Cov and Warks Filmmakers Network

Pure Poetry by Two Giraffes: Club and Country version

2010-05-07T19:54:00.002+01:00

World Cup song Pure Poetry by Two Giraffes: Club and Country version.

World Cup song Pure Poetry by Two Giraffes: Club and Country version.
This is the song to make it, the world cup song Pure Poetry by Two Giraffes.

CWFN Bulletin 2

2010-02-12T23:22:00.000Z

Welcome to the 2nd Bulletin of the CWFN (Coventry and Warks Film Network Bulletin). News and events for filmmakers and the moving image. Released now every Friday.
Join our new online network at http://covwarksfn.ning.com/

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FREE FILMMAKING MASTERCLASS FROM GUERRILLA FILMMAKERS HANDBOOK AUTHOR CHRIS JONES

How to make a short film and get it to the OSCARS!
Date: Wed 10 Mar | Time: 6:30pm | Location: Coventry
Herbert Art Gallery, Jordan Well, CV1
by a man who did just that, CHRIS JONES is sent to Coventry's Herbert Art Gallery,
6:30pm Doors for 7pm start with drinks and networking till 10pm
FREE for everyone, please book in advance email Rachel to book your free place:
rachel.heath@coventry.gov.uk
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SHOOTING THIS WEEK- GOOD LUCK to MATT AND VINCE

Handle With Care – new 40k production!
Posted: 1 January 2010, by Matt & Vince
News Image
“Life isn’t fair, but your friends are there.” The tagline for ‘Handle With Care’, an action-packed half-hour featurette focusing on domestic abuse. In collaboration with Chatback, a group of Dudley-based foster kids and their carers, the film is a dark fairytale and heist movie rolled into one.

Written and directed in collaboration with the foster kids themselves, this film aims to shed light on issues affecting our region’s most vulnerable children in a positive, inspirational way.

The movie is to be shot over nine intense days at famous landmarks around Dudley, and the cast includes famous faces (Josie Laurence, Jay Sutherland) alongside the real kids and carers from the fostering community.

We’ll have to work pretty hard to match the creativity and charisma of the fantastic Chatback gang, so wish us luck!

NEW website checkout http://www.mattandvince.com/

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FILM TALKS AT WARWICK ARTS CENTRE
Film Talk: Sergio Leone

Once Upon A Time In Italy by Christopher Frayling

Sat 13 Feb 11am – 3.30pm

Cinema £7.50 (£5.50)

Christopher Frayling, biographer of Sergio Leone and leading authority on Italian Westerns, will explore the cultural background to the arrival of ‘Spaghettis’ in the mid-1960s, their significance, and their longer-term legacy. Also, why they are still dismissed by many as “not quite the real thing”?

With particular reference to the career of Sergio Leone, he will share his enthusiasm for these films, which were usually filmed in Italy (interiors) and southern Spain (locations), with casts that included Italians, Spaniards, Germans, Yugoslavians – and American stars either on their way up or on their way down. Were these films just a case of chilli con carnage or were they more than that…?

Film Talk: Michael Deeley
Bladerunners, Deerhunters and Blowing the Bloody Doors Off

Sat 13 Mar 11am - 3.30pm

Cinema £7.50 (£5.50)

Michael Deeley is an Oscar Winning movie producer with the Midas touch – many of his pictures have gained cult status and become the stuff of legend. He has worked with the World’s toughest moviemakers and lived to tell the tale.

Few would imagine that one man links The Deerhunter with Bladerunner, The Italian Job with Don’t Look Now or the original The Wicker Man. Deeley’s adventures in motion pictures span London in the Swinging Sixties, Hollywood in the seventies and the blockbusters of the 1980’s.

He will be talking about his career with co-author Matthew Field and there will be a complete screening of the Final Cut of Bladerunner.

Close Up – David Rose

My Journey Together
50 Years of screen fiction recalled

Cinema Admission Free

Wed 24 Feb 10.30am – 2.45pm
David Rose, the former Head of Drama at BBC Birmingham, will present extracts from half a century of television and cinema. David's showcase uses film clips and his own recollections to explain how 30 years ago he had managed to employ such people as Mike Leigh, Alan Bleasdale, Willy Russell, Neville Smith, Stephen Frears, Alan Clarke, David Rudkin and Peter Terson.

His career has taken him from being the first producer of Z Cars to initiating the brilliantly successful policy of making cinema feature films for Channel 4 in the 1980s.

The event includes a complete screening of one of David Rose’s most successful productions, My Beautiful Laundrette, directed by Stephen Frears.

Post screening Discussions

The continuing programme of Post Screening discussions is enhanced by an additional event following the screening of Food Inc on Thu 18 Feb at 6.30pm. The discussion will be lead byProfessor Elizabeth Dowler of the Department of sociology, Director of the Politics of Food and Contemporary Health Issue course.

