Vision+Media have just re-launched Green Shoots, a scheme for emerging filmmakers.

Building on the success of last year’s scheme Vision+Media is on the hunt again for up and coming filmmaking talent. We want to help emerging producers, writers and directors to take initial steps on the talent ladder by producing original and engaging short films. For more information and how to apply visit the Vision+Media website page below.

http://www.visionandmedia.co.uk/NewsDetail/Green_Shoots_201011__open_for_submissions/1926/141.aspx

Deadline: Midday, Monday 16th August 2010

If you have any questions, please contact Will Massa at Vision+Media on:

Direct Line: 0161 281 4343
Mob: +44 (0)7814 021 335
Email: will@visionandmedia.co.uk

Don’t miss the chance to see a new exhibition of digital art and media work on display at The Forum over the next few weeks. Work created by local emerging talent during Signal Films workshops in 2009-10 will be open to the public in The Forum’s exhibition area from 21st May through until the end of June.

Classics vs. Futurists (Friday 21st-Saturday 29th May)
Works on show include a digital art exhibition which showcases 3D imagery, animations and moving image created with visiting practitioner, Alt-w award-winning artist Emma Tolmie (www.emmatolmie.co.uk). Working with Emma the artists mixed low-tech gadgetry and high-tech imagery to create striking pieces which explore the relationship between traditional art and culture and the modern digital era.

The art workshops were run as part of Signal Films “Digital ReGeneration” project, which offers opportunities in using digital technologies creatively.

Local artists who took part commented: “A new world has opened for me” (Gillian Nicholson, Barrow); “I’ve learnt not to be afraid to try, test and experiment – community activities like this are vital” (Claire Fryer, Kendal); “I’ve enjoyed seeing my ideas and visions come to life through digital media,” (Nadine Baxter-Smallwood, Lancaster).

Media Adventures youth campaign (Friday 4th-Tuesday 15th June)
A youth media campaign created by local 13-19 year olds will be making a splash at the Forum in June. The eye-catching work is part of a year-long ‘Routes & Shoots’ project which addresses youth issues in new and engaging ways. The campaign consists of posters, animations and photography created to inspire and encourage local young people to get out and about, enjoy the areas assets such as beautiful landscapes and to try new things. As well as displays at The Forum, you can expect to see their colourful campaign around Barrow from the end of May, featuring in local bus stops, shop fronts and Barrow’s train station amongst other venues!

The group decided on their campaign logo which features the two ‘Bs’ from ‘beyond boundaries’ in the shape of a butterfly after Peter (14 yrs) said the group research trip to Gummers Howe had made him “feel free and like he could do anything”.

The young people have been developing the ideas and brand for the campaign with Kendal based graphic designer and Creative Director of Lavahouse, Steve Scott. He said of the project “working with these young people has been an inspiring experience for me and I have been extremely impressed by the talent and vision that these young people from Barrow have.”

Signal Films ‘Best Of’ (Friday 18th-Tuesday 29th June)
A selection of the best from Signal Films activities this past year will also be on show to celebrate the diverse range of mixed media work which has been created with local talent. There will also be the chance to sign up for Signal Films’ new upcoming programme of free events and training.

To find out more about the exhibitions or to register your interest in any of our projects email info@signalfilms.co.uk or ring 01229 839983. www.signalfilms.co.uk

Every year Bupa Great North Run Culture awards an artist or film-maker £30,000 to create a new moving image work in response to the world’s largest half-marathon. The work is then presented as part of the following year’s programme with an extract screened on the BBC as part of their live coverage of the Bupa Great North Run.

The deadline for expressions of interest is 5.00pm on Monday 7th June.

For more information, to download a full commission brief and to apply online, please visit http://www.greatnorthrunculture.org/moving-image

CALLING ALL CREATIVES!
Kendal Calling would like to invite any one who is involved in arts within Eden to come and be a part of the event this summer. The festival has been grown form very humble beginnings and has always supported local music, arts and produce.

We think it is vitally important that this continues and are actively looking for artists, performers, stalls and anything else that is from the Eden Valley or close by to be a part of the event. We are actively prioritising local submissions so please get in touch whatever your idea.

The festival takes place from the 30th July to 1st August and plays host to dance, music, performance art, art installations, comedy, spoken word and alot more.

If you would like to get involved then please check the contacts page at www.kendalcalling.com for direct emails. Please place EDEN ARTS in capitals in your submission.

Thanks

Description
We are delighted to announce 2Weeks 2Make It 2010, the North’s most exciting music video competition, is now open for submissions and once more Sensoria will host the Awards Night in April.

Established in 2005, ‘2Weeks 2Make It’ is the North of England’s premier music video challenge. It randomly teams up cutting edge filmmakers with the North’s up and coming musical talent, and gives them the challenge to make a music video in just two weeks!

