UKFILM LATEST: Blogs, News, Press Releases
By Douglas McFarlaneBLOGS
UKFILM OPPORTUNITIES: How to get seen by Danny Boyle, Hollywood directors and even YouTube audiences
AIRPLANE ! - Where are they now ?
NEWS
Young filmmaker picked by MP for Parliamentary movie
contest
Film the House, for budding UK film
makers, directors and script writers, aims to raise political
awareness of the importance of intellectual property to the film
industry. The winning films will be screened at the House of
Commons in October, while ...
David Bowie: screen oddity | Film
guardian.co.uk - He hasn't performed in public for six years, or released an album in almost a decade, but there is a lot of David Bowie about. His music featured prominently in both the opening and closing ceremon...
For MORE, visit http://paper.li/ukfilm/1343032476
PRESS RELEASE
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New owner and Colliers declare Wicker Man pub to be a Britt of alright
"Wicker Man" pub gets new owner - Britt Ekland not included in the fixtures and fittings.(PRWeb 20 August 2012)Read the full story at http://uk.prweb.com/releases/2012/8/prweb9802990.htm
UKFILM OPPORTUNITIES: How to get seen by Danny Boyle, Hollywood directors and even YouTube audiences
By Douglas McFarlaneSo you're an aspiring actor, filmmaker, composer or writer, and you think you've got something different, something special and you're getting ready to take the next step. What do you do, where do you go, and when is that overnight success going to happen ?
Well, it doesn't. Well not according to Doreen Ringer-Ross, vice president Film/TV Relations at BMI, who told me when I met her at the Sundance Film Festival, "artists go through an arc of development, people may read a lot of news about someone during the publicity of their film and think they came from nowhere, but it's a long process from starting out to making it in Hollywood".
Since I was bitten by the acting bug over ten years ago now, I've been researching, studying, analysing what it takes to make the next steps on the ladder towards Hollywood and I've been filming and blogging my progress through the online communities I've setup. My first career as a freelance web, infrastructure and security expert came in handy when YouTube and Google were becoming known in the IT community in 1999. As I was starting my acting career, I used my web skills to setup Shooting People, UK Theatre Network and UK Film Network. I saw merit long before Mark Zuckerberg did with Facebook, about networking and building connections with people online. If only I was in Silicon Valley where ideas grow far quicker than the UK and perhaps you'd have a Scottish billionaire writing this article. I realised later that Americans don't just look at ideas for a local market, they think of the international potential. I was reminded of this by Steven Lewis Simpson, a director of many films including Ticking Man, which was my debut film performance, he said "in Hollywood, filmmakers think globally".
So if you're reading this in the UK, you need to think bigger. Not just at a local UK level, you need to think of the wider industry and where the power, money and people are. Not from a money obsessed perspective, but for getting some of the best opportunities for the world to see your performance or film. Hollywood of course is the heart of the industry but you don't need to be there to think like a Hollywood filmmaker. With the benefit of online communities and support from the independent communities setup just for people like you, you can reach out to people from your bedroom laptop. Here are just a few places to start to your journey.
The British Academy of Film and
Television Awards, is much more than just an awards
ceremony. BAFTA support filmmakers throughout the year and
even have a GURU website to
learn more of the craft of editing, visual effects, or even
composing music. Here's a small selection which you can click and
watch.
BAFTA also hold a series of conferences and talks which are posted online and if you're on the ball, you can even watch many of them live. Digitial Content was the subject of last nights LiveStream from BAFTA Los Angeles and included interesting discussions on this topic. If you want to know more and connect with the experts, you can seek them out yourself. They are Head of Entertainment at YouTube Alex Carloss, Producers from Halo4 Joshua Feldman and Tom Hanks' Electric City Lydia Antonini, and the CEO of Big Frame Media Sarah Penah. Knowing who's who in the zoo is clearly important but you also need to think how they think and what they are looking for in terms of content, and of course connect with them when the time and opportunity is right. Too early, without a product and you're probably wasting everyone's time. A month after they've had a call for content, and you've missed the boat.
You can follow the BAFTA LA Live stream for recorded events and future livestream by joining free to Livestream and clicking the follow button for BAFTA.