Tickets are available from the Box Office 024 7652 4524

On line: www.warwickartscentre.co.uk

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OTHER NEWS

WARNER BROS PLANS £100 MILLION STUDIO COMPLEX FOR UK

US studio Warner Brothers wants to open a permanent UK production base at Leavesden in Hertfordshire. If it gets the necessary permissions, it will become the first Hollywood major to own a studio complex outside of the US. Warner Bros' proposed development is on the temporary studio site where a number of big budget films are made, most notably its Harry Potter franchise. A £100m development, it would involve two stages, a lot for outdoor shooting and a state-of-the-art post-production village. Although it is very early days, the hope is that the new site will bring new film work into the UK. Warners said the studio is "central to our plans to invest in the production community, to create local and industry employment opportunities, and to continue the legacy of exceptional British filmmaking at Leavesden and across the UK". Echoing developments at other major production hubs, Warner would also like to open the site to the public. Although numbers would be carefully-controlled, the plan would be to give people access to some iconic film sets. Before all that, Warners Bros needs to get planning permission from Three Rivers District Council and Watford Borough Council. Given that Pinewood-Shepperton recently had a planning application rejected, this is not a foregone conclusion. One difference, however, is that the Pinewood proposal also included a housing development

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CAMERA FOR SALE

I'm selling my trusty Sony DSR-PD150P, Before I put it on Ebay I thought I'd take this opportunity to offer to members of CTS. Details below:

Owned from new, direct from Sony.
Very good condition and boxed with all accessories as listed below.
Used almost exclusively with the highly recommended Century Optics 16:9 Anamorphic adaptor lens (for full-frame 16:9 performance).

Sony DSR-PD150P Camcorder (Serial No. ****013)
ECM-NV1 Microphone and Windshield
NP-F330 InfoLithium Li-ion battery
Mains Charger & Adapter
Lens Hood and Cap
Shoulder Strap
Optional Eyecup (large)
RMT-811 Remote control and 2x original Sony AA batteries
4MB Memorystick and containing original overlay graphics
Memory Stick Reader/Writer and Software
RCA Phono AV connecting cable
PictureGear Lite vers 4.1 Application Software for logo generation
Operating Intructions Manual
Original Box and packaging
Hours Meter Readings:
Operation 175 x 10H
Drum run 89 x 10H
Tape run 72 x 10H
Threading 291 x10

Serviced at:
11th May 2007
Few hours added since then.

Additional Items:
Century Optics 16:9 Anamorphic adaptor lens
Fitted "Antarctic" weather jacket - similar to the Portabrace version
Long arm microphone mounting for use with longer rifle mics, such as Rode NTG-3 or Sennheisser ME-66 or MK-416 etc.)
Sony NP-F960 High capacity InfoLithium Li-ion battery
Hanhel HL-MF981 (Sony NP-F960 copy) 5550mAh High capacity Li-ion battery
0.42x Fish Eye and Macro lens

Email me at dcjinks@fridgeproductions.co.uk if you're interested.

Any news/events/crew/opps please email Rich at: info@calltheshots.org.uk

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FILMMAKING NETWORKS
Date: Tues 16 Feb | Time: 7:00 PM | Location: Coventry
CALL THE SHOTS Film group meets every 3rd Tuesday of the month at the ICE Building,
FREE for the first 3 visits.
For a years membership
£20 full member waged £10 for associate and unwaged

CTS NEWS: SCRIPTS WANTED FOR 4 x 10 mins shorts. FREE equipment support and post production by Herbert Media
MUST JOIN AS A MEMBER OF CTS first. Scripts no longer than 10 pages for any genre, but will be judge on shoot-ability on a low to no budget basis.
NEW WEBSITE WILL BE LAUNCHED SOON

More details email: info@calltheshots.org.uk

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SCREENINGS / FESTIVALS

ROOTS to SHOOTS short film nights, screening student to pro level shorts all in one night. £5 Adults and £3,50 students. Screening every month at these venues in Cov and Warks:

Date: Thurs 26 Feb | Time: 7:00 PM | Location: Coventry
Roots to Shoots Coventry
Taylor Johns House
Canal Basin
CV1 4LN

Date: Thurs 04 Mar | Time: 7:00 PM | Location: Leamington Spa
Roots to Shoots Leam Spa
Royal Cinema
Spa Centre
Leam Spa
CV32 4HN

To submit your shorts a DVD screener is required in a 4x3 or 16x9 ratio
email: info@rootstoshoots.org for details
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6. BUY ME PLUG OF THE MONTH

Here's the CWFN amazon BUY ME PLUG of the month:
Chris Jones Everything you need to know about filmmaking, the Guerilla Film Makers Handbook.

Film Events for 2010

2010-01-24T14:52:00.000Z

Here's a calender of forthcomming screen events that are happening in Coventry and Warks in 2010. Please come back to it as I'll be updating it every week. If you have any events you want to promote then send me an email at rwood@leofricfilms.com .

You can also add this calender to your own (if you have a google account), just click the add google calender button. Coolio

Call The Shots Film group at ICE Building!