To enter, download the application form on the syfn website (www.syfn.org/2weeks.html) and send it off to the address below with an example of your work. 2Weeks 2Make It accepts music submissions as CDs in the post, but you can also submit work electronically, by sending links to your website or Myspace page.

If you are a filmmaker, please supply an example of a film you have made. A music video is ideal, but shorts and short documentaries are fine too. You can also submit links to YouTube, Vimeo or similar social networking sites.

If you are selected to take part, there will be NO CHARGE for filmmakers to participate and only a £50 + VAT fee for musicians.

All participants will be welcome to attend the Masterclass and Training Day on Wednesday 31st March. This will be followed by a launch event, with live music, beer, food and plenty of networking opportunities. During this evening bands and filmmakers will be paired up.

The final, finished results of the challenge will be shown at the Gala Screening on 29 April, where the panel of judges will award their winner with top prize of £1000 and audience members will vote for their favourite for the ‘Audience Award’.

Send your submissions, including application form, by 29th March to:
Rob Speranza – 2Weeks 2Make It
SYFN
2nd Floor, Site Gallery
1 Brown St
Sheffield S1 2BS
England

We look forward to taking this great project into its fourth year.

www.syfn.org/2weeks.html

2Weeks 2Make It is supported by Screen Yorkshire and NorthernNet.

We also welcome on board 2 new area officers:
Paul Burns (Furness) and Richard Smith (South Lakeland/Kendal)

However, we are trying to organize the CFA so that each area of Cumbria/North Lancashire has an appointed officer, so we are seeking officers for the following areas: Copeland, Carlisle, Eden, Allerdale, Central lakes and North Lancs.

The CFA is a non-profit organization solely here to encourage working collaborations at all levels across the region for making film productions, so we are seeking individuals who want to get involved in some small way on a voluntary basis.

In general, we need people on board that want to also help push forward the meaning of what the CFA is striving to achieve, it’s not just about film production, but distributing, and one key element we want to work on is for Cumbria to have a Lake District Film Festival, not just to feature local films, but broaden this to a global scale, making it an international film festival, but to primarily showcase the extraordinary film making talent that this county has to offer.

Every other month, we’ll get together to discuss possible ways to move forward, the CFA is about helping create internal opportunities to make films instead of having external production companies coming into the county and using their own professionals and facilities, we have the talent here to do the job as good as anyone else, so we want to create these opportunities as well.

Obviously, it’s all voluntary, but hopefully there will be some satisfaction in knowing you are helping to create a great active film making community within Cumbria itself. Anyone interested in knowing more about becoming an officer/admin can get in touch on either of the following:
cumbriafilmalliance@live.co.uk
07954 084 054 ~ 01539 898 047

Arcade …in collaboration with Eden Arts

arcade is an artist-led initiative which aims to encourage the bringing together of artists and creative practitioners working in broad ranging art forms, and to organise openly accessible events in public ‘non-gallery’ spaces.

Projects to date have been organised specific to a Victorian built walkway Lowther Arcade in Carlisle city centre, Cumbria where the area is turned into an arts ‘hotspot’ using: the main walkway and architecture, several empty shop units or windows, plus adjoining businesses throughout.

May 2008 saw the very first initiative for Arcade with artists working together in consultation with commercial property agents to create a short programme of art interventions specific to the place; establishing new art/business links and importantly highlighting issues of regeneration in the forgotten public ’space’.

Our next Project proposes the same use of the Carlisle space but additionally Arcade are now collaborating with Eden Arts in order to incorporate further empty shop use within Devonshire Arcade, Penrith: thus creating a town to town link project in enquiry which will aim to stimulate interest from both artists practice and happening in survey.

Arcade has now gathered together an eclectic and stimulating collection of artists proposals for both the Penrith and Carlisle arcades – full programme details soon to be announced!

Directing Actors for the Screen

Dates: Sat 27th/ Sun 28th Feb
Sat 6th / Sun 7th March

***The course costs are fully subsidised-applicants must be aged 16 or over and living in Cumbria. ***

Signal Films has 12 places available for people aged 16yrs + to take part in a free directing course led by an award winning filmmaker.
Deadline for application: Friday 19th February

Brian Gilbert, Golden Globe nominee and director of 2002’s awarding winning feature The Gathering starring Christina Ricci, will provide an in-depth insight into the process of directing actors for the screen at a 4-day course taking place in Barrow-in Furness

This is a great opportunity for aspiring directors to gain knowledge and expertise from an industry expert, working with professional actors, learning the best ways to communicate within a film set.

About the course:
The course will cover in detail the roles, methods and approaches of the director when composing scenes with actors. Through a combination of hands on exercises, screenings and demonstrations, participants will learn the fundamental skills needed to effectively direct performances to create a succinct and moving film.

