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Campaign to 'Save BBC Birmingham' gaining momentum

In the wake of the recent cuts announced in the region by the BBC, a multi-agency campaign on behalf of taxpayers to 'Save BBC Birmingham' is gaining momentum. Join the campaign at www.savebbcbirmingham.co.uk. All political parties in Birmingham City Council are urging the BBC not to turn its back on the region - http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2011/11/25/birmingham-city-council-says-bbc-should-back-the-city-97319-29838259/. And, Equity have set up a 'postcard campaign' to help people back the campaign - http://www.equity.org.uk/branches/central-england-general-branch/news/fight-for-our-bbc-postcard-campaign/.

The future of film and creative industries in the region will be the subject of Creative Networks on January 26th at TIC in Millennium Point, including guests from Creative England. Our member John West is among those pushing for the reopening of the ATV Studios for TV and small productions, as a first step to renewal, among other things. You can help preserve what's already here and being lost at the BBC here:  http://www.savebbcbirmingham.co.uk/forum/discussion/8/what-you-can-do-to-help-save-bbc-birmingham#Item_1

Also check out: http://www.equity.org.uk/branches/central-england-general-branch/news/television-drama-studio-campaign/

Here is a letter from the regional Writer's Guild:

"Dear All,

A reminder that you have until 21st December to respond to the BBC consultation 'Delivering Quality First' and their proposal on p18:

Factual programming for BBC television and Radio 4 would be moved out of Birmingham and consolidated largely to Bristol and Cardiff, though television production investment with independent producers in the Midlands would increase. Substantial network television drama (e.g., Doctors, Land Girls) and radio drama (The Archers) would continue in Birmingham alongside the BBC’s local and regional services

You can access the full document by clicking on this link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/review_report_research/dqf/dqf.pdf 

The final 3 pages of the 55 page document allow for your response. You can also do this by writing to:

BBC Trust

180 Great Portland Street

London W1W 5QZ

Or by e-mail to dqf.consultation@bbc.co.uk

If you want to do a detailed response to the whole consultation, you can go to:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/consult/delivering_quality_first.shtml

and negotiate through the links.

We would also encourage you to sign the petition, which you can access via the petition tab at:

http://www.savebbcbirmingham.co.uk/

And write to your MP. There is a template letter you can use from:

http://www.equity.org.uk/branches/coventry-leicester-variety-branch/save-bbc-birmingham-campaign/

If this seems rather a lot, I would prioritise directly responding to the BBC Trust consultation, even if just by email.

Yours,

Writers' Guild West Midlands Branch Committee"

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Did you drop us a message recently?

We received an enquiry recently via our contact form, from someone called Mark Barnett requesting a contact with regard to animation. But Mark, you didn't leave us an email address to contact you on! Please do get in touch again and we'll do what we can to help you. Thanks!

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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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Feedback from a member on our recent Networking event at the Audio Suite

We thought that people who aren't members yet might like to know the sort of benefits our members get from our monthly networking events - so this recent email from our member Chris Pinches can give you a flavour of what you can get out of these sessions. In Chris' words:

"It was a very useful evening for me as I was able to chat (in general terms) with the Audio Suite folks about them doing the audio post[-production] for my next movie.

I was also able to compare notes with some of the other people on the Producer Mentoring scheme to see how they are getting on.

And catch up with some people I have not seen for the best part of a year.

So yes, an excellent evening for me."

And members, if you have any other feedback about the Forum you'd like to share, email ianproducersforum@gmail.com!

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Producers' Forum Weekly Newsletter, 29th September

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Tender Opportunities for Producers' Forum Members

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First Light in association with the Producers’ Forum

Are you 16-25 years of age? Do you have some knowledge or experience of working in the film industry? Would you like to have the opportunity to learn from award winning producers just what it takes to become a film producer? If you have answered “yes” to these questions then the Second Light Producer’s LAB could be for you.

First Light, who fund and support film projects with young people throughout the UK, and The Producers’ Forum, who provide tailored training for Film Producers at all levels have teamed up to offer this 4-day course.

The LAB will offer participants the opportunity to learn all about the role of the producer, how to develop, produce and distribute a short film, how to build a career as a film producer and the skills and experience required to work in the film industry. Through a series of case studies of short films, sessions from guest speakers, role play and project work participants will spend 4 days getting to grips with just what it takes to be a film producer.

This opportunity is targeted at young people aged 16-25years from diverse backgrounds. These categories include:

• NEETS (not currently in education, employment or training)
• BME
• Young carers and cared for children
• Lone parents
• Young people with disabilities

This is not an exhaustive list and if you need advice please email us.