SHOOTING PEOPLE WITH DANNY BOYLE
The genius of the Olympic open ceremony and master of many successful films including several in my top ten UK Films (Trainspotting, Shallow Grave, 127 Hours, Slumdog Millionaire to name but a few), DANNY BOYLE ladies and gentleman has managed to get some free time and offered to judge September's Film Of The Month over at Shooting People. The prize money is only Vimeo membership but your film will be seen by tens of thousands of other filmmakers and the feedback you'll get has a value you can't put a price on. Especially if you get through the shortlist, as the maestro himself Sir Lord Guru Legend Danny Boyle will assess your talents to choose a winner.
MAKING IT IN HOLLYWOOD
So you've connected with BAFTA folks in Los Angeles, your film has been chosen by Danny Boyle and is getting noticed by THE ACADEMY (because you had it screened in LA or New York for a week), and you're ready to open the door to Hollywood. How do you maintain your composure when your dream is working out in front of your very eyes. Who do you speak with and what do say to them ?
Calm down, calm down. It's certainly an exciting journey and the emotions of some of the major celebrity events can take your breath away. Clint Eastwood came into the frame of my camera and it knocked me for six. He made a surprise appearance at a relatively minor event in the Italian Arts Institute in Hollywood and he certainly heats up the passions in a room. At that moment, you need to be alert, calm and know exactly what you want out of a chance conversation with anyone who is anyone in the business. It's not easy, and it can be nerve-racking to pluck up the courage. You may think you can do it now, but in the heat of the moment it can be quite daunting, especially when there are pushy journalists and camermen jostling for position.
The art of networking is certainly something that needs experience and throwing yourself in the deep-end is probably the only way to get that experience. It helps if you have a mission. When I started filming in Hollywood for Making It In Hollywood, it was my first documentary and I took my camera everytime I left the hotel room. Well I only realised that after I missed getting an interview with Joan Rivers who I was chatting with outside of the hotel while she was waiting for a taxi. At the Academy Awards, everyone is in town, as they say. Which means that you have a significantly higher chance of bumping into all manner of people who could be influential in your career. Not to thrust a showreel into their hands or expect something from it. However you can get to find out who the movers and shakers are behind the scenes who can be easier to connect with and help open the doors. The valet parking guy who nodded to me when Kate Winslet was coming out of the hotel to walk down the red carpet. The hotel security who I noticed had become nervous and shifty when I got in a lift and when I stayed on for a few floors, Celine Dion entered. The publicist for Sharon Stones' latest film who invited me to an exclusive press event. The chance meeting with the legendary Mr Eastwood who attended a minor event for composer Ennio Morricone, came about from a Sky TV reporter. The people who can connect you are people like you and I. Being passionate about what you do, is important because they are passionate too, but if you are too pushy, arrogant or downright rude, you'll get nowhere.
My final tip is to watch "Making It In Hollywood"
For less than five dollars it will provide that value back and tons more. It follows my journey to the two major film festivals Cannes and Sundance, award ceremonies at The Oscars and BAFTA's and along the way I interviewed lots of A-list actors, award winning composers, successful independent filmmakers, acting coaches and even Ricky Gervais who is a category on his own.
Go do it !
Douglas McFarlane is founder of UK Film Network, co-founder of Shooting People and Producer/Director of Making It In Hollywood, an award-winning documentary.