This course will examine several different elements including
• Director and the script
• Directing actors
• Directing Different Genres
• Technical aspects- camera, lighting & crossing the line

About the tutor:
Course leader Brian Gilbert delivers the directing Actors course at the National Film and Television School, described as the world leader in high-end media training. He also directed the 1997 feature Wilde starring Stephen Fry and Jude Law and the classic 80’s body swap movie Vice Versa with Judge Reinhold and Fred Savage.

For a place on the course:
For an application form and more information contact Signal Films on signalfilms@gmail.com or 01229839983

Also: FILM INSIDERS TALENT FESTIVAL 2010!

In this, its second year, the festival is welcoming emerging filmmakers and enthusiasts of all ages to attend another packed programme of completely free events running from Friday 5th – Sunday 7th March in Barrow.

There will be an exciting mix of free filmmaking classes, animation workshops, screenings and advice sessions from industry talent from across the UK.

www.signalfilms.co.uk
www.filminsiders.co.uk

FREE DIGITAL ARTS WORKSHOPS
DIGITAL ARTIST Emma Tolmie will be leading a series of FREE digital art workshops in Barrow throughout March. People interested in exploring and learning new skills in digital technologies will be able to attend workshops to learn and experiment with new digital media & create pieces of work to be exhibited locally and online.

Emma Tolmie is an Edinburgh based digital artist who was awarded the Alt-w Award 2009 for her project Imagine 3D. Emma mixes low-tech gadgetry and high-tech imagery to explore digital culture through film, interactive sculptures, screen-saver landscapes and computer game animations. You can see more of her work on www.emmatolmie.co.uk.

The workshops will include hands on taster sessions on using digital media, photography, the web and film creatively. Participants can then go on to work in small group workshops with Emma to develop further digital art skills, from getting images and work online using flickr, youtube and vimeo to creating video artworks and web based artwork – an excellent opportunity to get up to date with current digital media technologies and digital art.

People of all ages, skills and experiences are welcome to come along to one or all of the following workshops:
- Digital Media Taster Sessions Sunday 7th March, 10am – 4.30pm
- Digital Art Workshops, 2 days over weekends & 4 evening sessions between 8th-25th March
- One-to-One Mentoring – Emma will also be on hand to offer advice and mentoring to artists starting out or wanting to improve their digital arts practice.

These opportunities are free and travel costs can be covered for people outside of Barrow.
Participants can take part in one or all of the opportunities by registering with Signal Films. For more information please contact us on: www.signalfilms.co.uk or 01229 839983
Deadline for registration is FRIDAY 26TH FEBRUARY 2010. Participants must be aged 16 or over

This project is funded by:The Arts Council, Barrow Regeneration, The Northwest Development Agency, Barrow Borough Council, Furness Enterprise and The Northern Rock Foundation

WOULD YOU LIKE TO GAIN HANDS ON EXPERIENCE IN THE MEDIA INDUSTRY?
The Film Insiders Talent Festival 2010 is happening soon in Barrow from Friday 5th to Sunday 7th March.

Help us to stage three packed days of spectacular film screenings, live events, networking parties, workshops, masterclasses and talks from established names and the rising stars of filmmaking in the North West.

If you are able to help out for a couple of hours we’d love to hear from you….. We will be looking for volunteers in the following areas:
- Technical Event staff (workshops and parties)
- Box Office
- Art exhibition

If you think you might be able to help and state which area you would be interested in and contact Laura on 01229 839983 or info@signalfilms.co.uk

New Prizes added to the Aesthetica Short Film Competition!

The Aesthetica Short Film Competition has really started picking up pace now and the organisers have added a number of great screenings to their prize packages, including Kerry Film Festival (Ireland) and Glimmer: Hull Film Festival (UK)

The Aesthetica Short Film Competition has just been launched! Leading the search for filmmakers who are driving the genre of short film forward through inspirational and innovative works the competition provides an opportunity for both new and experienced filmmakers to have their work broadcast to a wider audience. All genres of film are being accepted: drama, documentary, music video, animation, satire, comedy, artists’ film and anything else you can think of!

This award offers winners and runners-up a fantastic prize package, including:

Screenings of your film at: The National Media Museum (Bradford), Rushes Soho Shorts Film Festival (London), Glasgow Film Festival, Kerry Film Festival, Project Space Leeds and on the Aesthetica website.
£500 first prize, £250 runner-up.
12 months membership with Shooting People.
Collection of film books from Wallflower Press.
Winner and 10 runners-up to be included on a DVD that will go to all Aesthetica readers.
Films should be up to 20 minutes long. For detailed guidelines and entry visit: www.aestheticamagazine.com/film_submissions.htm

Deadline for applications is 30 April 2010.