DATE: 21-22 September & 28-29 September. Each day will run from 10-6 and you must be

available to attend all 4 days.

LOCATION: The course will take place at the Midland Arts Centre in Birmingham.

This course is free of charge to successful applicants and some travel bursaries may be available.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO APPLY PLEASE E-MAIL A ONE PAGE CV or BIOG and up to ONE PAGE EXPLAINING WHY YOU WANT TO DO THE COURSE AND HOW YOU THINK IT WILL HELP YOU.

Please send to: info@producersforum.org.uk with SECOND LIGHT LAB in the subject line.

Your application should arrive no later than FRIDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER at 5pm.

For the full article click here.

To see the First Light website click here: http://www.firstlightonline.co.uk/news/producers-labs/

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Announcement for Forum Members from our Chairman

Dear all

By now you will probably have received an e-mail from Rebecca announcing her departure. Obviously we are very sorry to see her leave her role as Manager at the Forum but we wish her every success at the BFI.  During her 2 years at the Forum Rebecca worked with myself and the Board to develop a robust marketing strategy and as a result membership has risen from 14 in November 2009 to over 80 today. As you know she worked hard to be available and helpful to all members and filmmakers everywhere who were often in contact with queries. Rebecca also worked hard to broaden the reach of the Forum developing some excellent relationships with Stoke Your Fires Film Festival, End of the Pier Festival, Media Parents and a number of Unversities and industry figures. Rebecca also had to deal with the enormous uncertainty of the funding situation over a number of weeks which she did so with grace, professionalism and humour.

We are delighted to announce that 2 new appointments have been made and they have joined the Forum as of 10 July.  They are Catherine Simonds-Malkin and Ian Kennedy. Catherine will be responsible for the day to day running of the Forum, running networking sessions and events, finance and administration and Ian, a Forum member will be responsible for all things on-line, keeping the website up to date, collating the newsletter and social media. They are both engaged for 12 weeks on a freelance contract of 15 hours a week and 6 hours a week respectively. Catherine will be based at Endboard Productions office in Bearwood and Ian will work from home. The number and e-mail address will remain the

same.

On behalf of the Board and all the members I would like to thank Rebecca for all her tremendous work for the Forum during the last two years, the

BFI's gain is our loss but we know Rebecca will keep the flag flying high and proud for the Forum.

Warm wishes

Natasha

Natasha Carlish

PRODUCER

Dreamfinder Productions

Flat 2, 114 Abbey Foregate

Shrewsbury

SY2 6BA

00 44 (0) 7768 344307

natasha@dreamfinder.net

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Producers' Forum Member's Film Screening - The Insatiable Moon

Internationally acclaimed feature film "The Insatiable Moon" (4 stars “and a must see" in Empire Magazine) co produced by Producers’ Forum member Pip Piper with his Birmingham based company Blue Hippo Media and co producer Rob Taylor comes to the MAC (Birmingham) on 10-12TH May where it has been selected as Projection’s Pick.

‘There’s a remarkable sense of place and emotional power, in a moving, original movie that deserves to be seen’ Empire

‘Whale Rider’s excellent Rawiri Paratene bolsters this kiwi slice of magic realism’ Total Film

‘A wide emotional range, taking in Ealing-esque comedy, social comment, and spiritual speculation, and is funny, heart-warming and tear-jerking in turns’ Fortean Times

To book tickets for this please visit - http://www.macarts.co.uk/event/insatiable-moon--15-

For more information on the film please go to - www.theinsatiablemoon.com

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Producers' Forum member appoints Sales Service to represent film

Tortoise in Love, the feature-length romantic comedy written and directed by Guy Browning and produced by Birmingham-based Forum member Steffan Aquarone has appointed 7&7 Producers' Sales Service to represent the film worldwide.

The film was shot on RED and completed post-production at Fullrange just two weeks ago. It caught the attention of experienced
international sales agents Antony and Maura Ford at 7&7 due to the quality of the film as well as the unique story of its making.

Tortoise in Love was produced in the village of Kingston Bagpuize in Oxfordshire by (almost) the entire village - the WI provided the catering, local villagers put up actors and crew and the local hair salon opened at 5am to prepare hair and make-up for the cast. Producer Steffan Aquarone has been invited to speak at MIPdoc in two weeks' time about the way the film was partly financed through micro-shareholdings, again from villagers themselves. The film will be represented by 7&7 at MIPTV the week after, and screened at Cannes in May.

To keep in touch with the film's progress and watch the trailer, visit www.tortoiseinlove.com.

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