UK FILM DISTRIBUTORS LAUNCH SPECTACULAR AUTUMN LINE-UP
By Douglas McFarlane|
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| 150 films to open in UK cinemas, with 50 million admissions anticipated, in autumn 2012 |
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London, 22 August 2012 --- The diverse range of films for release in cinemas this autumn was launched today by Film Distributors’ Association (FDA), the trade body for UK film distributors. The season (September to December) promises the strongest autumn line-up for many years. Cinemagoers will see an A–Z of London locations on the big screen in new films opening this autumn, including: Skyfall (Daniel Craig’s eagerly anticipated third James Bond adventure); The Sweeney (starring Ray Winstone, Ben Drew); Hysteria (Maggie Gyllenhaal, Hugh Dancy, Jonathan Pryce); The Knot (Noel Clarke, Talulah Riley); St. George’s Day (Charles Dance, Vincent Regan); Pusher (Richard Coyle); I, Anna (Charlotte Rampling, Gabriel Byrne, Hayley Atwell, Eddie Marsan); and Gambit (Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, Cameron Diaz). Some of the world’s most highly acclaimed actors and filmmakers return to UK cinemas this autumn with their latest works, including: Woody Allen (To Rome with Love); Tim Burton (the animated adventure, Frankenweenie); Ethan & Joel Coen (Gambit), Clint Eastwood (Trouble with the Curve); Colin Firth (Gambit); Michael Haneke (Love/Amour); Peter Jackson (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey); Sam Mendes (Skyfall); Oliver Stone (Savages); Meryl Streep (Hope Springs); and Joe Wright (Anna Karenina). As well as accommodating a half-term holiday, Halloween and the run-up to Christmas, the autumn is typically the season when many of the following year’s international film award contenders emerge. This autumn has a particularly compelling line-up of thrillers and adventure films – including Dredd 3D starring Karl Urban; Ang Lee’s fantastical Life of Pi; Ben Affleck’s Argo; the action-packed Taken 2 with Liam Neeson; and two adaptations of blockbuster novels – Alex Cross starring Tyler Perry and Matthew Fox, and Jack Reacher starring Tom Cruise and Rosamund Pike. Among the new comedies are: Nativity 2 starring David Tennant; Love Bite with Ed Speelers; The Sapphires with Chris O’Dowd; and The Campaign pitching Will Ferrell against Zack Galifianakis. FDA President, Lord (David) Puttnam of Queensgate CBE, said: “It’s truly thrilling that filmmakers such as Joe Wright, Sam Mendes, Peter Jackson, Ang Lee, Michael Haneke and Oliver Stone are behind the cameras of new films reaching audiences this autumn. In a year of extraordinary shared celebrations, cinemas throughout the UK continue to offer uniquely memorable, pulse-quickening, out-of-home experiences. I sincerely hope audiences of every age will come out to enjoy this eclectic and exciting line-up in the way filmmakers intended – on the big screen.”
- A 75-second ‘season taster’ trailer highlighting the
cinematic spectacle and diversity of the line-up. The
trailer (BBFC certificate ‘U’) is available for UK cinema
and online, and a subtitled version has been
produced. FDA Chief Executive, Mark Batey, said: “In the interval between the wonderful Olympics and Paralympic Games, we have sought to promote the message that this autumn’s cinema line-up is the strongest for many years. FDA’s new campaign to highlight the season aims to engage audiences UK-wide, encouraging them to consider an extra visit or two during the season.” |
UKFILM RELEASES - Trailers for film launched this week
By Douglas McFarlane-
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2013 Tribeca Film Fest dates and new program for transmedia storytellers announced; call for submissions
By Douglas McFarlane
TWELFTH ANNUAL TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES
2013 DATES, APRIL 17 – APRIL 28, AND CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
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TFF TO LAUNCH NEW TRANSMEDIA PROGRAM WITH BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® TO
HIGHLIGHT INNOVATIVE INTERACTIVE AND MULTI-PLATORM STORYTELLING AT THE 2013 FESTIVAL
* * *
New York, NY (August 7, 2012) – The Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by founding sponsor American Express, announced today that the 12th annual Tribeca Film Festival will be held April 17– April 28, 2013 in New York City. Tribeca’s programming team, led by Geoffrey Gilmore, Chief Creative Officer of Tribeca Enterprises, Artistic Director Frédéric Boyer, who joined TFF last year, Director of Programming Genna Terranova, Programmer Cara Cusumano, and Shorts Programmer Sharon Badal, also announced a call for submissions for narrative and documentary features, and short film entries.
In addition, the Festival and BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin today announced a new transmedia program with an award launching at the 2013 Festival that will celebrate new trends in digital media and recognize these transmedia creators who employ an innovative, interactive, web-based or multi-platform approach to story creation. Through open submissions, selections will be presented to the public at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival. Ingrid Kopp, Director of Digital Initiatives for the Tribeca Film Institute, the year-round not-for-profit affiliate of Tribeca Enterprises, joins the Tribeca Film Festival programming team to collaborate on the initiative.