2010-01-13T09:23:00.007Z

Cov Filmmakers network has been going for a year now, but not much action in the way of blogging from my part. So its another attempt to keep this blog updated about film making news that matters to filmmakers in the area and also beyond. So let me know of any news and events in the film world and I can help spread the word or blog.

Ok first peace of news which is fabulous!

Next Tuesday (19th Jan) is the first meeting of Call The Shots film group at the ICE Building, Parkside Coventry. Where and what am I on about click here) .

Who are Call The Shots, well we're a group of like minded individuals young and pasionate old and wise, who all love filmmaking in its many forms. Our ethos is to learn by doing, there's no right or wrong way in making a film, just a load of experiences to master. We feel we have members who a know a few things when it comes to making a short film and are happy to pass on that experience all for the cost of membership.

We've been hiding for about 9 years now and realised we don't do much in the way of advertising and promotion. Its all change this year, now we're based in the City Centre and also have support from the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum (what culture in Cov! click here) who have kindly offered equipment support for us which is fantastic news. So free hire of state of the art equipment and support. Oh yes this is the year. How do you get hold of this equipment, well pop down to our meeting next week and find out.

Second peace of news is our website is almost redesigned thanks to the skills and patience of Wojtek Kotowski our and Duncan Woodhouse our new webmaster. Duncan also took this pic on the shoot of Brian Harleys The Moustache. Checkout his site here.

Also Brian (from Short Night Films) and I have been working closely on the site. Yes CTS will be alive once more and a huge thanks goes to Sam P who previously started the old website. Thanks Sam your a star, no we're moving once more in a healthy direction.

So the launch is eminent and I hope we can all get to use it for what its been developed for which is to show off your film making talent and help put film making on the map in Cov and Warwicks.

All are welcome to our meeting on the 19th Jan at 7pm ICE Building, then drinks afterwards down the pub (weather permitting).

Enjoy the snow!

Rich

The Story of Stuff

2010-01-13T09:18:00.002Z

The Story of Stuff

Posted using ShareThis

FREE Workshops for wannabe filmmakers / actors/ actresses

2010-01-06T15:29:00.005Z

AntiType Coventry's new video production company is offering free workshops in Coventry for actors/actresses and filmmakers. See the add below and get intouch with the email Antitype-workshops@hotmail.co.uk for more info:

Raising a Budget by yourself?

2009-12-27T17:41:00.006Z

We all want to make a feature film, I know I do and yet the money is out there (but not at the moment). So what kind of a budget are we talking about. After attending the Jason Connery masterclass talk at the Royal Cinema Spa Centre, I learnt a little more about the other side of film making. Making a sale with a distributor, you can get a straight to DVD feature made for under £5 million and get it sold in most western markets with a named cast. The horror zombie genre has been selling well. Also I learnt that France will pay you £300k if it has Jean Claude Van Damme on the cover! HHmmm.

The normal route is you make a short / or a pitching trailer (check out The Impossible Escape), the cost for that was a few K's and a grant from SWM for script development. So its still in development.
Ok so you have no money and Screen West Mids will pay you 25% of the total budget, which leaves you 75% of fund raising. Private investors don't know you from Adam and you have borrowed before, so take a leaf out of Chris Jones or closer to the West Mids Simon Cox.

Simon Cox is a film maker who has been raising his own budget for his next feature Kaleidoscope Man.

Read his blog and ways that he is raising money for the feature. Not sure how much the budget is thou.

So If your embarking on your feature get in touch with me and let me know and I can help spread the word..

Happy New Years and if your making a film good luck in 2010!

Falstaff International Film Festival

2009-11-16T12:25:00.002Z

Coventry film-makers Invade Film Festival!

Several Coventry-based film-makers have seen their work selected the biggest film festival in the Midlands. The 1st Falstaff International Film festival in Stratford-Upon-Avon launches on the 14th November and runs until the 20th November with a lavish awards ceremony at the Stratford's Civic Hall.

Richard Wood, Chairman of Coventry independent film-making network, Call The Shots, is delighted by the city's representation in the festival's programme, dubbing it a “Coventry Invasion”.

He says:
“It's great that Coventry is represented so well, especially since it is a Midlands-based festival. I know all of the lads and they're really pleased that their work is being recognised so close to home.”

Among the selected film-makers are Huw Bowen and Chris Pinches with their sci-fi feature film, Triple Hit, recently returning from the internationally renowned Comic-Con in San Diego.

Other Coventry film-makers selected for the festival include Brian Harley, who has two short films showing. One called 'EGG', a tribute to Alfred Hitchcock's phobia of eggs and the other called 'The Moustache', a dialogue driven black and white comedy short which centres around a heated argument about facial hair.

Also with films at the festival is Jon Randle with his comedy short film set in the football terraces, 'Mid-Table Mediocrity' and B.Cook and Lyle Jackson with their music video for the band, Don't Move!, who are signed to Tin Angel Records.

