Film Forum West Midlands

Fancy helping out at Flatpack? This year’s festival runs from 23-28 March in venues all over Birmingham, and the whole thing wouldn’t be possible without hordes of dedicated volunteers. (See a nice writeup from one of last year’s team here.) Responsibilities will include front-of-house, venue installation, technical support, marketing and bar work, and all volunteers will have the opportunity to make good use of their festival passes.

If you’d like to get involved, please drop us a line at info@7inch.org.uk with your contact details before 22nd February.

Also keep in mind that our briefing meetup will be on Weds 3rd March, from 6:30pm.

Casting call from Matt and Vince of Rapid Pics:

Short spoof of those glamorous, stylised perfume adverts, filming on Monday 23rd November in Stoneleigh, near Coventry (West Midlands).

We require a MALE and FEMALE, both very attractive, to play opposite each other. No dialogue.

This will be a professional piece, and will make an excellent addition to your showreel. We will pay £50, plus travel.

We will be holding auditions for short-listed talent. Models with a base in the West Midlands are preferable.

To find out more, please go to: http://www.facebook.com/l/501fa;www.mattandvince.com

If you think you may be suitable, please contact matt@rapidpics.com

Dominic Took of Dead Time Productions is filming a feature in November and is looking for a sound engineer and a make up artist. Here’s the rest in Dominic’s words:

We’re looking for a sound engineer to work a sixteen day shoot. The engineer must have some portfolio work to show and have experience.

We’re also looking for a makeup artist with skills in special FX, blood guts and gore. The more portfolio work or reel cuts you can show us of this sort of work, the more likely we are to take you on.

Same terms of contract apply to both jobs. The work is unpaid, on a low budget film. However contracts will specify a percentage of profits to be given when distribution is acquired for the title.

Person/s must be able to get to the West Midlands, Wolverhampton area. Lifts available.

Email: dtook@transientinnovations.co.uk with name and contact details + experience.

If you want to see more about us, go to Spooked Films Limited. Dead Time productions is an arm of Spooked Films Limited.

Local filmmaker, Olly Jones of Better Feeling Films is looking for an actress in her early to late 20s for 5-6 days during August for their feature, Lost in the Headlights. Expenses and food will be provided. The film centers on a rock band who have to deal with the tragic loss of one of there members.

They are also looking for extras for gig/pub and party scenes, as well as still being in need for a DoP.

Contact Oliver Jones for more details at: betterfeelingfilms@gmail.com

You can find more details about Lost in the Headlights here:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=86061531543

http://viewaskew.com/theboard/viewtopic.php?t=68419

Tony Wilkes is on the look out for an animator to work on some limited animation for 2  one minute scenes. As the budget is self funded the rate is £75/min of footage.

Here’s Tony’s explaination of the scenes:

• A spaceship in space – there’s some narration about emotions, and different parts of the ship light up accordingly; and there is a face in the middle of it that reacts to the different emotions. The spaceship would look something like the ELO album cover, if you know the one I’m talking about, and the camera would move around it. Originally thought this would be 3D modelled, but I’m sure it would look just as good in Flash.

• A Doom-type scene, first person perspective – a guy walks around in the dark with a big gun, until he bumps into other people (traffic warden, Big Issue seller, little girl with a balloon), screams and runs away firing wildly. Some designing of characters, but as they are sprites they only need a few frames of animation each.

In terms of quality, it’s simple and effective rather than detailed and involved – I wouldn’t want people working away for weeks. If it’s recognisable and it moves, it’s fine. Both scenes are approximately sixty seconds long. I could pay you £75 each scene. Not a lot I know, but I’m trying my best.

The scenes don’t really work as standalone pieces as the animation tends to support the narration in the film. I can send through the pages if you’re interested.

So if you are interested contact Tony Wilkes at: tonywilkes@hotmail.com

Screen WM are seeking Production Trainees to work on the new series of major BBC drama series Hustle, shooting across Birmingham this summer. Amy Newbery gives all the information below.

Screen WM, the West Midlands regional screen agency are seeking production trainees from the West Midlands to assist in a variety of departments working on the new series of the hit BBC show Hustle which will be shooting in locations in and around Birmingham from July to October. These positions are ideal for new entrants to the television industry or for crew who would like to try working in a different production department.

Screen WM’s Production Placement Scheme was launched in Autumn 2007 to assist people wanting to take the first steps into Film & TV Production, the scheme provides on-the-job work experience for those looking to get into the industry. Placements offer paid employment, usually for the duration of a shoot and are allocated to Screen WM invested projects which will be shot in the West Midlands. So far the scheme has supported over 30 trainees who have worked across a range of departments including camera, art and costume.

The trainee’s role will be to shadow a member of their assigned department, and perform trainee duties as necessary to understand and support the workings of their allocated department. Production trainees are required to observe and where possible have direct experience of the role and area they are assigned to during the production period.

The areas that the trainee must experience are linked to Skillset – the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries National Occupation Standards and/or their job profiles. Where possible, these contribute to the standard required to obtain a Level 3 qualification or equivalent by a suitable awarding body: for example NVQ/City and Guilds. For more information on Skillset and to view the job profiles go to http://www.skillset.org/tv/jobs.

We are seeking trainees to work with the following departments:

Camera

Sound

Art

Script (specifically applicants who are interested in Script Editing)

Editing (cutting room trainees)

If you would like to apply for any of the positions please send a copy of your CV and a covering letter stating which positions you are interested in, your availability and any relevant experience to crew@screenwm.co.uk. Due to the volume of applications only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Guidelines

• All applications to the scheme will be considered, but we are particularly keen to receive applications from individuals who have some experience of working in the industry.
• Please only apply to the scheme if you are based in the West Midlands. If you are based outside the region please contact your local screen agency to enquire about opportunities in your area.
• All trainees will be paid a basic rate of pay (national minimum wage or above) for the duration of the shoot.
• Please note that we will only accept CVs from individuals over the age of 16.
• All placements are for the duration of the 6 episode shoot which stretches 11 weeks, July 13th-October 10th 2009. If you have holiday booked or you are unable to work immediately before the shoot begins or just after it ends please flag this up in your covering letter.

Please send in applications by WEDNESDAY 17TH JUNE. Please contact Amy Newbery (amy.newbery@screenwm.co.uk) for applying after the deadline.

If you have any queries about the scheme please email crew@screenwm.co.uk or ring 0121 265 7120 and ask to speak to the Production & Development Coordinator, Amy Newbery.

Screen WM is the regional agency which supports, promotes and develops a sustainable and thriving screen media sector in the West Midlands. Screen WM will:

• promote the West Midlands region by raising the profile of its diverse locations
• promote the West Midlands by highlighting the abundance of talent within the region’s screen media sector
• support businesses through skills development and financial assistance
• develop talent, from new entrants to professional freelancers and employees, within the West Midlands through skills development
• support the region’s moving image heritage and develop access to it
• develop and inspire audiences across a broad range of screen media
• promote and develop the cultural diversity of the region through the moving image

Screen WM is supported by the National Lottery through the UK Film Council, the European Regional Development Fund and Advantage West Midlands.