Deadlines to submit U.S. and International films for the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival are as follows:
September 17, 2012 – SUBMISSIONS OPEN
October 19, 2012 – EARLY DEADLINE: FEATURES, SHORTS AND TRANSMEDIA PROJECTS
November 30, 2012 – OFFICIAL DEADLINE, ALL FEATURES, SHORTS AND TRANSMEDIA PROJECTS
December 28, 2012 – LATE DEADLINE, AVAILABLE TO FEATURE LENGTH FILMS ONLY
Starting September 17, 2012, submission forms and complete information regarding eligibility for the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival will be available at www.tribecafilm.com/festival Questions regarding submissions may be directed to entries@tribecafilmfestival.org or by calling 212-941-2305.
UK Film News
By Douglas McFarlaneindiewire.com - "It's intentional," Pére said. "For a few years, we've been following the new generation of young American filmmakers and we've made some interesting connections. It appears to represent the new wa...
Cineworld Cinemas: Choose Your Local Cinema To See Film Times For The Latest Movies And 3D Performances In Your Area
cineworld.co.uk - This website uses cookies to provide you with a better experience. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time at the bottom of each page. If you do not adjust your settings, you are consentin...
Airplane! | Franz Patrick's Film Archive
franzpatrick.com - On a last-minute effort to win over his stewardess girlfriend, Elaine (Julie Hagerty), Ted (Robert Hays) decided to buy a plane ticket for Trans American Airlines. Elaine was far from impressed bec...
Huma Qureshi Signs A 3 Film Contract With Ekta
searchandhra.com - Huma Qureshi, who shot into fame with Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs Of Wasseypur, has bagged big Bollywood projects. In addition to starring in the next film of Kashyap, signed a film as lead opposite Emr...
'Citizen Kane' vs. 'Vertigo': What does Sight & Sound poll really mean? - latimes.com
latimes.com - Hard-core cineastes have been a'twitter for the past 24 hours, on cinephile message boards but also on, well, Twitter (hey, they use it too) about Sight & Sound’s newly released once-a-decade criti...
UK FILM - How do YOU want to network ?
By Douglas McFarlane
Hope all going good with you and
you're keeping busy in the world of film. I'm currently focussing
my attention on UK FILM NETWORK after agreeing with Cameron Lowe
to pickup the management and editorial of UK THEATRE NETWORK
which is now well established and growing again.
My focus of attention is back on UK FILM NETWORK and I'm keen to
get us making a difference in the world of film. To do that, I'm
pursuing a few avenues and thought I'd share them with you to get
some initial feedback.
Yekra - I've been reviewing a
number of the self-distribution services recently to allow Making
It In Hollywood to be seen online and around the world. These
platforms provide a revenue stream for the indie film producers,
and open up an avenue for some sort of return for their hard work
and investment in time and money. The directors of Yekra have
approached UK Film Network to work with them in getting the word
out about their service. We're also invited to be part of their
Beta Affiliate programme launching next month.
FILMCLUB - This is a great initiative for schools and I'm making enquiries to see how UK FILM NETWORK can support this initiative in schools around the country. I remember going regularly to the ABC MINORS avidly every Saturday morning to watch films like Jason & The Argonauts which was interspersed with Tom & Jerry cartoons. FilmClub seems to be providing a similar experience for children and this should be commended and encouraged in my view.
BAFTA LA - As you know I've been an active BAFTA member for about 8 years now, and I've been connecting with BAFTA Los Angeles to support their members when it comes to connecting with people in the UK. Their publicist is delighted with this support from UK FILM NETWORK, so look out for more news of events and information on what's on at BAFTA both here and in Los Angeles.
REVIEWS - Setting up a regular review team similar to the UK Theatre Network has been problematic to say the least. The incentive to do so seems low, as theatre provided reviewers with free tickets, but the film industry doesn't work like that. The freebies seem to be offered to BAFTA members around voting time and applicants who film out lengthy forms of justification to get access to film festivals, so I've not been able to get a regular team to keep these reviews coming. The Rotten Tomatoes format seems to be the way to go, where registered critics publish their opinions after justifying to the site that they belong to a top 100 publication or a film critics society. In the US there are literally hundreds of film critics but the UK has a much smaller number.