One of the festival's leading highlights will surely be the participation of true Hollywood royalty in the form of Cass Warner, granddaughter of Harry Warner - one of the founders of Warner Brothers Studios, who will introduce her family documentary, ‘The Brothers Warner’, via satellite link all the way from Santa Barbara, California.

Cassie told festival organisers recently:
“It’s a wonderful honour and responsibility to be a Warner. Inspiring others with the brothers’ story is one of my rewards.”

The festival will bring together not just local and regional audiences but many international visitors with over 150 films to be screened in seven days. There will be many treats in store for anyone attending the festival with a number of World and UK premieres as well as many animations and music videos all made in the last 12 months.

The festival will celebrate rising talent as well as independent film-makers through various awards presented to nominees at the end of the festival. Carrying on the tradition started by the previously dissolved biennial ‘Stratford-upon-Avon Digital Film Festival’ the Midlands Shorts Award originally co-devised by Screen West Midlands will be revived.

The festival awards night on Friday 20th of November will also be raising money in aid of the BBC Children in Need appeal together with Stratford-upon-Avon College media students who will be broadcasting a live Children In Need Show via the internet during the day.

Festival Director Rowan M. Ashe believes the Midlands can play an important role amongst other festivals on the world-stage:
“Stratford-upon-Avon gave the world Shakespeare. His importance in the role of film as a medium of storytelling is unquestionably enormous. It is only right that the town has a film festival and recognises and celebrates its continuing heritage especially in the 21st Century.
This is a great chance to see independent British talent at its best as well as International film-making. We have tried to reduce costs for film-makers by making it free for them to submit their films to the festival and tickets are as little as £4 a strand. We think it only right in a global downturn not to charge as much as other international film festivals and hope this will encourage film-makers to benefit from a great festival.”

The Falstaff International Film Festival which is sponsored by Stratforward and recently awarded a grant from the Stratford Town Trust runs from November 14th to 20th at the Civic Hall and Shakespeare Centre in Stratford-upon-Avon. Festival tickets can be purchased from the Civic Hall box office by ringing (01789) 207100 or visiting the festival’s website www.fiff.org.uk where you can also get details on film screenings and other events.

CTS NEWSLETTER 1

2009-10-20T01:01:00.001+01:00

CALL THE SHOTS - NEWSLETTER 1
20/10/09

NEWS

RED ALERT
The RED camera (whats the RED camera?) has made two appearences in the last month in the Cov and Warks area. CTS member Jon Plant (Car Park action short) and Dave Jinks (ex CTS) The Impossible Escape part 2, more details see here for a sneak peak behind the scenes Watch here on the tube.

Central Vision RATES SLASHED
New rate card for Central Vision after Nicola Roper takes over running the web channel based in Coventry. Which means state of the art Sony equipment and video facilities for hire at great prices. (Rate card coming soon). Please contact Nicola Roper for details Nicola.roper@centralvision.tv
click here

TRIPLE HIT WINS AT IOV AWARDS!

Triple Hit came 3rd in the IOV Awards last week (everyones a winner). We congratulate Huw Bowen (who collected the award above) and Chris Pinches on their continuing success with the feature which was called Schodringers Girl. Now TH can be seen at Falstaff International Film Festival this November down the road in Stratford Upon Avonb, see below for details.

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STUDENT SHORT OF THE MONTH

Warwickshire College student Dan's experiement with super 8 and a nice soundtrack.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMBC4u9RQwk

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FESTIVALS

FALSTAFF INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - 14th -20th Nov
CTS has two members films selected for the 1st Falstaff International Film Festival in Stratford Upon Avon in November.
Brian Harley (EGG) and Chris Pinches + Huw Bowen (Triple Hit). More details as to when these will be screened coming soon.
http://www.fiff.org.uk/

7th London Short Film Festival (8—17 January, 2010)

Submissions are now open for the

We accept UK submissions of any budget and genre.

The festival will take place across a range of London venues including

the ICA, Curzon Cinemas, BAFTA, Rich Mix and Roxy Bar & Screen

Send us your submission on DVD, with a completed entry form;

deadline – 24 October 2009

http://www.shortfilms.org.uk/

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EVENTS

ROOTS TO sHOOTS 29th October 7pm at Taylor Johns House - FANCY DRESS = FREE ENTRY

more details click here for the facebook page
Facebook event click here

YES MEN FIX THE WORLD - FRI 30th OCT 7pm THE HERBERT

From Verity Pabla

Just to let you know I'm organising a film season in
Coventry this October and November.

The first film is The Yes Men Fix The World on Fri 30th Oct 7pm at The Herbert with a very special question and answer session with the yes men via satellite.

Thanks for reading, and be in touch if you'd like any further information.
Verity

http://www.imnotamachineproductions.com

I’m Not a Machine Productions

ICE
Puma Way

Coventry CV1 2TT

U.K.

