Film Forum West Midlands

Film Forum WM have been awarded funding by Screen WM.

This is obviously great news for all the grassroots filmmakers who attend our regular meet-ups. The prospect of making FFWM something of value and importance is more palpable than ever, so from now on we’re going to take FFWM up a notch, considerably.

We thought it essential to inform you all on our proposed ideas. Below is a mere list of those ideas we have in the pipeline for improving FFWM, but by no means is this an accurate reflection of how exhaustive the ideas actually are (but of course, in a good way):

• Most importantly, we aim to improve our bi-monthly meet-ups, but still ensure we maintain the casual, informal charm of the evening.
• Bring the ‘industry’ *shudder, horrible term* to FFWM’s avid film community. Guest speakers may include potential employers, collaborators, producers, filmmakers who have made an impact…
• Maintain regular updates on FFWM website with all the latest news and events for our film community.

As stated, these are but a few ideas we’re working on, so it would be appreciated if you kept your eyes peeled over the coming months.

We honestly look forward to seeing you all at our next meet-up on Tuesday (24th Aug). Any ideas of your own is obviously encouraged and welcomed.

Thank you.

Left to Right: Tom & Andrew

We thought it was best to keep these introductions to a minimum before we actually get to meet you all in person! Needless to say we’re honoured to be given such roles for the development of FilmForumWM, and we’re looking forward to talking to you guys on how we can, together, take FFWM to the next step. As Louis’ kindly already mentioned, we organise an evening called Filmrats; an almost estranged cousin to FFWM where we aim to help local filmmakers and musicians showcase their work in an environment where they can socialise and make contacts with other filmmakers for (fingers crossed) a beneficial outcome.

Okay, so shameless plug finished, on with the brief introductions:

Tom

Hello! I’m currently a freelance journo (please don’t judge) in both music and art, and have worked with both national and local publications. Knowing the importance of local art/media, I can’t wait to work with you all and hear your views on how we can further build the WM film community!

Andrew

Hello! I’m a freelance Writer/Director & Editor who has been making short films now for the past six years before, during and after University. I’m currently working on several new short film ideas, music videos for up and coming artists and in the developing stages of a feature idea. I’m very much looking forward to running FFWM as I believe it’s nothing but beneficial and much-needed for our community.

Told you they were brief…but hopefully we’ll get to talk a little more at the next FFWM meeting! Look forward to meeting you all.

Tom & Andrew Hewson

Hello folks,

After a few career developments, Ian, Rill and I have decided that we’re not able to devote the time to Film Forum WM that it deserves. After building FFWM as something that we’ve always felt was needed in the region we obviously want Film Forum to carry on and grow.

Filmrats organisers, Andrew and Tom Hewson have really impressed us and will now be taking up the reigns here. So not only will FFWM be able to carry on the meet ups with a fresh vigour, it will incorporate some nifty screening events to give you new and exciting ways to share your work and expertise with other filmmakers in the region.

Ian, Rill and Louis will hang around in a supporting role and are currently co-organising a Flip Festival animation screening event, FlipSide, with Animation Forum WM set for the beginning of November – more information to come when confirmed.

If you want to help out in anyway, either by contributing to the blog or offering resources for Film Forumm events get in touch at info@filmforumwm.co.uk

In the meantime you can keep up to speed with Ian and Louis at Dice Productions and with Rill at her website.

Now give Tom and Andrew a big woohoo and round of applause as they introduce themselves…

See the fruits of The Great Animation Challenge, the best entries to last year’s Flip Animation Festival and chew the fat with Animation Forum WM members at the next Animation Forum West Midlands event, Out Of Hours: Animation on Tuesday 21st July 2009 at the Light House, Wolverhampton.

The event starts at 7pm, with screenings of The Great Animation Challenge entries preceded by the best animation from Flip Festival 2008 and a talk by stop-motion animator behind Small Birds Singing Linda McCarthy. Following this, the results of The Great Animation Challenge will be announced with the competition entries screened in the courtyard area. The Great Animation Challenge is the culminatation of a competition run by Animation Forum WM, Flip and Imagine Magazine over the summer which gave animators tracks from several up and coming bands to download and animate to.

The evening will continue with a chance for a chat over a drink with fellow animators in Lock Works, the Light House café and bar.

To attend this free event, simply RSVP via the Facebook group or by email.

(via Sarah Arnesen & The Light House) Local filmmaker, Nerina Villa, has been commissioned by Screen West Midlands to make a short film and is looking for participants from the general public to be stars of her production. Nerina is an experienced documentary director who has made films for Channel 4 and regional ITV and has been shortlisted for a Royal Television Society Award. Her new film is called Ladies Loos and takes a comical look at what girls get up to in toilets, revealing why they never go by themselves and why they always take so long. The production team for Ladies Loos has already filmed at Gatecrasher and the Custard Factory in Birmingham with great success using Light House’s new HD camera equipment. Nerina said,

You can go in to the ladies loos and talk to a complete stranger about anything, knowing the moment you walk out you’ll never speak to them again. We are now looking for pairs and groups of girls to be filmed on their nights out. If you always seem to have a dramatic night out and someone ends up in the loos crying, or arguing, or worrying about boys, then maybe you could be part of the film! So if you’ve got a birthday or hen do or just a big night out please get in touch and be part of our short film!

Ladies interested in taking part in the film should email Nerina Villa at: villaspeedy@aol.com

It’s endearing to hear that ‘A Birmingham-based film-maker is bucking the trend of London-based production by making the most of the city’s talent and resources for his new film.’ Innevitably bringing attention to region is always going to be a good thing so here’s some more information from the Birmingham Post via Film Birmingham.

The collaborative effort is the first joint venture from Immense Productions – the partnership between Guardian columnist Guy Browning and Birmingham-based producer Steffan Aquarone.

The feel-good film, The Husband Obedience Trials, will be produced in Birmingham and filming will take place in Kingston Bagpuize near Oxford for five weeks in the summer. Mr Aquarone said: “Very few full-length films are genuinely regionally produced, so it is great to be a part of such a breaking project. There is no reason why all production should fall to London. In my work with the Producer’s Forum I encounter so much talent in the city and we have the equipment as well as the skills.

“Although we have a limited budget we are shooting on RED, a fantastically high-spec camera system. Birmingham has real potential to grow its success film sector over the next few years and we hope that the Husband Obedience Trials will play a big role in that.”

Mr Aquarone, 24, founded film production company Fullrange as a student at Warwick University and is also director of the Producers’ Forum, the networking body for the region’s screen industry. Fullrange will manage the production supported by a West Midlands film crew and project director Simon Dando and post-production will take place in Fullrange’s new offices in Fazeley Studios, Digbeth.

Read the rest here… (it’d be cheeky to pinch it all)