What's your thoughts ? Do you want to help UK FILM NETWORK make a difference in the world of film ? Where do you think our focus should be ?
Drop me a note by hitting reply
to this email. This is your UK FILM NETWORK and your opinion
matters.
Many thanks
Editor @ UK FILM NETWORK
UKFILM ONLINE FESTIVAL - Call for interested parties
By Douglas McFarlaneI'm keen to continue growing UK FILM NETWORK to support independent filmmakers and I have been nurturing an idea which I'm hoping you'll be interested in and be able to support in whatever way you can.
UK FILM & THEATRE WEEKLY
By Douglas McFarlane
UK FILM & THEATRE WEEKLY
- Meryl Streep wins BEST ACTRESS award at Golden Globes Tue, 01/17/2012 - 13:27 from UK Film Network
- My view on the BAFTA shortlist Tue, 01/17/2012 - 15:49 from UK Film Network
- ORANGE BRITISH ACADEMY FILM AWARDS in 2012 - NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED Tue, 01/17/2012 - 10:57 from UK Film Network
- A Future For British Film - The full 66-page official film report mentioned by David Cameron Tue, 01/17/2012 - 11:49 from UK Film Network
- Corey Feldman and Edward Furlong to appear in UK film Tue, 01/17/2012 - 11:36 from UK Film Network
- Man in the Middle- Theatre 503 Sun, 01/15/2012 - 23:11 from UK Theatre Network
- SLEEPING WITH STRAIGHT MEN ABOVE THE STAG THEATRE Wed, 01/18/2012 - 19:11 from UK Theatre Network
- Greenwich Playhouse to close after 20 years Tue, 01/17/2012 - 11:28 from UK Theatre Network
- Sometimes I Laugh Like My Sister at the Finborough Theatre by Carolin Kopplin Mon, 01/16/2012 - 19:39 from UK Theatre Network
- Oliver Award-winning Our Country’s Good tours UK theatres Mon, 01/16/2012 - 16:43 from UK Theatre Network
- Murder on the Nile at the Theatre Royal Windsor Fri, 01/13/2012 - 16:10 from UK Theatre Network
UK films urged to be more 'mainstream' in new report
By Douglas McFarlaneUK films urged to be more 'mainstream' in new report
By BBC Reporter
The film Tyrannosaur won three trophies at the British Independent Film Awards in December
The British film industry should back more mainstream movies, a report is expected to recommend next week.
Ahead of a visit to Pinewood Studios on Wednesday, Prime Minister David Cameron said the film industry should support "commercially successful pictures".
His comments come before the publication of Lord Smith's review into the government's film policy on Monday.
The review was commissioned to find out how the industry could offer better support to UK film-making.
Mr Cameron praised the UK film industry but said "we should aim even higher, building on the incredible success of recent years".
He acknowledged the British film industry had made "a £4bn contribution to the UK economy and an incalculable contribution to our culture".
Diverse industry
Lord Smith, the former Labour culture secretary, is also expected to recommend developing an export strategy to increase the profits of British films.
Speaking to the BBC, director Ken Loach said it was important to have a diverse film industry with a wide range of films to choose from.
"If everyone knew what would be successful before it was made, there would be no problem," he said.
"What you need to do is fund a lot of different, varied projects and then you'll get a really vibrant industry."
The Inbetweeners earned more than £45m at the box office
Loach added he would encourage more independent cinemas, saying: "The market does not provide choice if you don't intervene."
The report follows the abolition of the UK Film Council last year, which handed over its funding responsibilities to the British Film Institute (BFI).
Speaking at the time, Lord Smith said: "We want to hear from everyone involved in UK films.
"Film-makers, distributors, audiences and experts can all offer a useful perspective on how Government policy can help our film industry grow."
The principal objectives of the review were to identify obstacles to greater success in the British film industry, to determine how to spend increased Lottery funding and bolstering audience demand for film, including independent British film.
Last year saw the highest grossing independent British film of all time, The King's Speech, pick up four Oscars.
The big screen spin-off from E4's The Inbetweeners recorded the biggest opening for a UK-produced comedy, and had made £45m at the box office by November last year.
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