NEXT CTS MEET 10th NOVEMBER 7pm Warwick Arts Centre

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CREW wanted in COV

Dear Shooters

Mindriot Productions are teaming up with old friends Antidote Produxions to make a music video for the artist Juice Aleem (www.juicealeem. com)
around the 20th to the 22nd of November 2009 and we are looking for a
number of crew to help out with the production which will be shot over
a 2 day period in Birmingham / Coventry (tbc by the end of the week)

The finished video will be released to promote Juice's debut album which has just been released.

The
concept for the video involves a small boy (played by Juice's son)
being loaded into a rocket ship and and being blasted off into outer
space. While out there the effects of space change the boy into Juice
and he raps inside the ship's cockpit while travelling through hyper
space. The director is hoping to create loads of in-camera effects
using the lighting and prisms to simulate strange auras and alien
reflections on Juice's space helmet. (think 2001 guys). The video ends
with the ship arriving at a strange destination at the centre of the
universe.

Crew we are currently looking for are the following:

Set
builders - Someone that could build a sort of MDF or scrap base made in
maybe a a simple arrangement. A shape that has a flat wall and then two
diagonals either side linked on.

Props
person / art director - Someone that could make a range of space props
such as 2-3 planets - Minature-these could be a selection of bouncy
balls painted and ideas to help dress up the cockpit. Creative in ways
to source or make items look like aviation control panels.

Costume person - We need just two top halves of a space suit and helmets. One for Juice and one for his son.

As
with all crew positions we can cover expenses for materials (based on
budget) and provide food during the production. Also all crew will
receive credits for they're work and a copy of the finished music
video. We hope this will be a very interesting and fun music video for
all involved to work on and the finished video will be ideal exposure
to rising talent. Sadly this is a very low budget production of about
£1000. Which is currently being funded by the director and he is keen
to keep the production pretty small compared to some the past
productions we have worked on together. We welcome experienced crew as
well as anyone who is a keen and skilled student to apply for the
roles. If your currently studying on a set design course that would
also be ideal. Please send your cv's, web site links and videos /
images of past or current work to Jon at mindriot@btinternet .com.

If anyone has any further enquires about the project them please get in-touch.

Kind regards

Jon Randle -Producer

Mindriot Productions / Antidote Produxions

Specialising in Film & Video Production

07983 334772

mindriot@btinternet .com

www.mindriotproduct ions.co.uk

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Screen WM Crew & Facilites Networking Event - Wed, 4th Nov at 6:30 PM
Screen WM
is delighted to invite you to a fantastic opportunity to meet colleagues and
professionals from the West Midlands production sector.

Aimed at crew,
facilities and production companies based in the region, the event will provide
an opportunity to find our more about upcoming projects and to discuss the
productions that have been filming across the West Midlands over the last
year.

Come along and enjoy a drink on Screen WM whilst having a chat to
members of the company’s production department.

The perfect way to shrug
off those dark Autumn nights and get to know more about the thriving production
sector in the West Midlands!

Location:

Sence Bar & Club

70 Hurst Street

The Arcadian

Birmingham, Birmingham B5 4TD

United Kingdom

SIGN UP TO SCREEN WM CREW website
http://live.moviesite.biz/clients/fbswlocations.html

ANY NEWS / EVENTS AND INFO please email me at
rwood@leofricfilms.com

If you want to be removed from the Call The Shots list please email (REMOVE in subject heading) rwood@leofricfilms.com

The Sky Blue Poem by Matt Nunn and the fans!

2009-08-10T10:46:00.001+01:00

A short Sky Blues poem to inspire them to a winning start to the season... and it worked written by Matt Nunn and filmed by Richard Wood.

Commissioned by BBC Coventry and Warwickshire

www.foyleyoungpoets.org

2009-05-26T16:24:00.001+01:00

Just launched this advert for the
Foyle Young Poets of the Year 2009 created by Leofric Films and Warwickshire College Leamington.

The competition is now open for entries!
FYP is about what you want to write. So you can enter poems written in class, or poems you've written at home, from exercises or from your own imaginings!

You can enter poems on any theme, and of any length, and in any shape you like. Entry is completely free and you can enter as many poems as you like.

You'll need to be aged 11-17 on or before the closing date in order to enter.

The competition closes on the 31st July 2009.

Roots to Shoots - This Thurs New Short Film Night in Coventry

2009-03-25T17:31:00.008Z

CALL FOR FILMMAKERS FOR NEW SHORT FILM NIGHT

A new monthly film night has been launched at Taylor John’s House in the Canal Basin, celebrating the very best of local filmmaking in Coventry and Warwickshire.

Roots to Shoots takes place every last Thursday of the month and is hosted by filmmaker and college lecturer, Richard Wood.

Speaking of Roots to Shoots, Richard says:

“Roots to Shoots appeals for student and grassroots filmmakers in particular to screen their work. A lot of people these days will make a film and then post it to somewhere like You Tube, without any real screening experience. It’s vitally important for filmmakers to watch their films with an audience because it helps them to grasp the whole notion of response. For example, you get see where the big laughs are or understand why certain sequences may not working quite right, which allows you to go back and refine your craft. It’s really helpful and rewarding.”

