Business Startegy)

The Leadership and Management Grant can fund 50% of training or coaching support (up to £2000) if you are a business owner with 2 or more employees and have a vision for high growth over the next three years.

If you would like to discuss our training and coaching services and how they may suit your need , please contact us (http://www.stridingout.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=111:contact-us&catid=1&Itemid=100149).

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Members' exclusives - screening opportunity at Stoke Your Fires, & workshop discount

Producers' Forum members have been given an exclusive opportunity to have their latest film screened at 2012's Stoke Your Fires festival in Stoke-On-Trent (UK). The opportunity is in thanks for the 'great help' that the Forum have provided to the festival during its early years. Members, see your latest newsletters or login into the members' forum to see the opportunity. The deadline is November 25th.

Also, Stoke Your Fires is hosting the internationally acclaimed Seize the Future 2 Day Workshop during the festival which all members of the Producers Forum are entitled to a reduced fee of £125.  To book tickets at this reduced price please contact Natasha Carlish (c/o info@producersforum.org.uk) to find out more.

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Producers' Forum Weekly Newsletter, 29th September

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Marketing & PR Officer, Sampad

Sampad South Asian Arts is a dynamic arts organisation based in Birmingham.  We are seeking a proactive arts professional with an appreciation and understanding of South Asian arts and audiences to lead on an exciting range of marketing, audience development, and PR activity.

Marketing and PR Officer
£20,858 to £24,646
You will need a minimum of two years marketing and PR experience, preferably in an arts and media environment. 

For an application pack (No CVs please) e-mail: info@sampad.org.uk
or 24 hour answerphone: 0121 446 3260 or download: www.sampad.org.uk

Application Deadline: Friday 21 October, 12 noon
Interviews: Friday 4 November

Sampad is an equal opportunities employer.
Main funders:
Birmingham City Council
Arts Council England 

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Opportunity for CDN TV Writer Drama Lab with the BBC

From the BBC: There is a prevailing problem in the industry when it comes to finding, keeping and protecting Black and Minority Ethnic writers for TV drama. TV Drama Writer Lab is a targeted development scheme, working across the industry and broadcasters, bringing together a group of up to 10 of the most talented writers with a real commitment to TV drama. This unique opportunity has come about at short notice – but this is just the beginning of an ongoing journey for a group of talented voices. 

Selected writers will take part in a three/four day residential in Kent, between 7-10 November, where they can develop their ideas, craft and knowledge, and network with other writers and producers across the TV drama industry. This is a scheme for talented writers on the cusp of a career in television, and as such applicants will need to have some form of professional experience under their belt – eg a full commission, production or professional showcase in theatre, radio, film or TV.

Writers must submit an original calling card script (written for any medium – TV, film, stage, radio), a TV drama idea they would like to develop (at least one paragraph, and up to one page), and a biog or brief CV of previous experience. Writers will be selected on the basis of the ability shown in their script and the potential for TV shown in their idea.

•  Email submissions with the subject header ‘CDN TV Writer Drama Lab’ to: writersroom@bbc.co.uk 

•  Deadline for submissions: 9am, Monday 3rd October 

•  Selected writers informed: by 5pm, Friday 7th October 

•  Residential: 7-10 November (3 or 4 days to be confirmed)

Please note: the residential will be all expenses paid, however there will not be an attendance fee available to writers.

FAQ's 

• What will I get out of this as a writer? The opportunity to: get your work noticed by the BBC and other producers in the industry; to develop a TV idea further in a safe, creative environment; to develop TV craft and skills through workshops and discussions; to network with other writers and producers, and develop relationships with both; to hear direct from the industry about how things really work in practise; to ask burning questions and get honest answers.
• What does BME mean? It means Black and Minority Ethnic; or non-caucasian.
• Why is this only for BME writers? Because there is a very specific problem and editorial need in the TV industry, where BME writers are not adequately represented in programming and output
• I'm disabled but not BME - what about me? Writersroom has previously run schemes and partnerships for writers with disabilities and intend to do so again in the near future under the BBC's tenure of CDN. And any UK-based writers with disabilities can send us an eligible script at any time: http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/writing/submissions.shtml
• I am BME but not living in the UK? Then unfortunately you are not eligible to apply.
• Is there a commission/job at the end of this? Not directly, no - but we hope it may be the first step towards that for selected writers.
• What do you mean by 'professional experience'? We mean that you have been engaged and paid to write a script by a professional company/organisation (as opposed to amateur, self-funded or student work).
• What do you mean by a calling card script? It must be all your own work and entirely original. It should not be an episode from an existing show or series, even if professionally commissioned/produced. It should be a full script - either an entire single drama, or the pilot episode from a series or serial.
• Can I send a sitcom/sketch show/sketches? No - we want to see drama. But comedy-drama does count.
• What do you mean by TV drama idea? An original proposal for a new TV drama, whether a single drama, a series or a serial. It should be at least one paragraph and up to one side of A4 maximum, outlining the title, world, idea/premise, format, genre/tone, story and characters. We don't need lots of plot detail - we need to know what the show is really about and what it will feel like for an audience watching.
• What do you mean by biog/CV? We need to know about any writing experience you have - but also do tell us anything else about yourself that you think we might be interested to know. Please send no more than one side of A4 if it's a CV; if it's a prose biography, please write no more than half a side of A4.
• How will the residential work? We will arrange and pay for the travel, accommodation and food for all writers attending. Writers will stay overnight (2 or 3 nights - to be confirmed) at Bore Place in Kent, where there will be a BBC member of staff at all times. During the day, there will be a series of sessions, workshops, brainstorms, one-on-ones, Q&As and individual writing time.
• Why is there no attendance fee? We are able to facilitate the residential but are unfortunately unable to provide a fee for writers.
• Why is this at short notice? The opportunity came up at short notice to repurpose a pre-existing residential booking, and we decided that the BBC's tenure of CDN and the general editorial need for BME writers meant that this was the first choice project to undertake.