“The second half of the program is devoted to international short films, showing filmmakers exactly the sort of thing that gets out there and wins awards. I would urge anyone who is serious about filmmaking to come along and share their work.”

Richard adds:

“Every so often we’ll host a talk by a guest filmmaker who is making inroads into the film industry, get them talking about their experiences so far and offering crucial advice to others.”

Richard Guy, manager of Talor Johns House Pictured above said:

“It’s always to pleasure to have events and activities going on at the venue. Roots to Shoots is a great evening where audiences can enjoy a drink in a cosy atmosphere while enjoying lots of short films. I don’t believe there is anything else like it in the area, which makes this a really unique and important thing for creatives in the city.”

Roots to Shoots welcomes everyone. Filmmakers to musicians (who may be on the lookout for the next Spike Jonze to direct a music video for them) to folks who just want to sit back and enjoy and evening of quality short films.

THE NEXT ROOTS TO SHOOTS IS THURSDAY 26th MARCH 2009 7pm – till late £2.50 students £5 Adults written by Brian Harley from CV One and Short Night Films.

How not to make a short film?

2009-01-26T16:44:00.005Z

Hi All,

Those of you who know how to make a short film and have luckily got into a film festival or two, will probably know all this. Fresh from the Sundance festival, a few words for anyone embarking on a short film project, from Sundance Film programmer Roberta Munroe (hmm name dropping).

Roberta Munroe's Tips on Making Short Films from Ingrid Kopp on Vimeo.
Oh and of course there is a book to purchase too for more comments from those on the panels of short film festivals. The ones you send your shorts to and don't get a response from (talking from a short music doc experience).

Danny Boyle Wins....then conqueres India's hearts?

2009-01-14T06:57:00.006Z

Danny Boyle Wins Best Director at Golden Globes - Finally.

Congratulations, Danny Boyle after many years been missed off the awards lists. The Cult film Director of Trainspotting (1996) won Best Director at the LA Golden Globes Awards a few days back for Slumdog Millionaire, filmed in Mumbai. The film also had 4 wins in total for its score, best director, best film and best adapted screenplay.

After filming in Mumbai and Delhi myself I take my hat off to Doyle on this one. Yes he had a budget and plenty of crew, but filming on the streets in Mumbai is no mean feat. As you can't plan at all in India, you have to let life happen. That and the story of a rags to reaches and our Protagonist winning a Who wants to be a Millionaire (or Kaun Banega Crorepati), then been questioned as to how a Slumdog knew all the answers. Tie in a love story and your hitting the all the write notes. I think India all ready is gearing up for this one. My Indian chums are raving about it already as A. R. Rahman, Bollywood’s best-known composer, who became the first Indian to win a Golden Globe, for the best original score, also the film's Bollywood credentials. I'm looking forward to seeing this one, and so is the whole of India. Which would make Danny Boyle a Brother in every Indian home!.

Not bad, after being burnt by The Beech (2000) and proving you can turn your mind into anything. The word from Boyle on his next project, might it be a musical? Could he be the first British Bollywood Director to conquer India? Chalo (Lets go in Hindi)!!.

Cannes 1998 - A film that changed everything.

2009-01-08T01:06:00.013Z

If someone was to ask me have you ever watched a film and left the cinema blown away? Well I can say I have seen a fare few films in my day like most, and thought about throwing myself off a cliff or being a hero on the number 17 bus to Leamington when the bus drives past the bloody stop...
I like the film viewing memories of my youthful innocence. Getting into the first ever 12 Batman 1989 at a seaside resort Minehead??. Or rushing out to Woolies (yes I'm missing it big time) and buying A-ha's 'The Living Daylights' after witnessing the best bond film ever! I can here the intro "Dadada Dadada Daa-daa Hey driver, where're we going? I swear my nerves are showing". Oh no I'm having to search google and find the bloody poster just to have another look at the white dress...

Where am I going with all this? Now there was a screening that I would of loved to of been present, but all of this past me bye and meant nothing much to me at the time (I think it was girls and trying to look cool years or Uni). This one event is equivalent those events that change the way people think. The Sex Pistols playing at The Free Trade Hall Manchester 1976 or the wine tasting competition in France when Chateau Montelena from the Napa Valley, California won the white wine section of the historic "Judgement of Paris" against 11 French Vintage wines and the Blink Film Festival 2002.
We're now in Cannes its 1998 a film broke all the rules.

Festen or The Celebration (1998) was unleashed to the world and it won the Palm De Ore. Thanks to Lars Von Triers and a group of film makers in Copenhagen, Dogma 95 Manifesto Vow of Chastity, broke all the rules and brought ownership to the film maker. Weather you like it or not, thanks to Lars and co the revolution was born in Cannes 1998 when Festen won. At that screening was a selection of movers and shakers who helped change the face of Hollywood and challenge the mainstream. Power to the Pixel!