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Ken Loach FIlmmaking Challenge

Do you know anyone aged 16-25 years and interested in filmmaking?

To celebrate Ken Loach’s 75th birthday, the BFI, First Light, Film Club and Film Education are launching a competition for young creators, inspired by the work of Ken Loach.

We are looking for talented filmmakers aged 16-25 years to submit short films up to 3 minutes in duration that tell new stories, give a voice to interesting characters and challenge audiences to think differently about the world we all live in.

The 10 best entries will be invited to a celebratory event at the BFI Southbank in November where the winning filmmakers will be announced.

Two runners up will receive 6 months subscription to Love Film.

The winning filmmaker will receive: 
• The opportunity to be part of a special academy programme at the BFI Future Film Festival February 2012;
• Mentoring and career advice from a film industry professional;
• Their film published online by the BFI and First Light.

For more information, and to enter, click here.

Deadline for entrries: 5pm Monday 10th October 2011

Loach Q&A

To help you along with your entries the BFI have arranged an online Q&A session with the acclaimed director. They are welcoming all questions, be they specialist, general or even philosophical. Imagine chatting to Loach: what would you ask him?

Submitting your questions:

• YouTube: Leave a comment here.
• Twitter: Tweet your question including the tag #BFIquestion

Deadline for questions: 1pm Wednesday 14 September 2011

Registered Office:

First Light

Studio 28

Fazeley Studios, 191 Fazeley Street

Birmingham B5 5SE

Charity Number 1116941

Registered in England and Wales No. 5730661

www.firstlightonline.co.uk

Are you following FirstLight on Twitter, Facebook etc? Join us, follow us, poke us!  

First Light helps young people from all backgrounds to develop their skills, talent and creativity, confidence and entrepreneurial capabilities. We do this by providing opportunities for young people to work with industry professionals on youth led, digital media projects.

First Light in the Classroom offers creative media workshops for schools to enhance curriculum based teaching, develop creativity and help to improve motivation, behaviour and attainment.

Film Nation: Shorts is a national filmmaking competition for 14-25 year olds supported by a workshop programme led by First Light and Screen WM. Go towww.filmnation.org.uk for details of how to enter, how to book a place on a workshop and to watch films inspired by the Olympic and Paralympic games.

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Re-create history for the University of Warwick

Fabricate a story, to an alternative outcome, to re-create history. Stage a news broadcast, documentary, or short film, about your event, and send it to the University of Warwick. All entries will be included in a showreel, screened in the Cinema in December 2011 - submit to Emma O’Brien, Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL.

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Submit your short film to be considered for a BAFTA

The Academy is now accepting entries for its Short Film and Short Animation Awards, part of the Orange British Academy Film Awards presented in February 2012.

Entry forms, rules and regulations can be downloaded from the Shorts page of the BAFTA website:

http://www.bafta.org/awards/film/film-awards-shorts,145,BA.html

The deadline for entries is 12:00 GMT, Friday 28 October 2011.  If you’ve any questions about the process, or the rules, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Nick Williams, Short Film and Short Animation Awards Coordinator, and PA to Amanda Berry OBE - nickw@bafta.org   Direct Line +44 (0) 20 7292 5847

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Freelance Filmmaking Facilitators, Cineclub, The Young Filmmakers Network

Cineclub, The Young Filmmakers Network is a mini-studio system, where children learn to become proficient low budget filmmakers on a sustainable basis.

We are recruiting for a small number of filmmaking facilitators within the Birmingham area who wish to join our expanding organisation.

Our regional facilitators will train children and teachers in low budget film production, including all pre-production, production and post production activities. These workshops range in duration from 1 day projects to after school clubs, which run 1 afternoon a week for 1 or 2 schools terms. Our network includes young filmmakers from primary schools, secondary schools and youth organisations.

Candidates will need:

• A knowledge of low budget filmmaking techniques

• To have experience running filmmaking activities with children and young         people.

• To be confident and friendly

• To have an understanding of behaviour management and the challenges of working with young people.

• You must have an enhanced CRB disclosure or must be prepared to apply for one prior to commencing work with us.

Work is on an ad hoc basis. Most of our projects are run as several afternoon sessions over several weeks. In this instance payment is £60 per 2 hour session, but this is variable depending on the project.

Selected applicants will be asked to attend an interview where you will tell us more about yourself and your experience in film.

Closing Date for applications: Thursday 8th of September, 5.00PM.

The interviews will be held on Monday 19th September.

Prior to being offered work, successful chosen candidates MUST attend Cineclub’s compulsory 2 day induction training on Thursday 20th October and Friday 21st October 10.00AM – 5.00PM.

To apply please download an application form from the News section of the Cineclub website (www.cineclub.org.uk) and return to sandra@cineclub.org.uk or send it to Cineclub, C/O The Devas Club, 2A Stormont Road, London, SW11 5EN. 

For more information click here: http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/index.php?id=25&ne_source=dailynews_plain&ne_post_id=67334

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