10 years later now what? Well Dogma changed the film and the way we shoot and make them. Now the distribution of such films is changing once more. We're cutting out the middle man and dealing direct to the target audience. Hollywood should start getting scared again, thanks to the web and the next generation of film makers going it alone and self distributing (F.E.M and 10 m.p.h)tips from the guy's who were there at the screening back in Cannes. May I introduce Peter Broderick. Here are a few rules that I have found on his website for the next revolution to happen. Many film makers are moving ship from the old world and joining the new one. You have the freedom to shape your own destiny, its not easy but you can succeed if you have that something...

F.E.M was the first feature to be screened on Youtube and in cyberspace via Second Life

What ever route you want to take remember, it takes 10,000 hours to become a master. So, The Living Daylights running time 130 mins. I have watched it 35 times = 76 hours?...bummer!

Woolworths Coventry - A documentary (in the making?)

2009-01-03T08:30:00.007Z

Woolworths Coventry served its last customer today. Sad to some maybe, although I hardly shop there myself now... my tastes have matured and Poundland is the choice of any film crew looking for batteries for a depleted SQN.

How will this impact on Coventry citizens? What will happen to bad music taste? Where, now in Coventry, is there to buy a shed load of pick n mix, a toaster and NOW Thats What I call A Shite cheesy tune?..and now, even worse, Zavvi has gone too. My xmas DVD collection came from there and my new black shelves!.

If I had some tunes for this sad momentous day it would be the first one I bought from the top shelf in Woolies: MC Hammer and Pray!... ahhh! this brings me back.

If I was to make a doc about the place, it would start with a Michael Moore intro... BLACK and the sound of the security alarm ringing off. Then fade up to ext wide of Woolworths Coventry and two chavs running away with a guard wondering lazily outside, looking bemused. The trails of pick an mix and toaster packaging half way down the street. The soundtrack 'Every Thing Must Go by the Manics, kicks in and crash zoom the title ' Woolworths: End of an Era' bounces of screen.

If I was documenting this day, I would interview the former security guard who played in my footy team. The one with psychotic tendencies of extreme violence or an ex-floor manager who had a favorite aisle, or a distant memory of a customer who may have thanked them.

Its a sad day folks, where else can we collect our culture of clutter!
POUNDLAND? ...Let us Pray.

Consider Myself.....a scriptwriter?

2009-01-02T20:17:00.018Z

"These sausages are mouldy" a small little gang member moans. Fagin reacts in an instant "DRINK YOUR GIN!!!" . My favourite movie moment from my new DVD collection (thanks to Zavvi going under). The best doc I have seen for a while must be 'Man on Wire'...just see it.

Hows the resolutions going? Well I have made a pact with my soul to Consider myself a scriptwriter and get some short film scripts written.
Yes I have written my first few pages for my own short film ' Scrubber'. It feels great, its about a cleaner who becomes a poet against all the odds. I must finish it soon. Only taken me 16 years to finally start writing my own short film. Yes I have been making and producing films for a while now (mainly community videos and promo work for the past 6). So my film schooling is finally over and the people I have met in this City are now turning into text.

So enough about me what about YOU? Are you a budding writer? Have you a load of weird and wonderful ideas? You watch a film / short and you can do better? Paul Hardy's ' A Screenwriters Guide to Inspiration is a great short guide in how not to write! (If you attend short film nights you may have caught it). I digress.

Even better still if your in the West Mids area then why not pop down to our film group or a screening eventCall The Shots monthly meet up.

Me, personally - am I qualified? No. Have I done any courses? No, none at all? But, to use an old cliche,' no-one can teach you life experience and I'm lucky enough to have lived a rather full one so far. I did read one book a while back Syd Field, this is great to understand structure and the traditional narrative structure. If you're feeling you have a creative block then the Artists Way (the Mrs is writing two novels thanks to the tasks in the book) is excellent.

We also have Coventry's own published scriptwriting guru John Costello . He runs (or used to run) courses at Warwick University. A lot of my colleagues have trained with him.

And one more thing: technically, scriptwriting software can cost just as much as editing packaging. I use this great piece of open source FREE software called Celtx. You can download for mac or pc.

If you're thinking of writing or want to know more, then get in touch and I'd be happy to point you in the right direction. And for me: Consider Myself a scriptwriter??... not yet, so DRINK YOUR GIN!!!

My Special Plan for 2009

2008-12-30T12:41:00.007Z

OK, whats my special plan for 2009, just a few projects I have in the pipeline I'd like to share with you.

1. Coventry Music Doc
Have you heard of this local band that made it big (a few years, try 3 decades ago).
If you haven't then you've not been inducted properly to Cov's Music Culture.
The Specials are back and I have been stalking them for a while (not really interviewed Horace, Nev and Lynval a while back).It was a moment that was never going to happen, but I'm pleased its happening around my big birthday of the 3 0 ! (although one key member Jerry Dammers).
I'll be finishing off the Coventry Music Documentary about post war music from this City to the present. Backed by the Herbert Media and Lotto money.
Anyone seen the new extension?

2. Scrubber Goes into Production
My short film 'Scrubber' will be shot this year, but more of that latter. I need to finish writing it first. This link my give you a clue as to what the projects about click here.

3. Call The Shots - Masterclass
Its be along time coming but plans are being made to run a series of masterclass workshops. Spielberg will be popping over (no harm in asking), Directors, DOP's , Editors and Producers will hopefully grace the concrete jungle and inspire us.
Also lot of screening events too. Rapid Eye Movement returns this Jan 20th, and Future Shorts will be back Feb 27th both at Warwick Arts Centre.
Anyone who wants to join Call The Shots film group then come along to our monthly meeting on Tues Jan 27th 7pm.

Let me know your plans and any projects, there's loads more going on, I'll be behind the scenes on a few other projects and developing new talent. One project I'm most looking forward to is this one, Blood Actually... and one more thing if you've got nothing planned for NYE then pop round our place for the Anti NYE Party...Sad Bastards Club!
Bonjour for 2009!

Happy New Years Rich X

P.s Phew! I didn't blab for too long did I?

Task for Today?

2008-12-29T09:58:00.007Z

Hi all,

As you can see I'm playing around with the layout of the right hand side of the blog, bear with me as I'm trying to figure out how to use this blog. Its a wonderful tool and I hope to see some folk commenting back on what they would like to see on this site. As I said, its for the indie film community, but everyone is welcome here.

Just came across this today that I'd like to share with you. I was listening to Radio 4, as you do at 7am in the morning... and its nice to start the day with a little 'Task of the day'. You may be at work and thinking I don't have time for this? What is he on about?...whats this got to do with film making?

Sod all of that, in this busy world we're all rushing about and not thinking of what really matters: time for yourself. Believe me Jen would be the first to say I need to chill out and get away from a monitor of some sort...

So I ask you to spend 10 mins of your busy day (maybe after work) alone and in the quiet with no TV, video game, Final Cut Pro, camera, ipod, girlfriend/wife/boyfriend/husband/lover/pet gerbil.
Then grab a pen and a piece of paper and write down 10 things that are essential to your life?
What did you write? Tell me if you want (then revisit the page next year lol)
Then look back at your list. The things that are meant to be the most important, are all the ones that you cannot physically see...

And the point is... it's not money, or equipment that is essential to making a film. It's success lies in building relationships, working with others and in having self belief in your ideas.

So my message with thanks to Radio 4 is I hope you have or will find hope, self belief, happiness and peace in 2009.

Merry Xmas from Matt and Vince

2008-12-26T22:33:00.000Z

'Merry Xmas from Coventry's finest film making duo Matt and Vince'

So you want to make a Blockbuster? Here's one way to do it...

2008-12-23T23:19:00.000Z

How to make it big as a Director in Hollywood and get your hands on a multi million pound Blockbuster. First things first is to make a bloody great big hit on both sides of the channel. Prove your worth to the investors in the USA or go the other way to Bollywood and make a song and dance feature (as long as you have 6 catchy dance songs and a heard of cows...!), I have actually just come back from India and have to say there's a healthy array of Indie Indian features that are not Bollywood.

So, Chris Jones is one man who has a dream of Directing a multi million pound feature, so how is he going to do it?
Well lets go back to the past about a year ago, Chris posted this interesting blog here and laid out his plans.

And now after about 200 people invested £50 (or more) to make 'Gone Fishing', a short film shot on 16mm and is heading towards the OSCARS!!!. So I'd like to wish Chris good luck with the short. Its winning awards at International Film Festivals around the globe and won at the Rhode Island Film festival , a forerunner for the Oscars short list.

So I guess by being shortlisted for the Oscars is one way of gaining attention to yourself. If you make a film then get it out there, look at building an raport with your audience too. Other great examples of this is Four Eyed Monsters crew. That I'll chat about another time but you can check em out for yourself, click here.
Ciao

Woody,

P.s 8 mins till xmas eve woo hoo

Welcome and Merry Chrimbo

2008-12-22T06:25:00.002Z

Hi world or people's republic of Coventry,

Its Richard Wood here (or Woody), I'm a film maker in Coventry (Leofric Films to be precise)and I also like to run a few events to exhibit other up and coming film talent. I also teach some wonderful students at Warwickshire College.

This is my new years resolution, to start a blog? Yes millions of people like yourself blog it all the time. My reason is that, basically, I love films and I love Coventry (what!), its taken some time to realise its not such bad place. So anything film based or happening in the City that gave the world 2 Tone and pedestrianized shopping arcades, I'll be blogging.

So what to expect on this blog is a whole load of news and networking of the West Mids film making scene. The movers and shakers of film making on a local level. Will Schrodingers Girl be a big hit (click here for a sneak 10 min look)? (we bloody hope so?), will Matt and Vince escape from the ring road (who are Matt and Vince click here). Will Romans 12:20 win the short film Oscar? Will I get my presents wrapped in time??

Ciao

Oh and MERRY CHRIMBO!!!

Woody X